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    Animation

    MOVIE REVIEW: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1

    Cathal Ó MíocháinBy Cathal Ó MíocháinSeptember 25, 2012Updated:September 25, 20123 Comments3 Mins Read

    Hot on the heels of The Dark Knight Rises comes the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. Find out how the animated movie holds up, after the jump…

    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

    It has been 10 years since the last Batman sighting. Bruce Wayne has retired, and Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement too. However a brutally violent new gang, The Mutants, have plunged Gotham in to fear…can a 55 year old Wayne still fill the cape and cowl, and reclaim his city?

    FAITHFUL ADAPTATION

    Based on Frank Miller’s seminal 1986 series, this animated movie sticks incredibly closely to the source material. Right from the opening race scene you know how this adaptation will work. Some of the shots are straight from the book, but naturally they have to expand the panels in to full scenes, and it works very well. You also notice the lack of voice over/narrative boxes, as a result there are a few things that (to the readers of the book) feel like they’re missing. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the movie (to those that have not read the book) is actually missing anything.

    As previously said, this movie sticks very closely to the original book. The events unfold in the same order as they do in the book. And while they’ve had to cut a few things out, namely all the “talking head” news people, and a lot of the Commissioner Gordon’s replacement stuff, that keeps the story tight and flowing well. They have also added a few little pieces, particularly noticeable in the action scenes, but they are in keeping with the tale, and add to the feel of the movie as a whole. Batman’s smoky rooftop attack is an action standout, and it is a great example of a welcome addition to the movie.

    THE LOOK IS FAITHFULLY DIFFERENT

    The animation style is not overly similar to the art from the books, but again this is a necessary change. The art in the books is great, but doggedly sticking to it for the animation would just not work. Instead it is more in keeping with the animation style of Batman: The Animated Series, which is a brilliant choice. For instance, the design of the Mutant Leader is still clearly the Mutant Leader, but now he looks less ridiculous. And there are still most of my favorite panels from the book in this movie, but now they flow together and have a realism that the comic didn’t quite have.

    The voice work is very good here, too. Peter Weller brings a real intensity to both Batman and Bruce, never drifting too far in to the grumbly vocal stylings of Bale. The supporting voice cast do an excellent job of fleshing out the universe. Unfortunately, sometimes they have some lame dialogue to get through, particularly the Mutants, but for the most part it is taken straight from Miller’s page so it is, at least, respectfully lame.

    So…This is a great adaptation of a great comic book. The story is the same, and it ticks along very nicely. The action is expanded upon, and is very exciting. This is highly recommended, and I am looking forward to Part 2.

    Rating: ★★★★☆

    DID YOU SEE THIS MOVIE? RATE IT!
    Reader Rating

    [ratings]

    Animation Batman Frank Miller Movies Review the dark knight returns Warner Bros. Peter Weller
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    Cathal Ó Míocháin

    What to say...born in the last year of the seventies, the decade of the best music and movies, Cathal's earliest memories are of movies and comics. Star Wars, Batman, Superman and Indiana Jones filled his childhood, and not a whole lot has changed. He lives in Dublin, with his supremely understanding wife. Cathal voice his opinions across the various corners of The IntarWebs: @CatHaloMovies on The Twitter; Cat Halo Movies on The FaceSpace; and on the Major Spoilers Forum, where all manner of opinions are aired by all manner of folk on a wide variety of topics.

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    3 Comments

    1. Z Ryan on September 26, 2012 3:13 am

      I was skeptical. I’m a big fan of the comic, and honestly, of the sequel: DKSA. Whatever, doensn’t matter. I’ve read the comic many times. I know the comic. I understand the comic.

      I didn’t think anyone should see this movie. Just read the comic and love it for what it is. Like it as a comic. . . .

      But this movie WAS. AMAZING. This is the best Batman movie yet. And I’m a fan of BB, TDK, and TDKR. This was AMAZING. I can’t wait for this to finish and I can have a bluRay/DVD of 2.5 hours of THIS. What an amazingly put together movie.

      Specifically: well, EVERYTHING. But if I have to decide, for the first half, the MUSIC put this together for me. The low, building tension of the 80’s sythesizers. . . .

      This is maybe the best Batman movie ever. Event hough incomplete. Competeative with Mask of the Phantasm for animated, and on level footing, competative with TDK and TDKR.

      And this, from the guy who didn’t plan to see the movie cuz “fuck movies, I’ll read comics.”

      Reply
      • Jay Oliva on September 27, 2012 6:49 am

        Thanks Z Ryan! I wanted to make the film for fans just like you and I am humbled to hear how much your view changed after watching my little film. My heartfelt thanks.

        Reply
    2. Jay Oliva on September 27, 2012 6:51 am

      Thank you for a great review Cathal Ó Míocháin!

      Reply

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