Batman returns to the streets after a forced ten-year absence and struggles to maintain order in a Gotham City that doesn't want him anymore.
ACTION/CRIME
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Batman: The Dark
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In 2013, DC Animation made the wise decision to take Parts 1 and 2 of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and edit them together into a full, two and a half hour long movie. This is the version that I watched, and upon which my review will be based. For many comic fans, The Dark Knight Returns is the quintessential Batman story, written by Frank Miller. It tells the story of an aging Bruce Wayne who is long past retirement, but steps back into the cape and cowl once more when a gang of street thugs takes over his city. Of course, the return of Batman causes the return of the Joker, which leads to some of the darkest content DC Animation has ever put out.
Peter Weller does a great job voicing Batman, and Michael Emerson is terrifying as the Joker. The rest of the voice cast is stellar, as well, but these are the standouts for me. The first part of the film sees Batman returning to the streets to take down the Mutants, while the second half focuses on the collateral damage brought about by the Joker and the government seeing Batman as a potential threat, so much so that they call in Superman to deal with it. This leads to a showdown so epic that Zack Snyder ripped off part of it for his 2016 travesty. Batman vs. Superman. The Dark Knight vs. The Man of Steel. And holy shit, is the payoff golden. The Dark Knight Returns is a solid adaptation of a classic story that goes the extra mile to really tell an adult Batman story. There's violent murder, swearing, and so much more, particularly with the Joker scenes. But there's also some great themes of patriotism, duty, and what it truly means to be a hero. Any Batman fan will enjoy this animated adventure, |