Review of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) by Phil P — 16 Aug 2015

"I tried using brute strength that was a mistake".

Having heard great things about 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' naturally I was going to watch it. Granted I should probably read the comic first it may have changed my view of this. As I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. I don't know what I expected but something didn't click with me.

Having only (at this point) seen part 1 I don't know who it plays out as a whole. Taking the interesting angle of a retired 'Bruce Wayne' seeing the city he once protected become over-run by a group called the mutants. A group who use their own slang and call each other spud. Bruce naturally dons teh cape again which inspires a teenager he saves 'Carrie Kelly' to decide on being Robin. It's all a bit how should I put it corny for me. And due to it being part 1 it spends most of it's time setting things up. Seeing the way they tackle Bruce being older and more jaded is by far the most interesting aspect. With his fight between the leader of the mutants at the junk-yard the highlight.

My biggest problem with it is the art style. It's just not my cup of tea, it seems a little more generic and bland than Batman films in the past. With an almost early 2000s anime look. Particularly the design of the mutants and their leader they don't stand out they're dull - with only their peculiar speech patterns being of interest. The further it goes on the less I was interested and when 'Carrie' dons her own Robin suit I was getting ready to turn it off. It's inclusion (albeit unneeded) of 'Two-Face' and his appearance problems - and Joker's slow crawl out of a deep mental coma due to Batman's return make it worthwhile (even if the Joker is poorly designed).

Despite my problems with a lacklustre art style it is animated well with nice action sequences in the mud and explosive effects looking impactful. I'm just a little disappointed often pegged as Batman's finest story - it's adaptation to the animated screen leaves a lot to be desired for me. The core story is a little shaky but with a more pessimistic Batman and an older 'Two-Face' and Joker's impending arrival Part 2 looks like it'll be worth it.