Review of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) by Kieran F — 24 Nov 2012

A Pretty Impressive take on Frank Millers amazing Graphic Novel by the DC animated Universe. As a fan of the comic I was greatly impressed and enjoyed how they stayed EXTREMELY close to the source material.

The story of the film is of Batman returning from retirement to battle the evil that has risen in Gotham since his leave. BUT the take is he's not a young man like he was when he first started his vigilantism. Now a 55 year old man everything he does takes more out on him and he isn't as fearful looking at first sight.

The first part of this film deals with Frank Millers First two issues of the four part series. Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Triumphant. In it we see batman come out of his retirement to battle a "Healed" Harvey dent briefly(All from the Dark Knight Returns) and for the most part stop a gang of kids,mostly, that have taken over the violence in Gotham and are calling themselves "The Mutants" who's leader is challenging batman to see who is really the superior man in Gotham right now.(The Dark knight Triumphant) .

From that description let me warn you the first half of the film is some what...slow.. .and so if you're not familiar with the comic you may be going "Wait..i thought this film is about Batman? If it is why is half the film dedicated to news reports on batman and not Batman himself? Well that's because DC followed the comic SPOT ON. Almost every panel in the comic is shot for shot in the film. Even the Dialogue is on the dot. The only MINOR part is the film doesn't have batman's inner mono luges which are VERY prominent in the book,hell half the book is of batman.."Speaking to himself" practically, So it's..not hard to understand the story but because I've read the book it's a little weird and kind of odd. But by no means does it really ruin the film it just means that for people who aren't familiar with the book it may seem the film is moving along to fast or something.

Everything in this film though is great. The animation is pretty impressive,similar to DC's last picture Batman Under The red Hood, and feels very close to Frank Millars style minus some of the grittiness but that's minor. The voice acting is superb all the actors are pretty well chosen from other famous TV shows and movies from Peter Weller as batman(Robocop fame) all the way down Michael Emerson(Lost's Benjamin Linus) as the Joker the actors do great jobs. Hell even Weller is good. I'll be honest when I read the comic I never really envisioned Weller as batman. To be perfectly honest I always envisioned Clint Eastwood. Maybe because when I read the comics I saw similarities to Clint Eastwood and the way Miller Drew batman or something so When I heard they where making a film of the book I always thought "DAMN Clint Eastwood would make a SUPERB batman" Now I wasn't mad that they had cast Weller as batman,I was surprised but not angry, And after seeing the film I think he does a great job at the character,Much better then the last actor who voiced batman for a DC animated film, I think the only real...Low in the film is the actor of Commissioner Gorden, David Selby, He seems...almost too young or something for the role. I always envisioned Gordon to have a grough and tough voice in the comic and he doesn't really have that in this film by David Selby he still does a great job but..he's not AMAZING or anything nore is he really perfect fit for the character but at the same time he's not really miscast he just seems out of place for this universe of batman.

All in all this film is a MUST have for batman fans,especially fans of the comic and of Millers work, and is def. one of the best DC universe Comics to come out,Next to Under The Red Hood, In a while. Although not the best BATMAN it's def. a great addition to the film's he's been in.