Review of Batman: Year One (2011) by Everett J — 11 May 2012

"Batman Year One" is an animated movie about the first year Bruce Wayne is batman(caption obvious over here). As many times as there has been a Batman origin movie(live action or animated), this is a pretty different take on it.

This movie really deals with the first year of Lt. James Gordon(Bryan Cranston) on his way to becoming commissioner. Just moved to Gotham City, Gordon has to deal with corrupt cops, criminals, and now a masked vigilante called Batman.

This really should have been called "Gordon: Year One", but I doubt that would have sold very well. The animated is just ok, and the story is kind of just "meh, ok". Cranston's voice work as Gordon is the best thing about the movie.

I could listen to him read the phone book, he just has this intensity that transcends to animation very well. Gordon, as far as I can remember, has never been portrayed like this. Here he is a badass, who commits adultery, and can handle himself against the hardest of criminals.

Running at 64 minutes, this feels more like an episode of a cartoon series, rather than a stand alone movie. Fans of Batman will think it's good, non fans will probably side with me, on expecting/wanting more.

Not the worst animated movie, but nowhere near the best.