Post by All Star Batman on Jun 29, 2008 21:35:28 GMT -5
[REVIEW] 'BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT'
Film is set to wow and satisfy fans and did so at its premiere at Wizard World Chicago
By Steve Sunu
Posted 6/29/2008
Batman came to life again tonight at the Wizard World Chicago with the world premiere of the new animated movie "Batman: Gotham Knight" starring Kevin Conroy as the iconic voice of the Dark Knight. "Gotham Knight" is the third in a series of DC animated features, hot on the heels of the successful "Justice League: The New Frontier." Suffice to say, fans will in no way, shape, or form be disappointed by this absolute gem of an animated film.
In the style of the critically acclaimed "Animatrix," "Gotham Knight" features six stand-alone, but loosely connected stories about Batman, Bruce Wayne and the cast of colorful characters we've all come to know and love in "Batman Begins." If you’ve been craving some well-written Lucius Fox, Jim Gordon, Scarecrow and Alfred, then you won’t be disappointed. However, the real question that has been plaguing the minds of fans since its announcement is whether or not this film stacks up to the original "Batman: The Animated Series" by Bruce Timm. The answer? If you were a fan of the original animated series, you won’t be disappointed in any way with this film.
Everything that "Batman Begins" is to the original Hollywood Batman franchise, "Gotham Knight" is to "Batman: The Animated Series." It updates and creates new content while still paying respect and homage to the source material. Everything from bats flying across the screen to the single, iconic image of Batman on a rooftop standing watch over Gotham City is present in "Gotham Knight" from the very first pan into of the city to the very end when the credits to roll.
Want more characters? "Gotham Knight" has them in spades. Everyone from a deadly assassin, to a sewer dwelling villain, to a cop that looks a heck of a lot like Renee Montoya is here and ready to get back into the swing of things. The film also covers the many viewpoints of Batman; that of the everyman, of children, of the Gotham City Police Department and of Bruce Wayne himself—it’s all here in one package. The writing is compelling and the closest thing I’ve seen to watching an actual comic book since seeing "Sin City." Each story has an episodic feel that complements the "Batman Begins" franchise while still paying tribute to its comic book roots.
The music is nothing short of phenomenal; boasting a full orchestral score that would make some live-action movies ashamed. Every note is perfectly placed to emote the fear and suspense we feel when reading a classic, well-written Batman story, and is only complemented by Kevin Conroy’s absolutely amazing performance. The animated Batman we know and love is back in a big way, and it will knock you right out of your cape and cowl.
Although the movie is incredible in so many ways, it does have one shortcoming: some of the stories are done in a style far too reminiscent of Anime. The shortcoming is not the art style, but the animation technique itself, which sometimes makes the lip-synching sloppy and the voices too over-the-top (especially in the first story). Even Anime fans might find some of the animation out of place for a Batman film. However, this is one, very nitpicky, aspect of an otherwise phenomenal film, and the style somewhat transitions from the first story to the final story back toward a more realistic representation.
Even if you’re not a longtime fan of the series, the film is incredibly well put together and has a natural flow through stories that make you feel as though you’re reading a full story arc in a monthly Batman title. Even non-Batman fans can pick up this DVD and thoroughly enjoy it for its excellent animation, writing, orchestration and humor (Alfred’s lines are hilarious). Continuity sticklers will be satisfied as to how it manages to wrap up many of the loose ends of "Batman Begins." The DVD hits shelves on June 8. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.
Film is set to wow and satisfy fans and did so at its premiere at Wizard World Chicago
By Steve Sunu
Posted 6/29/2008
Batman came to life again tonight at the Wizard World Chicago with the world premiere of the new animated movie "Batman: Gotham Knight" starring Kevin Conroy as the iconic voice of the Dark Knight. "Gotham Knight" is the third in a series of DC animated features, hot on the heels of the successful "Justice League: The New Frontier." Suffice to say, fans will in no way, shape, or form be disappointed by this absolute gem of an animated film.
In the style of the critically acclaimed "Animatrix," "Gotham Knight" features six stand-alone, but loosely connected stories about Batman, Bruce Wayne and the cast of colorful characters we've all come to know and love in "Batman Begins." If you’ve been craving some well-written Lucius Fox, Jim Gordon, Scarecrow and Alfred, then you won’t be disappointed. However, the real question that has been plaguing the minds of fans since its announcement is whether or not this film stacks up to the original "Batman: The Animated Series" by Bruce Timm. The answer? If you were a fan of the original animated series, you won’t be disappointed in any way with this film.
Everything that "Batman Begins" is to the original Hollywood Batman franchise, "Gotham Knight" is to "Batman: The Animated Series." It updates and creates new content while still paying respect and homage to the source material. Everything from bats flying across the screen to the single, iconic image of Batman on a rooftop standing watch over Gotham City is present in "Gotham Knight" from the very first pan into of the city to the very end when the credits to roll.
Want more characters? "Gotham Knight" has them in spades. Everyone from a deadly assassin, to a sewer dwelling villain, to a cop that looks a heck of a lot like Renee Montoya is here and ready to get back into the swing of things. The film also covers the many viewpoints of Batman; that of the everyman, of children, of the Gotham City Police Department and of Bruce Wayne himself—it’s all here in one package. The writing is compelling and the closest thing I’ve seen to watching an actual comic book since seeing "Sin City." Each story has an episodic feel that complements the "Batman Begins" franchise while still paying tribute to its comic book roots.
The music is nothing short of phenomenal; boasting a full orchestral score that would make some live-action movies ashamed. Every note is perfectly placed to emote the fear and suspense we feel when reading a classic, well-written Batman story, and is only complemented by Kevin Conroy’s absolutely amazing performance. The animated Batman we know and love is back in a big way, and it will knock you right out of your cape and cowl.
Although the movie is incredible in so many ways, it does have one shortcoming: some of the stories are done in a style far too reminiscent of Anime. The shortcoming is not the art style, but the animation technique itself, which sometimes makes the lip-synching sloppy and the voices too over-the-top (especially in the first story). Even Anime fans might find some of the animation out of place for a Batman film. However, this is one, very nitpicky, aspect of an otherwise phenomenal film, and the style somewhat transitions from the first story to the final story back toward a more realistic representation.
Even if you’re not a longtime fan of the series, the film is incredibly well put together and has a natural flow through stories that make you feel as though you’re reading a full story arc in a monthly Batman title. Even non-Batman fans can pick up this DVD and thoroughly enjoy it for its excellent animation, writing, orchestration and humor (Alfred’s lines are hilarious). Continuity sticklers will be satisfied as to how it manages to wrap up many of the loose ends of "Batman Begins." The DVD hits shelves on June 8. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.