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Plot Summary
When Gotham City is in desperate need of heroes, two men take a stand for justice...but on opposite sides. Bruce Wayne returns home after years abroad to become a crimefighter, just as honest cop Lt. James Gordon moves to Gotham and finds corruption at every level. When Bruce becomes the masked vigilante Batman, the city explodes as his new nemesis Catwoman, the mob and Gordon all close in! Don't miss this thrilling DC Universe Animated Original Movie based on the groundbreaking story by Frank Miller and featuring two-time Emmy® Award winner Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Katee Sackhoff, Eliza Dushku and Alex Rocco in its stellar voice cast. Experience a bold and dynamic vision of the Dark Knight's first year in action and the start of his enduring friendship with Jim Gordon.
Customer Reviews
A long overdue adaptation
This is not just another batman origin film, it's based of the definitive origin story that has stood the test of time and for those who would call themselves fans, it's going to be a treat to see. For those who haven't read the Frank Miller book, start there and you'll know what I'm talking about.
A disappointing and bloodless adaptation
First and foremost, it must be said that I consider BATMAN: YEAR ONE to be among Frank Miller's best, displaying more mastery and simplicity than some of his earlier work and more heart and nuance than the extreme cartooning he indulges in today. The energy and excitement of the original story could have provided the foundation for an exciting and satisfying animated motion picture. Instead, what we get is more or a less a verbatim reading of the comic's parallel internal monologues while some action stuff happens to take place on screen.
As is true of a great many Batman stories (including The Dark Knight), the heart of story rests not with Batman, himself, but with the humanity of the characters that surround him. That is especially true in the 'graphic novel' BATMAN: YEAR ONE where it's Jim Gordon's Ross MacDonald-inspired narrative that carries the emotional weight and, while it's meant to be the same here, Bryan Cranston's vocal talents are wasted as he's left to more or less simply read Miller's prose.
All in all, I'd like to push for less strictly literal adaptations of DC's classic material. A literal adaption turned WATCHMEN into a leaden mess and Grant Morrison's charmingly nostalgic ALL-STAR SUPERMAN into a meandering, episodic exercise in nonsense. Here, the same reverent impulse to the source material has turned Miller and Mazzuchelli's unforgettable masterpiece into something wholly opposite.
I'd recommend NEW FRONTIER and BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD as pretty terrific adaptations. Further, in terms of original material, I find BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS and BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER very satisfying. Now, if someone would just do an original animated SUPERMAN, that could be a blast.
Faithful to the comic by Miller and Mazzuchelli
This was about as good an adaptation as you could hope for, and I had high hopes for sure. If you liked the comics, then you'll definitely enjoy this. If you've never read the comics by Miller and Mazzuchelli, then you'll still love it. Gritty, suspenseful, action-packed. Good job to all involved with this one!
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- $17.99
- Genre: Action & Adventure
- Released: 2011
- © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and DC Comics.