DC Universe has already paid homage to Millers work with a Batman Year One animated film, but with The Dark Knight Returns, director Jay Oliva and screenwriter Bob Goodman are taking on what might be the most ambitious read potentially disastrous DCU project, ever. Does the animated version live up to its legendary comic book source material Or is Millers graphic novel too complex and twisted for the cartoon worldDirected by Christopher Nolan. With Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman. Eight years after the Jokers reign of anarchy, the Dark Knight, with the. DCComics. com Welcome to the Official Site for DC. DC is home to the Worlds Greatest Super Heroes, including SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN, THE. Skeptics should rest easy, as Batman The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is a rousing success in many ways, and easily conquers its own faults by delivering a Batman movie experience that is unlike any other. Note that I say Batman movie experience, because to limit Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 to just being a great animated movie experience would be selling it short. The story centers on a fifty five year old Bruce Wayne, now forcibly retired from Batman duty as the result of a national crackdown on superhero vigilantes. Disgruntled and swimming in booze, Wayne floats through Gothams streets, watching complacently as the city falls to savagery and crime thanks in large part to a gang of psychotic young punks who call themselves The Mutants. As Gotham City darkens, Bruce begins to feel an old presence rising from the depths inside him and when one of his old foes returns to commit a brazen string of crimes, Batman can be abated no longer. Before he fully knows it, Bruce is back in costume and unleashing punishing justice to the criminal lot of Gotham but the Mutants and their ferocious leader are a new breed of criminal one that even Batman may not be able to best. Oliva and Goodman stick like glue to Millers comic, which is probably the smartest move they could make. Most of The Dark Knight Returns from the page is replicated in this film, including the shifts between Batmans story and ongoing news broadcasts that provide larger thematic and expository context a welcome inclusion for those of us who were needlessly worried that the animated film would sacrifice the layered complexity of Millers tale. That complexity reamins intact, as do many of the comedic moments that come from transitions between the actions of the principal characters and the often satirical commentary of the news broadcasts. The Mutant Leader broadcasts his threats. Most of the supporting characters and personalities from the comic book news broadcasts are also in the film various satirized news anchor personalities, on the street commentators and talking heads such as an overweight Lana Lang from Superman advocating Batmans return, and Dr. Bartholomew Wolper Michael Mc. Kean, the psychiatrist who preaches that Batman is a menace who inspires supervillain psychosis. Like in the comics, these peripheral characters and moments expand the scope of the story, transforming it into a larger rumination on Batman as an icon and symbol, instead of it just being a story about an aging Batman trying to get his groove back. The broadcasts also frame the story and pacing of the film, allowing Oliva and Goodman to delve into important scenes, while using broadcast exposition to move us through new developments easily and clearly. Although the comic version relied a great deal on Batmans internal monologue, the filmmakers avoid that path and fill any gaps in understanding through the use of visual implication or supporting characters putting certain matters to voice. The atmosphere of Millers world is translated perfectly to the screen, making The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 one of the darkest and most disturbing Batman movies in any medium. This is a story in which we first got a truly frightening image of Batman as a violent, obsessive, semi psychotic vigilante, and thats exactly what we get in this animated film. Scenes of Batman breaking criminals bones or literally beating their faces to a bloody pulp are fantastic for the crowd that prefers a grittier and more adult version of the character however, the film is definitely too intense for children under double digit age. A big point of contention with this particular project will be the look of it Millers graphic novel was illustrated in his distinctly dirty, chaotic, scribbly style, which doesnt lend itself well to modern animation. Out of loyalty, Oliva sticks with the overall design and concepts of Millers artwork, but marries it to the more exact style of high quality anime films. This creates a unique and gorgeous visual palette, in which we still get Millers BTDKR designs a big, blocky, bruiser Batman being the most iconic we still get the darkness, grit, grime and hyper 8. Gotham City, but here it all looks carefully and expertly animated. Iconic moments from the comics are lovingly recreated in the film, and in general, the Blu ray visuals alone are worth the price of purchase. Being a film, Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 also has a chance to expand on some of the more static images and moments in the comics, which brings a level of intrigue to the film even for longtime fans. Such moments include Batmans confrontation with a corrupt military official, as well as the action sequences and set pieces, which are staged in exciting, often brutal, and totally Batman esque fashion by Oliva. Dark Knight Returns unequivocally delivers a satisfying action quotient and some classic fight scenes, to boot. The voice acting is, for the most part, spot on. Peter Weller Robocop is not necessarily the first name you think of when imagining a voice for Batman but then again, Millers dialogue in BTDKR isnt like any other Batman story before or after it. While fans will always clamor for voice actor Kevin Conroy to be handed every animated Batman role, Wellers strong and steady monotone is in my opinion the perfect delivery method for the dry, sardonic Batman dialogue Miller intended. A nice casting choice. Modern Family star Ariel Winter is plucky enough to voice Carrie Kelley, the young girl who takes up the mantel of Robin, while versatile voice actor Gary Anthony Williams The Boondocks uses his signature growl to make the Mutant leader sound like a fearsome foe. The only real fail in casting is David Selby Social Network, whose light, airy tones sound totally wrong coming out of Commissioner Gordon. When the menace known as the Joker emerges from his mysterious past, he wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the Dark Knight must accept one of the. Batman The Dark Knight Returns is a twopart directtovideo animated superhero film, an adaptation of the 1986 comic book The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom V5 0 X64 Multilingual Incl Keygen Mac here. Buy Batman Begins Read 2427 Movies TV Reviews Amazon. The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is a mustbuy for any Batman fan including those who swear by the comic version of the story. Story wise, Part 1 covers the first two installments of Millers four part story Dark Knight Returns and Dark Knight Triumphant, opening with Bruce Wayne becoming Batman again in order to stop Two Face, and ending with his war against the Mutants which has an ominous side effect. Part 2 will cover an epic showdown between Batman and The Joker, and the fallout of that battle, which sees Batman marked as a fugitive with Superman assigned to bring him in. The Dark Knight Returns alternatively titled Batman The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 fourissue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Miller. Christian Bale as BatmanBruce Wayne, finally emerges after eight years from the events of The Dark Knight. He returns in order to save Gotham from Bane. Classic HannaBarbera cartoons get the comic book treatment. COMICS FOR DANGEROUS HUMANS. DCS YOUNG ANIMAL.