Batman : Gotham Knight | REVIEW

If you've been reading most of my reviews (especially the ones to do with comic books and superhero movies) then you should know by now that I am fanatical about the upcoming Batman installment, a nifty lil' film entitled The Dark Knight, due out in a couple of days. I watched Batman Begins the other day for God-knows-the-how-many-eth-time and also recently managed to get my hands on Warner's latest direct-to-DVD animation entitled Batman : Gotham Knight. Why is this animated feature so important, you ask? Because according to the filmmakers behind it, Gotham Knight acts like a bridge between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Yes folks, The Dark Knight doesn't happen immediately after Batman Begins. In fact, if you've been following the viral marketing, you'll see that a lot happens in between the two films.

Batman : Gotham Knight can be compared to The Animatrix in a lot of ways. It basically shows six interlocking stories from the minds of some of Hollywood's big-shots and also some big names from the world of cartoons and comic books, one of them being Bruce Timm. Ring a bell? If you were a fan of Batman : The Animated Series then you've surely noticed this guy's name during the credits as the one responsible for storyline and artwork. He has also worked on a bunch of other high-profile comics and animated TV shows.

All the six episodes in Gotham Knight incorporate different art styles and portray Batman from different angles, sinking deep into the character unlike any other animated film before this. Most of the time, the artwork builds a very gritty, harsh image of Gotham...the city Batman would give his life to in order to protect and save from the criminals that run it. The only other medium that portrays the Dark Knight in a similar fashion would have to be comic books and graphic novels. Although there are no major references to Batman Begins, Gotham Knight tells the 'in-between' story of how Batman's work affects certain individuals either positively or negatively and also how the people of Gotham react to their new urban legend. All six episodes are written and directed by different teams of people, so Batman's suit, his looks, and his gadgetry might vary as the episodes change. It's a very dark story that tells people the reality of being a 'hero' in a place like Gotham City. The truth is, not everyone (including the good guys) are happy about the Batman's presence in town.

The only other Batman animated feature that I personally think is extremely dark and in some cases even adult-oriented would have to be Batman Beyond : Return Of The Joker (uncut), in which the story even goes to extreme lengths to explain Robin's 'murder'. Second in line would have to be Mask Of The Phantasm. The distinction between Gotham Knight and other animated features is that Gotham Knight seems very real; too real sometimes. All episodes use anime-style artwork in various styles so you can expect some extent of hyper-realism. In many ways, Gotham Knight gives us a raw, uncensored look at the Batman and how he takes responsibility for his role as the 'Dark Knight of Gotham'. It's probably how Batman should have always been portrayed. The entire film deals with Batman's internal conflicts as well as his motives that are constantly being questioned by the citizens of Gotham. You'll also see villains from Batman's extensive rogues-gallery, such as Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Deadshot, and The Man In Black.

Although Batman: Gotham Knight isn't a must-see in order for you to understand The Dark Knight, it is a must-have for any avid Bat-fan. It's a completely different trip into the darkness in which Batman dwells. Also, Kevin Conroy reprises his role as the Bat, so you know it's gonna' sound good. Who's Kevin Conroy? He's the guy who voiced Batman in all the animated series since 1992 including Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. He also voices Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond. Quite frankly, Kevin Conroy is the voice of Batman and one that nobody has been able to top till this date...not even, I dare say, Christian Bale. The only downside to this flick would have to be its short runtime (around 75minutes) and its tendency to step away from the live-action movies. The various art-styles and constant changing of the way Batman and his surroundings are portrayed in each episode give you the feel that Gotham Knight doesn't connect well with Batman Begins or even the upcoming The Dark Knight. Overall, it's a worthwhile watch and something that every comic / superhero / Batman fan should watch whenever they get a chance.
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Wrap : Batman : Gotham Knight gets a 3.9 out of 5.0. It integrates some eye-candy-ish anime artwork and some very nice storylines. It's more adult-oriented with realistic violence. Plus, it portrays Batman the way the 'Knight should rightfully be portrayed. Like I said, it isn't something essential to Christopher Nolan's Batman series, but it's surely a must-see.

P.S : You probably know what I'm gonna' say now, don't you? I just reviewed Gotham Knight which means I've just watched it...which means that I am all set for The Dark Knight. Tickets are in hand, all that has to happen now is time. It's gonna' be awesome!