Batman Year One

Reviews from the Dark Side presents:
Batman Year One

Animated adaptation of Frank Miller's classic graphic novel. The title says it all. It follows Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham City as a 25 year old after "studying" abroad for 12 years. If you know the Batman mythos, you know what types of studies he undertook (is that a word?). The movie also has a parallel story following Lt. James Gor...don's (voiced by Bryan Cranston) assignment to the Gotham City PD where he encounters an almost totally corrupt police force and an even more corrupt commisioner who is in bed with the Gotham mobs. As maybe the only two people in Gotham that actually want to do something about the rampant crime in the city, you know Bruce and Gordon will eventually cross paths. Bruce starts his crimefighting career by trying to disguise himself as a thug to blend in to the Gotham's underbelly. After  beating a pimp, encountering a woman by the name of Selina (Catwoman with a totally wackado close cropped haircut) who matches him fist for kick, getting shot by corrupt cops, and then escaping from said cops, Bruce decides he needs something more. Something that will inspire fear. As he lay in his chair bleeding to death, a bat crashes through the mansion window and perches itself on top of his father's bust. Inspiration. He then rings for Alfred and the rest is history. Gordon encounters his share of trouble, too. As one of the only non-corrupt cops on the force, he's attacked and beaten by fellow cops who also threaten his pregnant wife. Gordon goes into tough guy mode and tracks the leader down and beats him decisively. Eventually Bruce (finally as Batman) and Gordon's paths cross when Gordon is assigned to capture the Batman. Batman and Gordon end up working together to expose the corruption in the GCPD and the legendary bond is formed between them. At only an hour and 4 minutes this is a quick watch and a good addition to the Batman filmography. Very entertaining.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee. Buy this on DVD when released!
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here. Get this DVD goes without saying.