The Dark Knight Returns/DC Animated Movie

[ChrisMC]

Part 1 comes out on DVD/BluRay September 25th. The graphic novel this originates from is pretty much the reason we have the grittier Batman we all know and love these days. From the looks of the trailer, it seems to be pretty faithful to the source material. Peter Weller sounds pretty badass as Bats.  :batman


Batman The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 Official Trailer (2012) HD - http://film-book.com

[Rico]

I heard about this awhile back.  Looks great!

[Jobydrone]

Trailer is great.  I was worried that the style of the recent Batman animated series wouldn't mesh with this story, because the source material is so dependent on Frank Miller's iconic art...but it looks fantastic.  Far and away this is my favorite Batman story, I cannot wait to see it.

[Rico]

Anyone else see this yet?  Just watched it the other night and it was awesome.  Man, I'd love to see a live action version of this someday, but this was really good.  Only drawback is it's just part one.  But they do end it at a good spot.  Any Batman fan needs to see this, even if you haven't read the classic comic.  :batman

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2313197/

[Jobydrone]

I'm a huge fan of the comic, but I was a little disappointed with this.  I found the voice acting just okay, and the unique language of the book (the weird slang of the teens and mutants) didn't translate to the screen for me. Also, I didn't feel the gravitas of the return of the Batman (or Two Face & Joker for that matter) quite the same way as it is portrayed in the book.  Some of these scenes are shot for shot right out of Frank Millers book, almost to the level that this could be considered a motion comic, but for me it just didn't work.  It's probably because I've read the book so many times, I guess, that seeing it animated just doesn't jibe with my internal voices that's ingrained in my memory from all the repeated readings.

Overall while I'll certainly watch part 2 when it comes out, this won't bear repeated viewings for me the way the book has achieved classic status in my mind. I'd recommend wholeheartedly, if you like Batman even a little and haven't read this, to definitely pick up Frank Miller's trade paperback of this before seeing the movie. I think it's the best Batman story ever written.

[Jobydrone]

Definitely agree with Rico on one point...this would be an incredible live action movie.  And I still can't wait to see the epic Superman battle at the end of part two of this.

[ChrisMC]

The main thing missing for me was Batman's internal dialogue....it's so integral to the story that I missed it here. Peter Weller is fine, but damn, how great would it be if it was Kevin Conroy?  :batman

[Rico]

Hmm, I've read the comic but I still found this quite good.  Not quite the same as a comic of course, but still very enjoyable.

[Jobydrone]

The main thing missing for me was Batman's internal dialogue....it's so integral to the story that I missed it here. Peter Weller is fine, but damn, how great would it be if it was Kevin Conroy?  :batman

absolutely, I meant to mention that too but forgot...in the battle scenes with the mutant leader especially I found the lack of the internal monologue just a gaping absence.  Was there just no way to include it without it sounding like he was actually talking?

[Jobydrone]

Hmm, I've read the comic but I still found this quite good.  Not quite the same as a comic of course, but still very enjoyable.

I guess I'd still recommend it because the story is so good, but like in so many cases with translations to film, the book (or in this case, graphic novel) is simply way better.

[Meds]

Whats Michael Emerson like as The Joker.

[Jobydrone]

Whats Michael Emerson like as The Joker.

He has one line in part one, but it's great!

[Meds]

Is he doing a Mark Hamil or his own take?

[Jobydrone]

Too soon to tell.

[Rico]

Footage from part 2 will be shown at the upcoming NYC Comic Con.  Here's a still image from it.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/nycomicconnews.php?id=95548