Gotham Knight
The shadows remain poised like a towering figure, waiting, lifting in the heights like some dark guardian. And the rest of Gotham runs with cold chills as it grows dirty with crime.
It’s left for the dark knight to clean it out.
“Batman: Gotham Knight” takes place between the first theatrical film Batman Begins and the next installment which comes out this summer on the July 18th. Yet much of the history surrounding the next film is kept in the dark.
But this animated film leads into the next theatrical film… a sort of a teaser. But much more than that. The entire animated film is done with an artist’s care. Much attention is made to detail. The animation is far different this time around. As Japanese animators lend their style to the gritty, threatening realism of the city that builds on infamous crime.
The drawings are remarkable. Anime style, to be sure. But not stark Japanese anime that it would be distracting. Just enough for the influence to be there. The animated film stitches together a string of stories that are interwoven and creates a minor story arc throughout. The stories are very short, to the point. Yet still holds a punctuation of storytelling in them.
The film marks the return of Kevin Conroy as the voice of the Batman. His grinding voice strikes terror, his low vocals recalls the best moments of the original Batman animated series that has made its run through the 1990s. It’s great to hear his familiar voice again. And Conroy remains the best when it comes to the cartoon Batman… never stilted or wavering, always a strong, powerful voice that’s commanding.
And the film is produced by Bruce Timm… who I was lucky enough to meet at the Wizard World convention in Chicago just weeks ago.
Some of the stories mention someone called the Russian. For the most part he stays out of the light, keeping private company somewhere else. He is a puppeteer who pulls the strings of his culprits who continue to be his eyes and ears throughout the city. He may be a major player when the film “Batman: Dark Knight” hits the screens.
There is also the appearance of the Scarecrow which bridges the first and the second theatrical films here. He maintains a shady character hiding in the bowels of the city, living in a kind of ritualistic tribe, primal, savage, as if his psychosis has taken a further downward spiral into murderous rampage. He tries to sacrifice someone in the name of his new gods who mill around in the deepest corridors of the city.
Batman manages to rescue the man who is nearly made an offering to the sacrifice. Also touched by the Scarecrow’s fear venom, Batman sees illusions that nearly thwart his vision. This gives the animators a good opportunity to run wild with their drawings, pushing the envelope further.
My own favorite of the several stories running through the film is “Working with Pain.” This is a more introspective look into Bruce Wayne’s younger life before he became the familiar man in the cowl and cape, his younger enthusiasm searches for enlightenment. He is taught by a young Indian woman in her native land, however she remains an outsider to her own people.
Perhaps Wayne feels a kinship with her. Which drives him to further seek teachings through working with pain. This episodes swings back and forth through flashbacks. Batman is current hit by a random bullet and must continue to find a way out of the derelict building to get medial help. He calls on Alfred, his butler, to get him the municipal needs.
During the entire climb, longer than eternity, his hands groping and grasping for ways to reach the higher parts of the building, only to fall once more. He grows tired, weaker, yet he still continues. This episode “Working with Pain” shows why he is so stubborn, a very determined soul. He seems unstoppable. Yet he is also vulnerable.
This episode manages to show why he has failed in his education with the young Indian woman. There’s another side to him. Filled with anger, vengeance. She has no room for that in her life. When Wayne finally leaves her domain, being cast out, she says in a soft murmur, “I have failed you.”
Towards the end of the episode of “Working with Pain,” we find a still wounded Batman climbing the last steps, almost making it to the top. Alfred is there waiting for him to reach the top (beautifully voiced by David McCullam… you have to have an Englishman to do Alfred’s voice) and he offers to give him a hand. Batman says, “I can’t.”
This particular installment is beautiful as it makes perfect sense as to why Batman is the person he is today. This isn’t about full blown action or who’s beating up who. But the short film details the inner self of the Batman and why the nights are lonely for him as he must endure his pain on his own. He must suffer through the loneliness of his life. Because he does not wish to be a failure in anyone’s eyes. His parents. Alfred. The young Indian teacher. Batman is all too human figure, very tragic.
The final segment really makes for the send off into the theatrical film release Batman. “Deadshot” is a story of two famous characters in a duel. And it is a battle of opposites. The assassin Deadshot is taking down important figures in the city of Gotham and one of the intended victims is Gordon of the police force. There’s a detail leading to the hiring of Deadshot by someone called the Russian. His name crops up everywhere in the film and it’s certain he’ll play a later part in the film. As mobsters still are playing large roles in the grimy city of Gotham.
It’s an interesting fight. Batman relies on wits and brawn to get out of a fight. Deadshot lays heavily on his guns. Without the guns, Deadshot is a mere wimp trying to be a big shot. It doesn’t work here in Gotham. No one takes pot shots in Batman’s town and he gets kicked around. Not before he mentions the Russian hired him.
The film serves as a near preview for the next Batman movie release, and the animation is simply starting, beautifully done. The Batman character is perfect for this animation style as there are many shadows, things take place at night. Giving much room to breathe for the artists.
It’s no surprise that audiences still are fascinated by a man who built his life around a single purpose. And the singular drive that propels this man into a one man war against crime remains a sad one. Yet he continues to be one of the most interesting characters in comics these days.
It’s left for the dark knight to clean it out.
“Batman: Gotham Knight” takes place between the first theatrical film Batman Begins and the next installment which comes out this summer on the July 18th. Yet much of the history surrounding the next film is kept in the dark.
But this animated film leads into the next theatrical film… a sort of a teaser. But much more than that. The entire animated film is done with an artist’s care. Much attention is made to detail. The animation is far different this time around. As Japanese animators lend their style to the gritty, threatening realism of the city that builds on infamous crime.
The drawings are remarkable. Anime style, to be sure. But not stark Japanese anime that it would be distracting. Just enough for the influence to be there. The animated film stitches together a string of stories that are interwoven and creates a minor story arc throughout. The stories are very short, to the point. Yet still holds a punctuation of storytelling in them.
The film marks the return of Kevin Conroy as the voice of the Batman. His grinding voice strikes terror, his low vocals recalls the best moments of the original Batman animated series that has made its run through the 1990s. It’s great to hear his familiar voice again. And Conroy remains the best when it comes to the cartoon Batman… never stilted or wavering, always a strong, powerful voice that’s commanding.
And the film is produced by Bruce Timm… who I was lucky enough to meet at the Wizard World convention in Chicago just weeks ago.
Some of the stories mention someone called the Russian. For the most part he stays out of the light, keeping private company somewhere else. He is a puppeteer who pulls the strings of his culprits who continue to be his eyes and ears throughout the city. He may be a major player when the film “Batman: Dark Knight” hits the screens.
There is also the appearance of the Scarecrow which bridges the first and the second theatrical films here. He maintains a shady character hiding in the bowels of the city, living in a kind of ritualistic tribe, primal, savage, as if his psychosis has taken a further downward spiral into murderous rampage. He tries to sacrifice someone in the name of his new gods who mill around in the deepest corridors of the city.
Batman manages to rescue the man who is nearly made an offering to the sacrifice. Also touched by the Scarecrow’s fear venom, Batman sees illusions that nearly thwart his vision. This gives the animators a good opportunity to run wild with their drawings, pushing the envelope further.
My own favorite of the several stories running through the film is “Working with Pain.” This is a more introspective look into Bruce Wayne’s younger life before he became the familiar man in the cowl and cape, his younger enthusiasm searches for enlightenment. He is taught by a young Indian woman in her native land, however she remains an outsider to her own people.
Perhaps Wayne feels a kinship with her. Which drives him to further seek teachings through working with pain. This episodes swings back and forth through flashbacks. Batman is current hit by a random bullet and must continue to find a way out of the derelict building to get medial help. He calls on Alfred, his butler, to get him the municipal needs.
During the entire climb, longer than eternity, his hands groping and grasping for ways to reach the higher parts of the building, only to fall once more. He grows tired, weaker, yet he still continues. This episode “Working with Pain” shows why he is so stubborn, a very determined soul. He seems unstoppable. Yet he is also vulnerable.
This episode manages to show why he has failed in his education with the young Indian woman. There’s another side to him. Filled with anger, vengeance. She has no room for that in her life. When Wayne finally leaves her domain, being cast out, she says in a soft murmur, “I have failed you.”
Towards the end of the episode of “Working with Pain,” we find a still wounded Batman climbing the last steps, almost making it to the top. Alfred is there waiting for him to reach the top (beautifully voiced by David McCullam… you have to have an Englishman to do Alfred’s voice) and he offers to give him a hand. Batman says, “I can’t.”
This particular installment is beautiful as it makes perfect sense as to why Batman is the person he is today. This isn’t about full blown action or who’s beating up who. But the short film details the inner self of the Batman and why the nights are lonely for him as he must endure his pain on his own. He must suffer through the loneliness of his life. Because he does not wish to be a failure in anyone’s eyes. His parents. Alfred. The young Indian teacher. Batman is all too human figure, very tragic.
The final segment really makes for the send off into the theatrical film release Batman. “Deadshot” is a story of two famous characters in a duel. And it is a battle of opposites. The assassin Deadshot is taking down important figures in the city of Gotham and one of the intended victims is Gordon of the police force. There’s a detail leading to the hiring of Deadshot by someone called the Russian. His name crops up everywhere in the film and it’s certain he’ll play a later part in the film. As mobsters still are playing large roles in the grimy city of Gotham.
It’s an interesting fight. Batman relies on wits and brawn to get out of a fight. Deadshot lays heavily on his guns. Without the guns, Deadshot is a mere wimp trying to be a big shot. It doesn’t work here in Gotham. No one takes pot shots in Batman’s town and he gets kicked around. Not before he mentions the Russian hired him.
The film serves as a near preview for the next Batman movie release, and the animation is simply starting, beautifully done. The Batman character is perfect for this animation style as there are many shadows, things take place at night. Giving much room to breathe for the artists.
It’s no surprise that audiences still are fascinated by a man who built his life around a single purpose. And the singular drive that propels this man into a one man war against crime remains a sad one. Yet he continues to be one of the most interesting characters in comics these days.
posted by K.M. Paters at 12:07 PM
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