Warner Home Video has released the latest DC Comics DVD Batman: Year One, and the film holds very true to the comic book version written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli from 1987. The movie is chronicled on a “Year One” time line which is shown on the screen from January to December.
This movie chronicles what is to be Frank Miller’s version of the beginning of The Batman origin. Bruce Wayne has been away for more than 12 years, learning the techniques that will turn him into The Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to fight crime, not yet knowing that he will become The Batman. At the same time, a young James Gordon has just relocated his family to Gotham from Chicago. Gotham City is reeling from the corruption that is eating away at the streets, not just from criminals but law enforcement, namely the current Commissioner Gillian Loeb. Characters making appearances in this story are Selina Kyle, who at this juncture in her life is a dominatrix and actually gets into fisticuffs with Bruce on the streets of Gotham as he gets tangled up on the streets fighting a pimp. The Batman’s first ally in law enforcement is D.A. Harvey Dent. Mob boss Carmine “The Roman” Falcone is the main foil in the movie, as The Batman begins to disrupt Falcone’s criminal dealings. The movie has more of an Anime feel than most of the other recent DC animated releases. Now, I am generally not an anime fan, but it kind of works in this film. Bryan Cranston as the voice of Jim Gordon works perfect. He brings a down and gritty version of Gordon to this film, as he tries to deal with all the corruption in the police dept. and strife with his family. Other voicers joining Batman: Year One are Benjamin McKenzie as Batman, Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Katie Sackhoff as Sarah Essen. The movie also carries a high degree of violence, I might add. But that’s to be expected in anything featuring Batman. Extras include a DC Showcase short : Catwoman and a preview of Justice League Doom, the next release from DC Universe. To bad DC/Warner Bros. can’t hire Bruce Timm and all his staff to produce the live action films that Warner’s can’t seem to get in gear. This guy just keeps on pumping out hit after hit
All in all, for all you Batman fans, go to your local store and pick this one up. This one is a keeper.