Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1: Review By Bawnian©-Dexeus

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is a 2012 animated superhero movie.

Directed by: Jay Oliva

Featuring the voices of: Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, David Shelby, Wade Williams and Gary Anthony Williams.

Though I've never read Miller's work, I do perform my research. Just when you thought you've heard the last of Batman, Rises is far from the end. Many avid fans know that for Nolan's epic trilogy, aspects have the films, while retaining his unique approach and elegant touch, all bear elements from various printed source materials, such as: Year One, The Longest Halloween, Knightfall and of course, The Dark Knight Returns.

We follow a 55 year-old Bruce Wayne, who has surrendered the symbol and cowl of the Batman. The movie begins marking the tenth anniversary of the last Batman sighting in Gotham. His reign of instilling fear at the hearts of criminals have lived their fifteen minutes of fame, a new malevolence terrorizes the city called: Mutants.

I have never laid my eyes on the graphic novel, but I plan to. If the movie does as much justice as I have read on the Internet, I should be impressed upon a second viewing. The animation is familiar, so I'll start with that. I reminds me of when Batman: The Animated Series made its way in my childhood. You have the same costume of grey and blue with the yellow bat coated symbol. Bruce Wayne still looks like the animated character I grew up with, despite his old age. As a whole, it presents beautiful colors with a sort of "chalk" appearance. I hope you know what I mean by that.

We see old villains and new villains. Two Face gets his life back or, to be more specific, his face back and is released into the public as a rehabilitated member of Arkham Asylum. A secondary old school character makes a brief appearance: Joker. Sadly for us, he seems more lobotomized than functional, or is it just a bomb of laughing gas waiting to erupt? The focus goes to a minor battle with Harvey Dent and the Mutants. Miller explores Dent without ignoring his alter ego's obsession with the number 2, and thus proving that in the DC universe, villains will always be light years away from being good again.

All voice actors blend well with our familiar characters. I wasn't too excited for Peter Weller to voice Batman, same as with Year One and the actor from Southland. That right belongs to Kevin Conroy. However, as an older Bats, he did a pretty good job, despite not having the emotion behind the voice.

Next we have the mutants, whom are the new kids on the block taking the law into their own hands. Raping women, abducting children for ransom and killing them anyways, all following the orders of The Mutant Leader. Surely, he gives Bruce Wayne the fight of his life, but he's young, and has much to learn. I mean, let's be honest, even I wouldn't challenge my elders to a fist fight, unless I had a glorious death wish. A new Robin spreads it's wings, and this time, it's a teenage girl that Batman takes under his wing. But what is the point? What is the point of having a sidekick if in the end, you are going to drive them away?

The real focus belongs to Wayne. Ten years without fighting crime, and the quiet peaceful life isn't enough. The events of Jason Todd still haunts him. Barbara and Dick Grayson have nothing more to say to him. Taking to the streets once more is a means for Batman to find someone who could finally end his reign as the Caped Crusader. The past of his parent's death still taint his dreams, which shows that our vigilante wants to be at peace. Despite all that, the mission is never over. The symbol of The Batman is far from being done. If you've never seen the episode on THe Batman series where they make a Returns episode, you will see how far the obsession of Batman and keeping Gotham safe will never stop.

Overall, with Part 1 has been concluded beautifully. Stay tuned for Part 2...next year that is.

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.