Batman: Year One Movie

Just recently I was able to watch Batman: Year One, the animated movie that was released in 2011. It is based on the story arc of the same name, written by Frank Miller in 1987, that appears in Batman #404-407.

It stars...well, it stars Batman, but the man voicing Batman is Benjamin McKenzie.  It was very different from Kevin Conroy's, but I liked it. Bryan Cranston (Walter White from Breaking Bad) voiced Lieutenant James Gordon and Eliza Dushka voiced Selina Kyle.

Many aspects of the film were true to the original story. Such as Selina Kyle being some dominatrix and her little prostitute chic pal, Holly Robinson. You can also see similarities between Year One and the Batman Begins film; including the awesome device that summons all the bats around to aid in Batman's escape and the appearance of Detective Flass as Gordon's partner. In fact, they tried to follow the original story so well, that even some of the more over-the-top events were included. Such as Bruce Wayne kicking straight through the trunk of a (not-so-small) tree.

The panels from the '87 comic in all its absurdity.

Now, if you remember, in Kickboxer Van Damme took weeks (might have been months) to kick through a pretty small tree as he's training to win the big fight with Tong Po. Bruce Wayne, however, does a side kick and went right through a tree that was at least 6 times the thickness than that of Van Damme's. That would mean that if it was possible for him to do that, Batman could put a foot-shaped hole clean through your chest.

Check out that twig.

Bruce Wayne demonstrates real Van Damage.

I think one of the best things about the story is how it shows Batman's practicality. By this, I mean it shows how he achieves his dramatics. For example, there's one fantastic scene where Batman crashes a dinner party with Gotham's most corrupt politicians in attendance. You see him outside rigging up a light that will shine directly in their eyes from behind him. You then see him cut the power outside and throw a smoke grenade through the window which lands on the dinner table. Next thing, BOOM, an explosion blows a hole in the outside wall of the dining room and in he walks. Blinded by the light shining in, those corrupt dummies now see a terrifying silhouette and hear a haunting voice telling them that they've had their fun but "From this moment on, none of you are safe."

Damn.

When this comes walking through a hole it just blew into your house, I'd say that's about all she wrote for you.

Now I can go on and on about the good parts of the movie and completely 'nerd out' for the next hour, but the best thing for all of you to do is just check it out yourselves. The voice acting was great, the story stayed as true to the original as you could probably get and the animation is superb. If you have Netflix, go ahead and put that bad boy in your queue. Whether you enjoyed the original Frank Miller story or not, I'm sure you'll still find it to be a good watch.

Bruce Wayne Was Here.

-Danny