Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Deluxe Edition_720p(480P)

source: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Deluxe Edition

This was an excellent translation of Miller's piece of the same name. Animation and the overall attitude of the movie was perfectly executed like the first part. This Batman mini-series is so satiating for Miller's fans; but it is also very satisfying to Dark Knight patrons unfamiliar with his work. I remember reading the description before reading the graphic novel; and then kind-of begrudgingly read them because I wasn't anticipating a Batman/Superman story would be as gritty and raw as Miller typically does and I was inevitably still in awe of the beauty of that entire side of the story. I didn't begrudgingly watch this series but my excited meant reestablished. Absolutely bloody-well done!

Faithful to the original comic, right down to its Cold War setting, TDKR:P2 veers off the strong "Hero returns" narrative from Part 1 and mixes in a clumsy and ham-handed dose of geopolitics and Superman. Fine for what it is, but it belongs in another arc IMO, and comes off here like a 2nd rate version of Watchmen (Which, like TDKR, debuted in print starting in 1986). The story is strongest when Batman's arch nemesis, The Joker (Played here for the first time by Michael Emerson, who makes the character his own in a solid turn) is involved. Had that been the focus, it would've been a powerful ending for this two-part saga. As it is, this is a well and faithfully made—but ultimately unsatisfying—conclusion.

I had a really hard time believing that Part II would be better than Part I, I was wrong. This movie was packed from start to finish and I never found myself even the slightest bit bored. The first part with the Joker could have been a movie by itself. It felt like over 1 hour of the movie had passed at that point, but in a good way. I was really excited from the ending of Part I when the Joker did his "B-B-B-Batmaaan, daaaarling" thing. The Joker was portrayed in a good way by the way he acted and talked throughout the movie. One thing I did not like and that I didn't like from the first one either is how the new Robin is played. I had some doubts about the Superman part, but it turned out really great and I love how the battle between them turned out, especially the ending! Overall an awesome movie!

As a Batman fan I really enjoyed this animated version, both parts of this were good but especially the second. The fact that it is a cartoon does not mean it is for children, it just basically brings the comic books into motion. There was a lot of action and violence in this and because it is a cartoon means that there were no limits. The story line unfolded at a quick pace which is partly due to the fact that this is only just over an hour long so it is packed full of action. The joker gives this film a very dark side which you might not expect from a cartoon but all the stories involving Batman in the comics are dark so it is true to the those. Whether you are a fan of the comics or the main films or not this is worth a watch and you may be surprised.

I'm going to outline some of my main problems with TDK Returns (Not the only ones, but the most significant): Some scenes were entirely laughable in all seriousness. For example. the scene in which Joker was hit by batarangs, receiving one in the eye, firmly embedding itself half way in his head. He literally did not flinch, even though one half of the batarang is firmly within his skull... Now I understand that talking about realism within comic book animations is not exactly a popular point of discussion, BUT, things like this simply make the scenes laughable as they have no sense of immersion. Now for the most infuriating Superman you will ever have to watch: In all honesty I felt that superman in this was probably the most hateable super hero character I have ever seen. I mean seriously, every single decision he made and reason he gave was pure BS. I have to say that I really did not enjoy Part 1 or 2, but especially 2 because of the stupidly patriotic image of Superman. Regardless of the context of his character and his position on respecting authority, I can't see how we are meant to empathise with someone respecting an authority that wishes to remove someone for making them look bad (Batman's effect upon Gotham). That defeats the purpose of why Clark became Superman. I'm sorry to say that I just feel that the story for TDK Returns is misguided in it's aims of representing it's featured characters. Regardless of the comic book being one of the most highly acclaimed, I still feel it taints the character's images, specifically Supermans.

Doesn't make any sense, the movie has things like Superman working for the US government and attacking and killing Russian troops in a badly explained conflict, that's not how Superman acts, it's something like USA are the good guys and Russia the bad guys no matter what. Something else about how bad the movie is, is scenes like the one where 20 or more police officers try too shoot Batman up-close with machine guns, in various situations, and they all miss, every time, even when he doesn't move, they don't get one shot! No adult will feel like those scenes are credible enough to be a in "serious" movie. Adding the bad and cliché dialogs and a not very good voice acting makes this a kids cartoon. The thing is the movie has very violent and gory scenes that kids shouldn't watch, like Batman stabbing Joker in the eye with a Batarang and Joker stabbing Batman in the belly, amongst other scenes, too violent and bloody for a child to watch. Usually the Batman movies and most of the Batman comics and videogames are meant for a more adult audience while some cartoons and other comics are meant for kids. So I must ask: For whom is this cartoon meant to? Childish for adults, too much blood and violence for kids...