Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is the first in a two-part direct-to-video animated adaptation of the 1986 story of the same name that was written by Frank Miller. The film is being produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video. It premiered in New York on September 20th, 2012, and in L.A. on September 24th, and became available to the public to purchase on September 25th, 2012.
Plot[]
In the bleak and ominous future of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, it’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the Bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.
The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face, as well as the Mutants' having recently murdered a child during one of their rampages, finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie Kelly who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new … and old.
Differences between the comic and film[]
- Carrie Kelley is depicted as already skilled with gymnastics even before she formally joins as Robin in the film. Similarly, Batman's out of shape nature from exiting retirement is toned down in both parts of the film, where he still manages to rely on skill instead of brute strength, but his stealthy nature is depicted as still intact unlike in the comics.
- Carrie's saving of Batman from the Mutant Leader during the first fight is expanded slightly to have her attempt to claw out the Mutant Leader's eyes.
- In the comic, shortly after the events of Bruce Wayne's first fight against the Mutant Leader, Carrie briefly hugs Bruce while he's still nude from the medical treatment. This was cut from the film.
- Batman's internal monologues have generally been removed, or at best incorporated into dialogue in this as well as the second part. This has the consequence of toning down Batman's characterization to have him, while still being brutal in his confronting the criminal element of Gotham, coming across as being more pragmatic regarding dealing with it rather than outright sadistic in tormenting the criminal element like in the comic.
- In the comic, Two-Face's resurgence and bombing attempt occurred after the Joker emerged from his catatonia due to news reports of Batman's return. In the film, it took place before the Joker emerged from his catatonia. Because of this, Joker was not involved in Two-Face's plot at all, and it is implied in the film that Two-Face simply lied about not blowing up his men in order to ensure he committed suicide rather than the bombs being sabotaged by the Joker via Abner.
- On a related note, the original comic indicated that Joker's emergence from his catatonia was gradual due to constant news reports and debates about whether Batman's return was good for Gotham ultimately or not. In the film, he seems to emerge immediately after hearing a news report regarding Batman, or rather, the Sons of Batman.
- The building Two-Face threatens to blow up is called the Gotham Life Building. Whereas in the comic, Two-Face threatens to destroy the Gotham Twin Towers. Presumably to avoid parallels to 9/11.
- The scene where Batman shot a mutant that was holding a baby hostage was framed in such a way that made clear that he shot the mutant non-lethally in the film, while in the comic, it was left ambiguous as to whether he killed the mutant or not.
- The news commentary is largely excised from both film adaptations, which also consequentially tones down the circumstances behind Joker's return (see above). Similarly, the news anchors are depicted in a slightly different manner in the films compared to the comic. In particular, they were depicted as more even-handed, if slightly empathetic in the film compared to the comic. Some commentary was also toned down compared to the comics as well to avoid more offensive language, such as one scene where a black man who was ecstatic about Batman's return to deal with scumbags that the cops wouldn't deal with. In the comic, he cites gays (which he derogatorily called "homos") as someone he wants to see Batman beat up next. This line was changed to him wanting to see Batman beat up his landlord next in the film.
- In the film, Batman actually meets the general face to face over his illegal selling of enough military-grade weapons to the mutants to "start a small war", with the general reluctantly admitting he did it out of desperation due to his dying wife and the government not supplying the care needed to save her, with Batman leaving behind a pistol and making a sarcastic parting shot over the general's ruined career, with it being heavily implied afterward that the general committed suicide by shooting himself with the pistol afterwards. In the comic, the general is already dead by the time Batman arrived.
- Although the Mutant Leader's penchant for brutality in the comics is moreorless retained in the film, it omits his making a threat to rape Carrie Kelly.
Trivia[]
- When Joker emerges from his catatonia as a result of news reports of Batman's return in the ending, Joker's babbling before being able to say "Batman" was similar to the theme song for the 1960s Batman TV series.
Cast[]
- Peter Weller as Batman
- Ariel Winter as Carrie Kelly
- Wade Williams as Harvey Dent
- Michael McKean as Bartholomew Wolper
- David Selby as James Gordon
- Gary Anthony Williams as Mutant Leader
- Gary Anthony Sturgis as Silk
Home Media[]
Gallery[]
