Batman: Gotham Knight - A Review

So, I rented the new Batman anime, "Gotham Knight," which is supposed to be a kind of bridge between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." If you don't want to be spoiled, here's my basic conclusion: Rent, don't buy this.

Overall, it's pretty good, but definitely not worth parting with your hard earned. The animation is solid throughout, except for the first story which didn't impress me, and the voice acting is topnotch. Kevin Conroy is great, as usual, as Batman and it's good to hear him step back into the role.

The DVD is built around six separate, but loosely connected vignettes directed by different anime directors with their own styles. Most of the stories were written by Jordan Goldberg, with some comic book pros providing some of the scripts. Here's a breakdown of each of the stories. If you don't want to be tipped off before seeing it, stop now.

"Have I Got a Story for You" - The basic story behind this one is that three kids tell stories about seeing Batman and in each of them, he's nothing like he is in real life. This concept has been done three times by my count: the comics, The Animated Series, and now this one. Of the three, this one is the worst attempt. To me, the animation is just ugly and it gets the DVD off to a bad start. Also, because I've seen this concept done before, I found myself just sitting there waiting for the payoff when the real Batman is revealed.

"Crossfire" - This one was just okay for me, but I did like the addition of Crispus Allen from the comics. He is a cop on the Major Crimes Unit who is uncomfortable with and resentful of Batman. Also, we get a look at what The Narrows have become since "Batman Begins." Greg Rucka wrote the script, but again, it was just okay. The story centers on two cops, one anti-Batman (Allen), the other sort of pro-Batman (Detective Anna Ramirez, who is a substitute for Renee Montoya), who get caught in the middle (literally) of a mob firefight.

"Field Test" - Lucius Fox develops a device that can generate a limited electromagnetic field and deflect small arms fire. Bruce Wayne decides to test it with unexpected and unwanted results for Batman. I liked this one the best of the first three, and it expands on the mob conflict presented in the second story. Also, this one basically spells out that Fox knows what Wayne does with his nights.

"In Darkness Dwells" - What has Scarecrow been up to since "Batman Begins?" Find out in this story scripted by David Goyer. This one was good in that it shows the actual teamwork that Batman and Gordon develop. Special villain cameo in this one as well.

"Working Through Pain" - This one cuts back and forth between a badly wounded Batman and the time when Bruce was gone for seven years. The flashback centers on how Bruce trains himself to ignore/overcome pain. It's an interesting tale, though I think it a little dumb that he uses his real name when traveling; they already inferred that he was using false I.D.s in "Batman Begins." Script is by Brian Azzarello.

"Deadshot" - Predictably, this is the best one of the lot and in the "realistic" world they've constructed for the new Batman movie universe, I would have liked to have seen Deadshot on the big screen. Who knows, maybe they'll still use him at some point. Alan Burnett of The Animated Series fame wrote the script and this installment has the best line of dialogue in the whole movie.

There seems to be an undercurrent throughout all six of the stories about guns and gun violence and I have a feeling that this may play into "The Dark Knight" somehow, as in the trailer we hear Bruce saying things like, "I know what I have to become to stop men like him [The Joker]." Aside from that theme, though, as well as Scarecrow and the mob stuff, I'm not sure how this prepares viewers for the new movie, but it is a nice little diversion until the 18th.