6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Batman: Gotham Knight is a fresh and exciting new entry into the Batman mythos, spinning out of a 40-year history in animation including the Emmy-winning Batman: The Animated Series, widely considered a pivotal moment in American animation. A cross section of distinguished creators, award winning producers, and acclaimed writers weave six interlocking stories that reveal Bruce Wayne’s journey to Dark Knight, each with stylish art from some of the world’s most revered animation visionaries.
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Gary Dourdan, David McCallum, Parminder Nagra, Ana OrtizAction | 100% |
Comic book | 90% |
Sci-Fi | 75% |
Adventure | 70% |
Fantasy | 65% |
Animation | 60% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
German: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH, German, Japanese, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
For those who have been living in a cave (the Batcave excluded, of course) and may not know, "Batman," a.k.a. "Bruce Wayne," a.k.a. "The Dark Knight," a.k.a. "The Caped Crusader" is a pretty big figure in popular culture. Has been, still is, probably will continue to be. He might not enjoy the same massive cultural impact as his D.C. Comics counterpart Superman, he of an alien origin and the defender of "truth, justice, and the American way," but the darker, more mysterious, all too human Batman has dazzled audiences for decades both on the inky colored page and on the big and small screens alike. He's existed through numerous models, all similar yet unique in their own right, across all mediums, whether the colorful comic-book inspired look of the 1960s film, the more gothic and perhaps finest Tim Burton take, and the more recent Christopher Nolan trilogy-in-the-making that represents some of the finest superhero filmmaking around and, the second and third films in particular, two of the most anticipated movie events in decades. Needless to say, "Batman" mania has been and remains in full swing; there's always a story to tell and a buck to be made, so enter Batman: Gotham Knight, an animated collection of six different Batman tales that bridge the gap between Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Presented in an Anime style and crafted by six different storytellers and artists, the collection forms a cohesive whole even as its diversity remains clear. In essence, this is "Batman" in a 70-some minute microcosm.
In action.
Batman: Gotham Knight's 1080p transfer is generally dark and murky, following the source stylings. The image offers good, quality definition throughout, particularly any time there's a fair bit of light penetrating the relative darkness. The skate park seen in the first episode offers quality texturing and fine clarity evident on all of the graffiti and the general wear and tear of the area. Generally, however, the image appears somewhat flat and devoid of complex detail by design, save for In Darkness Dwells which plays with a very gritty feel, offering a messy, noisy texture. An outdoor golf sequence lightens things up and presents viewers with some good animated eye candy, but generally most textures fall rather flat, the image defined by basic lines and shapes rather than complex and rich animation. Colors follow suit. There's rarely any vibrancy to the image, with only the brightest reds and the greens seen in that same golf sequence only differing from what is generally a toned-down black and blue and gray color scheme. Black levels are never too far gone in either direction though there are certainly instances where they go too gray or too dark. A few jagged edges, light aliasing, and some evident banding are all present, but not to any transfer-destroying levels. This is an altogether good image that's largely reflective of the dreary source.
Batman: Gotham Knight features but a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack; no lossless option is included. Despite that oversight, this audio presentation is quite good. It might lack that full-bodied richness and texture of the better lossless tracks, but this one plays music and effects both with natural spacing and sufficient clarity. Various effects are presented with some degree of potency and accuracy; a "concussive blast" nicely pulses through the soundstage in one scene, while various moments of intense gunfire realistically rip through the listening area in another. There's some positive, strong heft to some heavier effects, such as the lowering of the bridge leading to the Narrows and some room-rattling effects in Field Test. The track makes fine use of its entire area to create a strong, haunting sense of space and reverberation in the sewers below the city. Music spreads evenly and plays with good, natural flair. Dialogue remains clear and focused up the center channel. Though a lossless soundtrack is always preferred, this is a quality lossy presentation that serves this collection of short films well.
Batman: Gotham Knight contains the following extras:
Batman: Gotham Knight might be an oldie on Blu-ray, but it's a goodie. Six unique short films and one cohesive narrative make this collection different, but at the same time familiar to all Batman fans. Steady animation, strong voice acting, and captivating stories altogether mean that this grouping of short films is a must-see for any Batman enthusiast. If there's a problem, it's that the collection is too short, but better neat and tidy rather than overkill, right? Warner's Blu-ray release of Batman: Gotham Knight features steady 1080p video, a quality lossy soundtrack, and a nice assortment of extra content. Recommended.
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