Movie report: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1

Movie report: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1

“The Dark Knight Returns” is probably my favorite Batman story of all time. The four-issue 1986 graphic novel by Frank Miller and Klaus Jonson contains not only terrific lines (“This would be a good death. But not good enough.”), but some of the most striking images ever.

Part 1 of this story was turned into an animated film in 2012, and why it’s taken me so long to see it, I have no idea. The animated film is terrific, totally faithful to the original, but making it all more real.
The premise of the story is that Batman has been retired for ten years, partly due, we learn, to the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd. The now 55-year-old Bruce Wayne has been trying to channel his energies into  the rehabilitation of villains like Two-Face and Joker, as well as indulging in ultra-macho, near-suicidal hobbies such as racing Formula One cars out of which he has ripped the safety equipment.
In those ten years, Gotham City has gotten worse – much worse. Not only the usual crime, but the rise of a savage gang called the Mutants, whose goal is not gain or power but the slaughter of innocents – the more slaughter and the more innocent, the better. The police are overwhelmed by this threat.
Bruce Wayne tries to hold out against his inner demons, but it’s no use. His past is drawing him back in and, one night, he finally comes out of his self-imposed retirement. He’s a one-man anti-crime-wave. Some see him as a dangerous vigilante, others are more like the veteran cop who says to his rookie partner, “Watch this, kid. You’re in for a show.”
One of the innocents he saves is teenager Carrie Kelly. She’s as lost in her pointless life as Bruce Wayne is in his, and she chooses a similar escape. She leverages her gymnastic and martial arts skills – not to mention her sewing ability to create a new costume – to become the new Robin. Her scenes with Batman are very funny. The jaded and uber-control-freak Batman and the free spirit Robin.
Other characters serve as compare and contrast. Commissioner Gordon is facing retirement in a few days. But, unlike Bruce Wayne, he has something to go towards: his loving wife and daughter. Two-Face also struggles with his inner demons – and surrenders to them, as Batman does.
The animated film is filled with action, great dialog, and memorably visual scenes.
Can’t wait to see part 2!

Recommendation: Highly recommended, but a little disturbing for kids.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

movie report: I Am Number Four (2011)

movie report: I Am Number Four (2011) I aimed to see this movie when it came out, for these reasons: • From the trailer, it looked like people had super powers. • It has a number in the title, upping its geek score. • The number in the title might actually be a character’s name, like Seven of Nine, which pushes its geek score into the stratosphere. But I didn’t, because it didn’t last too long in theaters because of terrible reviews. I watched it on DVD, and right off the bat, it started doing things I don’t like in movies, such as: • Introducing someone I thought was the main character, then killing him off within 5 minutes. • Dark and murky scenes where I can’t tell who’s who and what’s going on. • Characters talk soft and mumbly: can’t understand what they’re saying. • Confusion about who the good guys and bad guys are. • Introduction of 3 young good-looking carefree guys riding on jet skis on the ocean: I do not want to sit through a 2-hour Pepsi commercial.
Read more

Art report: Watercolors by John Singer Sargent

Art report: Watercolors by John Singer Sargent Last night, I saw the John Singer Sargent watercolors exhibit at the MFA. Wow. Painting with watercolors is something like trying to sign a check with a wet mop. It’s amazing if it can be done at all, never mind done superbly, as he does. I knew Sargent mostly from his portraits, of course. Some beautiful painting there, but what always impressed me was seeing a real human being looking back at me out of the canvas. (One of my favorites: "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit", http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/The_Daughters_of_Edward_Darley_Boit,_John_Singer_Sargent,_1882_(unfree_frame_crop).jpg ) But I had no idea the guy could paint like this. When I entered the first gallery – scenes of the canals of Venice – my jaw literally dropped. “These are *watercolors*?” I asked myself, thinking maybe they were actually oil paintings tossed in to soften us up. Then I read the description card: watercolor. I lean
Read more

Movie report: The Monuments Men

Movie report: The Monuments Men There are good movies and there are bad movies. And then there are movies that make you want to re-write and re-shoot the entire thing. “The Monuments Men” is one of those movies. On paper, this movie must have looked like a sure-fire hit. During the chaos and destruction of World War 2 in Europe, a bunch of guys are trying to save precious works of art that the Nazis are systematically looting or destroying. Great premise, right? It’s like a reverse caper film. Plus, it has Nazis! Not only that, it has a terrific cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Cate Blanchett! And it has terrific big production values. Lots of battle scenes. Big armies. Tanks. Explosions. Everything you look for in a war movie. But, my gosh, the writing is awful. Nonsensical. Vague. Cryptic. Huh-inducing. And the directing. Jeez. Scenes don’t really end. They just sort of meander around and get lost. There’s one scene where two
Read more