Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Jesper Brun Without being my favourite animated Batman movie, I can see the appeal it generally has among fans of the comic book. I must admit that I haven't read it, but I hear many say that this two-part movie is a very faithful adaptation. Personally I like part 1 the most. You really know something is wrong in Gotham after a ten year absence of Batman with crime sprees all over the city by the mutant gang and the old menace of Two-face. The animation is really good and adds great detail to the dark, gritty and serious tone of the movie. And this is probably the most depressing state of Gotham you'll ever see in a Batman movie.The soundtrack is awesome too, for the same reasons as the animation. It really underlines the tone of every scene. Peter Weller as Batman was noticable, because I still think Kevin Conroy IS Batman's voice with Bruce Greenwood coming shortly after. But as an ageing Bruce Wayne, Weller is ideal. Comissioner Gordon was probably the weakest aspect of the voice acting here. A little monotonous for my taste. Ariel Winther was kind of okay. She plays off Bruce well, but I found her a little generic. Minor detail not affecting my overall judgement of the movie.I think my favourite thing about this movie as a whole is how it examines the controversy of Batman himself, because to be honest I have more than once questioned Bruce Wayne's way of dealing with crime by using the term "the law". Undeniably the most violent and bloody among the Batman animated movies, it doesn't shy away from showing disturbing images from time to time. And while it works most of the time and is faithful to the source material, I kind of missed the more elegant and dramatically intense scenes from my all time favourite animated Batman movie "Under The Red Hood".

Johnny H. The Dark Knight Returns Part One is a satisfying animated feature that faithfully adapts its source material respectfully. This film was more deserving of a theatrical release than the recent Batman and Superman movie: Dawn of Justice (this review was done in 2016), because this film tells a more faithful Bat-tale than Zack Snyder's recent theatrical outing that left the world disappointed. Thankfully The Dark Knight Returns is a solid story that's been tested time and time again and even influenced Tim Burton's Batman from 1989.The story centers on an aging Bruce Wayne who's retired his crime-fighting alter-ego Batman. Bruce is now living in a much harsher world than the one he knew back in his early thirties; now he's a man approaching sixty and Gotham City desperately needs its hero to return from the shadows and fight against the crime plaguing Gotham once again.The first part of DC's only animated two-parter-to-date is a good start that leads to the meaty conclusion of the story in Part Two, which in turn has influenced media outside The Dark Knight Returns comic, like The Dark Knight Rises and *ahem* Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. A very solid story delivered by capable animation director, and Batman veteran, Jay Oliva.The first part is just one piece of a two-and-a-half-hour film that's been waiting to be seen on screen for generations. If you haven't watched this film yet, well do yourself a favor and watch Parts One and Two of The Dark Knight Returns right away.

sdmeshotto I was speechless after watching this. The movie was literally perfect. It really pushed the boundaries of how epic an animated movie can be.This is definitely the best Batman movie I've ever seen, and paired with part 2, one of the best movies I've ever seen. This movie understands that Batman is not for kids, and keeps a Dark tone throughout. Even with it being animated it treats the image like a professional movie's cinematography. It's just amazing.As far as the voice cast, I would have preferred Kevin Conroy for Batman, but Peter Weller (aka RoboCop) actually does a really good job. I cannot express in words however, how amazing David Selby was as Commissioner Gordon.The soundtrack still gives me chill bumps when I listen to it, kudos to Christopher Drake.The plot, was perfect, nothing cliché, nothing too weird. This movie is just perfect. It is a must see for anyone.

Kevin Lea Davies Few artists have ever captured the depth of character and dark soul of one of D.C's most popular characters like Frank Miller. Miller's version of Batman has always been strangely non-cannon, and using his unique style of storytelling to his advantage, he sets himself apart from the main events of the Dark Knight. He created his own world for these characters, and was given free reign to do so. So, for those of you who have never read 'The Dark Knight Returns' (ISBN 1-56389-342-8); please go out and read it before delving into this spectacular animation.The Dark Knight shows us an aged and heavily alcoholic Bruce Wayne, some years after he has given up the mantle of the Batman. He's in his mid fifties, still a strongly driven man, but without any purpose. After rounding up and beating down on Gotham's criminals for nearly three decades, he had to give up the fight for unknown reasons. Perhaps to let the city decide its own fate and let the people choose what is to become of Gotham. Maybe because they simply wouldn't stand for him anymore, nor would they let the Batman reign terror down on city streets at night, above the law of everyone else. But the time between then and now has weighed down on Bruce Wayne's shoulders, and the city is rife with even more corruption, crime, and violence than ever before. At the same time, the emergence of a new gang of criminals that go by the moniker 'The Mutants' only aggravates a city on the brink. Specifically violent, and always willing to sacrifice their own lives in the process, the Mutant's crimes are particularly heinous. Kidnapping, assault, and murder are their way of life. They have taken up a particular grudge with the now 70 year old Commissioner Gordon, and only a few short weeks before his retirement. Bruce is compelled by the Batman to once again don the cape and cowl, and seek out vengeance against those who would do harm to the innocent.This is no children's story... not by any means. It is dark, perhaps only less so than Miller's more famous works in his 'Sin City' series. But this animation is not Miller's original comic. This is an interesting, if slightly more tame version of the comic released in 1986. The art itself is a wonderful rendition meant to emulate Miller's more contrastive style of art. Fortunately it is not too heavily altered, despite such heavy use of digital design. They keep the dialogue true to the original, if only for some slight altercations (Gordon's smoking habit for one). But Jay Oliva does a great job of approaching the theme of the original, which was such a violent and heavy theme in itself. The corruption and abuse of the innocent, and how good men and women are willing to do nothing to stop it. This movie shows us Batman at his oldest, perhaps weakest moments, and questions if he still has the will to continue the fight. This film is not without the typical problems associated with comic to film renditions. There is heavy use of digital filler here in the framework, which leads to some repetitious use of the same scenes over and over again. Peter Weller did a good job overall with expressing that effort and exhaustion of Bruce Wayne through his voice. Several of the dialogue scenes between the mutant's and their way of talking seemed strangely dated and fairly silly or out of place. They also never quite seemed threatening enough in this version, to warrant the kind of media coverage they get, rather they seemed like Saturday morning cartoon goons, who await orders from their big boss, and never really get anything done. The saving point of the film however is the phenomenal soundtrack, which is reminiscent of the famous Christopher Nolan 'Dark Knight' series in which Hans Zimmer created some fantastic orchestral works. It keeps the pace of the film, and has some absolutely fantastic moments throughout which lends to that feeling that you are watching something of epic proportions.It is a fantastic effort by the D.C animation crew. Something you don't want to miss if you are a Batman fan. Most importantly it is an excellent retelling of one of the best stories ever written about the Bat.7/10