VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Rich Wright Animation grows up. Batman: Year Zero shows what the medium can do if you get the right talent behind the camera: It's a relentlessly downbeat expose of the first year of the Caped Crusader's reign, but it's not just him punching bad guys and smashing drug rings. Sharing just as much screen time is Police Commissioner Gordon, who arrives in Gotham City at round about the same time, and Catwoman (also known as Selina Kyle) with her lowly beginnings as a sleazy prostitute. With extramarital affairs, graphic violence and even a BABY being threatened at knifepoint this certainly is a long way from the camp 60's icon your mum and dad grew up with... And THANK GOD for that.There's no padding here, no monotonous voice-over to set the scene... Just BAM straight into the action. We're given a date, we're shown what happened on that day... And then, the plot moves swiftly on. Some of these diary entries only last for a second... Others, like a fight in a burnt-out warehouse (there's ALWAYS a big battle in one of them) take much longer. And all the time, the movie never loses touch with it's human side... The morose, often tragic figures here are just as a pleasure to follow as the slick, brutal beatdowns Batman often finds himself in the middle of. It's tense, gripping, compulsive viewing from start to bloody finish. 7/10

lukey8922 I was more reserved than most to see this movie. As a huge fan of Frank Millers comic for a long time i was worried how it would be transferred to the screen, but boy was i wrong. I feel embarrassed it has taken me this long to watch this movie, this was Batman at his animated best.The main reason i thought the film would struggle to do justice to the comic is, as anyone who has read the comics will know, Its a much darker, grittier version of batman and after recently watching under the red hood, which i enjoyed, it doesn't have that dark edge that i see in Batman. However the same cannot be said for this movie. It was like the pages of the comic were been lifted to the screen and coming to life before my eyes! its the closest adaptation of paper to screen you will ever see. The animation is done to a high standard, smooth and more colour than i had originally expected. The action sequences are particularly impressive without giving the viewer too much to concentrate on. its a well written script by Tab Murphy, although much of that credit has to go to Frank Miller as a lot of the dialogue is VERY similar to the source. The only let down for me was the voice casting. Bryan Cranston put in a solid effort as Jim Gordon but unfortunately Ben McKenzie did not do such a good job, he just doesn't have that grittiness i feel batman needed in this film more than any other. Such a shame they didn't use Kevin Conroy as i'm sure most fans will tell you, he is the voice of Batman.Overall, a really really good effort. Worth spending your hard earned money on, but definitely not one too see with the kids!

filmcritickevin I'm a huge fan of the Frank Miller graphic novel, and this film did follow the source material almost word for word. The animation was very well executed, presenting some really good action sequences. My main problem with this much anticipated DC Animation project was Ben McKenzie's miserable performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. His pathetic attempt at voice acting was one of the worst things I've ever listened to. Nevertheless, Bryan Cranston was perfect for the role of Jim Gordon, and I hope to see him portray the character again in a live action film. As far as the construction of Gotham, I did feel they could've done a better job of emphasizing the noir aspect presented by David Mazzuchelli's art. The lighting was much too vibrant for the bleak and eery atmosphere of this dismal society. All in all, this one is worth watching, but has its flaws nonetheless.

Mr-Fusion Not a bad adaptation, but also not great. And here's why . . . Watching "Batman: Year One" is like watching a glorified motion comic; the dialogue is lifted (very nearly) word for word from the original Frank Miller comic. Which is not necessarily a slam against the movie, but a definite handicap. If I had the choice between watching animation that's liberally peppered with anime touches or gazing on the wonderfully gritty pencil work of Dave Mazzuchelli, I'll go with the comic any day of the week. Anime's just not my thing. So the reason to watch said project becomes the voice casting (featured here is casting director Andrea Romano, who is top of her class, sincerely). Ben McKenzie does a pretty good job as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and Bryan Cranston is terrific as James Gordon. Jon Polito is a surprisingly good choice for Commissioner Loeb, while (also surprisingly) Eliza Dushku lends a very Dana Delanyesque voice for Selina Kyle. The one nitpick I have about this whole thing is the appearance of Gotham City. A number of the characters make mention of what a nightmare this place is, but it's painted in bright and cheery colors (night sky is safe purple, as opposed to menacing red or black). Also curious as to why Gordon doesn't smoke here. It's PG-13, what's the problem?What surprised me is how closely the animators adhere to the dating aspects of the comic's time period. The cars are very '80s, and there's even a store sign advertising VHS & BETA RENTALS. But the gritty, trodden look of Mazzuchelli's art is lost.6/10