Batman: Year One
Perhaps my biggest gripe about this animated feature is the complete lack of oomph behind Ben McKenzie’s dead narration as Bruce Wayne/Batman. It felt so lifeless, but only repeated a few times throughout the running time. Contrast his performance of Bruce to his Batman voice and it becomes clear: Bruce Wayne is lifeless, as husk of a man, wherein his alter ego is the one full of passion. The film nails this, although it’s subtle (and this was my second viewing). The story adheres well to the original Frank Miller four part comic series from the ’80s. This is the Miller Batman that would help revitalize and rejuvenate a Batman for the “modern” era, and this, along with his other works would be the basis of many adaptations for decades (and still counting). Batman: Year One, the animated feature, does not surprise for being so good, as many of these DC features excel beyond any typical Hollywood attempt. The epitome of this is evidenced in the late 1990’s: simply watch Batman & Robin (1997), followed up by the animated Batman:…