Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time. They find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Rob Minkoff
Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert and others
Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time. They find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Rob Minkoff
Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert and others
It's definitely clear by now that "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,
Part 1" was nothing but a warm-up and appetizer for this second part.
It's definitely the movie in which the story works better and has more
enjoyable moments, characters and action in it.
Was "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" even necessary as a
movie? Well, not really in my opinion. I mean, they so easily could had
turned it into one movie, or simply skipped over most that happened in
the first movie, since it really isn't all that relevant for this
sequel. Lots of the characters that show up in this movie weren't even
in the first one to begin with and vice versa as well. I even dare to
say that it totally isn't necessary for you to watch part 1, before you
go and watch this movie.
It's not like I'm a big Batman buff or fan-boy and I also really don't
keep up with the Batman universe. It therefore also was surprising to
see how some familiar Batman characters showed up in this and how much
they had changed. After all, this movie is featuring an older
Batman/Bruce Wayne, so also all of the other characters have aged and
progressed as well of course. Well, expect for some...
I don't think it's a big spoiler to most to say that Superman shows up
in this as well. This should be reason enough already for lots of
people to get interested in this movie. And it doesn't disappoint
really. It's not like it's being a team-up or buddy movie though. I
mean, this at all times remains a true Batman movie, in style and story
and it's all still about its one main character but it still leaves
plenty of room for Superman to do his thing and incorporate him into
the movie effectively, as well as seamlessly.
The movie features some interesting dynamics and character arcs in it.
This is actually what keeps the movie at all times going and
interesting to watch, while there also still is plenty of action to
enjoy.
It's of course ridicules to think that all animated movies are for kids
only. We are now living in a day and age when it has become acceptable
for adults to watch cartoons and also have movies out, catered just
toward them. Fore this movie really isn't a children's movie neither.
There is plenty of violence in it and literally dozens of innocent
people get graphically killed, by one of the movie its villains (guess
who?).
I like the sort of blocky animation style the movie has and it's
obvious some real time and money got put in the production of this.
It's not like this movie just looks or feels like an extended,
ordinary, animated TV-series episode. It's definitely good to see there
are big companies out there who are taking the genre serious and put
out animated MOVIES, mostly aimed toward adults.
Can't really say that it's a perfect movie and I liked just about
everything about it. Sometimes the movie feels a bit rushed for
instance, which especially is the case with its final 5 minutes or so.
Also not every voice in this impresses and I must say I'm not really
sold yet on Michael Emerson as the new Joker. The dialog and voice
acting is a bit too stiff and dry at times, which doesn't only applies
to just Michael Emerson.
Other than that, this simply remains some fine quality entertainment,
especially of course for those who really are into the Batman character
and universe.
Be aware, this movie is more of an art project than an horror really. I
don't even know why this is listed as an horror. Just because it has
some blood and gory non-horror related moments in it? Or maybe because
of its themes? Either way, I in no way regard this movie to be an
horror. Not that this makes this movie bad but just know what to expect
when watching this movie.
If I had to put a label on this movie it would be 'coming of age'
really. It's about a troubled young teenager, dealing with everyday
things, such as school, her sexuality and family (not necessarily in
that particular order) and her inner demons and disturbed thoughts.
Sound like a cool psychological thriller perhaps but this really isn't
the approach that the film-makers were going for.
And that perhaps was the biggest complaint I had with this movie; it
isn't going for a particularly powerful approach. This movie won't
affect you in any way and it won't leave a terribly huge impression on
you. It's one that potentially could had been more powerful with its
themes and characters if the movie was only being a tad bit more
realistic and involving with its story and themes. Right now the movie
is stuck with being a whole bunch of different things, as if it wasn't
sure what approach to take and what would be the most effective thing
to do.
Not that the movie is bad or anything too pretentious but it just isn't
one that will stick with you for very long. I liked it good enough and
it certainly was light to digest, making this movie also a somewhat fun
viewing experience, despite all of its heavy themes.
Quite weird still to see a whole bunch of different well known actors
popping up in this, in no more than cameo appearances really. It has a
lot of recognizable faces in it, such as Malcolm McDowell, Marlee Matlin
and Ray Wise and Jeremy Sumpter and Traci Lords in some bigger roles.
This is not the type of movie that needed to have any star-power behind
it and I do believe I would had preferred it if it only had just a
bunch of unknown faces in it, as weird as that may sound.
The movie is not as messy or bad as it may sound but it's still being a
movie that never really achieves- or fully succeeds, with anything, at
least not in the way the film-makers obviously intended the movie to
do.
Chances are that Batman lovers are going to eat this movie up
regardless of everything. Personally I definitely had some problems
with this animated movie but overall it could still please me for most
part.
The thing that makes this movie different from any of other Batman
movies, animated or real life, is the fact that this focuses on the old
Bruce Wayne/Batman. He's already in retirement but of course he suits
up again, once Gotham falls under the control of criminals, once again.
So even while this movie features an older Batman, it still all feels
very familiar and the movie, in my opinion, didn't ever do quite enough
with the concept of having an older Batman in it. Bottom-line basically
is that the movie features an original concept but in essence is just
like any other Batman outing.
You feel that this is a movie that needed to have some more depth in
it, with both its character and story. In that regard this movie
definitely has some missed opportunities but perhaps they were just
more focused on telling an entertaining story and to let Batman take on
some familiar and some new adversaries.
But that brings me to another problem as well; it's have a good main
villain in it. Two-Face is in the movie for a short while but he by no
means is the main villain of the movie. The main villain is a mutant
leader, who looks imposing but simple fact remains that he gets
introduced into the movie far too late. We don't see him until the
movie is halfway through already, giving him very little time to set
himself up as a good character and successful main villain for the
movie. Perhaps this is all due to it that this movie is part of a two
parter. "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2" gets released next
year and basically is going to be nothing more but a continuation of
all of the events in this movie.
I kind of liked the animation style though. I don't know why but big
square type of things always seems to suit the Batman universe for me.
And the animation style of this movie definitely seems to be focused on
that as well. It's not necessarily one of those realistic looking
animated movies, which to me, often enhances the whole fantasy aspect
of the movie and helps to create an universe of its own, with also its
own rules.
The animation was especially great during all of its action moments.
And luckily this movie indeed has plenty of action in it to enjoy!
really, even a 55-year old Batman still has some moves in him and isn't
afraid- or backs down for anyone.
One of the things I never can get excited about, in regard to this type
of animated movies, is its voice work. These type of movies always make
it apparent to me that voice actors just aren't the greatest actors in
the world. They often deliver their lines in a hammy way and it never
sounds as if the actors truly ever were interacting with each other,
which all probably is true as well, since it's fair to assume that each
actor recorded their lines individuality and therefore probably never
even met any of the other voice actor who were working on the project.
And at some times Peter Weller's voice sounded just right for the Bruce
Wayne/Batman part, while at others he just fumbled it. I overall still
give him the benefit of the doubt just because he is Peter Weller and
he is awesome.
A bit too simplistic, since things often simply just happen in the
movie and it really could had used dome more depth but the movie at
least still manages to entertain and to look well!
