Movie Blogs - The Spill Crew
Movie blogs by The Spill crew cover topics as important as who will play Wonder Woman and theories as to why Robert De Niro is no longer hard (stop sniggering). You might even like to write your own movie blog and share your opinions with all the other Spill users. That would be great - just make sure it's not some ol' bullsh*t - there's enough of that on here already.
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Latest Movie Blog posts by
Cyrus from Spill
Cyrus Reviews "Batman: Gotham Knight" DVD
He’s the gorram Batman.
Which version of Batman is this new collection from DC’s animated division from? Much like what The Animatrix did for the gap between The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded Batman: Gotham Knights does for the space between Batman Begins and its upcoming sequel, The Dark Knight. The Animatrix is often hailed as the only other good Matrix movie (the sequels, as you well know, were generally less than well-received by the world of geekdom) so this anime-style collection of six Batman stories by different writers and directors made me nervous. Would this anthology be bat-tastic but herald a guano-y theatrical sequel?
**ok, I apologize for that one, I was groaning even as I wrote it. What can I do? I'm a masochist**
One at a time let’s take a brief look at each of the six segments…
Have I Got a Story For You
Three kids exchange their personal accounts of a Batman battle they witnessed and end up with three very different stories, and three very different views of caped crusader.
I'll admit there was a certain amount of fun to be had in seeing Batman as a giant man-bat and such-like, but as far as referencing the theatrical films, this appears to be the least connected. I also didn't care for the way this animator draws people: skinny faced, kind of mutated looking and in general plain U.G.L.Y. (and apparently lacking an alibi). Kind of made my skin crawl but the backgrounds were spectacular.
This one is written by Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and directed by Shojiro Nishimi. It’s essentially the third take on the same idea originally in Batman #423 and later in the “Legends of the Dark Knight” episode from The New Batman Adventures (included on the extras disk here). The animation is by Studio 4C (The Animatrix, Transformers: Animated.)
Crossfire
Two cops dropping off a perp at Arkham Asylum get accidentally caught in a mob crossfire. The Batman gives an assist.
Not bad, not bad. This is the first of the squabbling Italian/Russian mob stories that dominate this set (and presumably form at least some of the back bone for The Dark Knight). This is the creepiest Batman of the six stories. He’s quiet, menacing, and unstoppable. The core of the story, though, is about the police officers and their relationship to him...how some trust him and some fear him, and I suspect some get their panties wet for him.
This is written by Greg Rucka (Final Crisis: Revelations, Daredevil) and is directed by Futoshi Higashide. The animation was done by the sublime Production I.G., best known for their work on the Ghost in the Shell films.
Field Test Batman gets a new toy that repels bullets and takes it to the streets, but is it really all that?
The answer is yes. It was definitely all that. Unfortunately, this is something that was better left up to fan speculation like the lack of seat belts on the USS Enterprise. This was a weak-ass attempt to explain why, with all the rest of the high-tech stuff out there in the DC universe that Bruce Wayne could easily afford, he isn’t more bullet-proof. Too bad the story is so lame because the animation was definitely supah-cool. I liked the hawk-ish Bat Cowl in this one.
This was written by Jordan Goldberg, a producer, business man and non-writer who also came up with the story ideas for all the segments. A quick look at his resume reveals a guy that seems strangely out of his element here. The segment was directed by Hiroshi Morioka and animated by Bee Train (.Hack//sign, Noir).
In Darkness Dwells Killer Croc is in the sewers eatin’ up some tasty peeps and is high as frak on the Scarecrow’s fear toxin. Batman has to get his high-boots dirty and deal with both of them while trying to rescue a priest (or some kinda holy dude.)
Best one. Overall, anyways. Lots of action, creepy Killer Croc (but nowhere enough screen-time for him) and the cool scare-o-vision that comes with inhaling the Scarecrow's fear toxin. Batman does seem kind of oddly distrustful of Jim Gordon here but maybe he’s just on his Bat-period.
This one was written by David Goyer (The Dark Knight, Batman Begins) and was directed by Yasuhiro Aoki and is animated by Madhouse (Death Note, Ninja Scroll.)
Working Through Pain
As Batman traipses through the sewers of Gotham while critically wounded, he remembers back to his training in India with a woman named Cassandra who taught him how to deal with his pain.
Are you ready for more flashbacks? What I really wanted to see was how Batman learned to be a master detective, something not really acknowledged at all in the first movie. Where’s the back-story for that? Regardless, this is somewhat interesting and has one cool fight in it, but some really REALLY atrocious lip-syncing.
This was written by Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and directed by Toshiyuki Kubooka. The animation is by Studio 4C.
Deadshot
The popular assassin villain Deadshot takes aim at Batman using a threat against Jim Gordon to draw him out.
I know I’m not the biggest DC guy, but this guy seemed like a poor-man’s Bullseye for my money. I’m sure the fans love him, but he seemed kind of blah for a Batman villain to me. Batman hates guns. I get it.
This was written by Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series, Batman Beyond) and directed by Jong-Sik Nam. The animation was by Madhouse.
Ok, so that’s your play by play. So what about overall? How would Cyrus rate this taken as a complete piece?
Meh, it's just ok.
While there are moments that hit maximum gee-whiz here and there I wasn’t really impressed with the animation overall. Maybe if I was a bigger anime fan I’d find it all appealing, but I'm not so it was merely jarring. Same reason I don’t read the Marvel Mangaverse.
One of the big appeals to buying this are the bits that tie into the new movie, or at least that’s what they’d have you believe. What’s really surprising is what’s NOT here. No mention whatsoever of Harvey Dent or The Joker (who to my understanding is already active when the next film begins.) Taken as a gap bridger between films, this feels more like a callous cash-in.
Of course, if you take this JUST as a collection of Batman stories disconnected from the comics, the animated series, and the movies then it’s not so bad at all. Hey, they got Kevin Conroy, THE voice of Batman, to play him here; that ups the shiny factor considerably. What’s completely unexpected and practically unheard of, is that the biggest reason to check this out isn’t for the movie itself. It’s the extras disk.
I always watch the bonus features on superhero stuff and this has got one of the most informative and entertaining bonus disks I have yet to come across. A top-notch documentary on Batman and his villains filled in a lot I didn’t know. They manage to get into why each enemy works because of their dark reflections to Batman's character without being ponderous about it. There are four episodes from the superb animated series picked out by producer Bruce Timm. Every one would easily fit into almost anyone's list of top ten episodes from the show's history and serve as a great introduction to it. The real gem here though is a biography of Batman creator, Bob Kane. Beloved and praised by all his contemporaries, Bob could have been Bruce Wayne himself. The dude slept with MARILYN MONROE. That's right, the guy who thought up Batman slept with the most beautiful woman who ever lived. This gives all us geeks hope. Maybe I have a chance with Scarlett Johannson after all.
Batman: Gotham Knights isn’t the best animated feature DC has released; that would be Justice League: The New Frontier. It's certainly not the worst either, but it may be the best package overall for the two-disc version with all it's tasty extras. If you fancy yourself a Batman fan at all, this belongs on your shelf. If not...well...I don’t even know how to relate to you. You're Dudley Dursely, as far as I'm concerned, and there will be no magic for you in this lifetime. Enjoy your bud light and America's Funniest Home Videos, pink boy.
STAY TUNED ON SATURDAY FOR A REVIEW STARRING CYRUS, LEON, AND CARLYLE CLICK HERE TO BUY "BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT"...
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Latest Movie Blog posts by
Leon from Spill
NEW 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' Trailer
This remake of the classics 1951 'Day the Earth Stood Still'will star Keanu Reeves as "Klaatu", Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates.
Gort, the killer robot has not been cast at this time but will most likely be created using FX. However, there is a chance this'll be a remake of the short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, which the 1951 movie was based on.
...
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Co-Host 3000 from Spill
DAVID FINCHER WILL BRING YOU 'THE GOON'
David Fincher is bringing the Dark Horse comic, "The Goon" to the big screen. Now I know nothing about this comic so I'll let The Hollywood Reporter fill us in. Let's check it out.
Dark Horse Entertainment, David Fincher and animation house Blur Studios are teaming up to bring cult comic "The Goon" to the movies as a CG-animated film.
Created by Eric Powell in 1999, the comic follows the adventures of a muscle-bound brawler who claims to be the primary enforcer for a feared mobster. The stories have a paranormal and comedic edge to them and concern ghosts, zombies, mad scientists and "skunk apes." Dark Horse has been publishing the comic since 2003.
Powell, who broke the news Wednesday on his Web site, would write the screenplay for "Goon," and Fincher would produce.
No studio is yet attached, and deals are being negotiated. Dark Horse, which has a first-look deal with Universal, is aiming to develop the project in-house before setting it up.
Blur is best known for its shorts, including the Academy Award-nominated "Gopher Broke," as well as its work in commercials and special effects. "Goon" be the company's first feature.
CAA-repped Fincher is in post on "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and Dark Horse has "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" opening July 11.
Alright. A brawler who fights ghost and zombies. I'm in! Why hasn't anyone told me about this comic? With Fincher attached, I'm sure this film won't suck. I hope
Hey, look what I found. That "Gopher Broke" flick. Let's check it out yo!
Source: THR...
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