Plot: What’s it about?
My parents recently moved and, as part of their “downsizing” process, imparted to me my old comic book collection. I was a fairly serious collector and I knew what I had, I just didn’t really know where they were. Or in what condition. As it turned out, being in a sealed box for three and a half decades had done my issues right and I was surprised to see some of the values that some of these were now going for. I mention this as Batman: Knightfall finds its origins in comic books and even though I was always a Marvel guy, there’s merit in the DC titles (Batman, Superman, etc.) as well. The story is plucked right out of the year long run in both Batman and Detective Comics that ran in 1993-1994. And if you’ve seen any of the Batman theatrical films, odds are you’re familiar with at least some (if not all) of the villains that the caped crusader has to battle.
The main plot revolves around Bane (voiced by Michael Mando) has set out to destroy Batman (voiced by Anson Mount) both physically and psychologically. He’s studied Batman and realizes that the caped crusader’s greatest weakness is the relentless physical and mental strain of being Batman. Bane orchestrates the escape of virtually every inmate fro Arkham Asylum which forces Batman into an exhausting campaign to recapture them. As this happens, Batman isn’t really allowed time to recover. Bane watches and waits and by the time Batman has sent everyone back, he’s exhausted. Bane then confronts Batman at Wayne Manor where he reveals Batman’s secret identity. Their confrontation doesn’t end well as Bane breaks Batman’s back over his knee (see Batman issue #497 if you need a visual) which leaves Batman paralyzed and unable to continue.
This event was published back in the mid 90’s in three parts: Knightfall, Knightquest and KnightsEnd and given that this is part 1, I think we can all assume what the title of the next installment will be. This is a fairly faithful adaptation of the storyline and certainly sheds some new light on the arch villain Bane. Tom Hardy did a fine job in The Dark Knight Rises, but this puts Bane in a different league who not only matches Batman physically, but psychologically as well. If you’re tired of all the live action superhero movies, perhaps this is what we need? Batman has long been ahead of its time in the animation department and this R-rated tale of one of his biggest nemesis packs a lot of punch in its 78 minute runtime.
Video: How’s it look?
Batman: Knightfall Part One makes an impressive transition to 4K, delivering a sharp and detailed presentation that gives the animated film a noticeable upgrade over previous home-video releases. The animation benefits from the increased resolution, with clean line work, crisp character details, and well-defined backgrounds throughout Gotham City. Colors are generally bold and well saturated, particularly the various reds, blues, and greens that stand out against the darker palette. Black levels are also strong, providing deep, inky shadows while retaining detail in the many dimly lit interiors and nighttime sequences. The 1.78:1 HEVC image is also available on Blu-ray, though I don’t imagine the 4K offers that much more of an upgrade.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on Batman: Knightfall Part One provides a clean and capable presentation that suits the animated film well. Dialogue is crisp and consistently intelligible, with the voice cast remaining clear and well positioned throughout even during the more hectic action sequences. The sound effects have good definition, from punches and explosions to the various weapons and environmental effects used throughout Gotham City. The score also comes through with solid clarity and adds plenty of atmosphere to the darker moments without overpowering the dialogue.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Breaking the Bat: Adapting the Knightfall – We go behind the scenes with the long-awaited animated adaptation as the filmmakers reveal their process for breaking down the epic story; designing and animating the action; and breathing life into one of the darkest sagas in the Dark Knight’s history.
- Batman Needs a Robin – Many incarnations of Robin have helped Batman fight his war on crime. The filmmakers reveal the vital role Robin plays in the Batman mythology (with an emphasis on Tim Drake), in the iconic Batman: Knightfall series and in the animated adaptation.
The Bottom Line
It’s been over three decades since this storyline was introduced and there ight be some out there who feel this was worth the wait. I found it a nice departure from the live action superhero films that we’ve become so accustomed to. We’ve also got some top notch vocal talent. Warner’s disc excels in the A/V department and gives us a couple of nice featurettes as well.
