And here it is, finally, the movie version of one of the most respected and revered Batman stories of all time: Frank Miller's Year One. Helmed by Batman Animated vet/creator Bruce Timm, Year One paints a fascinating, often dark and disturbing, re imaging of Batman's beginnings and ranks with Under The Red Hood and Dark Knight as one of the best Batman movies, animated or otherwise.
The story, however, is as much Gordon's as it is Batman's. It begins with two arrivals - Bruce Wayne after 12 years abroad and Lieutenant Gordon, as punishment for trying to clean up the last precinct he was at. This is a different Gordon, and a different Bruce Wayne, to the ones we've seen in previous interpretations. Wayne is younger, angrier, more inexperienced and Gordon is shown as much more capable and driven he is normally given credit for, and it's his story that really shines in Year One. His fear for his pregnant wife and unborn son in Gotham's dark world brings to mind Brad Pitt's dilemma in Se7en, thankfully without the brutal ramifications. Batman's story is fantastic, and the change of perspective and presentation shed knew lights on old events, but it is one we are familiar with so it loses out next to Gordon's.
The art direction is fantastic and well up to the quality we've come to expect from a Bruce Timm production. The character designs are all faithful to their comic counterparts, though often younger than we're used to seeing. It's nice to see the images of the comics in the credits for people like me who have never had the chance to read the story, and to see how strikingly similar they are to the movie.
The voice acting is also superb. Bryan Cranston (of Breaking Bad fame) delivers a believable and very human Gordon, Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) is fantastic, if a little underused, as Detective Essen and Benjamin McKenzie delivers a very different, and surprisingly effective, Wayne/Batman. While in my heart, Kevin Conroy will always be the voice of animated Batman, I have to admit he wouldn't have worked in this interpretations. McKenzie brings an arrogance, youth and uncertainty to both Wayne and Batman that Conroy couldn't deliver. Eliza Dushku also stars as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, who's origins wind, almost sensually, around the twin stories. She also shines in the included Catwoman short film, which is the best Catwoman I've seen so far. I hope to see more of her and that interpretation.
Clocking in at just under an hour, Year One still manages to pack in more story than the average 90-100 minute film. Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery's direction is flawless, not a single frame of film is wasted, and the pacing is masterful. Don't let the animated style fool you, this is a very dark, very adult, and very fantastic interpretation of the Batman universe. It's filled with fan service, with hints at characters such as Vicki Vale, Hervey Dent and more scattered throughout. About all that's missing is a strong Batman theme, though Christopher Drake's score is effective, if not very memorable.
This is a film to be enjoyed by all, from the most die-hard Bat-freak, to a first time watcher. I can't recommend it strongly enough. if you've ever enjoyed anything to do with Batman, then this film is for you. I guarantee you will enjoy it.
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