Batman: Gotham Knight is a collection of six short Batman episodes done in anime style. Each story stands on its own but they all have some subtle connections. It does not connect with the Christopher Nolan movies very well, which I do not think hurts the overall quality of the project, but since that's how it is being marketed some people will be disappointed.
I will comment on each individual episode, but I think one of the consistent problems with each episode is bad voice acting. In Japanese cartoons, the animation is completed first, and the actors act to the images. Voice actors often have to rush to complete their lines. In the states the voice acting is done first, which gives the actors a lot more freedom. Although I am not an anime expert, I have found this to be a common problem when English actors dub Japanese cartoons. Even the great Kevin Conroy is not at the top of his game here.
(SPOILERS are only in the episode descriptions)
1. "Have I got a story for you" is really just a remake of an episode of the Batman and Robin animated series from the late 90's. Four skateboarding kids get together and share their stories about their encounters with Batman. The kids describe Batman as a giant living bat, a robot, and some kind of liquid metal creature like the T-1000. I think this episode exemplified the urban myth aspect of Batman very well. One of Batman's goals is to get people to mythologize him, to make him bigger than he really is. It is underwhelming compared to the animated series episode though. I also do not like the animation for the characters in this episode. Everybody looks a little fat, even Batman. Gotham City looks fantastic, if maybe a little too upper class. Rating: 6/10
2."Crossfire" is about two Gotham police officers, Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez, the latter appears in The Dark Knight. Allen strongly believes that Batman is a criminal, and he has lost faith in Lt. Gordon for cooperating with him. Allen is considering turning in his badge. Ramirez tries to convince him otherwise, but they get caught in the middle of a gunfight between two rival gangs. Batman intervenes and saves the day, changing Allen's mind. While the animation is a major improvement over the previous episode, a predictable story and bad voice acting cannot save it. Batman looks the toughest in this episode. Rating: 6/10.
3. In "Field Test," Batman obtains new force field technology for his suit, but when a bullet bounces off it and strikes a random thug, Batman nearly brakes his golden rule that he will not kill. This was a pretty good examination of Batman's limits, but Bruce Wayne's design was far too boyish, and his bat suit looked ridiculous. Parts of Gotham City look too bright and cheery as well. 7/10.
4. "In Darkness Dwells" has the strongest connection to Batman Begins because it features the Scarecrow, and it was written by David Goyer. Batman has to rescue a Cardinal who has been taken to the sewers by Scarecrow and Killer Croc. In addition to being one of the more stylish episodes, it is also much more fun than the previous three because it features Batman kicking serious butt. This one has my favorite animation. The design of the sewers and Gotham City is very creepy. Rating: 9/10.
5. "Working Through Pain" is my favorite episode on this DVD. Batman, still injured from the previous episode, has lost a lot of blood. While speaking to Alfred through an intercom system, he thinks back upon his experiences traveling abroad. He remembers an instructor named Cassandra who tried to teach him to control his pain and anger. By the end of the episode, Batman realizes that pain, anger, and violence are what drives him. It is the only way he knows how to solve his problems. In a very poignant moment, Alfred tells him to come out of the gutter, to which Batman replies: "I can't." Decent animation this time around, nothing special but nothing terrible. Bruce Wayne kind of looks like a hippie at times. Rating: 9/10.
6. "Deadshot." This episode does not have much substance, but it is a lot of fun, and it is the only one where Bruce Wayne is drawn well. Deadshot is the best sniper in the world, and Commissioner Gordon is his next target. Batman has to track down Deadshot while Gordon is part of a motorcade. Deadshot is on a moving train when he takes a shot at Gordon, but Batman deflects the bullet with his armor. This episode features the best action scenes and a fantastic version of Gotham City. Deadshot is a very stylish and entertaining villain, and I would not mind seeing him as a minor character in a live action movie. The episode also establishes Batman's aversion to using guns, an often ignored aspect of his character. Rating: 8/10.
Overall I can only recommend this DVD for the most devoted Batman fans. I would say there are two bad episodes, one good episode, and three very good episodes. They are too short to really offer anything substantial.
I will comment on each individual episode, but I think one of the consistent problems with each episode is bad voice acting. In Japanese cartoons, the animation is completed first, and the actors act to the images. Voice actors often have to rush to complete their lines. In the states the voice acting is done first, which gives the actors a lot more freedom. Although I am not an anime expert, I have found this to be a common problem when English actors dub Japanese cartoons. Even the great Kevin Conroy is not at the top of his game here.
(SPOILERS are only in the episode descriptions)
1. "Have I got a story for you" is really just a remake of an episode of the Batman and Robin animated series from the late 90's. Four skateboarding kids get together and share their stories about their encounters with Batman. The kids describe Batman as a giant living bat, a robot, and some kind of liquid metal creature like the T-1000. I think this episode exemplified the urban myth aspect of Batman very well. One of Batman's goals is to get people to mythologize him, to make him bigger than he really is. It is underwhelming compared to the animated series episode though. I also do not like the animation for the characters in this episode. Everybody looks a little fat, even Batman. Gotham City looks fantastic, if maybe a little too upper class. Rating: 6/10
2."Crossfire" is about two Gotham police officers, Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez, the latter appears in The Dark Knight. Allen strongly believes that Batman is a criminal, and he has lost faith in Lt. Gordon for cooperating with him. Allen is considering turning in his badge. Ramirez tries to convince him otherwise, but they get caught in the middle of a gunfight between two rival gangs. Batman intervenes and saves the day, changing Allen's mind. While the animation is a major improvement over the previous episode, a predictable story and bad voice acting cannot save it. Batman looks the toughest in this episode. Rating: 6/10.
3. In "Field Test," Batman obtains new force field technology for his suit, but when a bullet bounces off it and strikes a random thug, Batman nearly brakes his golden rule that he will not kill. This was a pretty good examination of Batman's limits, but Bruce Wayne's design was far too boyish, and his bat suit looked ridiculous. Parts of Gotham City look too bright and cheery as well. 7/10.
4. "In Darkness Dwells" has the strongest connection to Batman Begins because it features the Scarecrow, and it was written by David Goyer. Batman has to rescue a Cardinal who has been taken to the sewers by Scarecrow and Killer Croc. In addition to being one of the more stylish episodes, it is also much more fun than the previous three because it features Batman kicking serious butt. This one has my favorite animation. The design of the sewers and Gotham City is very creepy. Rating: 9/10.
5. "Working Through Pain" is my favorite episode on this DVD. Batman, still injured from the previous episode, has lost a lot of blood. While speaking to Alfred through an intercom system, he thinks back upon his experiences traveling abroad. He remembers an instructor named Cassandra who tried to teach him to control his pain and anger. By the end of the episode, Batman realizes that pain, anger, and violence are what drives him. It is the only way he knows how to solve his problems. In a very poignant moment, Alfred tells him to come out of the gutter, to which Batman replies: "I can't." Decent animation this time around, nothing special but nothing terrible. Bruce Wayne kind of looks like a hippie at times. Rating: 9/10.
6. "Deadshot." This episode does not have much substance, but it is a lot of fun, and it is the only one where Bruce Wayne is drawn well. Deadshot is the best sniper in the world, and Commissioner Gordon is his next target. Batman has to track down Deadshot while Gordon is part of a motorcade. Deadshot is on a moving train when he takes a shot at Gordon, but Batman deflects the bullet with his armor. This episode features the best action scenes and a fantastic version of Gotham City. Deadshot is a very stylish and entertaining villain, and I would not mind seeing him as a minor character in a live action movie. The episode also establishes Batman's aversion to using guns, an often ignored aspect of his character. Rating: 8/10.
Overall I can only recommend this DVD for the most devoted Batman fans. I would say there are two bad episodes, one good episode, and three very good episodes. They are too short to really offer anything substantial.