04-01-2013, 07:31 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-01-2013, 11:12 AM by Hammerskjold.)
Batfans, something awesome happened. 'The Dark Knight Returns' graphic novel is one of my favourite Batman story.
It's not a big secret that it was\is also a great influence on the live action film from the 1989 Tim Burton take, to the more recent Christopher Nolan trilogy.
I always thought that the best, truest adaptation would be an animated adaptation of the novel. Even then it would have to either a miniseries or broken into a 2 or 3 parter to do the novel justice. (And come on, Batman is all about Justice amirite?)
It's not about just getting it done, but getting it done -right-, I really think that there's just too many factors to bung it up that if it's not unfilmable, then at least unfilmable in my lifetime.
Then a friend told me there's an animated 2 part, full length theatrical length, film adaptation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The...%28film%29
Long story short. They got it done, and IMO they got it done -right-.
(Spoilers)
- They kept the time period, so it's in the semi-fictionalized 1980's. Big shoulder pads, Reagan, and the Cold War is still in play. Which is the right decision. The core story still resonates, and 'updating' it would be a mistake.
- It does not have the internal monologue of the novel, but IMO they made the best adaptation from a visual novel into a cinematic, animated film.
- The musical score. In a weird but great ' everything comes full circle' way, the music style is greatly influenced by the Nolan trilogy, and again it really works IMO.
- The Joker. Chilling. Yes yes Heath Ledger did an excellent portrayal. Mark Hamill did an excellent job in the animated TV series. This one IMO also enters the 'Hall of Fame' level of Batman's rogues gallery performance.
- Action pieces. Amazing. Greatly choreographed (a lot of live action directors can learn a thing or two from this 'cartoon') scenes. Not only are they faithful, in some scenes they added to the Bat mythology, in the best sense of the word.
Staying faithful and respectful to the material is hard enough, ('Batman needs a neon talking street luge, so the 6-10 year olds can relate and our toy division has something to pump out for christmas') but -adding- to it without seriously screwing it up? It's very very, very difficult to pull off. And these guys and gals, accomplished it.
TL, DR;
The Dark Knight Returns. Animated film in 2 parts. Over 3 hours of Batman nerdgasm in total.(edited correction, make that 2 hours and 20 minutes approx, still good though.) Billy berzerk, Batman don't shiv, man.
Honestly I got chills and manly tears of 'OMG sooo much win....'.
If you're a Batfan, seriously grab a copy of this. Grab 'Batman: Year One' (aka 'Gordon: Commisioner Bad-Ass') animated film as well. It's the Bat trilogy I always wanted, The Alpha and the Omega of the Bat Mythos, and I couldn't believe it actually happened.
It's not a big secret that it was\is also a great influence on the live action film from the 1989 Tim Burton take, to the more recent Christopher Nolan trilogy.
I always thought that the best, truest adaptation would be an animated adaptation of the novel. Even then it would have to either a miniseries or broken into a 2 or 3 parter to do the novel justice. (And come on, Batman is all about Justice amirite?)
It's not about just getting it done, but getting it done -right-, I really think that there's just too many factors to bung it up that if it's not unfilmable, then at least unfilmable in my lifetime.
Then a friend told me there's an animated 2 part, full length theatrical length, film adaptation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The...%28film%29
Long story short. They got it done, and IMO they got it done -right-.
(Spoilers)
- They kept the time period, so it's in the semi-fictionalized 1980's. Big shoulder pads, Reagan, and the Cold War is still in play. Which is the right decision. The core story still resonates, and 'updating' it would be a mistake.
- It does not have the internal monologue of the novel, but IMO they made the best adaptation from a visual novel into a cinematic, animated film.
- The musical score. In a weird but great ' everything comes full circle' way, the music style is greatly influenced by the Nolan trilogy, and again it really works IMO.
- The Joker. Chilling. Yes yes Heath Ledger did an excellent portrayal. Mark Hamill did an excellent job in the animated TV series. This one IMO also enters the 'Hall of Fame' level of Batman's rogues gallery performance.
- Action pieces. Amazing. Greatly choreographed (a lot of live action directors can learn a thing or two from this 'cartoon') scenes. Not only are they faithful, in some scenes they added to the Bat mythology, in the best sense of the word.
Staying faithful and respectful to the material is hard enough, ('Batman needs a neon talking street luge, so the 6-10 year olds can relate and our toy division has something to pump out for christmas') but -adding- to it without seriously screwing it up? It's very very, very difficult to pull off. And these guys and gals, accomplished it.
TL, DR;
The Dark Knight Returns. Animated film in 2 parts. Over 3 hours of Batman nerdgasm in total.(edited correction, make that 2 hours and 20 minutes approx, still good though.) Billy berzerk, Batman don't shiv, man.
Honestly I got chills and manly tears of 'OMG sooo much win....'.
If you're a Batfan, seriously grab a copy of this. Grab 'Batman: Year One' (aka 'Gordon: Commisioner Bad-Ass') animated film as well. It's the Bat trilogy I always wanted, The Alpha and the Omega of the Bat Mythos, and I couldn't believe it actually happened.