'Batman: Gotham Knight' (Pre-Release Hype)

[tad]

Does this go in the TV or movie thread? Anyway, thought Conor would want to see this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oW71WB254M

[esophagus]

Very nice. Not sure how I feel about the anime, but I'm excited anyways.

[conorkilpatrick]

Yowsers! Watching now!

[conorkilpatrick]

Sweet. I'm in. Looks likes lot of fun.

[paper]

This looks fantastic. Harkens back to the anime styles I was exposed to as a kid. Darker, more adult than the polished, colorful stuff you see today. Some designs are more appealing than others, but overall I'm really excited about it. The Deadshot stuff in particular. They're playing with elements of the Batman character that make sense for the anime tradition and I'm positively thrilled. I loved the Bruce Timm Batman animated series, but I think this will finally offer a piece that's been missing: a truly scary dark knight in a truly scary Gotham city.

[six-gun]

I'm incredibly excited about this, art styles don't matter so much as long as the story is good

[six-gun]

Deadshot!?!?! Awesome!

[horatio616]

This is really exciting! Does anyone have any details about the production studio that did the animation? It looks exactly like Madhouse studios, who did Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, two of my favorite amime films. If this is them, expect this to be genius!

[horatio616]

I'm much more excited about this than Dark Knight!

[six-gun]

This is really exciting! Does anyone have any details about the production studio that did the animation? It looks exactly like Madhouse studios, who did Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, two of my favorite amime films. If this is them, expect this to be genius!

I think it's all different studios, I get the impression that this is like a video anthology.

[neb]

I think I'm on board with this...maybe. See, I just really, really, really hate anime. Like HATE it. Some Japanese animated films are great, like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, but I don't even know if those classify as anime.

Well, we'll just see. This could turn out to be really awesome, and then, I'll be eating my words.

[horatio616]

I think I'm on board with this...maybe. See, I just really, really, really hate anime. Like HATE it. Some Japanese animated films are great, like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, but I don't even know if those classify as anime.

Well, we'll just see. This could turn out to be really awesome, and then, I'll be eating my words.


Well, it appears that the six segments are all written by Westerners, so if it's the story aspects of anime that you're worried about, this may set your mind at ease. For the most part, the animation in higher budget anime far outshines most of what's being done in America.

[neb]

Well, it appears that the six segments are all written by Westerners, so if it's the story aspects of anime that you're worried about, this may set your mind at ease. For the most part, the animation in higher budget anime far outshines most of what's being done in America.

Yeah, that's true, but they said they also left it open enough that the directors could do what they felt was necessary. I guess the question is then, how much will they wiggle in there? I'm just going to wait and see what others say.

[paulsharkey]

That Looks fantastic, I'm havin me one of them when it comes out

[horatio616]

Yeah, that's true, but they said they also left it open enough that the directors could do what they felt was necessary. I guess the question is then, how much will they wiggle in there? I'm just going to wait and see what others say.

My guess is that the dialogue will be sparse and there will be lots of lingering shots of building facades.

[esophagus]

There was one design that kind of bugged me. Overall, I'm super-stoked for the stories, and interested in the animation, but one (couldn't tell you which, at the moment) didn't do it for me.

[clayton]

Being a huge fan of LOTDK and Batman: B&W, I think this anthology-style animated is going to be a big geekout for me. I don't even like anime for the most part, but this looks killer!

[gungadin]

I'm just gonna say that I want Shinchiro Watanabe to be on the art direction for one (he did Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and "Detective Story" from The Animatrix). That guy is freakin awesome.

[six-gun]

from what I saw, some of the art styles looked better than others (however I only disliked one)

[itsbecca]

I think I'm on board with this...maybe. See, I just really, really, really hate anime. Like HATE it. Some Japanese animated films are great, like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, but I don't even know if those classify as anime.

Well, we'll just see. This could turn out to be really awesome, and then, I'll be eating my words.

Hoooooold on her buddy. Why do those not classify as anime? Because you "hate anime" but those are good? So obviously they're above the genre? I do agree that Miyazaki is definitley cream of the crop but there is an array of talent and styles out there. To just dismiss an entire medium just because it hails from a particular country seems a little crass.

[kahunablair]

This looks like it will be a fun ride. I can't wait.

Does anyone remember the reception that Animatrix got?
I only recently bought it in a $5 dollar bin, and haven't had a chance to watch it.
Do you think that these type of movies are only niche money makers? Would John Q. Public really buy this? Just curious on your thoughts.

[paper]

Batman's a popular brand. I think a lot of people who might turn their noses at "The Batman" and other, lighter incarnations, might jump at the chance to buy a darker Batman product. Batman is a classic. Anime is hot right now. Seems like a winning combination to me.

[itsbecca]

This looks like it will be a fun ride. I can't wait.

Does anyone remember the reception that Animatrix got?
I only recently bought it in a $5 dollar bin, and haven't had a chance to watch it.
Do you think that these type of movies are only niche money makers? Would John Q. Public really buy this? Just curious on your thoughts.

Interesting question. I've never really known anyone who doesn't read comics who picks up the animated films, or who's even particularly aware of them honestly. So does the anime make it even more exclusive, since I'm sure a fair amount of your comic lovers don't care for the style. Or will anime lovers hop onto it and it will bring in a new crowd to the character? I don't really know.

EDIT: I own very few dvds and one of them is Animatrix. It is a really very very interesting watch if you have any interest in the franchise, animation or anime.

[moneytime]

Damn! Warner Bros took it down off youtube already. Any other place to see it? I can't find it anywhere. Driving me crrraaazzzyyy! :eek:

[esophagus]

This looks like it will be a fun ride. I can't wait.

Does anyone remember the reception that Animatrix got?
I only recently bought it in a $5 dollar bin, and haven't had a chance to watch it.
Do you think that these type of movies are only niche money makers? Would John Q. Public really buy this? Just curious on your thoughts.I didn't really love Animatrix, but I loved the idea behind it, and think Batman is a much more appropriate series to back it.

I'm going to expect slightly higher sales.

- Huge Batman fans will check it out
- General comic fans who like Anime might check it out
- People really hyped for The Dark Knight will check it out
- Anyone who really follows anime or animated DVDs will probably be interested in it.

I think the Anime will turn away a few people, but those other factors will probably bring in enough extra viewers to void that.

[superfriend82]

Damn! Warner Bros took it down off youtube already. Any other place to see it? I can't find it anywhere. Driving me crrraaazzzyyy! :eek:

I know i was late too! It's benn driving me sooooooooooooooo crrrrrrrrrrrazy :eek:

[lantern4life]

Superherohype (http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6798) has the Batman: Gotham Knight sneek peek that will be on the JL: New Frontier DVD.

[superfriend82]

Superherohype (http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6798) has the Batman: Gotham Knight sneek peek that will be on the JL: New Frontier DVD.

It looks cool.I don't know adout the look of killer kroc.

[sullivan85]

Cool idea. Count me in!

[kaytwo]

Anyone seen the batman: tdk prequel anime? Done in the style of the animatrix. That is - short stories with different directors and art styles.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/02/15/first-look-video-batman-gotham-knight/

[ruo21]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/202449.html?playlist=featured

http://www.warnervideo.com/batmangothamknight/

New video of Batman Gotham Knight on the top. The bottom ones a bit older.
Looks sweet.

[decepticon]

So looking forward to this!

[luthor]

So I managed to get a copy of Batman: Gotham Knight today and just started watching it. It's pretty good thus far...but I have a nitpick.

In the "Crossfire (http://tinyurl.com/55w6ko)" episode(written by some guy named Greg Rucka) we're introduced to Crispus Allen along with his partner...Anna Ramirez?!?! Did WB not have the rights to use Montoya? Isn't that kind of strange considering she came from Batman:TAS? And if memory serves, Bruce Timm created her.

What's up with that?

[horatio616]

I'm actually looking forward to this more than The Dark Knight. I might be crazy.

[six-gun]

So I managed to get a copy of Batman: Gotham Knight today and just started watching it. It's pretty good thus far...but I have a nitpick.

In the "Crossfire (http://tinyurl.com/55w6ko)" episode(written by some guy named Greg Rucka) we're introduced to Crispus Allen along with his partner...Anna Ramirez?!?! Did WB not have the rights to use Montoya? Isn't that kind of strange considering she came from Batman:TAS? And if memory serves, Bruce Timm created her.

What's up with that?

Rumor is that it has something to do with Montoya being in The Dark Knight

[paper]

I believe Anna Ramirez is in Dark Knight as well.

[luthor]

I should say that over all, this might be my favorite Batman cartoon ever. It very uniquely blends Japanese and American styles for wonderful effect. Plus hearing Batman sound like Batman again was nerdgasmic.

[niceguyeddie]

I believe Anna Ramirez is in Dark Knight as well.

yeah, i read an interview with the actresss who plays anna... no mention of anna at all.

oh, and i saw gotham knight yesterday...
it's sweet.

[Megnolia]

On the 16th, the History Channel has "Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight".

http://www.history.com/shows.do?episodeId=322796&action=detail

Delve into the world of Batman and the vigilante justice that he brought to the city of Gotham. Batman is a man who, after experiencing great tragedy, devotes his life to an ideal--but what happens when one man takes on the evil underworld alone? Examine why Batman is who he is--and explore how a boy scarred by tragedy becomes a symbol of hope to everyone else.

Is this new or something they are recycling because of the movie? Either way, my tivo's set.

[drwally]

I just saw Batman: Gotham Knight, and to be honest I wasn't all that excited about it. I was much more impressed by The New Frontier and Superman: Doomsday, in that order.

I think that may be because I am not a fan of the anthology style of film. I did like the last three segments the most. All of the segments have their own style, all written by an impressive line up of writers: Azzarello, Goyer, Rucka, etc. It definitely seems like a way to add in some detail and back story that covers the time between Batman Begins and Dark Knight, but I don't think there is that much there necessary to know before seeing the "real" films.

I got the impression that the Rucka segment (Crossfire) was just tons of story dumped on Rucka, who then had very little to add. Not much in that one. The visual style of the first segment (Have I got a story for you) was just TOO stylized in a particular way: The Potato Bat Wing Man, they could have called it-seen from several different perspectives in that segment, he still looks like a potato. All segments have their own unique style, but no doubt many will have problems with a Bruce Wayne that looks like your average Japanime young man character (big eyes, floppy hair, looks about 16 years old), except in the last segment, which is a more "traditional" (square jaw) look.

Without question, the animation is big budget, and pretty to look at, although that may depend on your sense of style.

So, I'll give it a *meh* rating, but you can upgrade that if you don't mind anthology style films. I liked the animated Matrix anthology better, which is the best comparison. It's called the "Japanime" Batman, but actually the last segment (Deadshot) was done by a Korean studio. My guess is the Matrix Animated Anthology worked because it was different stories of different people in the same world. But Batman Gotham Knight is still basically the same character or characters (Bruce/Batman, Gordon, Alfred, etc.) hashed together, so it feels less cohesive. It feels like 5 different writers writing the same character in 5 different ways. 5 different styles of costume I can accept, but 5 different personalities for the same man is more difficult. The conceit I think they tried to use to paper that over was "as he is seen from different perspectives," but I don't think that overcame the basic problem of one film, 5 different Batmans, not feeling cohesive, IMHO.

[cammyknoxville]

I gotta say I really enjoyed it. I think we're all too used to the Bruce Timm Batman: The Animated Series to embrace another style of storytelling with Batman (although Conroy's voice helped find a balance in the movie I thought).

So if you'd like to treat yourself to a different look of Batman, I suggest you check it out.

[labor_days]

I hated the kids in the beginning that were all "Batman yo!".

But Batman looked badass in every single episode.

[luthor]

I hated the kids in the beginning that were all "Batman yo!".

I really think that first short was a shot at the people who complained about seeing Batman done in the Japanese style. It kind of hit on all the Anime stereotypes(Giant monsters, robots , Asian horror, etc). It made me laugh.

[labor_days]

I liked the story. The kids were...gah!

The scene in Crossfire with Det. Allen looking down on Batman standing in the flames was so fucking cool.

Is there anything that says badass more than casually walking away from flames and/or standing in flames?