Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)

The Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants a reunion. The Feds want the Man of Tomorrow to put a stop to him.

Director:

Jay Oliva

Writers:

Bob Kane (character created by: Batman), Jerry Siegel (character created by: Superman)

Stars:

Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, Michael Emerson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Weller	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)
Ariel Winter	...	Robin / Carrie Kelley (voice)
Michael Emerson	...	Joker (voice)
David Selby	...	Commissioner Gordon (voice)
Mark Valley	...	Superman / Clark Kent (voice)
Carlos Alazraqui	...	Congressman Noches (voice)
Dee Bradley Baker	...	Don (voice)
Paget Brewster	...	Lana Lang (voice)
Maria Canals-Barrera	...	Ellen Yindel (voice)
Townsend Coleman	...	Morrie / Abner (voice)
Grey Griffin	...	Anchor Carla / Sarah Essen-Gordon (voice)
Robin Atkin Downes	...	Oliver Queen (voice)
Greg Eagles	...	Ben Derrick (voice)
Michael Jackson	...	Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
Danny Jacobs	...	Merkel (voice)

Storyline

After a 10 year absence, the Dark Knight has returned to Gotham to fight the Mutant threat. After defeating the mutants, he has taken control of a gang loyal to him in order to make Gotham a safer place. But, the Joker has decided to stop this, and fights against Batman in a deadly duel. Meanwhile, the Man of Steel is ordered to stop the Dark Knight because the government believes that his ways are wrong. As Batman fights the Joker, the Man of Steel prepares for his greatest fight.

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Plot Keywords:

tattoo on breast | second part | sequel | dc comics | superhero | 

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Taglines:

Justice Returns... Vengeance Returns... Redemption Comes to Gotham

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action violence and some suggestive content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Deluxe Edition

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min 148 min (Deluxe Edition)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although never directly stated, Gordon's wife in this story is Sarah Essen, the woman that he has an affair with in "Batman: Year One (2011)." He calls her Sarah when sitting in bed next to Barbara.

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Goofs

the mug the Joker uses has Endocrine spelled "ENDOCHRINE"

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Quotes

Joker: [after Batman throws a Batarang in the Joker's eye, partially blinding him] Are you out of your mind?
Batman: I'm through playing, Joker!
Joker: Be still, my heart.

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Alternate Versions

A version was released on October 8, 2013 entitled 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Deluxe Edition'. This version combines both parts into a single 148 minute movie. however it cuts out the newscast part from the opening scene of Part 2.

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Connections

Version of Dan Harmon's Batman (2002)

User Reviews

Batman - The Dark Knight Returns - Part 2

DC's 'comic book to film' adaptations are usually single title releases. They are one offs, usually telling a larger story overall with lose connections between films. That's where 'The Dark Knight Returns' excels above previous Batman animation titles. It's more than just one small part of the main story. DC animation presents the whole of Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" series in two parts, as the second half somehow excels amazingly above the first.

The second half takes place only a short time after the end of the first. Gotham has been liberated from the grip of fear delivered from the threat of the Mutant Gang. Their leader beaten, their members left faithless and most trying to take up violence in the name of Batman himself. Things are not as simple as they once were. The world has changed since the Bat and his allies waged war against crime and injustice. Now, the United States is willing to go to war with Russia, allies have picked sides and become enemies, and Bruce Wayne is now remembering why he picked up the mantle of the Bat in the first place. On top of all of this new world order, history begins to repeats itself. Old enemies resurface from Batman's past, to take up old grudges in what will inevitably become a battle between righteousness and immorality.

In many ways, Wayne is the best of us. Of all of us. He is a man of great physical and mental ability, with the body and agility of a Olympian, and an intelligence only rivaled by his own willpower fight for justice against evil men. He represents what happens to a man who loses all that is dear to him. A man who uncompromisingly wages war against those who represent the criminal element that has haunted him his whole life. This does not make him a good man, but perhaps the best man to fight against evil has to represent something worse. I think the second part of this series does a fantastic job of showing that side of Bruce Wayne. He has a drive like no other, and his is inflexible in his fight against injustice. So much so that he wages war even upon those he protects if they are willing to cross a certain line. I believe that is the main theme in so many of the modern renditions of Batman, and this film certainly shows it well.

There are very few flaws throughout the second half, which is an amazing feat in itself. The first part is a fantastic movie, and DC Animation did a wonderful job of building these stories back to back, one resting upon the shoulders of the other. They build upon the story at a steady pace although possibly it is a bit rushed within the last 30 minutes of the movie, between 2 epic battles in such a short period of time. The two films are like twin brothers, but the second gets slightly better grades. I think the most important role goes to Michael Emerson as the Joker, who is slightly more effeminate than I expected in tone of voice, but does a good job of showing his mental instability. The jokes fall flat, but the humour is in the sickness of his actions. There are some moments of shocking violence in this movie, but that is the point of the Joker's character, and how far he is willing to delve into chaos, to taunt and insult the Batman until the evil, bitter end.

This film should not be watched without the predecessor however, nor without reading the Frank Miller comic from which it is based, but is a beautiful story to watch. This is easily one of the top films (in both parts) that DC animation has produced so far.

8/10