Today’s quick review: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1. Ten years after he retired from crime-fighting, Bruce Wayne (Peter Weller) resumes his career as Batman to combat an epidemic of crime in Gotham. His example spurs Carrie Kelley (Ariel Winter), a fiery teenage girl, to take up the mantle of Robin. But Batman, now older and slower, may have bitten off more than he can chew by challenging the Mutants, a gang of savage youngsters.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is an animated superhero movie based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. The Dark Knight Returns picks up with an older Bruce Wayne who’s drawn out of retirement by the same compulsions that made him become Batman in the first place. The story examines the character from a different angle and reaches some interesting conclusions, making it a peculiar but compelling part of the DC canon.
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 does an elegant job of adapting its source material. The character designs are stylized enough to set them apart but clean enough to animate well. The plot structure is a little unusual, pivoting between two or three loosely related subplots, but it fits the needs of the movie. The tone strikes an effective balance between bleakness and hope: Bruce is well past his prime, but he still has fight left in him.
Still, The Dark Knight Returns has a very particular vision that will not suit everyone. The world and its occupants are exaggerated in grotesque ways, contributing to the atmosphere of decay. Seeing Bruce, Alfred (Michael Jackson), and Commissioner Gordon (David Selby) old and with no legacy can be depressing. Finally, the story twists the superhero genre in uncomfortable ways, dissecting the psychology of its heroes and villains.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is a worthwhile watch for any dedicated fans of the genre. The quality of the adaptation, the questions it asks, and the iconic take on Batman all make the movie intriguing at worst and captivating at best. But the offbeat story and strong flavor of 80s pessimism mean that the movie will not necessarily hit the mark at an emotional level, making it more of a thought experiment for some viewers.
For another adaptation of a Frank Miller Batman comic, check out Batman: Year One. For a live-action Batman movie that has similar plot points, try The Dark Knight Rises. For another long-form adaptation of an iconic Batman storyline, try Batman: The Long Halloween. For a live-action superhero movie that also deals with retired superheroes, the public’s reaction to them, and 80s social commentary, try Watchmen.
[8.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2313197/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for careful craftsmanship and a thought-provoking story.