Today’s quick review: Batman: Year One. Eighteen years after the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne (Ben McKenzie) returns to Gotham looking to make a difference. Disgusted with the corruption in the city, he dons a costume and becomes Batman. Meanwhile, Lt. Jim Gordon (Bryan Cranston) transfers to Gotham and faces the pressure of being one of the only honest officers in the city’s corrupt police force.
Batman: Year One is an animated superhero crime movie that chronicles Bruce Wayne’s first year as a vigilante. Adapted from the Frank Miller comics, Year One sees Bruce grow from a lucky amateur to a force to be reckoned with in Gotham’s underworld. Year One takes a more grounded approach than other Batman movies, toning down the flashier aspects of Batman’s character while leaving the core of it intact.
Batman: Year One benefits from a believable world and impressive animation quality. The story escalates naturally as Batman’s arrival sends ripples through Gotham. The corruption in Gotham’s police force complements Batman’s arc well, showing just how bad Gotham can get and establishing why Batman works outside the law. Gordon makes for a great perspective character, demonstrating resolve, decisiveness, and some very human flaws.
The main catch is that Year One is not as flashy as other superhero stories. There are no real supervillains, Bruce sustains serious injuries, and the bulk of the action involves either gangs of criminals or the police. This, combined with the heavy emphasis on Gordon’s perspective, gives the movie the flavor of a crime drama. Fans who are used to raw spectacle and large-scale drama may find Year One sedate by comparison.
Batman: Year One is a well-crafted movie that helps solidify the key parts of Batman’s origin story and his world. Not everyone will enjoy what it is going for, particularly its lack of a singular villain, its winding plot, and some of the frailties it gives its characters. But for those willing to take the movie on its own terms, Batman: Year One is a satisfying watch that captures some of the best aspects of the character.
For a very similar take on Batman’s origins, check out Batman Begins. For a sprawling mystery with a similar story structure, try Batman: The Long Halloween. For a live-action crime drama about police corruption, try Street Kings or Training Day.
[7.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1672723/). I give it a 7.0 for a cleanly told story that gets at the heart of its characters.