BATMAN: YEAR ONE (2011)
Commemorative Edition
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital
Label: WBHE
Region Code: Region Free
Rating: PG-13
Duration: 64 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HA MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles
Video: 2160p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Director: Lauren Montgomery & Sam Liu
Cast: Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Eliza Dushku, Katee Sackhoff. Alex Rocco, Jon Polito, Jeff Bennett, Grey Griffin, Robin Atkin Downes, Keith Ferguson, Fred Tatasciore, Stephen Root, Nick Jameson
Based on the same-titled 1987 comic run by wunderkind writer Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli Batman: Year One the animated film was released in 2011 and to celebrate WBHS have given it a 4K UHD upgrade, and the timing is well-suited as the new The Batman film looks to take a lot of inspiration from the comic. The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City after the murder of his parents, this being his first attempt to fight crime as a caped crusader The Batman after years of training. It's a rough start for the upstart vigilante and the film explores how the Bat and Lt. Gordon established their now legendary crime-fighting bond. At the start of the film Lieutenant James Gordon (a fantastic Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad) is freshly arrived in Gotham and is none to pleased about the rampant corruption from inside the police department, and starts to wage a war from the inside. This proves difficult as the police commissioner (the late Jon Polito, Miller's Crossing) is crooked as hell and gets his marching orders straight from the crime boss Carmine Falcone (the late Alex Rocco, The Godfather)
It's an interesting character study of two of Gotham's finest, though the film is more from Gordon's perspective, as where I feel the comic was a bit more even keeled, here Batman is sort of second banana. This incarnation of Gotham is semi- realistic and gritty Gotham, it's got that noir feel that Frank Miller is so good at, and there aren't any super-villains from Batman's Rogues Gallery, aside from Catwoman and a not-yet Two Face Harvey Dent. It's gripping stuff as we get to know Gordon from the inside out, including his flaws, like the fact that he cheats on his wife with an attractive co-worker Detective Sarah Essen (Katee Sackoff, Battlestar Galactica), showing that's he flawed but also quite human and willing to own up to his failures.
We also get a sub-story involving Selina Kyle (Eliza Dushku, Wrong Turn) as a prostitute turned costumed burglar Catwoman, having been inspired by the Batma. The Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns) comic was dark, gritty and quite fantastic, and I am happy to report that this animated adaptation still kicks some major ass all these years later and looks fantastic on 4K UHD, plus it's got some cool extras as well - worth the upgrade!
Audio/Video: Batman: Year One (2011) arrives on 4k Ultra HD from WBHE in 2160p UHD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. The 4K resolution renders the animation quite nicely, the animation lines are fluid and well-defined and the color and contrast are fantastic with the high dynamic range color-grading with deeper, shadowy black that are impressive. There's a smidge of compression by way of banding but overall handsome presentation. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles, no Dolby Atmos upgrade for The Batman. No worries though, this is a terrific uncompressed presentation that has plenty of surround action.
All the extras are housed on the accompanying Blu-ray, WBHE carry-over most of the extras from the previous Blu-ray with the exception of a pair of Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures that focused on Catwoman, a digital comic and some sneaks peeks.
Archival extras begin with the 39-min Conversations with DC Comics: The Batman Creative Team that celebrate Batman and his origins in addition to the work of Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli on Batman: Year One. We also get the Audio Commentary featuring co-producer Alan Burnett, co-director Sam Liu, DC creative director Mike Carlin and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano.
The 23-min Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots featurette that further spotlights the genius of Miller. Additionally there's the 15-min DC Showcase – Catwoman (2011) which was scripted by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series) and three DC Universe Movies Flashbacks: Batman: Soul of the Dragon (11 min), Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (10 min), Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (9 min).
But wait, that's not all! We are treated to a brand new featurette, that being the 22-minute Reinventing Gordon – which is an examination of the history of James Gordon through comics, animation, and feature films with celebrated comics creators and actors, including Jeffrey Wright who portrays commissioner Gordon the the new The Batman film. The 2-disc release arrives in a black keepcase with a single sided sleeve of artwork featuring fantastic illustration, which is replicated in the slipcover. Inside there's a code for a 4K digital copy of the film.
Special Features:
- NEW! Reinventing Gordon (22 min)
- Conversations with DC Comics - The Batman Creative Team at DC discusses the personal influence of Batman: Year One on their careers (39min)
- Audio Commentary featuring co-producer Alan Burnett, co-director Sam Liu, DC creative director Mike Carlin and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano.
- Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots (23 min)
- DC Showcase – Catwoman (2011 Animated Short) (15 min)
- DC Universe Movies Flashback: Batman: Soul of the Dragon (11 min)
- DC Universe Movies Flashback: Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (10 min)
- DC Universe Movies Flashback: Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (9 min)
