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Cherry Pop

Batman: Year One (Commemorative Edition) (4K UHD)
(Bryan Cranston, Ben McKensie, Eliza Dushku, Katee Sackhoff, Fred Tatasciore, et al / 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray + Digital / PG-13 / 2021 / Warner Bros.)

Overview: Originally released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2011, Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC titles from 12-time Eisner Award winner and Eisner Award Hall of Fame member Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli.

The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed Super Hero. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham City.

Blu-ray 4K UHD Verdict: Warner Bros. is expanding their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray catalog offerings this month with the release of a Commemorative Edition Batman: Year One in the expansive 4K Ultra HD video format this November 9th, 2021.

For my money, this upgraded Commemorative Edition combo pack sharpness takes a fairly large step forward from others in their 4K Ultra HD catalog and even comes with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the complete 4K Ultra HD experience, of course.

So, what we have is Batman: Year One presented to us as a two-disc combo pack with a sheet for a Digital HD Copy. Other stand out points you should know are: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: Upscaled 4K (2160p), HDR: HDR10, Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 and Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1.

Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10 for brighter, deeper, and way more lifelike colors, as with most all 4K UHDs, everything that we watch features these qualities - but somehow, this film gloriously shines within them all.

Noticeably crisper with the overall clarity receiving an obvious boost here on this release, what is more is that it is enjoyably noticeable.

For as well as some new nuances to the somewhat drab palette courtesy of Dolby Vision we also get to witness sudden bright pops of color; such as the brilliantly comical scene where Lt. James Gordon and his wife Barbara pay a visit to Bruce Wayne, hoping to question the millionaire playboy about his potential relationship to Batman.

Barbara: ”He’s a pig.” Gordon: ”He’s acting like one, anyone who wears a cape might go pretty far to keep his secrets.” Barbara: ”Or he’s really a sleazy womanizing scumbag!” Bravo!!

Indeed, the picture enjoys the fruits of the added resolution in terms of bringing out the aforementioned extremely fine facial and some of the yellow graded material - notably the fine detail to the faces within the now infamous Swat Team Fight scene.

Already darkened due to being in a tunnel, shining their lights into the darkness that surrounds them, they shoot their way through the hatch and into a basement. Even the tin-esque sound effects are softened here on this newly remastered and enhanced edition.

As for the audio, well we have a these readily available: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0.

Overall, this is a very strong 4K HDR Blu-ray presentation, and, for the most part, the audio track remains fairly similar to its DTS-HD counterpart; with much of the action occupying the surrounds with outstanding directionality and placement where effects flawlessly pan between the sides and rears.

As for the movie itself, well, as we all know by now, Batman: Year One was a direct-to-video animated film adapted from the graphic novel written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli with Richmond Lewis.

Furthermore, this animated version of Batman: Year One is entirely faithful to Frank Miller’s original comic book story to the point that differences are almost negligible. Only two minor scenes are missing and nothing is depicted out of order from the original.

Some scenes are shortened and some are lengthened for the needs of telling a story on film, but everything that happens in the comic happens in the movie. A few minor scenes are also added.

Be aware that this is not really a movie for children – some sexual situations and violence from the original comic book also appear here.

It is not expressed explicitly during the film, but it is likely that this film is set in the 1986/1987 (which was the time when the comic was published). The story follows the first year of Bruce Wayne’s time as Batman. This is pretty much an origins story with the focus very much on the parallel fates of Gordon and Wayne and the roots of their working relationship.

This is a dark, gritty and realistic vision of Batman. There are no costumed villains here (which many will find disappointing). Both Gordon and Batman have to fight against the mob and corrupted police. This is actually more of a Jim Gordon’s story. His moral dilemmas feels real and overall it’s very easy to care for him.

On the other side the movie kinda fails to bring the same emotional connection for Bruce Wayne. I did care for Wayne/Batman, but his emotional pain seems flat compared to the problems that Gordon is having.

This plot gives the film an accessible and realistic feel. Gotham city looks ordinary and there are no super gadgets here. Batman makes mistakes and he can be hurt very easily. There are some bad things here. Some of the important lines of dialogue were cut, the ones which explained main characters motivations.

The final sequence with some supernatural free-running is kinda cheesy, in my humble opinion. However, the biggest problem here is the subplot with Selina Kyle. The movie, just like the original graphic novel, doesn’t really do anything with her.

The subplot of her becoming Catwoman feels rushed and thus she really adds nothing film to advance the plot, sadly.

Bryan Cranston as detective James Gordon is simply great. There is a lot of subtle emotions hidden in the words he says. I admit that I was disappointed with Ben McKenzie’s voice over as Batman/Bruce Wayne. His performance felt wooden and uninspired for me.

That said, the supporting cast is solid , especially Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Katee Sackhoff as Sarah Essen and Fred Tatasciore as the corrupt Flass.

Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable movie that works as a tribute to one of the best graphic novels made. There are a few scenes and ideas that appear in Batman: Year One that also appear in Christopher Nolan’s excellent Batman Begins (which was inspired heavily by BYO, of course).

So, in closing, if you liked Nolan’s take on Batman, you will most definitely love this one too, trust me! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Feature of:

Featurette – Reinventing Gordon (New) – An examination of the history of James Gordon through comics, animation, and feature films.

Featurette – Conversations with DC Comics – The Batman creative team at DC discusses the personal influence of Batman: Year One on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors, and artists of Batman lore, focusing on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.

Audio Commentary – Featuring co-producer Alan Burnett, co-director Sam Liu, DC creative director Mike Carlin and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano.

Featurette – Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots – “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman’s life. Frank Miller’s next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary spotlights the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.

DC Showcase – Catwoman (2011 Animated Short) – The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Eliza Dushku reprises her Batman: Year One role as the voice of Catwoman. The short is directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One) from a script by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series).

DC Universe Movies Flashback
o Batman: Soul of the Dragon
o Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One
o Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the DC Universe Movies release Batman: Year One with a fully-remastered version of the film and a newly-created bonus feature, Reinventing Gordon.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the PG-13 rated film arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (USA $33.99 SRP; Canada $39.99 SRP) and Digital starting November 9th, 2021.

www.WarnerBros.com





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