Batman: Gotham Knight
Batman: Gotham Knight | |
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Directed by |
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Screenplay by |
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Story by |
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Based on | Batman by Bill Finger and Bob Kane |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Edited by |
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Music by |
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Production companies |
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Distributed by | Warner Home Video |
Release date |
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Running time | 76 minutes |
Countries |
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Languages | English Japanese |
Batman: Gotham Knight (
It is the third film of the
Plot
Batman: Gotham Knight is split into six segments:
Have I Got a Story for You (Studio 4°C)
Have I Got a Story for You was written by Josh Olson and animated by Studio 4°C.
A street kid meets with his three friends at a skate park, to which all three of them claim to have seen Batman earlier that day. Batman's battle with the Man in Black, a high-tech criminal, is told in reverse chronological order with three very different interpretations of Batman's form and abilities (in the style of the 1950 film Rashomon): one describes him as a living shadow that can melt away and reappear at will (similar to the Vampire Batman from the Batman & Dracula trilogy); another describes him as a half-human, half-bat creature (similar to the Man-Bat); and lastly, one describes him as a combat robot that can leap tall buildings in a single bound. At the end, Batman pursues the Man in Black to the skate park and captures him with the help of the fourth street kid. The fourth kid is able to see what Batman truly is after seeing him sustain injuries by a grenade blast from the battle: a human warrior in a costume. He then proceeds to tell his experience about seeing Batman to his friends after Batman disappears.
Voice cast
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Jason Marsden as Cop
- Scott Menville as B-Devil
- George Newbern as Jacob Feely / Man in Black
- Corey Padnos as Porkchop
- Crystal Scales as Meesh
- Alanna Ubach as Dander
- Hynden Walch as Woman
Crossfire (Production I.G)
Crossfire was written by Greg Rucka and animated by Production I.G.
Voice cast
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- James Gordon
- Ana Ortiz as Anna Ramirez
- Corey Burton as Yuri Dimitrov
- Gary Dourdan as Crispus Allen
- Jason Marsden as Doctor
- Scott Menville as Cop
- Pat Musick as News Anchor
- Rob Paulsen as Sal Maroni
- Andrea Romano as Dispatcher
Field Test (Bee Train)
Field Test was written by
An accident involving a new WayneCom satellite's gyroscopic
Voice cast
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Corey Burton as Yuri Dimitrov, Ronald Marshall
- Will Friedle as Anton
- George Newbern as Guido
- Rob Paulsen as Sal Maroni
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Lucius Fox
In Darkness Dwells (Madhouse)
In Darkness Dwells, was written by
The police respond to a riot in a cathedral where
Voice cast
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Gary Dourdan as Crispus Allen
- James Gordon
- Ana Ortiz as Anna Ramirez
- Corey Burton as Dr. Jonathan Crane / The Scarecrow
- Will Friedle as Cultist
- Brian George as O'Fallon
- George Newbern as Man
- Rob Paulsen as Mole Man
Working Through Pain (Studio 4°C)
Working Through Pain was written by Brian Azzarello and animated by Studio 4°C.
Taking place after In Darkness Dwells, Batman is shot in the stomach by a man hallucinating in the sewers of Gotham. Severely injured, Batman cauterizes the wound and attempts to get out from underground, reflecting on his experiences with managing pain as he does before the events. First, he remembers volunteering with a relief effort and assisting a doctor in performing surgery without anesthesia. Next, he reflects on the lessons he learned from a woman named Cassandra. Over several months, she teaches him to minimize his pain to the point where he can control it, sleeping on a bed of needles or standing on hot coals without reacting. One night, several young men appear to harass Cassandra, who takes their blows without seeming to feel them. Bruce steps in to defend her, not only demonstrating his ability to withstand their attacks, but defeating them all with his martial arts skills. Cassandra then tells him to leave, saying that he has learned what he came to learn. She then comments on how Bruce's pain was beyond her or possibly even his ability to handle, but how it also appeared to be leading him down a path he desired. Back in the present, Batman ends up in a gutter where he discovers a cache of guns buried in the garbage. Alfred then arrives to assist him and tells Batman to reach out his hand so he can pull him out of the gutter but Batman, whose arms are full of guns, replies that he cannot.
Voice cast
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- David McCallum as Alfred Pennyworth
- Will Friedle as Youth 1
- Brian George as Arman, Scruffy Man
- Jason Marsden as Youth 2
- Parminder Nagra as Cassandra
- George Newbern as Youth 3
- Rob Paulsen as Youth 4
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Avery, Wounded Man
- Hynden Walch as Young Cassandra
Deadshot (Madhouse)
Deadshot was written by
Bruce Wayne has a flashback to the murder of his parents. In his penthouse, he examines the firearms he took from the underground tunnel's gutter (during the events of Working Through Pain) which he intends to turn in to the police. Wayne admits to Alfred that even though he vowed never to use them in the memory of his parents, he can still understand the temptation to use one. Meanwhile, in another city, a prodigious assassin known as Deadshot carries out an assassination on Mayor Manning with a spectacularly difficult shot from a moving ferris wheel miles away from the man and returns to his tropical base. There, one of his associates hires him to carry out a hit in Gotham. It is revealed that the Russian has put out a hit on Lieutenant Gordon and Batman is called in to protect him. Batman gives Crispus Allen Ronald Marshall's handheld PDA device (which he stole as Bruce Wayne in Field Test), containing a link to encrypted e-mails proving that Ronald Marshall hired Deadshot in the past. He then follows Gordon's motorcade, with Alfred providing satellite-imagery assistance using the new WayneCom satellites. Deadshot attempts to shoot Gordon from a moving train, but Batman deflects the bullet. Deadshot then gleefully reveals that Batman was his real target the entire time and that the threat against Gordon was merely a ruse to draw him out. He opens fire as the train enters a tunnel and as Batman attempts to charge at Deadshot, he gets shot and falls off the train. Deadshot advances to where he saw Batman fall while gloating about shooting Batman, but is suddenly ambushed and disarmed from behind by Batman. Now terrified, Deadshot confesses that he was hired by the Russians to kill Batman and tries to talk Batman out of killing him since he was "only doing his job." Infuriated with Deadshot's cowardice, Batman knocks him out and Deadshot and Ronald Marshall are later arrested afterwards. Later, Wayne confides to Alfred about how similar the fight in the tunnel seemed to the night his parents were murdered and comments that "I've been trying to stop those two bullets all my life." He expresses discouragement and Alfred agrees, but then adds that he thinks Bruce has a higher purpose. The film ends with Bruce looking up at the sky and seeing the Bat-Signal.
Voice cast
- Hynden Walch as Young Bruce Wayne, Female Campaign Worker
- Gary Dourdan as Crispus Allen
- James Gordon, Floyd Lawton / Deadshot
- David McCallum as Alfred Pennyworth
- Jason Marsden as Thomas Wayne, Doctor
- Pat Musick as News Anchor
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Bulky Man
- Andrea Romano as Martha Wayne
Soundtrack
Batman: Gotham Knight – soundtrack from the DC Universe animated original movie | |
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Film score by | |
Released | July 29, 2008 |
Length | 63:10 |
Label | La La Land Records |
The soundtrack for Batman: Gotham Knight was released on July 29, 2008 by La La Land Records.[4] The music for Gotham Knight, while being an original score, contains samples of earlier and notable Batman themes from past media. For example, in "Crossfire", when Batman saves Crispus Allen from an explosion by launching him onto a rooftop, his appearance (for the first time in the short) is marked by the distinctive choral Batman theme introduced in Danny Elfman's 1989 score to the Batman 1989 film. The track list is as follows.[5][6]
No. | Title | Music Composed by | Length |
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1. | "Main Titles/Intro/Interlude/Punk Skater/Trouble At The Dock" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 2:28 |
2. | "Living Shadow/Living Shadow Finale" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 1:45 |
3. | "Skater Girl / Trouble In the City" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 0:50 |
4. | "Batmonster Appears/Batmonster Do-Over/Batmonster Finale" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 2:18 |
5. | "Rooftop Robbery/Robobat" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 1:44 |
6. | "Have I Got A Story For You Finale" (from Have I Got a Story for You) | Christopher Drake | 1:35 |
7. | "Crossfire" (from Crossfire) | Kevin Manthei | 4:49 |
8. | "Inferno" (from Crossfire) | Kevin Manthei | 5:48 |
9. | "New Device" (from Field Test) | Robert J. Kral | 1:22 |
10. | "Trigger A Device/As Good As Your Drive" (from Field Test) | Robert J. Kral | 1:10 |
11. | "A Russian in His Grave/It Works Too Well" (from Field Test) | Robert J. Kral | 3:53 |
12. | "In Darkness Dwells Intro" (from In Darkness Dwells) | Christopher Drake | 1:00 |
13. | "Gordon's Cannibal/Ghost Station" (from In Darkness Dwells) | Christopher Drake | 3:00 |
14. | "Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis" (from In Darkness Dwells) | Christopher Drake | 0:43 |
15. | "Killer Croc/Hallucinations/Scarecrow Interrupted" (from In Darkness Dwells) | Christopher Drake | 3:19 |
16. | "Escape and End" (from In Darkness Dwells) | Christopher Drake | 1:45 |
17. | "Working Through Pain/The Fall" (from Working Through Pain) | Kevin Manthei | 1:46 |
18. | "Bazaar" (from Working Through Pain) | Kevin Manthei | 0:26 |
19. | "There is Another/Training" (from Working Through Pain) | Kevin Manthei | 2:46 |
20. | "Rejected and Despised" (from Working Through Pain) | Kevin Manthei | 1:30 |
21. | "Painless Fight/I Can't" (from Working Through Pain) | Kevin Manthei | 3:23 |
22. | "Parents Killed" (from Deadshot) | Robert J. Kral | 0:54 |
23. | "Gun Attraction/Park Killing" (from Deadshot) | Robert J. Kral | 1:26 |
24. | "Gordon/Batman/The Train" (from Deadshot) | Robert J. Kral | 6:14 |
25. | "His Life's Quest" (from Deadshot) | Robert J. Kral | 0:56 |
26. | "End Credits Suite" | Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral, Kevin Manthei | 5:02 |
Total length: | 63:10 |
Reception
As of October 2021[update], the film holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on eight reviews with an average score of 6.8/10.[7] Three months prior to the release, the first review for Batman: Gotham Knight appeared on The World's Finest. The review gave the movie a generally favorable response, stating, "it's something new and entirely fresh for the Dark Knight and that alone is worth checking out if you're a DC Animation fan."[8] The World's Finest also labeled its advice as "Recommended".[9]
The film sold over 337,000 copies on DVD in the United States, and earned $9,753,273 from domestic home video sales.[10]
Home video
Batman: Gotham Knight was released on both single- and two-disc DVD editions, and in a double pack with the two-disc version of Batman Begins, as well as a Blu-ray version on July 8, 2008.[11]
The special features on the single-disc edition contain an audio commentary of the film by Gregory Noveck,
The two-disc and Blu-ray editions of the film contain the aforementioned special features as well as a documentary titled Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story, a featurette exploring Batman and the Gotham villains he faces titled A Mirror for the Bat, as well as four episodes from Batman: The Animated Series (see below), presented by Bruce Timm. Walmart and Target both released store exclusive versions of the single-disc edition of the film, both with different box covers/sleeves. Walmart's is a holographic cover/sleeve and Target's is a holographic cover/sleeve that can be hidden or shown. Certain Best Buy stores released a special edition for the two-disc edition which came in a Steelbook case and came with a mini-encyclopedia to the characters in the movie as well as Batman's weapons and vehicles and a coupon for $3.00 off concessions when the buyer sees The Dark Knight.
The four episodes from Batman: The Animated Series attached are:[13]
- "Heart of Ice"
- "I Am the Night"
- "Legends of the Dark Knight"
- "Over the Edge"
The DVD was advertised as the "first animated Batman movie to be rated PG-13".
A DVD (Blu-ray Disc for PlayStation 3) of the movie was bundled with the collector's edition of Batman: Arkham City, which was released on October 18, 2011.
A Blu-ray and DVD combo was also released paired with Volume One of the
Novelization
Comic book veteran
The Batsuit from Field Test appears as an unlockable alternate skin under the name Anime Batman Skin in Batman: Arkham Knight. It was originally unlockable by linking a WBPlay account to the game; in December 2020, it was made freely available.[15][16][17] Its description in the game itself reads "Field-Tested".
References
- ^ "Batman: Gotham Knight". Wizard. December 2007. p. 101.
- ^ "Japanese Anime Studios Confirmed for Batman Video". Anime News Network. 2007-12-08. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Brevet, Brad (2008-04-02). "Latest MPAA Ratings: #99 | Movie News | RopeofSilicon.com Entertainment News". Ropeofsilicon.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "The World's Finest". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "The World's Finest". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "La La Land Records". La La Land Records. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango.
- ^ "1st Published Review (The World's Finest)". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "The World's Finest - DC Universe - Batman: Gotham Knight". Worldsfinestonline.com. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) The Numbers Listing". The Numbers (website). Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Gotham Knight Gallery". Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "Single-disc DVD information". Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "Two-disc DVD information". Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "The World's Finest". Worldsfinestonline.com. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Carlson, Alex (March 19, 2015). "Batman: Arkham Knight Anime Skin Exclusive to WBPlay Members". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Spyrison, Sam (December 4, 2020). "Batman: Arkham Knight Adds Two New Suits in Free Update". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Good, Owen S. (December 3, 2020). "Batman: Arkham Knight gets two more costumes — 5 years after launch". Polygon. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
Both of these costumes have been in the game, but they were made available to players who logged into Arkham Knight's official forums with a linked WB Games ID. Now they're out and about to the general population.
External links
- Official website
- The Official Widget.
- DC page
- Batman: Gotham Knight at IMDb
- Batman: Gotham Knight title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Batman: Gotham Knight at Rotten Tomatoes
- Batman: Gotham Knight (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Batman: Gotham Knight at The World's Finest