Superior video and new extras make this release that much more appealing to fans who already own the 2011 Blu-ray release of this film. For everyone else, this is a must-see!
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided us with a free copy of this Blu-ray/DVD that we reviewed in this blog post. The opinions we share are our own.
“With Gotham City in desperate need of heroes, two men choose radically different paths in the fight for justice, leading to an inevitable showdown. Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after years abroad to become a crime-fighter, just as honest cop Lt. James Gordon arrives to root out corruption at every level. When Bruce becomes the masked vigilante Batman, the city falls into chaos as he new nemesis Catwoman, the mob and Gordon all close in. Don’t miss this thrilling Commemorative Edition of the DC Universe Movie, based on the groundbreaking story by Frank Miller and featuring a stellar voice cast. Experience a bold and dynamic vision of the Dark Knight’s first year in action and the start of his enduring friendship with Gordon.”
The DC Animated Universe, as far as I’m concerned, has knocked it out of the park over the years, especially with their Batman stories come to life on screen. This 10th anniversary of Batman: Year One with the commemorative 4k edition is the perfect way for those who haven’t kept up with the animated universe, like myself, to experience the best it has to offer.
The Batman: Year One story takes a compelling look at Gotham City when corruption was rampant, before Batman came onto the scene and Jim Gordon rose in the ranks. While this of course isn’t going to be anything like the origin story of any character specifically, or go into depth like that of the live action film Batman Begins, it focuses on a brief year as the two men, Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon, fight the corruption of Gotham City on their own terms, learning the intricacies of the city, the crime, and those responsible. What’s interesting about these DC Animated films, and why they’re so successful, is that they are able to focus on the smaller stories. It doesn’t have to be Batman taking down the Joker and the origin story of every character. It can be fully content with focusing on a single year, and the beginning of a partnership that ends up changing the course of Gotham City forever.
Another interesting thing about these DC Animated films is their choices of voice actors. Batman is rarely ever voiced by the same actor, in the several I’ve seen at least, which is also true of the other characters in the film. Bryan Cranston was at the height of his surge in popularity during Breaking Bad when he provided the voice of Lt. James Gordon, and I haven’t heard a better voice actor take on the mantle. In Batman: Year One, the story is heavily focused on Gordon, and as strange as it is to say, I was having more fun watching him than I was Batman. Cranston’s Gordon is a complete bad-ass, facing corruption at every turn, and the pitfalls of navigating that kind of hostile work environment where all of your co-workers and bosses are against you. Although Batman provides the distraction needed for Gordon to make a lot of key moves, it really does feel like it’s Jim Gordon who deserves the majority of the recognition for cleaning up Gotham City. Ben McKenzie’s turn at voicing Batman was a good choice as well. He’s got a natural cadence to his voice that has the right tone of Bruce Wayne/Batman. While one of the more recent DC Animated films, The Long Halloween had an actor that very much sounded like a Batman impression than a natural voice, Ben McKenzie doesn’t have that problem. Interestingly enough he goes on to play James Gordon in the live action Gotham TV series.
As someone who has not read the Batman comics, but thoroughly enjoys the live action and animated stories, these films continue to impress me and open my eyes to a world of characters and storylines I never knew existed. Learning about the mob bosses and corrupt characters before Gordon becomes Commissioner, and learning about his son and the future he ends up having in the history of the comics is fascinating.
Video
Batman: Year One is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High-Definition Widescreen 1.78:1. When one thinks about 4k and the pristine technical specifications that medium has to offer, you don’t often think of how it applies to animated films. This particular release is an upscale from the 2011 Blu-ray, but from what I’ve read in comparison to that release, disc compression issues that plagued the first are no longer an issue. This 4k set provides incredible black levels, with the drawn characters and backgrounds really standing out. Colors are bright and vivid, and from an animated film, what more could you ask for?
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This mix is the same as the 2011 Blu-ray release, so don’t expect anything new here if you own that release. There isn’t much to change, as audio levels are exceptional, providing a very immersive experience, especially during the action sequences. The surrounds are utilized very well during these action moments, with bullets whizzing by your head, or the sound of one of Batman’s devices shooting behind you.
Special Features
Kudos to Warner Bros. and DC for including a new extra for this release. With a lack of original content coming out during the pandemic and studios re-releasing old releases in new packaging or in 4k, it’s easier to just upscale and be done with it. Because of this reason, as well as the major improvement in video, those that own the 2011 Blu-ray release should seriously consider upgrading.
Extras are located on the Blu-ray disc and include:
- New – Reinventing Gordon
- Conversations with DC Comics
- Commentary with Alan Burnett
- Heart of Vengeance
- DC Showcase Short: Catwoman – “When a pair of henchmen go gunning for a neighborhood cat, Catwoman gets involved, leading her into an episode of international intrigue with a murderous smuggler named Rough Cut.
With the extra bonus material and superior video, Batman: Year One should be a must-upgrade for fans of the animated film who own the 2011 Blu-ray release. For those like me that are just getting into the DC Animated Universe, there aren’t many better ones out there than this. Pick this one up today.
