Batman - Gotham Knight (DVD, 2008, 2-Disc Set, Collector's Edition)

Released July 18th, 2008, I'm unsure that this eBay slot which titles the same DVD Jacket cover "Gotham Knight" is the new 2008 Batman DVD to which this review is referring. The story goes like this:

Legendary "Caped Crusader" Batman AKA Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) remains relentless in his efforts to reduce criminal activities in Gotham City. During this episode, Batman is doing so assisted by Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) & Gotham City's District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Known now as "The Dark Knight," Batman's intent is upon completely eliminating organized crime. In his pursuit, Batman discovers that "The Joker" (Heath Ledger) has over-taken the city's organized crime syndicate using every other "Joker's" typical psychopath(etic) trickery. Once the Joker topples mob boss, Carmine Falcone, the rest of the mob bosses attempt to retake control of the underworld of organized crime

Determined to demonstrate his reign of ultimate power, the Joker murders each mob boss 1 after another. Gotham City's citizens are terrorized. The city enters into a state of utter chaos.

This time, since the Joker has made no secret of the fact that his next murder victim is going to be Batman himself, Batman is forced to self-analyze his values since he's not a murderer. What's a hero to do? Kill or be killed, is his question.

Since the Joker has become the ultimate mass murderer in Gotham City, Batman must take on the personification of a heroic knight in order to summons up enough strength, courage & society-centered values as he attempts to overcome the forces of the Joker's destructive anti-social reign of terror.

"The Dark Knight," could well be the best (2.5 hour) full feature film of the Batman series~

This is one more product of WB's strategy to release DVD-only titles in parallel to theatrical releases in order to boost DVD sales, helped by the main movie. Instead of a full length story, what you will find in here in "Batman Gotham Knight" is six short animations which are not exactly interwined amongst themselves as the product description in the DVD case says (at least in my opinion), but six different stories on how Batman came to be who he is. It is not a mandatory bridge between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", but it is an interesting addition for fans.

Why the "Japanese Twist" in the review title? Well, watch the DVD, look in the eyes of each character and you will get the answer. And if you still doubt about it, wait for the rolling credits in the end and see the names of each member of the production crew.

My Batman fan loves it yours will too! Killer Croc is in this one and he has not been in a movie yet. So that was a plus and Death Shot who is a villian like Batman but the opposite of the caped hero. Family fun for sure 5 smiling stars rated here. It is rated pg13 so make sure that is okay in your situation before purchasing.

If you are a big Batman fan and anime fan or animatrix fan then this is for you! The movie includes 6 mini movies while I did not enjoy the first one very much at all the other 5 were very good and done very well. I enjoyed the animation style as it was a new kind of touch to Batman. If you are just a Batman fan and not much of an anime fan then this might not be for you and if that is the case I would rent it or look for it at a cheap price. I would only reccomend getting the two disc special edition or the blu-ray because the special features are great and it comes with 4 great bonus episodes from the original Batman: The Animated Series and you wont be getting that or any of the other special features with the single disc edition.

I bought this for my son after we saw The Dark Knight. We have a large collectin of Batman movies including the animated series. This is by far the best animated Batman!