Wikipedia

Batman: Gotham Knight

Not to be confused withBatman: Gotham Knights.

Batman: Gotham Knight(Japanese:バットマン ゴッサムナイト,Hepburn:Battoman Gossamu Naito)is a 2008 Japanese-Americanadult animatedsuperheroanthology filmbased on theDC Comicssuperhero of thesame name.The film consists of six segments produced by Japanese animation studiosStudio 4°C,Madhouse,Bee TrainandProduction I.Gin association with DC Comics andWarner Bros. Animation.Set betweenBatman BeginsandThe Dark Knight,the segments in the film depictBatmanbattling against the mob ofGotham City,as well as other villains. Although stated to take place withinThe Dark Knighttrilogy, the producers have acknowledged that the plot from the anthology is not necessarily integral to the main story told within the films. The shorts are written byJosh Olson,David S. Goyer,Brian Azzarello,Greg Rucka,Jordan GoldbergandAlan Burnett.Although all use Japanese anime art styles, each segment has its own writing and artistic style, similar to otherDC Universeworks andThe Animatrix;however, some segments are connected, giving it the nickname, "The Batimatrix".[1][2]All six segments of the anthology film starKevin Conroy,reprising his voice role asBatmanfrom theDC Animated Universe.

Batman: Gotham Knight
Official release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
Story by
Based onBatmanbyBill FingerandBob Kane
Produced by
Starring
Edited by
  • Joe Gall
  • Mutsumi Takemiya(#1, 5)
  • Taeko Hamauzu(#2)
  • Bee Train(#3)
  • Kashiko Kimura(#4)
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release date
  • July 8, 2008(2008-07-08)
Running time
76 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Japan
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese

It is the third film of theDC Universe Animated Original Moviesreleased byWarner Premiereand Warner Bros. Animation; with the first two releases beingSuperman: DoomsdayandJustice League: The New Frontier.It is ratedPG-13by theMPAAfor "stylized violence, including some bloody images",[3]and is the first animated Batman movie to be rated as such. This film is also notable for being the first DC Original Animated movie to have a connection with another Batman medium. WhileSuperman: DoomsdayandJustice League: The New Frontierhave been released in the United Kingdom with a12 rating,Batman: Gotham Knightwas instead released with a 15 rating for "images of bloody violence and injury". The film had its television premiere onCartoon Networkon October 4, 2008 with aTV-14-Vrating and an exclusive parental warning after each commercial break, with a few of the more graphic scenes cut. Over a decade later, it once again aired on the network on its nighttime programming blockAdult Swim'sToonamiblock on August 22, 2020, in partnership withDC FanDome.

Plot

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Batman: Gotham Knightis split into six segments:

Have I Got a Story for You(Studio 4°C)

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Have I Got a Story for Youwas written byJosh Olsonand animated byStudio 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 filmRashomon): one describes him as a living shadow that can melt away and reappear at will (similar to the Vampire Batman from theBatman & Draculatrilogy); another describes him as a half-human, half-bat creature (similar to theMan-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

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Crossfire(Production I.G)

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Crossfirewas written byGreg Ruckaand animated byProduction I.G.

Crispus Allenand Anna Ramirez are partners and members of the Major Crimes Unit that have been hand-picked byLieutenant James Gordon.The two are assigned to take the recently captured Man in Black (who was captured previously onHave I Got A Story For You), revealed to be Jacob Feely, an escaped inmate fromArkham Asylumwith an expertise in advanced electronics and explosives, back to Arkham Asylum, which most of the Narrows has been converted into following the events ofBatman Begins.On their way, they argue over whether Batman can be trusted, with Allen saying that they are just running errands for a vigilante, while Ramirez replies that Batman has changed Gotham for the better. As they are heading back, Allen declares his intention to leave the MCU and Ramirez pulls into a vacant lot to confront Allen. However, the two get caught in a very large gunfight between gangs, theRussian MobandSal Maroni's gang. Maroni's men are gunned down and Maroni takes refuge behind Allen and Ramirez's patrol car, which the Russian subsequently destroys with a rocket launcher. Ramirez and Maroni manage to get clear in time, while Allen is rescued by Batman who proceeds to take out the Russian and his men. Sal Maroni then threatens to kill Ramirez, but he is dispatched by Batman. Batman recognizes Allen and Ramirez as Gordon's hand-picked officers and remarks that Gordon is a good judge of character, then disappears.

Voice cast

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Field Test(Bee Train)

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Field Testwas written by Jordan Goldberg and animated byBee Train.

An accident involving a new WayneCom satellite's gyroscopicelectromagneticguidance system givesLucius Foxan idea to create a device with the satellite's gyro with an advanced sound sensor that will electromagnetically deflect small-arms fire. Bruce Wayne takes the device and attends a charity golf tournament being held by land developer Ronald Marshall, with whom he discusses the mysterious death of a community activist named Teresa Williams, who had opposed some of Marshall's plans. During the tournament, Wayne secretly takes Marshall'sPDAdevice. Later that night as Batman, he hijacks a boat owned by Sal Maroni and drives it alongside a boat owned by the Russian Mob's leader, the Russian, and proceeds to attack both gangs at once with assistance from his new device. He attempts to force a truce between the two gang leaders until he can get evidence against them and that Sal Maroni and the Russian can then argue who gets the top bunk atBlackgate Penitentiary.The discussion is disrupted when one of Maroni's men fires at him. The bullet deflects and instead hits one of the Russian's men. Distressed, Batman takes the injured man to the hospital. Later, he returns the device to Fox, stating: "...It works too well: I'm willing to put my life on the line to do what I have to. But it has to be mine, no one else's."

Voice cast

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In Darkness Dwells(Madhouse)

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In Darkness Dwells,was written byDavid S. Goyer(who also wrote for all three films) and animated byMadhouse.

The police respond to a riot in a cathedral whereCardinalO'Fallon was giving a sermon. According to eyewitness testimony, the Cardinal was abducted by a large monster and taken down into the crypts below the cathedral. Lieutenant Gordon, Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez investigate. Gordon has a brief conversation with Batman, who agrees with Gordon's theory that theScarecrow'sfear toxinis behind the riot, as the doctor has been at large since the riot at the Narrows. Batman gives Gordon an earpiece that will allow them to stay in contact and descends below ground, trying to find Cardinal O'Fallon and his abductor. A homeless man living in an abandoned subway station identifies the abductor asKiller Croc.Batman and Gordon briefly discuss the villain's past, but are cut off when Killer Croc ambushes Batman. During the fight, Batman discovers Croc is under the influence of the Scarecrow's fear toxin. Batman defeats him, but not before sustaining a bite that transfers some of the toxin to him. He then finds Cardinal O'Fallon being put on trial and sentenced to death by the Scarecrow (who is unhappy with O'Fallon's efforts to help the homeless). Batman leaps in to defend the Cardinal. Using themethanealready present in the room, he sparks an explosion that destroys several water pipes, flooding the area and allowing him to escape with the Cardinal. While the Scarecrow escapes, Gordon appears in a helicopter to retrieve the Cardinal. Gordon offers to help Batman, but Batman refuses, saying: "Maybe next time."

Voice cast

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Working Through Pain(Studio 4°C)

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Working Through Painwas written byBrian Azzarelloand animated byStudio 4°C.

Taking place afterIn Darkness Dwells,Batman is shot in the stomach by a man hallucinating in the sewers of Gotham. Severely injured, Batmancauterizesthe 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 hismartial 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.Alfredthen 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

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Deadshot(Madhouse)

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Deadshotwas written byAlan Burnettand animated byMadhouse.

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 ofWorking 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 asDeadshotcarries 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 givesCrispus AllenRonald Marshall's handheld PDA device (which he stole as Bruce Wayne inField 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 theBat-Signal.

Voice cast

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Soundtrack

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Batman: Gotham Knight– soundtrack from the DC Universe animated original movie
Film scoreby
Christopher Drake,Robert J. Kral,andKevin Manthei
ReleasedJuly 29, 2008
Length63:10
LabelLa La Land Records

The soundtrack forBatman: Gotham Knightwas released on July 29, 2008 by La La Land Records.[4]The music forGotham 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]

Batman: Gotham Knight– Soundtrack from the DC Universe Animated Original Movie
No.TitleMusic Composed byLength
1."Main Titles/Intro/Interlude/Punk Skater/Trouble At The Dock" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake2:28
2."Living Shadow/Living Shadow Finale" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake1:45
3."Skater Girl / Trouble In the City" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake0:50
4."Batmonster Appears/Batmonster Do-Over/Batmonster Finale" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake2:18
5."Rooftop Robbery/Robobat" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake1:44
6."Have I Got A Story For You Finale" (fromHave I Got a Story for You)Christopher Drake1:35
7."Crossfire" (fromCrossfire)Kevin Manthei4:49
8."Inferno" (fromCrossfire)Kevin Manthei5:48
9."New Device" (fromField Test)Robert J. Kral1:22
10."Trigger A Device/As Good As Your Drive" (fromField Test)Robert J. Kral1:10
11."A Russian in His Grave/It Works Too Well" (fromField Test)Robert J. Kral3:53
12."In Darkness Dwells Intro" (fromIn Darkness Dwells)Christopher Drake1:00
13."Gordon's Cannibal/Ghost Station" (fromIn Darkness Dwells)Christopher Drake3:00
14."Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis" (fromIn Darkness Dwells)Christopher Drake0:43
15."Killer Croc/Hallucinations/Scarecrow Interrupted" (fromIn Darkness Dwells)Christopher Drake3:19
16."Escape and End" (fromIn Darkness Dwells)Christopher Drake1:45
17."Working Through Pain/The Fall" (fromWorking Through Pain)Kevin Manthei1:46
18."Bazaar" (fromWorking Through Pain)Kevin Manthei0:26
19."There is Another/Training" (fromWorking Through Pain)Kevin Manthei2:46
20."Rejected and Despised" (fromWorking Through Pain)Kevin Manthei1:30
21."Painless Fight/I Can't" (fromWorking Through Pain)Kevin Manthei3:23
22."Parents Killed" (fromDeadshot)Robert J. Kral0:54
23."Gun Attraction/Park Killing" (fromDeadshot)Robert J. Kral1:26
24."Gordon/Batman/The Train" (fromDeadshot)Robert J. Kral6:14
25."His Life's Quest" (fromDeadshot)Robert J. Kral0:56
26."End Credits Suite"Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral, Kevin Manthei5:02
Total length:63:10

Reception

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As of October 2021,the film holds a 75% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes,based on eight reviews with an average score of 6.8/10.[7]Three months prior to the release, the first review forBatman: Gotham Knightappeared onThe 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 Finestalso 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

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Batman: Gotham Knightwas released on both single- and two-discDVDeditions, and in a double pack with the two-disc version ofBatman Begins,as well as aBlu-rayversion on July 8, 2008.[11]

The special features on the single-disc edition contain an audio commentary of the film by Gregory Noveck,Dennis O'NeilandKevin Conroy,as well as a sneak peek at the next movie of theDC Universe Animated Original Moviesline:Wonder Woman.[12]It is also including trailers and advertisements ofThe Dark Knight,Journey to the Center of the Earth,Lego BatmanandPopeye the Sailor1938–1940 (vol. 2). TheTargetedition also includes. TheBlockbuster Inc.edition comes with a second disc with a digital copy of theBatman: Year Onegraphic novel (Batman#404–407).

The two-disc and Blu-ray editions of the film contain the aforementioned special features as well as a documentary titledBatman and Me: The Bob Kane Story,a featurette exploring Batman and the Gotham villains he faces titledA Mirror for the Bat,as well as four episodes fromBatman: The Animated Series(see below), presented byBruce Timm.WalmartandTargetboth 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. CertainBest Buystores 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 seesThe Dark Knight.

The four episodes fromBatman: The Animated Seriesattached are:[13]

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 ofBatman: Arkham City,which was released on October 18, 2011.

A Blu-ray and DVD combo was also released paired withVolume Oneof theBatman: Black and Whitecomic book series in 2015. Special features include the documentaryBatman and Me: The Bob Kane Story,theA Mirror for the Batfeaturette and the audio commentary of the film by Gregory Noveck,Dennis O'NeilandKevin Conroy.

Novelization

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Comic book veteranLouise Simonsonwrote a novel adaptation of the feature, published byAce Books.It was released on May 27, 2008.ISBN0-441-01613-8ISBN978-0441016136.Reviews for the novelization have been positive.[14]

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TheBatsuitfromField Testappears as an unlockable alternate skin under the nameAnime Batman SkininBatman: 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

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  1. ^"Batman: Gotham Knight".Wizard.December 2007. p. 101.
  2. ^"Japanese Anime Studios Confirmed for Batman Video".Anime News Network. 2007-12-08.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  3. ^Brevet, Brad (2008-04-02)."Latest MPAA Ratings: #99 | Movie News | RopeofSilicon Entertainment News".Ropeofsilicon. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-05.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  4. ^"The World's Finest".Worldsfinestonline.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  5. ^"The World's Finest".Worldsfinestonline.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  6. ^"La La Land Records".La La Land Records. Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2010.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  7. ^"Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.
  8. ^"1st Published Review (The World's Finest)".Worldsfinestonline.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  9. ^"The World's Finest - DC Universe - Batman: Gotham Knight".Worldsfinestonline. 2008-07-08.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  10. ^"Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) The Numbers Listing".The Numbers (website).RetrievedMarch 23,2020.
  11. ^"Gotham Knight Gallery".Retrieved2011-01-02.
  12. ^"Single-disc DVD information".Retrieved2011-01-02.
  13. ^"Two-disc DVD information".Retrieved2011-01-02.
  14. ^"The World's Finest".Worldsfinestonline. 2008-05-27.Retrieved2011-01-02.
  15. ^Carlson, Alex (March 19, 2015)."Batman: Arkham Knight Anime Skin Exclusive to WBPlay Members".Hardcore Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on May 28, 2015.RetrievedJune 27,2015.
  16. ^Spyrison, Sam (December 4, 2020)."Batman: Arkham Knight Adds Two New Suits in Free Update".Hardcore Gamer.RetrievedSeptember 19,2021.
  17. ^Good, Owen S. (December 3, 2020)."Batman: Arkham Knight gets two more costumes — 5 years after launch".Polygon.RetrievedSeptember 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.
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