The second Batman Unlimited animated movie is out. I was not impressed with the first one (Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts). In that movie, Penquin/Oswald Cobblepot had assembled a group of animal-themed supervillains (Cheetah, Killer Croc, Man-Bat and Silverback) to take over the world. That plan and the movie, both failed.
This time, it is The Joker (Troy Baker) himself, who brings together a team of monster-themed supervillains (Scarecrow, Clayface, Solomon Grundy and Silver Banshee) to take over Gotham and the world.
The trouble starts on Halloween night when Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore) and Silver Banshee (Kari Wuhrer) break out of the prison. They steal a car and are wreaking havoc in the city streets. Nightwing (Will Friedle) and Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos) try to stop them. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) and Red Robin (Yuri Lowenthal) also give chase in the Batmobile.
Scarecrow (Brian T. Delaney) comes to the villains' rescue and infects Nightwing and Green Arrow with his fear gas.
Gogo Shoto (Noel Fisher), head of a video game company is kidnapped for his software skills. The Joker is planning to unleash a virus on the world and plans to use Gogo as his unwitting pawn.
Also in the fray is Victor Stone/Cyborg (Khary Payton), who is visiting Gotham and becomes involved in Joker's ongoing shenanigans.
Click on the link below to buy your copy:
Can Batman and the rest of the heroes stop the Joker from executing his evil plans...You bet, they do.
The animation quality is not up to the usual high DC standards. The character designs look OK. The worst is surprisingly reserved for Bruce Wayne/Batman himself. He looks more like a teenager and not like a seasoned crime fighter. In one of the scenes, Batman looks weird as he drives the Batcycle.
The Batman Unlimited movies lack the thematic complexity and/or the mature tone of the recent DC Animated movies. That is not a surprise, since these movies are not part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. These movies are based on the Mattel's toy line and are clearly targeted at a very young demographic.
Accordingly, the tone and even the jokes are pretty juvenile in nature. A kid appears twice in the movie, once taking selfie with Batman and again in the climax, to take selfie with the villains (who happily agree for the photo opportunity). In another scene, a character is playing Batman himself in a video game in a clear reference to the recently released Batman: Arkham Knight game. The game had the marketing line: Be the Batman.
The plot is pretty much non-existent and is made up of one fight scene after another. But the action scenes get tiresome really quick, especially the one long fight scene that starts at the abandoned amusement park and just goes on and on.
The climax is heavily inspired by The Matrix Revolutions and Batman rides what strongly resembles a Dinobot transformer, seen in the latest Transformers movie, Transformers: Age of Extinction. And in addition, the city wide parade scene reminds me one of the finale of Batman (1989).
The best bits involve Clayface. The movie makes full use of his awesome powers. If nothing else, this movie will at least be remembered for focussing the spotlight on one of the most underused villains in Batman's Rogues Gallery.
The worst ones involve Grundy. His attempts at humor fall flat most of the time. Even Silver Banshee's “singing” in the climax induces groans.
Recommended to children only. Adults will most probably get bored fast.
Check out the trailer below:
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This time, it is The Joker (Troy Baker) himself, who brings together a team of monster-themed supervillains (Scarecrow, Clayface, Solomon Grundy and Silver Banshee) to take over Gotham and the world.
The trouble starts on Halloween night when Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore) and Silver Banshee (Kari Wuhrer) break out of the prison. They steal a car and are wreaking havoc in the city streets. Nightwing (Will Friedle) and Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos) try to stop them. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) and Red Robin (Yuri Lowenthal) also give chase in the Batmobile.
Gogo Shoto (Noel Fisher), head of a video game company is kidnapped for his software skills. The Joker is planning to unleash a virus on the world and plans to use Gogo as his unwitting pawn.
Also in the fray is Victor Stone/Cyborg (Khary Payton), who is visiting Gotham and becomes involved in Joker's ongoing shenanigans.
Click on the link below to buy your copy:
Can Batman and the rest of the heroes stop the Joker from executing his evil plans...You bet, they do.
The animation quality is not up to the usual high DC standards. The character designs look OK. The worst is surprisingly reserved for Bruce Wayne/Batman himself. He looks more like a teenager and not like a seasoned crime fighter. In one of the scenes, Batman looks weird as he drives the Batcycle.
The Batman Unlimited movies lack the thematic complexity and/or the mature tone of the recent DC Animated movies. That is not a surprise, since these movies are not part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. These movies are based on the Mattel's toy line and are clearly targeted at a very young demographic.
Accordingly, the tone and even the jokes are pretty juvenile in nature. A kid appears twice in the movie, once taking selfie with Batman and again in the climax, to take selfie with the villains (who happily agree for the photo opportunity). In another scene, a character is playing Batman himself in a video game in a clear reference to the recently released Batman: Arkham Knight game. The game had the marketing line: Be the Batman.
The plot is pretty much non-existent and is made up of one fight scene after another. But the action scenes get tiresome really quick, especially the one long fight scene that starts at the abandoned amusement park and just goes on and on.
The climax is heavily inspired by The Matrix Revolutions and Batman rides what strongly resembles a Dinobot transformer, seen in the latest Transformers movie, Transformers: Age of Extinction. And in addition, the city wide parade scene reminds me one of the finale of Batman (1989).
The worst ones involve Grundy. His attempts at humor fall flat most of the time. Even Silver Banshee's “singing” in the climax induces groans.
Recommended to children only. Adults will most probably get bored fast.
Check out the trailer below:
Image Sources: DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Premiere, Atlas Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Lin Pictures
