Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 [Blu-ray] [2013] [Region Free]

After a decent but not classic part one we get a much more exciting,action packed and better story oriented second part that nearly brings a tear to the eye a few times i must say.If you seen the end of the first part Batman has brought down a group known as the mutants and Gotham City's residents feel safer than before but with a new commissioner who wants to stop Batman's vigilante ways and the return of his arch enemy The Joker things are not as safe as you would think.Clark Kent a.k.a Superman is ordered to stop his great rival from doing his vigilante work but before he turns up for their upcoming showdown the evil Joker makes his return by killing people on a tv broadcast which leads to the dark knight having enough of his arch nemesis and decides to take him out once and for all where they have a vicious but emotional meeting at a fairground and in all the battles they have had this is the strongest scene for me between them.After battles with the police and a electromagnetic pulse which disrupts all power in Gotham and the rest of the States we reach what we have all been waiting for the meeting between Batman and Superman who has been told to bring the caped crusader down.I won't give away the ending but they have one hell of a smackdown that sees both heroes engage in their most brutal and tiring fight they both have ever had before a extremely upsetting finale that is similar to the last few scenes of The Dark Knight Rises.This second part was a much stronger movie that introduces more big name characters than before apart from the before mentioned Joker and Superman we also get a brief appearance of Selina Kyle a.k.a Catwoman who like Bruce Wayne has aged and put on weight and towards the end fellow DC hero Oliver Queen a.k.a Green Arrow helps Batman in the fight with Supes.There is a lot more for Carrie Kelly to do this time and helps her mentor heavily in the end tussle,we briefly see Alfred but he makes his moments count.The Joker here is nearly the best i have seen him with true menace and not a hint of the silly 60's version as we get a cold,calculated evil psychopath who seems only cares about getting to Batman and killing people for no reason will of course make Batman furious and thats exactly what old smile face wants,their meeting is truly incredible with the scenes leading up to it proof of why The Joker is psychotic and their face to face battle is hard hitting stuff and really can't imagine Jack Nicholson doing this scene even if this version reminds me more of Heath Ledger,their final scene together even after all what he did is quite emotional and game changing.Batman here is like in the previous part a older more rounded but more violent less by the books good guy and strays on the psychopathic himself even if in a way this is how the best versions of the character are and such a long way again from that 60's abomination or Joel Schumacher's late 90's turkeys and quite frankly i don't think Batman is Batman in that 60's trash,this is true Batman and so cool too.The action and set pieces are quite possibly the best i have seen outside of the live action movies especially the simply showstopping blockbuster between the Bat and Supes with both of them kicking each others butt all over Gotham as they smash into buildings,cranes and quite literally tear up the city and because of a armored suit Batman is on a equal playing field as Superman gets beat up quite a bit here unlike normal battles which he usually is boss,if the upcoming live action Batman V Superman film is anything like this it will be sensational stuff.The other fights are great too with the meeting between Batman and The Joker a bone crunching affair and is a great finale to their rivalry,The Joker's scenes are very strong outside of the Batman meeting with the moment he gasses people truly chilling and by far the most evil version of him yet,his meeting with Selina Kyle though brief is excellent and nice to see two famous Batman characters meet again.Another top action scene is when Batman battles with the GCPD on the roof of the studio where Joker is at the time with Batman using stealth to pick off the officers one by one a bit similar to how he dispatched Harvey Dent and his men in the first part of the Dark Knight Returns.I also love the opening scenes where Batman is disguised and trying to bring down a bad guy,this is also the first appearance in Gotham of Superman.The visuals are like before very dark and brooding and even more a frighting place to live than other depictions of Gotham City which is normally a darker version of New York but here looks like a post apocalyptic version of what we usually see but this animation brings it to life so wonderfully and is the best looking animated Batman or any other comic book property yet.I don't have any real bad things to say about this apart from i prefer the Batman animated series and one of its films more The Mask Of The Phantasm but this is brought to life more vividly and is a very faithful version of the graphic novel.A rip roaring and excellent animated movie with wonderful visuals,three stunning fights and real emotional moments especially at the end and nice to see Batman face off against both his rival and his arch nemesis.Over to you Batman V Superman.

An animated Batman movie that is an adaptation of the graphic novel  Batman Dark Knight Returns TP . A work that was one of a few that helped redefine the comic genre back in the 1980's and was one of the first 'graphic novels'.You should be able to get into this if you've not read said graphic novel. But this adaptation is a two parter, and this dvd is just the second half. It follows right on from  Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 [Blu-ray] [Region Free ], and doesn't do much to bring new viewers up to speed. So start with that rather than this.Parents do note this is a very violent movie and well worthy of the fifteen certificate. But as they said when the graphic novel first came out: 'DC Comics aren't just for Kids.'The story sees the forces of authority putting ever greater pressure on Batman to end his war on crime and submit to justice. As he fights to keep Gotham safe in the face of increasingly strong opposition, he has other problems. The Joker's back. The world is edging ever closer to nuclear war. Plus an old friend is now a government lap dog. And he has orders to bring him down.This is basically a four act story, and there are great set pieces in each. Michael Emerson [Ben from 'Lost'] voices the Joker and turns in a brilliant performance, full of understated crazy menace. Mark Valley [Christopher Chance in the tv show 'Human Target'] also makes a great impression as Bruce's old friend. A sadder and wiser take on said character than we're used to.As an adaptation it's pretty faithful, managing to get a lot of material from the second half of the graphic novel into the seventy three minute running time. The pace is superb as well, keeping you really hooked throughout.Certain political elements from the 1980's do show up, and as a result do feel rather dated. But that's only a minor complaint.A superb adaptation of a classic work in it's field, these two dvds are well worth a watch.This dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English, French, German, Castilian Spanish.Subtitles: English, Castilian Spanish, French, German.The only extras are two trailers/previews for other dc comics animated movies. One for part one of the Dark Knight returns. And one for the new Superman movie 'Superman unbound'. Both run roughly nine minutes each. As usual these don't show footage from the films, but use images from the comics and interviews with cast and crew and some soundbites.

The Joker arranges to tell his story on a talk show, thanks to his fame seeking doctor and then proceeds to kill everyone in the audience with his joker gas - Batman has had enough of the Joker's killing and sets out to stop him once and for all - this was a nice twist as usually he just takes him to Arkham to break out again.Superman is sent by the President to put a stop to Batman's antics and this is one of the best stories of the Dark Knight that I have ever seen (& I have seen them all).The only downside is the poor voice actor chosen to voice The Joker as he is not right for the part, I would have chosen Mark Hamill, Troy Baker or John DiMaggio which would have made this film perfect.