Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall

The Pre-Match Setup: Gotham's Gauntlet Thrown Down

Alright, Pika Show users, this one goes out to you. We have an absolute monster on our hands with Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall, and believe me, the start of this one will have you grabbing for air. This isn't your average Gotham stroll, this one takes us into Gotham, into a city a step removed from chaos. The setup is simple, but twistingly effective, Batman's greatest foes have disrupted Arkham Asylum and are wreaking havoc on Gotham's streets.

Director Jeff Wamester comes straight out of the gates on this one, and so should you. Batman (and trust me on this one, he doesn't stop) is on a manic, speedy chase to take down an unthinkable number of Batman's worst. While this story may appear as a rather simple superhero chase, another challenge is just around the corner in this movie, and in this case it's Bane, Gotham's largest, most brute, most vicious foe. There's a lot more to this movie than meets the eye. Thought you were just going into a comic book superhero movie? Think again. Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall runs at a tight 1 hour and 19 minutes, and is a modern day sci-fi crime thriller comic book movie, and there's a reason it's rated R. Think the stakes aren't real? Think again. Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall brings an edgy, hard biting crime movie approach to the Batman Cinematic Universe, and Don't let the characters and costume fool you. This tale is meant for adults.

The first chapter of Knightfall lays the foundation for one of the most important match ups in the season with a physical and psychological war Batman has never faced before.

The Star Players: Voice, Vision, and Venom

With the pieces in place, and the lights focused on the star players, Knightfall Part 1 nails its casting. The voice cast in this series brings the malignant intensity of the characters to the forefront. Anson Mount, as Batman, brings a tired commitment to the ear of Gotham, and the strain on the voice as he pushes beyond what is human is palpable. But cast as Bane is Michael Mando, and he truly brings that primal fear. Bane is not just a mindless brute, he is a calculating force of nature, and his voice embodies a malevolent command of every word spoken. Even with the presence of Pablo Schreiber in an additional vital role, the main players bring a commanding air to the stage.

The animation is first rate and a major draw. Eye catching and fluid. Perfectly capturing the gloomy Gothic gnarliness of Gotham City. Juxtaposing dynamic and varied pencil snapping thing bending action sequences that actually resonate and have impact. The character designs kick ass, the action is fast paced with great visual storytelling, shot composition, and design to the point that every panel, every action has a great purpose with a great design element. The reception to the animation is positive and critics are saying that this is easily the best of the Batman movies. One even put this Batman outing with this version of Batman up there with WB's Joker and Mask of the Phantasm. That is a great compliment, and truly encapsulate the quality of design and performance. This team has come to play, win, and gave us an amazing act to get us excited for the rest of the series that follows.

Momentum Swings: Highs, Lows, and Knockout Blows

Like any great sports match, Batman: Knightfall Part 1 builds momentum in spurts. There are moments it is set up to hit a home run, and then there are moments where the tension builds and you just know something big is coming. The film expertly shows Batman dealing with the physical and mental toll of his profession. You see the first few cracks in his armor, the desperate pleas in his eyes. This makes you feel for Batman and demonstrates the dire state he is in. The action is top-notch, and the impact of the hits really showcases the R Rating. The brutal, choreographed fights demonstrate the assault on Batman, building even more tension and delighting the audiences. The fight to break a legend is not just about punching, and this film excels in that area.

The initial chapters of a book are often the most packed with characters. Arkham Asylum is no different. While audience members need to understand the reason for the chaos of the Arkham Asylum breakout, it sometimes seems like a fast introduction of characters instead of slow burn character introductions. Because the book contains so much, some characters will have less screentime than long-time fans will appreciate. That said, this is part one of a much longer story, and fittingly so, as some of these characters will likely play a much larger part in the next book. The majority of the book has a lot of momentum and several high impact scenes and events that create a lot of build up to a much anticipated, final showdown. This, I imagine, was the intent to keep the audience excited for what is to come, while now, the events that occurred, even moments, seem to move so quickly that Hacknett’s writing style is much more akin to the Peaky Blinders series style of keeping the audience on their toes.

The Full-Time Scoreline: A Decisive First Round Victory

What's the final scoreline for Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall? With all the punches, the chase and the psychological warfare, it’s a decisive win. It’s making a mark for animated movies that want to be taken seriously in the superhero genre. It captures a section of the dark tone of the original comic and reveals there’s an element of Batman that’s cracking, and Batman is Tenacious. It captures the conflict in an R-rated gritty way, and the brutality brings depth to every hit and struggle. Every hit means something and every struggle matters. This film, with excellent voice acting, particularly Anson Mount, brings a sense of fatigue but also determination, and Michael Mando brings a creepy vibe with Bane. This film as an adaptation is meticulously done and has set a high benchmark for the remaining installments of the Saga of Knightfall, promising the ultimate breaking point and an epic tale of high stamina. Watch this if you’re a fan of darker takes on the Superhero narrative and like Batman pushed to his limits. This film’s already being called an intense showdown and a critical hit. This definitely deserves your attention, so sit back, get comfortable and forget whatever match you were planning to watch, and go watch this intense Gotham City battle on Pikashow!