Batman The Long Halloween - Part One

Up there some may say with The Dark Night Returns, Batman the Long Halloween is one of the top selling and most highly acclaimed Batman series. As such DC have given this animated adaptation a lot of time and respect. As such its split into two releases a month apart so that the complex story can be properly recounted without having to water down the story. It feels right to do it this way even if there’s the sneaking commercial thoughts at the back of the mind.

Opening with Bruce Wayne (Jensen Ackles) at a meeting with crime boss Carmine Falcone (Titus Welliver) the cards are laid out on the table. Their fathers knew each other, to sons do too though poles apart in their outlooks for Gotham. As demonstrated by an attack on a restaurant; under the Falcones crime is endemic with the authorities powerless to stop or paid off.

So a triumvirate of Batman, Jim Gordon (Billy Burke) and Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel) meet to try and work a way out of the theatre of crime they are in. The matter is complicated further by the so named ‘Holiday Killer’ who is murdering underworld figures on public holidays so there is an imperative to catch them before the next one.

Assisted by Catwoman/Selina Kyle (the late Naya Rivera) Batman starts to make inroads into the crimewave, only for The Joker (Troy Baker) to escape from Arkham with an eye his own twisted agenda and another on Falcone’s burgeoning empire. Familiar characters are introduced as the plot gradually deepens and develops with some very impressive action sequences and violence that justifies the 15 rating.

The most striking thing about Part One is Tim Sheridan’s brilliant adaptation which has given the actors plenty to work with adding layers of complexity to already familiar characters. The development of Harvey Dent and the attorney’s fragile mental state, as he and his wife are targeted, is the stand out along with Rivera as Catwoman whom we are never really able to get our head around her motives. Rivera’s loss will be deeply felt. Ackles is a fine Batman resisting the temptation to over brood him.

If there is a problem it’s with The Joker, and that is probably more down to personal taste. Having been played by so many actors the character there are now many interpretations and getting close over-exposure. If there is a definitive one, I’d suggest its personal one. Baker’s interpretation is not for me others may see it differently.

It also looks fabulous with director Chris Palmer choosing a colour scheme streaked with oranges and yellows all associated with Halloween so there’s a deliberately disorientating warmth to a very grim story. The sound design is phenomenal though tends to drown out the soundtrack itself which at times is buried in the mix.

With a DC Showcase Short – The Losers, previews of forthcoming releases and animations from the vaults this is a good package.

Batman: The Long Halloween Part One is available on DVD, Blu-ray™ & Blu-ray™ steelbook June 21 and on Digital June 22.