The Dark Knight Cartoon sage continues...

Batman: Under the Red Hood – Brandon Vietti

Now becoming a regular release, made by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation, who seem to be creating direct-to-DVD-releases where the story of Batman and other famous DC Comic characters are explored, the latest Batman featured film follows Bruce Wayne as the famous caped crusader who must tackle a new enemy named the Red Hood as well as other villains who are in the act. Named under the guise of the “DC Universe Animated Original Movies”, this is the third release to have the Dark Knight after Batman: Gotham Knight and the combination of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Having not seen Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, my experience with the series is only slightly knowledge having seen Gotham Knight and loving the art style and direction of the whole project. Having several different directors come in and shoot a short which follows what happens in-between the movies Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, it’s both interesting and action packed and is great for a fan boy. This latest release is a more straight forward hour long episode of Batman directed by Brandon Vietti and featuring Batman, Red Hood, The Joker, Nightwing, Ra’s al Ghul, Black Mask, The Riddler, Alfred and a young Robin. All of which are major characters in the comic books and it’s good to see them in an adventure such as this. With upcoming features with the sequel to the Batman/Superman series and to adapt the Frank Miller’s story of Batman Year One, the company will continue to make great films which the fans of the superhero will love.

The film follows Red Hood, a vigilante/crime lord who appears in Gotham and soon takes on the rival drug gangs and kills to his way to the top to find the rival gang leader Black Mask. Batman and Nightwing soon go on a chase to find who the Red Hood is but soon find themselves chasing a skilled man. Also showing the death of Robin in the heads of Joker at the beginning of the film, the premise is set up and the action lets fly early on. With having Batman chase Red hood throughout the story whilst him contemplating upon the death of Robin, he seems distracting leading Red Hood to cause massive moves in the crime sector of Gotham. I won’t reveal the whole story as it’s a decent one that doesn’t deserved to be spoiled.

Seeing as it’s a direct-to-DVD release, it’s defiantly worth renting or buying because it’s fun, it’s action packed and it’s reminiscent of the old school animation that we watched as a child with the Batman: Animated Series and the original Spiderman cartoon, it has that style and funniness but with great writing and direction. More please!

7/10

Simon Childs