THE BATMAN MOVIES…AND THE BATMAN VIDEO GAMES…REVIEWED
AT THE SAME TIME!!! (I KNOW, RIGHT?!?)
Batman: Movies and Games Review
Reviews by Justin T. Bowler
Arkham Asylum/ Batman Begins
It’s the beginning of a franchise. We have new technology, a new look, and a great story. Granted, it’s a story that we all know, but we have never seen it presented like this before. with new gadgets and fighting we’ve not seen before. It was Game of the Year and re-established this hero in video games. It was a phenomenal movie and reestablished this hero’s franchise. Finally, there is a Batman for adults.\
Arkham City/ The Dark Knight
The story picks up almost immediately after the end of the last story and the developers behind the sequel “beat the sophomore slump like the dark knight beats purse snatchers.” Now the producers had some real money. The production design is on point, not to mention the opening sequences are exceptional! This sequel is on a much larger scale with even more new gadgets, fight scenes, and dynamic choreography. We got a lot more of Alfred, too. This is Batman at the top of his game (figuratively and literally). It runs longer than normal, with a running time longer than the other movies and more Riddler puzzles than we have ever seen before. Yet, despite its monumental length, no one minded.
Arkham Origins/ The Dark Knight Rises
I won’t go as far as to say that Batman has outstayed his welcome, but both of these seemed like they were grasping for new ideas. Take a look at this review from IGN about the game and see if it applies to “The Dark Knight Rises”:
“Batman by the numbers. Batman has always made the shadows his ally, but in this second sequel, he finds the shadow of his own previous sequences impossible to escape from. It’s as good in most ways… but it lacks interesting ideas of its own, and it is missing the polish and attention to detail that makes its predecessors so great.”
I agree 100%. Did we need a prequel to the games? We barely got enough of Batman; we’ve only seen two storylines. There are so many other characters to deal with. Why didn’t we get those stories? We know who this character is and why he does what he does. We didn’t need a prequel. Plus, we know and love Kevin Conroy. Fans don’t need to be introduced to someone new. On the other side of things, did we need to see Batman’s retirement? We have only had two stories. There are so many more criminals that we haven’t met, that we truly love. Why didn’t we get those stories? And why is Batman giving up so soon? For happily ever after? WHEN HAS BATMAN EVER HAD HAPPILY EVER AFTER? Hence, I sum up with a quote from the wise, intellectual, and respectful remarks of the internet… “This Batman Blows.”
Arkham Knight
“Arkham Knight” is a phenomenal game. It builds up on the things that we love from all of the previous games, yet, it gives us so much more. It looks beautiful, the action sequences are amazing, our past favorite characters are incorporated in a necessary and useful way without being crowbarred in. It’s a great ride from start to finish with a near perfect story arc. So my question is…
Christopher Nolan, when do we get our fourth phenomenal installment? We want (and you owe us) another movie!!!!!!
Batman Begins: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Arkham Asylum: 3.5 out of 4 stars
The Dark Knight: 4 out of 4 stars
Arkham City: 3.75 out of 4 stars
The Dark Knight Rises: 2.5 out of 4 stars
Arkham Origins: 2.5 out of 4 stars
Arkham Knight: 4 out of 4 stars
BOOM!
Justin Bowler
Twitter: @JustinTBowler
Instagram: @IndyFilmTwittic and @JustinTBowler
