‘Batman: Knightfall – Part 1’ is a Superb Adaptation of the Iconic Comic

In the first film of the Batman: Knightfall animated trilogy, director Jeff Wamester and screenwriter Jeremy Adams, with Warner Bros. Animation, have crafted one of the greatest Batman films of all time.

The following review contains setup spoilers for the Batman: Knightfall comic run and film adaptation.

Batman (Anson Mount) is our aspirational superhero. He is not a superhuman like his compatriots, but a hero who has reached the apex of human achievement through his supremely rigorous training, discipline, and aspirational ethic. One of the greatest fighters, tacticians, and detectives in the DC Universe, or really any universe, he always finds a way to win over his enemies.

Until now.

With the Warner Bros. Animation adaptation of the iconic storyline Batman: Knightfall, we finally, after decades of watching Batman persevere through all his various challenges, lose, and lose badly as he finally loses control of his circumstances, in what is the best Batman animated film since Mask of the Phantasm, and one of the best Batman films period. Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall is a sublime piece of animation, adapting its comic source material that honors it and strengthens its story in the dark beauty of its animation, performances, and story direction that will shock even the most longtime Batman fans with the display of the Dark Knight’s most harrowing hour.

Batman, who has considered every possibility and made every contingency plan, could not plan for Bane (Michael Mando). This masked villain, who was born in and grew up in the depths of a hellish prison in Santa Prisca, and powered by the toxic and powerful substance “Venom,” has made Batman’s destruction his life’s goal, driven by the need to prove that ruthless power makes right. An infamous comic arc, Knightfall stands as the Dark Knight’s greatest, and perhaps singular, defeat.

Director Jeff Wamester and screenwriter Jeremy Adams have a keen understanding of how to adapt the comic series to the screen. Wisely knowing that this juggernaut of a story could only be told across three animated films, and with select core aspects of the lengthy comic run, the story team distills the first part of Knightfall to its prime essence and tells the story in such a way that will make you invested in all the characters and especially Bruce, even if you haven’t watched a Batman property before. They have such a keen understanding of Bruce/Batman, especially of his trademark relentless drive, typically his greatest strength, but cruelly turned here into his greatest weakness.

The film adaptation is unable or unwilling to adapt every aspect of the original comic, such as the role that Black Mask has towards the start of the story. It is understandable why it would not be able to, given the sheer intricacies of the comic medium and the limited time available in film. Again, Wamester and Adams do an excellent job at preserving the essentials to make the story have its maximum impact possible.

Mount is solid in his voice work as Bruce and Batman, conveying the weariness and reluctant softness of the former and the relentless gruffness of the latter. After decades of watching the Caped Crusader pursue justice against Gotham’s various enemies, we finally and gradually start to see him crack. The film wisely shows his capabilities towards the start, only to continuously chip away at him bit by bit until the infamous end of this first part of the arc.

Batman is relatable to so many precisely because he represents (even if unrealistically at times) the pinnacle of what we regular humans can achieve physically and mentally. So to see his fall should carry tremendous meaning, and Knightfall succeeds at having you inhabit Bruce’s mental and emotional state throughout its runtime, even when he’s not on screen. The tragedy is palpable, gory, and will fittingly crush you emotionally just as it does our hero physically, appropriately leaving you with a lasting impression of numbing despair.

Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall will wash the bitter taste of the previous subpar half-attempt of the arc we were subjected to in The Dark Knight Rises. By far the worst of Nolan’s otherwise iconic trilogy, that movie’s adaptation of Bane (that has turned into an obnoxious meme of an imitation that plagues even the otherwise fantastic Harley Quinn show) that is ultimately a joke of a character with little true substance. THIS Bane, however, is without a doubt the best adaption of the character on screen yet, hindered only by not having a Latino actor to voice him, despite Mando doing an otherwise great job.

The film does well to balance between Bruce, Azrael, and Bane as its effective three co-leads. As mentioned, the last of these, Bane, finally receives cinematic justice with his sublime representation in the animation and Mando’s voice work. The film takes ample time for you to get to know this iconic Batman antagonist. In a striking display, we see his very origins from birth in the prison in Santa Prisca, getting to know his mother (Adriana Isabel) who was forced to raise him there and teach him the sheer importance of strengthening every fiber of oneself to survive. It’s a devastatingly inspiring display.

The film takes great lengths in its detailed animation, voice direction, and meticulous pacing to have you understand Bane and why he does what he does. It reaches a point where you may even root for Bane within the context of his own motivations, however twisted they might be. While not delving into every facet, such as the reason he wears a Luchador mask in the first place, Knightfall still succeeds at finally doing him justice to his story, motivations, and antagonistic ethic. It is the best onscreen depiction of Bane since Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures and Young Justice (the latter had a Latino actor voicing him in Danny Trejo), and raises the standard for him and all other DC villains.

While the film could have easily had Azrael feel tacked on, instead he feels like a natural integration into the plot. With an excellent performance by Pablo Schreiber, we see him beset by personal and murderous demons given to him by his abusive cultist father and the Order of St. Dumas, causing him to burst into fits of violence with unintended murder, and followed by immediate and intense regret at his uncontrollable state. It is easy to see why Batman takes pity on Azrael, bringing him into the fold and making him a player in the overarching storyline.

The film also has the best depiction of Tim Drake (Jack Giffin) as Robin since The New Batman Adventures. Finally, after decades of virtual absence onscreen, the famous third Robin has cinematic justice in this film’s presentation. Drake is a skilled detective, rivaling Batman himself, and the film shows that in spades. After so many years of being sidelined as a core Batfamily character, Knightfall finally gives Tim the time he deserves to shine as a main Robin. Virtually all other Batman characters are done justice here as well, especially Renee Montoya (Jessica Camacho), Commissioner Gordon (Bruce Boxleitner), and The Riddler (David Dastmalchian).

Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall, on the whole, is a masterpiece. It is the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm and one of the best Batman films period, soaring above so many other to reach the cream of the crop. Adapting its devastating source material efficiently, with an excellent script by Jeremy Adams, excellent vocal performances, and superb animation, it will have you hooked and eager for the next part of the story, as well as inspiring you to return to its comic source material, as any good adaptation should do. It sets a standard for other Batman films, as well as other direct adaptations of comic books.

Representation Rating: B

Overall Rating: A

Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall is available in North America on Digital August 25, with 4K UHD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD Release September 8.