Comic-Con Photos
I have to say, based on the review from Collider, this one might be a miss. The review states that the film's chief detriment is the fact that it's too faithful to the source material. Specifically:
Warner Bros’ new direct-to-video animated Batman: Year One is about as faithful an adaptation of the Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli source material as could be done – potentially to its own detriment. The problem being that the episodic nature of the comic doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the dramatic momentum needed for film. An issue about Batman getting into a fight with a bunch of pimps which in turn leads to a brawl with a pre-Catwoman Selena Kyle works on the page; on film, it halts the main thrust and drive of the film – namely that of the relationship between Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne/Batman. Year One is at it’s best when it focuses on the fraught almost Heat-like (picture Jim Gordon as Pacino and Batman as De Niro) relationship between the two.
The review goes on to say that Batman is ultimately inept during his rookie Batman campaign and that Gordon is rather "rash and disloyal" during his first years in Gotham. For those unfamiliar the graphic novel, you will either love this fresh take on the characters or you will be dismayed that you're being given a presentation so different from the normal depictions that you don't recognize the characters.
Still Collider describes the voice acting as a strong point of the movie.
The voice acting across the board is relatively strong. Ben McKenzie ably conveys the youthfulness and inexperience of a young Batman. Katee Sackhoff and Eliza Dushku both do the most they can with relatively brief screen-time. But (not surprisingly) the standout of the film is Bryan Cranston as Jim Gordon. The gruff cold detached vocal inflections Cranston brings to the character suggest years of seen-it-all hard knock experience. This is a colder, meaner Gordon and Cranston’s presence lends a gravitas to the character previously unseen.
Personally, I think I will enjoy this movie. I'm a huge Batman fan and grew-up on the Bruce Timm animated series so I enjoy Batman in any shape, fashion or form. Still, it seems that this movie has suffered from "The Watchmen" effect, it's faithfulness resulted in alienating those of the non-fandom faction. I'll be seeing this the first day it's released and will be posting my own review shortly thereafter. Will be interesting to see where we agree and disagree.
Also, noted by the reviewer:
Quick to add: following the screening, Bruce Timm announced the next three DC Animated Universe films – 1) Justice League: Doom 2) an adaptation of Superman vs. The Elite 3) a two part retelling of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
Current speculation is that Superman vs. The Elite will be based on the one-shot Superman: What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way. Justice League:Doom is set to be a loose adaptation of the fan-favorite JLA: Tower of Babel storyline.