The film begins with Batman middle aged. He occasionally goes out and fights crime, but is not the same threat he used to be. With Alfred having passed away from a heart attack, Bruce slowly falls into a deep depression. Bruce decides that he will reveal his identity to Gotham as Batman before he succumbs to his depression.
Miles across town, a young man constructs a mask as he looks vengeful at pictures of the Joker. He finishes his mask and names himself Red Hood. Red Hood breaks into Arkham and kills most of the staff while looking for Joker. He reaches the room where he is supposed to be, only to discover that he has been moved to another ward. Red Hood tries to get to the other ward, but is forced to escape as cops surround the place.
Bruce hears of this on the news and decides that, before he reveals himself to Gotham, he will find Red Hood and bring him to justice. Batman goes to Arkham and interrogates the remaining staff. Red Hood was able to get into Arkham with considerable ease. Batman suspects that he had an accomplice. After getting nothing, Batman goes to the Joker.
Joker is now a tired old fool, completely unaware of the events going on around him. Batman asks if he remembers anything to do with Red Hood. Joker says that Red Hood was an old alias of his. Batman leaves when Joker says he doesn’t know why one would attack him after all these years. Batman knows, though; now, he is weak.
In city hall, Mayor Quincy Sharp calls a staff meeting. He tells everyone of a plan to end the crime in Gotham. This news has proved to Sharp that Joker is still “talked about”. He decides that they will hire the Joker to infiltrate the mob, which is run by Roman Sionis a.k.a Black Mask.
Elsewhere in town, Red Hood gets past Black Mask’s goons and confronts the big man himself. Red Hood tells him that he is an upstanding citizen, but he wants the Joker’s head. Red Hood says that his “sources” tell him that Sharp plans to have the Joker infiltrate Black Mask’s mob. Red Hood says that if they join forces, the city will be theirs for the taking. Black Mask eventually agrees.
Batman takes a shotgun shell he found under a bed at Arkham to the Bat Cave and scans it for fingerprints. After a while, it turns out to be a fingerprint by a Mr. Thomas Elliot. Bruce knows Elliot as a childhood friend, but Elliot has changed into a mobster who calls himself Hush. Bruce decides that it is time for him to face Hush again, who now lives in an isolated apartment.
Joker reaches Black Mask’s turf and comes with a proposition; if he joins their gang, he will help them take out Sharp. Just before Black Mask answers, Red Hood comes in and beats Joker to death with a crowbar.
Batman breaks into Elliot’s apartment and finds him bloodied on the couch. Batman revives Elliot and asks him what happened. Elliot says that he was kidnapped by Red Hood two weeks ago and was tortured while Red Hood used his hands to put the shells in the shotgun. Elliot also says that Red Hood used Elliot’s connections at Arkham to find out Joker’s whereabouts, as well as being able to link to the Mayors office (since Sharp is still close to Arkham). Batman leaves after taking Hush to the hospital.
Red Hood tells Black Mask that their next move is to attack Bruce Wayne. Black Mask asks why, as Wayne has never “offended” him. Red Hood tells Roman that years ago, he was able to find James Gordon and “convince” him to tell him who Batman was. Bruce had confided in Gordon after Alfred had died. Gordon shortly died after his conversation with Red Hood.
Bruce returns home and looks up past victims of the Joker that match the little physical features witnesses were able to comprehend. He prints out a list of names of young men the Joker terrorized that are still alive and their addresses. Batman shortly returns to the Bat Cave, disappointed as all the suspects had solid alibis. Bruce is left with no more clues or anything that he can use. Feeling more and more depressed, Bruce finally announces the banquet he is throwing. There, he will reveal his secret. Red Hood tells Black Mask this and they plan to attack then.
On the night of the banquet, Bruce reveals to all the visitors that he is Batman. Just then, Black Mask’s goons attack along with Red Hood, killing many of the citizens. Bruce and Red Hood engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Red Hood winning. Before he delivers the final blow, Red Hood reveals to Batman who he is: Jason Todd.
Jason Todd was a boy who admired Batman quite a lot. Batman decided one day to humor the kid and let him watch him (Batman) fly around a building. Just then, one of Joker’s random bombings occurs. Batman orders Todd to stay where he is, but Todd is too excited to stay. Batman chases Joker, with Jason actually catching him. Joker laughs at Jason and beats him with a crowbar viciously. Joker gives Jason a bomb to “hold for him” as he escapes. Jason narrowly escapes death, but is assumed to be dead as a token funeral is held. Jason then swears revenge on the man who killed him and the man who failed to save him.
Bruce is able to get up and instead of fighting with Todd again; he tries to reason with him. Bruce reminds him of his innocence, of his parents. He tells Jason that he ruined his life by focusing on revenge and that after you succeed, the pain only worsens. Jason, realizing that his innocence has disappeared and has no purpose in life, breaks down in tears. Bruce looks inside to see that the police are handling the situation at the banquet. Bruce tells Jason that he reminds him of himself at a young age. Before Jason says anything, he jumps off the building, killing himself.
Bruce returns to the Bat Cave and puts on his suit, but not his mask. He looks at past accomplishments and a picture of his parents. Then, he looks at the revolver on the counter next to him.
Now, for the two leads...
RICHARD GERE/BATMAN
Richard Gere is still a great actor. If you've seen Brooklyn's Finest, then you know he can play a hero with a death wish. I'd really like to see what he would do with Batman.
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT/RED HOOD
Gordon-Levitt is the internets favorite actor now, and rightfully so. He is a great actor and I can't wait to see what he is doing next.
Well, that's it. Tell me what you think in the comments below. ;)