What's on Shenji's Mind: Before the Dark Knight

Title: Gotham Knight
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Gary Dorudan, Ana Ortiz, Parminder Nagra, David McCallum
Director: Shojiro Nishimi, Futoshi Higashide, Hiroshi Morioka, Yasuhiro Aoki, Toshiyuki Kebboka, Jong sik Nam

Several days before the Dark Knight was released in theaters worldwide, I came across copies of an animated Batman movie. It was called Gotham Knight, and I noticed that the animation for that movie was very similar to the Japanese anime. Initially, I wasn't really bothered about that movie as I thought it was for the younger audiences however after the excitement I got from watching the Dark Knight yesterday in my local cinema, I thought I could go for another Batman story. Consequently, I visited the video store nearby and rented a copy of Gotham Knight. I have to say that it was more than I expected and it was worth the money I spend on renting the movie.

Gotham Knight is an animated movie which takes place shortly after the events of Batman Begins and shortly before the Dark Knight. Kevin Conroy, the voice actor for the Batman cartoon series during the early 90s reprises his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman in the Gotham Knight. The animated movie consist of 6 short stories with its own plot and style, however some of the stories are linked.

Josh Olsen's "Have I Got a Story for You" which is the first story revolves around a young skater boy who meets up with three of his usual skater friends at an indoor skate park on a late evening. His friends than informed the boy that they had an astonishing encounter with the Dark Knight who was trying to apprehend a high tech criminal, on the way to the indoor skate park. Conversely each of them had different description of Batman. One of them described Batman as a living shadow that can disappear and reappear like a phantom while the others described Gotham's hero as a Man-Bat creature and a powered exo-skeleton combat armor. Having heard the exaggerated tales of his friends, the boy fret on his misfortune as he wasn't as lucky as his friends who had the opportunity to see Gotham's hero in action. As they were about to disperse, two figure crashed violently through the windows of the indoor skate park. One of them was the high tech criminal that all the boy's friends were talking about and the other was the legendary Gotham Knight. As the boy was about to encounter the cape crusader, it was time to determine how the Dark Knight looks like through his own eyes.

"Crossfire" is the second story featured in the Gotham Knight. Written by Greg Rucka, the second story in the animated movie tells the story of Detective Crispus Allen and Detective Anna Ramirez of the Major Crime Unit who were assigned by James Gordon to escort a high tech criminal who was apprehended by the Dark Knight, to Arkham Asylum. Detective Allen has been always skeptical about Batman and he feels like being an errand boy for the vigilante. On their way back to the police headquarters after transporting the criminal to the asylum, the skeptical detective informs his partner regarding his intention to leave the Major Crime Unit because of his impression of the Dark Knight. Shocked by the sudden decision over a petty matter, Detective Ramirez pulls the car over to an empty spot and confronts her partner claiming that Batman is reliable seeing that he has changed Gotham City for the better. In the middle of their debate, they noticed the presence of the Russian and Sal Maroni's gang. The detectives soon realize that they were caught in between the crossfire of both organized crime leaders who have a score to settle with one another. With guns blazing violently from both gangs which will spell doom for the trapped police officers, Detective Ramirez's stand for Batman's reliability is put to the test.

Written by Jordan Goldberg, "Field Test" begins with Lucius Fox (the character played by Morgan Freeman in Batman Begins and the Dark Knight)conducting a study and test on an electromagnetic device he believed to be responsible for the accident involving Bruce Wayne's satellite. He later discovered that the device could deflect small arms ammunition which prompted Bruce Wayne to use the device. Bruce Wayne later attends a charity golf tournament organize by Ronald Marshall, a developer who he suspects is involve with the death of Teresa Williams, a strong opposer to Ronald Marshall. Bruce manages to steal Ronald Marshall's Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) later on in the tournament knowing that it will be useful. Later on at night, the Batman uses the PDA which he stole earlier on from the tournament to hijack a boat owned by Sal Maroni before navigating it alongside with the Russians' boat (Maroni's enemy). Planning to force a truce between both the Maroni gang and the Russians who were ready to slaughter each other, Batman jumps into the confrontation expecting a heavy fire fight directed at him which he solely relies on the bullet-deflecting electromagnetic device he got from Lucius Fox.

"Darkness Dwell" is the next story in the Gotham Knight which was scripted by David S. Goyer. The story begins with a SWAT team responding to a violent disturbance at a church in Gotham City where Cardinal O' Fallon was giving a sermon. Lieutenant Gordon, Detective Allen and Detective Ramirez of the Major Crime Unit were at the scene investigating the disturbance. Witnesses claimed that the Cardinal was kidnapped by a monster which resembled a lizard. Additional testimony from the traumatized witnesses states that the monster headed down into the crypts below the church. Batman who was at the scene suspected that the outbreak of the violent disturbance was due to the fear toxin and he later concluded that the Scarecrow (the villain from Batman Begins)was involve in the Cardinal's abduction. He then hands Lieutenant Gordon an ear piece in order to establish a communication network before he descends into the crypt to search for the abducted Cardinal.

Brian Azzarello's "Working Through Pain" picks up immediately after the ending of "Darkness Dwell". Having a bullet wound in his stomach and losing a lot of blood, Batman's only salvation rest solely on locating the rendezvous location with his loyal butler, Alfred. Struggling in pain and fighting his way out of the maze like sewer, Batman grows weaker and eventually he surrenders and collapses. He soon experiences flashback during his days volunteering with a relief effort and assisting a doctor performing a gruesome surgery without anesthesia as well as his journey to India to learn the art of conquering physical pain from a female guru.

"Deadshot" is the final story in the Gotham Knight. Written by Alan Burnett, the sixth and final story revolves around the professional marksman assassin called Deadshot, who is hired by the Russians to assassinate Lieutenant Gordon. After receiving the news regarding the hit on the Lieutenant, Batman races against time to locate the deadly marksman before the lieutenant becomes Deadshot's hunting trophy.

I have to say that it was more than I expected and it was worth the money I spend on renting the movie. Gotham Knight not only offers a variety of animation style through its six different interesting stories but also maintains its dark and gritty presentation similar to Batman Begins. Apart from that, Gotham Knight also delivers a reasonable amount of violence and action that is sufficient to cater for the older audiences. Overall, Gotham Knight serves a great appetizer before the Dark Knight is served at the dining table; it deserves an 8 out of 10.