Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One

The first part of a movie that is split into two parts, Batman: The Long Halloween Part One is the first half of the latest DC Animated Movie. Based on the critically acclaimed thirteen-issue limited series that lasted a year (from December of 1996 to December of 1997), this movie, set during Batman's early years as a crime fighter, as he was called in when the nephew of mob boss Carmine Falcone is found murdered after agreeing to aid Harvey Dent with taking him down, causing the caped crusader and district attorney to join forces to take down the Falcone crime family. However, things take a turn for the worst as a Holiday Killer is on the prowl, killing various gangsters on Falcone's side on holidays, and Harvey is showing a darker side in his war against Falcone.

Now this is a movie that feels like a Batman movie. The dark atmosphere it builds up fits with the caped crusader, and the mystery aspect of the plot is neat. Also, the voice cast is perfect, and we get a good selection of characters, with The Joker, Catwoman, Calendar Man, and even Solomon Grundy making appearances.

I haven't read the original graphic novel of the long Halloween, so I was excited to go into this with an open mind and a fresh take on this story. I'll admit I was skeptical given the recent wasted potential of both the killing joke and death in the family, but I'm proud to say the delivery was exactly what I wanted

First praise, the voice acting is incredible! Jensen Ackles to no surprise works so well as Batman, Josh Duhamel is an incredible Harvey Dent and disappears into the role, Naya Rivera was an incredible catwoman may she Rest In Peace, Troy Baker is an excellent Joker, and countless other examples. Very good casting choices, and excellent work by the actors

As for the story, I'm so glad I get to come in knowing nothing because this is a legitimately excellent mystery! Without giving away too much, I've changed my guesses so many times as to who holiday is, because there's more curveballs in here than a Rian Johnson movie. I love the pacing, the tone, the suspense, the action, and the way the characters interact with one another. It's almost poetic

The animation is stellar at best, but at worst it needs a bit more work. The landscapes and backgrounds are gorgeous to look at, but some of the characters could do with a few touch ups here and there. These are mostly nitpicks because for all intents and purposes, I think this was very well animated, even by today's standards

Any problems I have with the movie can be overlooked, but I still want to address them. There are more than a few moments where I feel like certain characters should not have come out of the situations they were in unscathed, or at the very least needed a moment to recover, and they can usually walk it off. I also don't know what's exactly Gilda's deal, if she has some sort of issue going on mentally/physically and I'm hoping for an explanation soon, but if it's left unexplained she does come across as a bit irritating. I don't think she's a bad character by any means, but I am hoping she grows on me a little better in part 2

So to sum everything up, I love this movie and I'm so eager to see part 2 when it's released. This is what I love to see in Batman movies, and I think it might be up there with some of my favorites.

"Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One" is a fine kickoff and jump start done in fine animation as it's take on the classic graphic novel is entertaining and interesting a mystery like feel of drama and twist. As the times in Gotham are dark as the power struggles with Captain Gordon, D. A. Dent, and the Falcone crime family all blend in with a new wild card subplot and that's the holiday killer who murders on every holiday! All this blends an underworld of corruption and terror, along the way as Batman becomes involved Catwoman and the Joker play key figures in the chain of events with twist! If you like D. C. comics then yes watch this.

The long Halloween part one is a fascinating and awesome start to this two parter. Even if sometimes the movements of the characters can be stilted at times it makes it up with other great elements in the animation (the action scenes and the designs), the acting is great (Jensen ackles and josh duhamel especially), the action is fun, the story is great (so far), it takes its time (which sets a pretty great atmosphere), the characters are fascinating to watch and the ending offers a good shock. A great animated Batman film and I hope the second part lives up to it.

The animation the tone the background music the cast everything is excellent in setting up the type of the batman animated movie we would like to see. It portrays batman in his early years so he has less of detective skill than we are used to which may be covered in part 2 but this movie is as satisfying as a batman movie could be. Do give it a watch.