Batman Vs. Robin Review: When Daddy Issues meets blades and Batarangs
Chamar has pulled me into the comic book world, and I now I love it. Here he is dropping some knowledge.
Hello comic book fans
As we all know, DCU has been making waves with their television shows, upcoming film announcements and especially in their animated films. The latest addition to this list is the Batman Vs. Robin movie that came out today (4/14/15). DC continues with its New 52 storyline, this time focusing on the first story arc of Scott Snyder’s Batman, in which he faces the Court of Owls. This (literally) underground group, comprised of Gotham’s wealthy and elite, have been behind the shaping of Gotham since its founding. However, like most secret groups, they are bent on domination of the city itself; therefore Batman, being Batman, must take down the court while also trying to form a relationship with his new Robin/Biological Son/Heir to the Heir to the Demon Head, a task that ends up also being a struggle for the soul of Damien Wayne.
Taking place a couple months after the events of Son of Batman, we see Batman and Robin trying to work on their dynamic as well as Bruce and Damien tryian to form a father/son relationship. However, being that this is only a few months later, they do indeed bump heads on certain issues mainly the concept of “justice not vengeance.” The tensions completely boil over when Damien takes on a new mentor, the mysterious Talon, who sees himself as the Batman who will take the extra step. It is later revealed that Talon is actually an enforcer and assassin for the Court of Owls and he is trying to recruit Damien to one day take his place. Of course, constantly being treated unfairly by Bruce/Batman as well as by Dick/Nightwing leads Damien to join forces with Talon. However, during their first night out together, Talon orders Damien to kill a small time crime lord. He hesistates leading Talon to truly give up on him unless he can choose between Batman’s philosophies and his own instincts. Batman shows up during this leading to Batman and Robin finally fighting for Damien’s future. If you guessed Batman put the fear of God into his song…you would be so wrong as Damien whupped his butt!! He heads to Talon’s hideout and Talon takes him to the Court of Owls to be inducted but when Robin reveals his identity, not only does every Owl learn of Bruce’s identity, they also order the death of Damien. Talon, the once good soldier, grew fond of Damien and goes on a killing spree killing every owl. Talon goes on to try to take over Gotham leading to the Bat Family, including Alfred with a shotgun, taking out all the other Talons created throughout the years. In the final battle, Talon forces Damien to kill him when he pulls the sai he gave him into his neck after Damien freezes up again. Bruce seeing how distraught his son is finally tells him how proud he is of him but Damien needing his space goes to a monastery in the Himalayas where Bruce had trained himself.
In comparison to the comics, this was a great cinematic adaptaion to the story. They included my favorite lines and my favorite scenese However, I felt that the Court of Owls didn’t get the right amount of plot they deserved. For example, we still don’t know Talon’s real name! In the comic they pretty much decimated Bruce Wayne and Batman. I say this because not only was Bruce’s sanity tested, but so was Batman’s. I felt that if they dove into the story behind the Owls a bit more similar to how they did in the comic, I would’ve been further on the edge of my seat and gripping tighter to my chair, or rather the pole next to my seat on the train car.
What do I give the film you may ask. Four comics up. I wish there was more but honestly, it was just enough to keep this comic fan entertained for its 80 minute run.
Easter Eggs I noticed:
-Nightwing talking to Kory aka Starfire, which was almost pretty much proven thanks to an obscured picture of her hair and skin tone on a cellphone caller ID.
-Bruce’s code after he took away Damien’s sai that he got as a gift from Talon was 1939, deduct that from our year and you get 76 years, most likely it was a way to commemorate the 75 years of Batman
-Last, but certainly not least, the falshback of Thomas Wayne was voiced by none other than Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman we grew up with during the 90s animated series