Yesterday DC and Warner Bros released their 21storiginal animated film titled Batman: Assault on Arkham. Now despite the title, Batman is not the central character. This feature is a departure of sorts where the villains become the center to the storyline. Two villains in particular are Deadshot and Harley Quinn. Essentially this is a Suicide Squad story. Another misnomer is that Assault on Arkham is based on the popular video game series. While some of the looks and general feel is similar to the game, that’s pretty much where the comparison begins and ends. With all that said, how is Batman: Assault on Arkham? Warning spoilers ahead…
The film opens with the Riddler playing mind games with government operative, Amanda Waller (voiced by CCH Pounder). When she sends in her operatives to take him out, enter the Batman. He fights to take custody of the Riddler himself and have him sent to Arkham. The Riddler has information on a bomb that could level Gotham and Batman wants that information. Waller, not one to be upstaged even by the bat, forms a Suicide Squad called Task Force “X” that comprise of such villains as Deadshot, Killer Frost, Captain Boomerang, Black Spider, King Shark, KGBeast and of course Harley Quinn. Waller puts this team together in order to break into Arkham and retrieve a device stored in Riddler’s cane.
The premise behind the idea of a Suicide Squad is putting together a group of expendable agents, in this case criminals to take on an impossible mission. If they succeed, it means a reduced sentence. Should they fail? Well, hence the title, suicide squad. To insure no funny business, Waller has implanted in each on a device that will literary blow their heads off if they deviate from the mission. Amanda Waller remains one of the most interesting and most dangerous characters DC Comics has. She walks a pretty fine line between sane and insanity.
The rest of this PG-13 feature follows these villains as they break into Arkham, encounter The Joker and a motley crew of other villains all the while dealing with Batman and mistrusting each other at every turn. Like so many of the recent DC animated releases, this one is not for kids. The PG-13 rating has a lot to do with some sexual content between Quinn and Deadshot as well as some language. While I am not opposed to adult-themed animated features for our superheroes, it’s pretty representative of the comics that are being produced today, that being said, it would be nice to make a family friendly film for all to watch and enjoy.
In the end, as a film, Assault on Arkham is a pretty good feature with well-executed action scenes. The animation is flawless and the voice acting led by the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman is spot on. All due respect to those who have followed Conroy in voicing the Dark Knight, they pale in comparison… he is BATMAN! If only they got Mark Hamill to play the Joker, this movie would’ve ranked higher on my list.
***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
