The first main gripe I have about this sort of mini-movie is the fact that there are only 6 stories, where the majority only run about 15 minutes, if that. Furthermore, B:GK was pretty much advertised as a sort of story extension that would go beyond Batman Begins, leading into TDK. However, aside from two stories, it really doesn't do that at all. Also worth noting is the fact that only 2 of the stories even have established Batman villains in them. It's incredibly difficult to introduce new characters to an audience when the story only runs for 15 or so minutes. New characters come off as undeveloped, rushed, and boring when compared to villains like Scarecrow.Another problem that I have with the compilation is that the storylines feel like they are meaningless. There's nothing really ever at stake, no sense of urgency, no sense of fear that you get from practically any other Batman movie. At times it feels as though the 6 stories aren't even connected and they don't lead you into TDK like they were supposed to. I'd rather they have been 6 progressive stories that actually relate to the Christopher Nolan films. It feels like they exist just because, and for me personally, there is only one that has some redeeming qualities in it's story.
"Have I Got A Story For You" This is probably the part that I disliked the most, on both a storyline and art level. Without spoiling too much: all it essentially contains is a group of kids who have all run into Batman on the same day. They recall what happened at their encounter and prove that everyone's intrepretation of Batman is different. The ending is pretty cheesy and the whole story feels pointless and a waste. This particular story could have taken place at any time; it doesn't fit into the break between BB and TDK at all.
"Crossfire" At least this story somewhat relates itself to the two films. The setup is that a conflict has arisen between different factions of the mob in Gotham City, and naturally, Batman is trying to fix it. Two cops are also trying to help out; one who believes Batman is a vigilante, and the other who defends him. The shootout sequence is one of my favorite parts in this 'episode'. There isn't much else to say about this portion, it has a better art style than that of the first, but no real "wow factor."
"Field Test" This story borrows a lot from "Crossfire" and that allows it to fit into the film adaptations a bit as well. There is another problem inside the mob of Gotham City and Batman sets out to resolve it. However, it really irked me how the art team didn't model the character Lucius after his film counterpart, Morgan Freeman. How cool would it have been if he actually looked like the character?! He still had the wit and charm though, I'll give them that. The best part of "Field Test" is the new device that Batman gets.
"In Darkness Dwells" This is by far my favorite story of the whole disc and I think it's the only true gem in B:GK. It seems like a total throwback to Batman: The Animated Series. They included some actual villains in here, imagine that! Scarecrow and Killer Croc make appearances and help create a cohesive plot. As many of others have said, if you can only watch one part or choose to only watch one, watch this!
"Working Through Pain" This makes the package take a step back in a sense; you go from something so great in "In Darkness Dwells", to this. The story details how Batman learned to deal with pain, only it's done through a flashback. And he's really in pain in present time, which is an odd, yet nice tie-in. Again, this chapter could have taken place at any time, not just between the films, so it fails in that aspect. Altogether it's a pretty mediocre story, especially because of the lackluster ending.
"Deadshot" This chapter comes in a close second place in my book. It introduces Deadshot into Nolan's universe and is quite action packed. It's great to have another portion where there is an actual memorable villain! The fighting sequence on the train is entertaining and I love how they did the zoom in/out on Deadshot's gun. Watch this one if you have the time as well.
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I set myself up for disappointment. I had expectations going into seeing this, which usually leads to dissatisfaction. I may also come across as very critical, but I really expected a lot from B:GK. The majority of the stories are boring, lifeless, and don't relate to the gap between BB and TDK. The different interpretations of Batman and unique art styles used are pretty impressive. I feel as though they nailed the art and the story is totally missing. I wish the 6 chapters were connected or related in some way, but they feel all over the place and disorganized. I also wish that they turned this idea into a coherent animated series or something of the sort. However, there are a ton of extras included on the disc as well; they make it somewhat worth it, I guess. Most notable are the 4 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series that are on it. I'd suggest just giving it a rent or borrowing it from a friend, unless you are a huge Batman fanboy. As an alternative, watch some old episodes of Batman: The Animated Series; you'll be way more entertained and you can probably find them for free.
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