Not having Joker was a nice change of pace, and having Jim Gordon was a nice and refreshing twist that I would like to see more of in future Batman flicks.

He also decides to betray his friend Bruce Wayne because of Selina… he was a pretty forgettable character in this film. He’s also two-faced to his wife Gilda… so there’s that. This movie is 100% what The Killing Joke should have been and hopefully it is a sign of things to come from DC’s animation department. However it’s this twist that, dare I say it, rivals the twist from Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Having a good guy be the bad guy, in its simplest terms is one thing, but for it to be this drastic and crazy shows the lengths that DC animation can go if its given that R- Rating and has the right creative team behind it. The blatant disregard for human life, especially women, mixed with the insanity and battles with the Bat have all the makings for a classic Joker-Batman fight. The entire film I expected it to be the Joker, why wouldn’t I? It had Joker written all over it. Was I expecting this? Heck no, because not all twists are great (just watch Iron Man 3). Not the Joker, not Harvey Dent, not Penguin (who is absent for some bizarre reason), but instead it is hard-nosed by the book Jim Gordon. That is because he is not the villain of this film, that honour is reserved for… Jim Gordon? Yup. You know he’s there but does not do much else. Hugo Strange’s presence as Arkham Asylum’s Warden and general creepy bald man is evident. Their joint effort once again takes centre stage here as they take down Jack the Ripper. Some of Batman’s greatest outings have involved Catwoman, whether its in Hush or The Long Halloween, she has provided Batman with one of his biggest weaknesses, his emotions. Lastly, what Batman tale would be complete without his favourite feline partner? Selina Kyle acts as a former lion tamer which explains her whip, love of cats, and knack for danger. It also features a wealthy and successful Harvey Dent, acting as County Prosecutor and of course old reliable Jim Gordon acting as Chief of Police. Always nice to see those three and especially together working as a team. The movie features three of Batman’s robins, Dickie, Jason and Timmy. Fans of the comic of the same name and general Batman fans may feel like they already know the identity and motivations of the killer… but they would be so, so wrong, but we’ll get to that later. Luckily, this Gotham City also comes equipped with its own playboy/vigilante Bruce Wayne, and his alter-ego Batman. Victorian Era, Gotham City is obviously being plagued by lunatics and murderers… only this world is one free of fictional villains, and instead features the likes of Jack the Ripper. But Batman: Gotham By Gaslight is a great movie in it’s own right, different than its predecessors but paves the way for more else-world stories that need to be told. Batman, his rogues and his city being placed into a steampunk setting might seem like a daunting task, seeing how Batman: The Animated Series already did such an amazing job with their neo-noir Gotham City, and with more mainstream Batman depictions having a grounded realistic approach. Action, romance and mystery, all the characteristics necessary for a steampunk movie starring Jack the Ripper squaring off against The Caped Crusader. It's definitely enjoyable on its own terms for the novelty of the time and setting, but one would hope that if this is the direction the creators want to take the Batman franchise, they'll do more than simply plug in a half dozen or so historical reference points to give the movie authenticity.Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a nice return to form for an animated DC slate of movies that seemingly had their best days behind them. It doesn't quite strike the right balance between showing what these well-known characters would be like in a different time and telling the story itself. The mystery behind the killer is a surprise, all things considered, and presents a unique take on the character's twisted motives for the murders.Īt the same time, the 'whodunit' of it all feels a little too much like a Scooby-Doo! episode, with a lot more adult content and far fewer clues to help the audience play along in solving the mystery. On the whole, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is an interesting take on the now-familiar tale of the misunderstood vigilante and playboy philanthropist. Set during the Victorian era, it places Batman/Bruce Wayne among the street urchins, burlesque dancers, moral reformers, and Jack the Ripper-style killers of the time. This is a unique take on the Batman story.

Watch gotham by gaslight movie reddit