Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

An interesting movie. It is a video game tie in, which means it is not based off of the comic book version. I think that is a good idea as it gives them more creative freedom. The movie may be called Batman, but really it should be noted he is only a secondary character. The movie is about the "Suicide Squad" which you may know from the "Arrow" tv show if you are not a comic fan. The idea behind the suicide squad, the government takes criminals and uses them as operatives in dangerous missions they are not willing to risk their own on. If the villains succeed their time is reduced, so there is incentive for them to co-operate. If they choose not to have ever, they have bombs implanted in their necks. As you always see in these movies, somebody gets their head blown off to prove that point. So while it is a Batman animated film, it is not for kids. It has sex, gore, language, and even Joker making a rape joke. Nothing worse then a pg movie, but be aware of what you are buying or renting for your little ones.

The Riddler has stolen files on all Suicide Squad members, the government wants them back. The Squad has to break into Arkham Asylum in order to get the files back. Arkham is a very secure prison that is used to handle the more dangerous criminals that Batman deals with. There is also a side story where Batman is running a different case, and sure enough everything crosses over.

Who are the Suicide Squad? Well in this variation the lead would be Deadshot. He was heavily featured on the Arrow tv show, and was in the last Batman game from the series this movie is based around. He doesn't really have powers, but instead is a very astounding marksman. He is joined by Captain Boomerang who is basically a lesser version of Deadshot. His gimmick is he uses Boomerangs instead of bullets. Harley Quinn, Jokers currently Ex lover. She is very crazy, but has a great mind. She knows almost everything there is to know about Arkham. Both from her time working and staying there. Black Spider who is basically a ninja. A very well trained assassin. Killer Frost who can create and shoot ice and freezing winds. And King Shark who is a very durable and strong man....with a shark mouth.

The movie is about Criminals doing illegal things. The action scenes are well done, and the animation is on the higher end of the DC direct movies. We don't get the weird looking faces that were in the last Justice League film. But the animation did seem crisper and more defined then in the Son of Batman that recently came out. The story starts off simple enough, but gets more complicated as it goes. Joker has a dirty bomb and batman is trying to locate it. He and the Squad get in each others way as they each try to complete their own objectives. In a normal film you would expect the bad guys to join up and help him, as the bomb will kill them to. However this is more realistic, and they instead try to kill him and keep going their own way. I actually really liked that. The villains never felt like they were being forced into a role they would not normally fill. It seemed natural for them to act the way they did. And while it should have been hard to root for people are still murdering as they go, it really wasn't. Deadshot and Harley are fan favorites right now, and putting them in the front of the squad was a great idea. Harley gets her own little story with the Joker that fans of them will love and enjoy. And Deadshot gets a lead role that puts him over the Batman. Heck the final fight is Deadshots, Bats is busy during it and provides no real help. If you liked that character in "Arrow" or are a fan from the comics, you will be very happy with how he comes out in this one.

Did I have any real issues with the movie? It is hard to say....well hard to say with out dropping heavy spoilers. I liked the representation of Harley, but I don't like how they ended up using her character in the end. Given this is a tie in for a upcoming game, it made sense given that games story. However it didn't seem to fit in with the mentality she had in the suicide squad comics. This is however separate from those, so that should not matter. Other then that though I was happy with how everybody acted and was portrayed. I enjoyed hearing Killer Frost drop a ice pun, and seeing the Penguin make a cameo. The scenes in Arkham features a wide variety of past bat villains as well. There really was a lot of cool little moments in this one.

How does it compare to the other DC animated films? Well I would say it ranks up there along side Red Hood, but still just below Flashpoint. It focuses on a lesser known group, and while that could have easily hurt it, I don't think it did. I applaud DC for taking a chance on this one, and I hope they do more like it in the future. Taking Batman and using him in a secondary role gave them the opportunity to make lesser known characters shine. And the result was one of their better animated features they have put out. If you are a fan of the comics, the Batman movies, the Batman games, or just animation in general, give this one a shot.

It is out now on digital distributors, and the psychical copies are coming on the 12th of August. Redbox should have it a month later.