BATMAN YEAR ONE (2011): An Inexperienced Batman

Batman: Year One, is a 2011 animated film with a curious characterization of Batman. A movie focused on his first year in Gotham, with a less experienced take on the hero, as expected by the premise. Not only that, but being an origin movie of sots, characters that audiences find familiar do not yet hold the roles audiences often seen them holding: Selina Kyle is not yet Catwoman, Commissioner Gordon is not the Commissioner, etc. This is a Batman that as he says, he has the training, but is missing something. He lacks the very hope that he wishes to bring to the city.

It is after an expedition gone wrong that leaves him shot by corrupt cops that he finds his answer, during a conversation with the bust of his father while he slowly bleeds out from his gunshot due to sheer apathy of going through the same motions he has been going through these past 14 years. Asking how he can bring fear to the criminals he hunts, the corruption he wishes to drive out, a disouriented bat crashes through the window, making him feel fear and answering his question. It is then that not only Batman is born, but many others are also set on the course that would alter their lives: Jim is more inspired to root out police corruption and after an encounter with Bruce Wayne who is making himself off to be a womanizer, is able to come clean to his wife about his infidelity, Selina and her roomate Holly are able to stop prostitution and Selina becomes quite literally a cat burglar, and many corrupt politicans and rich are brought down from their thrones. It is here that Batman is despicted in its purest form: a Catalyst for hope, and change.