Batman vs. Robin is involved and exciting.
by Nav Qateel
Finding fatherhood tougher than expected, especially when dealing with his strong-willed son, Bruce Wayne (Jason O’Mara), finds it difficult to prevent Damian Wayne controlling his anger while being Robin. A secret society known as The Court of Owls, try to persuade Robin to join their ranks, and because the society have no rules that prevent them killing criminals, Robin thinks he’s better off with them.
In this follow up to the Ethan Spaulding directed Son of Batman (2014), son is pitted against father in Jay Oliva’s Batman vs. Robin. The main cast from Son of Batman are retained, with Jason O’Mara performing a good Bruce Wayne/Batman while Stuart Allan easily handles the petulant brat Damian/Robin. David McCallum makes a convincing Alfred Pennyworth and Sean Maher as Dick Grayson/Nightwing completes the list.
- Batman vs. Robin
- Directed by
Jay Oliva - Cast
Jason O’Mara, Stuart Allan, David McCallum - Release Date
14 April 2015 - Nav’s Grade: B+
*****
Batman vs. Robin opens on Robin in the middle of a mission, where he tracks down The Dollmaker to his lair. After Batman radios Robin warning him not to proceed without backup, Robin ignores his father, and begins to look around. He finds children caged up like animals, and then comes under attack from an army of killer children controlled by The Dollmaker. Robin eventually defeats the brainwashed killers, then as he threatens to kill the defeated and cowering Dollmaker, Batman steps in and disarms the situation.
Robin feels like Batman is overbearing, but fearing for his son’s safety, Batman tries preventing Robin from going out at night to patrol Gotham. Being young and rebellious, Robin is easily misled by Talon (Jeremy Sisto), The Court of Owls’ assassin. And now batman and Robin are at odds with one another, thanks to the interference of Talon. It’s now up to Batman to prove to his son that Talon is only using him.
I wasn’t a big fan of last year’s Son of Batman, however, when I found out Jay Oliva was to handle the follow up, I hoped to see a more involved and exciting movie. I wasn’t disappointed. The animation is rendered with the same care and attention to detail that we’ve come to expect from WB/DC, and the voice acting was well directed. The story was strong in the first and final thirds, but it felt a little slow during the middle act, although, that small matter is my only issue, with an otherwise perfect animated feature.
