Movie Title: Batman: Assault on Arkham
Genre: Animation, Action, Crime, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Director: Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Neal McDonough, CCH Pounder, Hynden Walch, Matthew Gray Gubler, Troy Baker, John DiMaggio, Greg Ellis, Giancarlo Esposito, Jennifer Hale
Review: Just as Batman (Kevin Conroy) foils the latest scheme devised by the clever mind of the Riddler he learns that a crucial piece of evidence is locked away in Arkham Asylum. Amanda Waller (CCH Pounder) puts together her own super team, the Suicide Squad, to do the unthinkable and break into one of the most secure locations in all of Gotham City. Can this band of murderous misfits break in without having to worry about breaking out again? Can the avoid the Batman? Can I just get the review already?
Batman: Assault on Arkham is more of a Suicide Squad movie with some Batman sprinkled in to spice things up. And that;s kind of the problem...it doesn't quite know if it wants the Suicide Squad or Batman as its lead protagonist or protagonists, whatever the case may be.
Batman starts off the show, but is quickly forgotten about so the ntroduction to our Suicide Squad can happen, which includes Deadshot (Neal McDonough), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Killer Frost (Jennifer Hale), Captain Boomerang (Greg Ellis), Black Spider (Giancarlo Esposito), and King Shark (John DiMaggio). They all have a unique look and personality, as well as abilities that could come in handy for such a dyer task or get them killed or worse as things escalate.
The group does have their moments and some funny banter, but they aren't very likable as lead characters. That certainly makes it hard to root for them. But as the third act is getting underway the Dark Knight comes back and kind of takes the reins of the story from then on out.
The villains of the story are classic and the action is hard-hitting to say the least. It's not my favorite of the DC animated features, but it did keep me interested in discovering what the villainous plot was really all about. Oh, and Batman: Assault on Arkham is definitely NOT for kids.
Fun Fact: When Harley goes through items in the Joker crate at Arkham, among the items she removes is the mask that the Joker wore in the opening scene of The Dark Knight (2008), and a Joker fish from Batman: The Animated Series (1992).