| Batman: Assault on Arkham | |
|---|---|
 Home video re-release cover art (2016) | |
| Directed by | |
| Written by | Heath Corson |
| Based on | Characters appearing in comic books published byDC Entertainment |
| Produced by | James Tucker |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Christopher D. Lozinski |
| Music by | Robert J. Kral |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Home Video |
Release dates |
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Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Batman: Assault on Arkham is a 2014 Americandirect-to-video animatedsuperhero film that is the 21st film of theDC Universe Animated Original Movies.[1] Loosely based on theBatman: Arkham video game franchise, the film was directed byJay Oliva andEthan Spaulding, produced byJames Tucker, and written by Heath Corson.[2] It was first screened at the 2014San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2014, and it was released digitally on July 29 and on physical media on August 12.[3]
The story focuses primarily on theSuicide Squad, particularlyBatman villainsDeadshot andHarley Quinn with Batman himself in a supporting role. In the film, the Suicide Squad, consisting of six criminals, are dispatched byAmanda Waller to break intoArkham Asylum, where they must contend with the asylum's inmates and Batman as they attempt to complete their mission to reclaim information stolen by theRiddler.
Batman rescues theRiddler from a black ops assassination ordered byA.R.G.U.S.'s directorAmanda Waller and returns him toArkham Asylum. In response, Waller captures wanted super-criminalsBlack Spider,Captain Boomerang,Deadshot,Harley Quinn,KGBeast,Killer Frost, andKing Shark, recruits them into theSuicide Squad to break into Arkham and recover athumbdrive in Riddler's cane containing sensitive knowledge about the squad, and implants nano-bombs in their necks to make them comply. After killing KGBeast for attempting to leave, Waller sends the remaining squad members toGotham City to receive equipment from thePenguin. While staying overnight at theIceberg Lounge, Harley and Deadshot have a one-night stand. The next day, Harley attracts Batman's attention amidst his search for adirty bomb theJoker hid in Gotham in order to send herself to Arkham. As she is taken to her cell, an incarcerated Joker taunts Harley, who steals a guard's gun and shoots his cell in a rage.
Meanwhile, the other squad members infiltrate Arkham, looping the previous day's security footage to distract Batman and Waller. The group locates the Riddler's cane and Harley's mallet, but discover the former's cell is empty. Realizing their ruse, Batman subdues the squad before assuming Spider's suit and place in their ranks. Using the chaos, Frost breaks into the Riddler's cell, having been secretly ordered by Waller to kill him. However, he reveals he is a former member of the squad who knows how to disarm the nano-bombs. She takes him to the others, who agree to let him disarm their bombs in exchange for helping him escape. Concurrently, the Joker notices a structural weakness Harley made during her attempt on his life, short-circuits the cell door, and escapes.
The Riddler uses anelectroshock machine to fry the squad's bombs as Waller calls for an update. Realizing their treachery, she detonates the bombs, but only succeeds in killing Shark, whose thick skin made him immune to the electricity, and Spider. Batman reveals himself and confronts the squad, but they are attacked by the Joker, who intends to kill Deadshot for having sex with Harley, though she convinces the former to forgive her. While Batman deduces from Deadshot the Joker hid his bomb in Harley's mallet, the Joker frees the inmates to cover his escape. Frost is killed and Boomerang is left behind in the ensuing breakout while Deadshot escapes in a helicopter, only to learn the Joker and Harley stowed away while Batman gives chase. Deadshot and the Joker fight, which makes the helicopter crash into a building. Deadshot pins the Joker to the helicopter before pushing it off onto the streets below, while Batman knocks out Harley and disarms the bomb.
In the aftermath, Batman confronts Waller for allowing the Riddler to escape and warns her to discontinue theTask Force X program. She dismisses him, taunting him about how the Joker's body was not found in the helicopter wreckage. Once Batman leaves, Waller notices Deadshot, reunited with his daughter, is targeting her with a scoped rifle from afar.
Additionally,Bane,Two-Face, andPoison Ivy make non-speaking cameo appearances as Arkham Asylum inmates.
In 2009,video game developerRocksteady Studios launched the beginning of theirBatman: Arkham series withBatman: Arkham Asylum.[8] With a total of four main entries, the series reached critical acclaim and success.[9] Near the end of development ofBatman: Arkham Origins,Warner Bros. Animation approached Heath Corson to write a story focusing on the Suicide Squad set within the Batman Arkhamverse.[10]Jay Oliva andEthan Spaulding were brought in to director and James Tucker to produce.[2] Upon reading the script, Oliva stated that "...it was very different than what I was used to, because I started prepping for this film, I thought to myself 'Well you know what, if I directed this a little differently [sic] like what if I directed this like aGuy Ritchie film.'" The film would be directed with a similar style to aPoliziotteschiItalian mob film. For the team, Corson knew that he wanted Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn, because she knew the in-and-outs of Arkham. He described the relationship between Deadshot and Boomerang as "...Ocean's Eleven, but at every turnBrad Pitt tried to killGeorge Clooney."[11]
In the casting process, some actors were taken from theirBatman: Arkham roles while others were not.Kevin Conroy, the voice actor of Batman inBatman: The Animated Series, most of theBatman: Arkham games, and many other DC properties was brought on to voice the character.Neal McDonough was brought on the play Deadshot[11] instead ofChris Cox who voices Deadshot in theArkham games,[12][13][14] who instead voices Commissioner Jim Gordon.Hynden Walch reprises her role as Harley Quinn fromThe Batman.[5]Arleen Sorkin, who played Harley Quinn inBatman: Arkham Asylum,[15] norTara Strong who voiced the character inBatman: Arkham City,[12] were brought in for the film.Matthew Gray Gubler voices the Riddler[2] instead ofWally Wingert from the series[16] andTroy Baker voices the Joker[4] instead ofMark Hamill.[17]CCH Pounder reprises her role as Amanda Waller fromBatman: Arkham Origins andMartin Jarvis reprised his role as Alfred Pennyworth from the Arkhamverse.Greg Ellis was brought in to voice Captain Boomerang,Giancarlo Esposito to voice Black Spider,[2]John DiMaggio as King Shark, andJennifer Hale as Killer Frost.Nolan North reprises his role as the Penguin from theArkham games, and additionally voices KGBeast.[6] Christian Lanz voices Scarecrow, replacingDino Andrade fromArkham Asylum,[15] as well as Victor Zsasz, replacingDanny Jacobs fromArkham Asylum andCity.[12]
For the soundtrack,Robert J. Kral was brought in to compose.[18] In a press release, Oliva said "We usually do the operatic epic music that we've all become accustomed to in the live action and animated comic book films for the last twenty five years.... James Tucker, my producer, was very supportive of the idea of doing a more contemporary take on the superhero music and when Rob sent us his first pass of the score, we were tremendously pleased."[19]
When handling the look ofArkham Asylum, the artists mainly took inspiration from the way it was depicted inBatman: Arkham Asylum, while also aiming to increase the scary factor the game held. The team also aimed to add a foreboding and haunting nature to the depiction and sounds. The voice actors were recorded atSalami Studios inNorth Hollywood, California.[11]
| Batman: Assault on Arkham (Music from the DC Universe Movie) | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | July 30, 2014 |
| Length | 51:21 |
| Label | WaterTower Music |
The soundtrack toBatman: Assault on Arkham was released on July 30, 2014, with music composed byRobert J. Kral.[18]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nigma's Confrontation / It's Batman" | 3:10 |
| 2. | "Criminal Montage" | 3:06 |
| 3. | "Task Force Indoctrination" | 2:41 |
| 4. | "Dropping Down" | 2:00 |
| 5. | "Gearing Up / Beer Room Challenge" | 1:51 |
| 6. | "Harley Arrested to Arkham" | 3:01 |
| 7. | "Infiltrating Arkham & Joker Assault" | 5:33 |
| 8. | "Killer Frost's Kiss & Black Spider's Microwave" | 1:59 |
| 9. | "Harley Bait & King Shark's Work" | 1:27 |
| 10. | "Suicide Squad in the Big House" | 3:44 |
| 11. | "Batman's Gotham & Property Room Access" | 2:59 |
| 12. | "Batman Fights Suicide Squad" | 2:12 |
| 13. | "Joker's Out / Suicide Squad vs. SCU" | 3:34 |
| 14. | "Joker Attacks Batman" | 1:40 |
| 15. | "Prisoners Released" | 2:45 |
| 16. | "Chopper Fight / Poison Ivy / The Batplane" | 2:03 |
| 17. | "Chopper Crash" | 2:24 |
| 18. | "Final Confrontations" | 2:08 |
| 19. | "Batman – Assault On Arkham End Credits" | 3:04 |
| Total length: | 51:21 | |
The film has an aggregated score of 75% onRotten Tomatoes based on eight reviews.[20]
Scott Mendelson ofForbes roundly praisedAssault on Arkham for its action, art style, humor, voices, and characters, calling it one of the best films of DC's direct-to-video lineup. He described it as a "gleefully immoral" heist film which, having "no real [plot] arc to speak of", relies on its violent action and clever character dynamics within the Suicide Squad to carry it. Due to its villainous protagonists, dark comedy, and sexual content, Mendelson considers the production ofAssault on Arkham an experimental decision by DC, and a successful experiment as it tells a style of comic book story that would never get approval as a live-action project.[21]
Seth Robison ofNewsarama was far more critical, considering the animation, characterization, and storytelling in the film poor. He had particular dislike for the voice acting, which he believed squandered a talented cast by delivering a "disjointed" performance, and forAssault on Arkham's interpretation of Amanda Waller, which he believed simplified her into merely another villain. He further found Deadshot's sympathetic characterization opaque to non-comic readers and Harley Quinn's crazy act obnoxious. Overall, Robison deemed the experience of the film "superficial" and thought it compared unfavorably to those offered by theArkham video games and theJustice League Unlimited episode "Task Force X".[22]
The film earned $5,820,248 in domestic home video sales.[23]
Assault on Arkham was announced as being set in the universe of theBatman: Arkhamvideo game franchise, taking place afterArkham Origins,[24] and two years beforeArkham Asylum according to Jay Oliva. James Tucker stated that the film was intended to bridge the gap betweenArkham Origins andArkham Asylum.[11] However, the 2024 video gameSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which takes place afterArkham Knight, directly conflicts with the continuity elements of the film. In particular,Kill the Justice League features the appearance of King Shark, who sports a different design and personality. The main characters also do not acknowledge having worked together prior to the events of the game, with three of them (Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang) featured in this film, whereas Deadshot is re-established as an African-American man, while the Caucasian version of Deadshot, who is featured in both the film and previousArkham games, is alluded to be a multiversal variant.
Batman: Arkham franchise | |
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| Main games | |
| Spin-offs | |
| Comics | |
| Films | |
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