Customer Reviews

Batman: The Complete Knightfall Saga

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This audio story is not just read out in a monotone voice, but acted out with sound effects. The 3 CD's give the whole story of how Bane breaks Batman's back and how Azreal takes over as the new Batman. If you are familiar with the story or not, it is entertaining to hear it take place in much quicker time than you can read it. Entertaining for yourself or for the kids! Recommended for road trips! About 3 hours long.

After listening to this full cast radio production of Knightfall the sensation is closer to that of having seen a great movie as opposed to simply having listened to a great audiobook.

The characters development, sound effects and talent are all extraordinary.

If you are both a comic book and an audiobook fan than Warner Brothers and the BBC have proven that comics are more than just a visual medium.

Just as the Knightfall comic book series was a feast for the eyes, these CDs are a feast for the ears.

As a die hard audiobook fan, as well as a long-standing comic book fan, I consider the cassette release of this series one of the jewels of my audiobook collection, and upgrading to this CD release is a pleasure... especially since it's so reasonable priced.

The Dark Knight Rises releases in July 2012. Batman fans wanting their Bane fix can fill the void with this energetic BBC radio performance.

For a program recorded nearly two decades ago, the performance holds up well, especially since later Batman films - Batman Begins and The Dark Knight -- and animated releases such as Batman: Under the Red Hood turned up the darkness dial. Dirk Maggs, who adapted, produced and directed the full-cast performance, delivers a Batman story much closer to Christopher Nolan's vision than Joel Schumacher's work.

According to its Wikipedia entry, the performance's fast pacing is because this show "...was not commissioned of its own, but rather to be three minute episodes on the Mark Goodier Show. This meant it was written with a sense of immediacy; having to make an instant effect and each three minute segment contains a major plot development or sound effect stunt and end on a cliffhanger."

I highly recommend listening to this performance (provided in continuous format only)with earphones instead of a speaker system. I used Logitech's Ultimate Ears 200 Noise-Isolating Earphones. The attached liner notes explain that additional sound effects and a new remaster has improved the show's original sound.

Aside from Michael Gough, who starred as Alfred Pennyworth in all four movies of the Burton/Schumacher Batman franchise, the audio cast is unfamiliar to American audiences. Bob Sessions (Batman), Kerry Shale (The Joker) and Lorelei King (Martha Wayne) return from the former recording, Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome: A BBC Full-Cast Radio Drama.

Here's the cast list for Batman Knightfall:
* Bob Sessions as Batman
* Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
* Daniel Marinker as Robin
* Peter Marinker as Bane, Jack Drake
* Kerry Shale as Jean Paul Valley, The Joker, The Cavalier, Thomas Wayne
* William Roberts as Commissioner James Gordon, Amygdala, Carlton LeHa, Tough Tony
* Lorelei King as Renee Montoya, Leslie Thompkins, Lady Shiva, Young Bruce, Martha Wayne, Sarah Essen
* Eric Meyers as Harvey Bullock, Colonel Vega, Batcave Computer, Joe Chill, Bird, Jeremiah Arkham, Firefly, Nomoz
* Michael Roberts as The Ventriloquist, Film Freak, Simpson Flanders, Benedict Asp, Hood
* Alibe Parsons as Shondra Kinsolving
* James Goode as Nightwing, The Scarecrow
* Stuart Milligan as Riddler, Maxie Zeus
* Chris Emmett as Mad Hatter
* Vincent Marzello as Armand Krol, Abattoir, Mr. Zsasz

Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill set the standard as Batman and Joker in the Batman: The Animated Series. That said, Bob Sessions (Batman), Peter Marinker (Bane), and Daniel Marinker (Robin) capture their characters' spirit. Kerry Shale deserves special credit for double coverage, providing quality voicework for Jean Paul Valley/Azrael and The Joker. Ron Perlman, Clancy Brown, Michael Dorn and Danny Trejo all have taken a turn at voicing Bane, but Peter Marinker holds his own in this radio adaption.

In summary, fans unaccustomed to radio dramas might pass this performance by but that would be a mistake. This show is also a great way to introduce younger Batman fans to this historic storyline as it leaves out vulgarity and graphic violence. For the price, I wish the CD compilation included a mini-comic book, more behind the scenes features and the original, three-minute format. Those are my only complaints.

Rating: Four stars.

BTW: There are two different listings and multiple sellers for this CD set (new and used). You can buy this one Batman Knightfall or this one Batman Knightfall.

As a fan of all incarnations of Batman, this audio book delivered a much needed fix. The action is fast paced and the premise is a good one. Lots of different voice actors with Alfred being the highlight. I actually thought the Joker was a good one, though I much rather Mark Hamill's rendition in the animated series. There are lots of voice actors here, rather that an audiobook's usual one.

However, there are some flaws. It can move too quickly at times, leaving the listener floundering to keep up. I would have much rather had it drawn out for better character development. The action sequences are over quickly, and usually only battle sound effects. Almost everything is acted 3rd person, so we don't get into the minds of the characters often.

That said, I did enjoy listening to this and the conclusion was satisfying. It has terrific potential to be adapted to the big screen or as a series. Still, I would not pay good money to buy this...I got mine at my local library.

This is a fun story for all Batman fans. It brings back the golden years of radio dramas.

Though sometimes the sound effects are a tad overwhelming and individual story points a shade confusing (due to its extremely fast-paced presentation), this three-disc audio adaptation of the Batman "Knightfall" storyline from the comics is generally entertaining and fun, reminding me of how much I enjoyed the original comic book saga when it unfolded several years back in the various Batman titles.

A highlight of this audio production is the whole middle section, where Batman's new nemesis Bane breaks all of Batman's classic villains (Joker, Riddler, Killer Croc, Scarface, etc., etc.) out of Arkham Asylum, in an effort to overwhelm the caped crusader. The mysterious Azrael, a new hero with some disturbing psychological issues, also keeps things interesting, especially in the opening and closing sections of the production.

Voice characterizations are varied and well done, reminding me of the kind of voices you'd hear on a quality animated program, like "Batman: the Animated Series". If you enjoy this audio production, it's easy enough to find the trade paperback collections that collect the original comic book stories.

Fast-paced, loud, chaotic, sometimes confusing. Sounds like a typical night with Batman. Also, it describes this audiobook.

This project was completed as a full-fledged production, just like an old-time radio show rather than having one reader cover all of the characters. I am an occassional Batman reader but a regular listener to audiobooks and I found this one to be outstanding.

I am not totally enamored - the ending was too "Leave It To Beaver", the Joker degenerated from credible threat to goofy annoyance as the story went along and Avenging Angel Azrael was more hilarious than scary on the first CD (he constantly yelled out the beginnings of a speech about transgressors, punishment, etc. He did it so many times that it became slapstick).

However, I'm going to grade it on a Batman curve. Was it better than the movies? All but the Nicholson "Batman" and "Batman Begins". I looked forward to hearing more of it during my commute (unlike Clooney's Batman - I watch just to see if it is as bad as I remember - and invariably they are worse!)

Others who have reviewed this one have complained about the use of sound effects to describe the battle scenes. I liked it - it reminded me of the sound effects as described in a comic - Thwap! Pow! The audiobook covered it in a similar manner to keep the pace going.

Kerry Shale did a tremendous job as the voice of Joker, especially in the opening scenes at Arkham Asylum.

Despite its flaws, I give this one a grade of A-.

The Knightfall Saga is well executed, especially given the inherent difficulty of transforming an action-heavy adventure from the highly visual medium of comics into a format that uses only music, sound effects and actors' voices. Bob Sessions brings a wonderful depth to the role of Batman; you can literally feel Batman's utter exhaustion as he fights to restore order to Gotham City.

I've never read any of the comics that inspired this audio drama, so I can't comment on whether or not this production does the original storyline justice.

This audio drama assumes that the listener is somewhat familiar with Batman's history. However, even the casual Batman follower will find the story relatively easy to follow--and highly entertaining.

Worth the wait. The dramatization isn't the best of the best, but still has re-listenability.

Batman sounds like Van Helsing's Hugh Jackman and Bane sounds like Bela Lugosi Dracula. Azreal voiced by the guy who voices Batman and during the third disc sounds like Darth Vader. Joker is annoying and the other villains sound like wannabes. Alfred is the only enjoyable voice acting and that's because Michael Gough (Alfred) from Batman and Batman Returns.

At times the music reminds me of the original TV show. Don't listen to the boneheads reviewing this, this is really bad and it goes to show you that 90 percent of a making a movie (in this case a audio track with music) casting is the most important element. The script is also rewritten for children can understand.

Fans of The Batman will eat up. Fans of Batman: The Animated Series will loathe it. Read the darker comics that inspired this flop instead. But if you find Joel Schumacher the superior Batman (sighs) than this is for you. Fans of the darker Batman will vomit choking it down.