3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Parts 1 & 2 (2012)
Many regard Frank Miller’s comic series The Dark Knight Returns as the greatest Batman story ever told, so it was a bold move on DC’s part to adapt the classic tale into an animated movie. Luckily, the company made the right choice and decided to split the story into two parts, giving the epic plot the time it needed to be explored in depth.
The Dark Knight Returns is set in an alternate future where Batman is forced to return from retirement in order to protect Gotham City once more, facing opposition from both the police force and the US government. The dark, gritty tone of the original source material helped transform the entire comic book industry, moving heroes away from the camp fun of the 1960’s into more mature and often adult friendly literature, so it’s impressive that DC not only chose to adapt this violent take on Batman, but actually managed to do the comic justice.
While the story of The Dark Knight Returns is undoubtedly powerful, containing enough twists to blow the minds of even the most seasoned comic book fans, the film’s two standout moments both occur in the second half, as Batman takes on the Joker and Superman. The demented violence of Wayne’s final showdown with his arch-nemesis is brutal, but fascinating to watch, while the Superman fight will leave you begging for Snyder to do a duel between the two equal justice in the upcoming movie Batman V Superman: Dawn of… er…  Justice.
