It’s time for another movie review today and this time we go behind the mask and into the deep backstory of one of DC’s most revered anti-heroes in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, which is the latest release in the popular series of DC Animated Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Blue Ribbon Content and DC, the feature-length animated film has been released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons offers a new take on the Deathstroke legacy. Mercenary and master assassin Slade Wilson leads two lives: one as the relentless killer known as Deathstroke, and the other as a dedicated family man. When these worlds collide, forced together by the vicious terror group known as H.I.V.E., it is the killer in Slade who must fight to save his loved ones, as well as what remains of himself. With his soul torn apart and his young son held captive, Deathstroke will have to atone for the sins of his past to fuel the battles of his future!
Those that have been long time readers of the reviews here on Blazing Minds will have seen me review many of the DC Animated Movies such as batman hush, The Death of Superman and Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, so I was excited to get the chance to check out Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons.
Now I have to say that Deathstroke has always been a character that has slipped by the wayside for me, I’m a big Batman and Superman fan so I’ve mainly stuck to those, but this new release had me intrigued, especially with the bloody history and violence that the character comes from, so to see the character brought to his own the animated movie had me wondering how they would bring it to the animated genre.
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons bring us a look at a backstory of this rather complicated and probably one of DC’s most controversial characters and DC Animated Movies has certainly brought a real comic book feeling to the movie, there are several scenes that the colouring has a “crosshatch” look to it that keeps our feet firmly on the comic book ground.
Story-wise the movie moves along nicely to keep you watching as Slade Wilson (Deathstroke) kick backsides in an action-packed animated movie, Sung Jin Ahn (Niko and the Sword of Light) directs the film from a script by J.M. DeMatteis (Superman: Red Son, Batman: Bad Blood). Sam Register, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter serve as executive producers.
This is certainly a film that if, like myself, you are a collector of the DC Animated Movies then this is one to add to the ever growing list of entries in the world of DC Blu-rays.
One of the great things about the DC Animated Movies is the voice casting and Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons certainly has a great cast including Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Michael Chiklis (The Shield, The Commish, American Horror Story: Freak Show) headlines the cast as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, alongside Sasha Alexander (Rizzoli & Isles, Shameless, NCIS) as Wilson’s wife, Adeline “Addie” Kane Wilson. The cast also includes Chris Jai Alex (ThunderCats Roar, Extraction) as The Jackal, Faye Mata (League of Legends) as Jade/H.I.V.E Queen, Griffin Puatu (Beastars) as Joseph/Jericho, Imari Williams (Transformers: Rescue Bots, LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters) as President Nichols, Asher Bishop (The Angry Birds Movie 2) as Young Joseph, Colin Salmon (Krypton, Arrow, Die Another Day) as William Wintergreen, Delbert Hunt (Bad Henry) as Bronze Tiger, Panta Mosleh (Always Be My Maybe, Pass The Salt) as Lady Shiva, and Noshir Dalal (Red Dead Redemption II) as Kapoor, Castulo Guerra (The Usual Suspects, Jane The Virgin) as General Suarez, and Minae Noji (General Hospital) as Secretary of State.
As I briefly mentioned earlier the animation style looks good and has that comic book feel, the Blu-ray looks crisp and clean along with nice vibrant colours that pop on the screen. When it comes to the sound, the film comes with a 5.1 surround soundtrack that sounds very clear and occasionally makes use of the rear speakers.
I have to say that one of the downsides of this Blu-ray release for me is the lack of special features, with some of the Batman and Superman releases they have several special features, but sadly the Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons Special Feature is a featurette called Deathstroke: One-Man Death Machine
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons is out NOW on digital download and out 17 August on Blu-Ray™ and DVD.
Master Assassin, Vengeful Father!
Movie title: Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons
Movie description: Deathstroke fights to save his family from the wrath from the murderous Jackal and the terrorists of The H.I.V.E.
Date published: August 7, 2020
Country: UK
Duration: 87min
Director(s): Sung Jin Ahn
Actor(s): Michael Chiklis, Sasha Alexander, Asher Bishop
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
