The time had come. It was announced earlier this year that we would be graced with a new Batman animated movie. Little did we know that it would be THAT Batman movie. The fans know what I mean, there's one definitive comic that has been screaming to be brought to life for years since hitting the shelves. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill would, of course, be returning in their respective roles as Batman and The Joker, and comic geeks and Batman fans grew excited. It was also noted the movie would premier at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, then be released for purchase midnight that following day. The countdown began, we were finally getting The Killing Joke; Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's controversial, beloved, and revered origin story of the infamous Batman nemesis.... The Joker. The story, for those who are unaware, shows a quick and dark glimpse into how the Joker became the deranged, psychotic, and ruthless maniac that has haunted and taunted Batman since the dawn of comics. It's bloody, racy, violent, uncomfortable, and undoubtedly the most well known Batman comic in existence. The short one-shot is nearly thirty years old, but still captivates fans to this day. Although the animated adaptation has a few undeniably problematic elements, it is indeed exceptional. It comes across as very true to the initial media, and is worth it for long-time fans of Batman and this iconic comic. I had the great pleasure of seeing The Killing Joke in theaters the Monday night before the feature was released for purchase, and it's a fun experience to see this icon on the big screen. I came away satisfied for how remarkably true to the original comic the last forty five minutes of the film was. It had been animated, produced, voiced, and played out flawlessly. It was a living, breathing version of the beloved comic. It should be noted, however, that the first thirty minutes left a bit to be desired. Fans undoubtedly knew that, due to the short nature of the comic, content would need to be added to make the animated feature long enough to be considered a film. The first thirty minutes is average filler story, mainly revolving around Barbara Gordon, which will leave some long term fans shuddering uncomfortably at the flirtatious, awkward, sexualized relationship between her and Bruce. The paternal instinct is replaced with a forced and weird love connection, pushed too far with a shocking (not in a good way) kiss and implied sex scene (with a discussion of how the sex was like "fireworks", which is not an image you want in your head). Watching the opening half hour feels more like something that would be a regular episode of the Batman 1992 Animated Series, if the series was rated TV MA and had way less regulations on content. ![]() It's not bad, it's not great, but hang in there. The first half hour was the ONLY piece of the entire film that had been changed, the actual story we are all so familiar with was untouched and just as gruesome, flawless, and chilling as you remember. Not a piece was altered and it was nostalgic. The transition into the actual Killing Joke arc from this semi-odd opening cinematic works to the story's advantage and for those unfamiliar with the actual comic will probably be less taken aback by the initial introduction. Although awkward, the added story was true to the dark and conflicted feeling and allows for the viewer to grasp and appreciate the real purpose behind the strong connection between the three main protagonists - Bruce, Barbara, and Jim Gordon - as the Joker aims to rip them apart. These characters only play small roles, and it adds extra intensity in the portrayal of the main event. And man, when the main event begins, you will not be disappointed. I re-read The Killing Joke once I knew the movie would be coming to theaters, so I could properly compare the big screen adaptation to the original. Most comic movies fall insanely short when compared to their inspirational comic arcs (looking at you, Captain America) but DC has raised the standard with this short feature. Almost word for word and panel for panel the comic was brought to life in an oh-so satisfying way. And undoubtedly the Clown Prince of Crime stole the show. ![]() It's no surprise that The Joker makes this entire film. Though the accompanying cast of characters creates the in-depth world of Gotham, Mark Hamill's multi-faceted Joker is truly the star of the show. His adaptation of the Joker is iconic, and to an entire generation this fantastic voice actor IS and always will be the definitive Joker. The Killing Joke feature film highlights all those painful moments of Joker's life before the fateful night he fell into the vat of chemicals and lost all sanity; the humiliation of not being able to make people laugh, the fear of failing his beloved wife and unborn child, stooping to new lows just to provide for his family, the death of the only person who truly believed in him. It's all portrayed in stark sepia tones backed against a haunting score and Mark Hamill's sweet, fear-filled voice - haunting the viewer with the painful existence of the man he was before the bat came into his life. Place that against the dark, and equally colorful world of Joker's carnival nightmare, where we witness our antagonist at the very end of his rope, with the timeless Mark Hamill Joker laugh we all adore, it's a pleasing portrayal of the notorious powerhouse. Both he and Batman are tired of fighting, knowing inevitably that one will have to die, but the cycle is as old as time, and Joker is left wondering why - after all this time - Batman still isn't laughing. Kevin Conroy, though his part is small, adds the sanity and solemn peace that's needed to balance out the manic Joker. The movie is gritty, dark, disturbing. It highlights the brutal attack and humiliation of Barbara Gordon that leads to the creation of The Oracle, the attempt to strip the humanity from Jim Gordon, the pleas of Bruce Wayne trying to reason with the man who hates him most. It feels more like a horror movie and psychological thriller than a typical DC animated feature, and it is one of the most true comic-to-film adaptations I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. Mark Hamill (a long-time fan of the DC Comic series and the many adaptations of his favorite clown) regards this as the one Joker he always wanted to portray, and he has done him justice. I think fans will be wholly pleased with The Killing Joke story, even with the odd (but necessary so take it easy, there are numerous things they could have done and I believe they did the story justice) opening segment. It's one of the most masterful Joker performances ever put to film. It's the Batman movie we have all wanted, and it does not disappoint. ![]()
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AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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