Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (Tara Strong) has been working with Batman/Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) for some time now. She feels that she should be considered his equal and that she deserves the same recognition that the dark knight receives on a regular basis. To her disgust, not even Batman views her as an equal, leaving her attempting to prove her worth, regardless of what it takes to do so. As Gordon puts her life, and the lives of others, on the line, a familiar face finds his way out of prison and into the midst of the Gordon family. Batman: The Killing Joke sees the infamous Joker (Mark Hamill) tormenting this family, and Batman, as he, once again, aims to control the city of Gotham. With even more horrific moves up his sleeve, the Joker will prove himself to be quite the adversary.
I am slightly unfamiliar with the animated DC films. I have seen very few, and it has been years since I have seen any at all. I don’t have an attachment to these films like others do, and I feel that the lack of loyalty to these films makes it difficult for me to appreciate what is being done. The animation, while acceptable, appears to be subpar in terms of what is possible today. From my understanding, Batman: The Killing Joke is right on par with the way things are done in the animation department at DC, leaving audiences to believe that, while Warner Bros. understands that there are some holes in their animation, they’d like to stay true to what they have been doing for years. This dedication is admirable, but to fairweather or new fans it falls short of expectations.
I would imagine that most of the animated DC films, considering their ratings, are considered acceptable for younger audiences. Films like Justice League: War and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox work better for these younger audiences, whereas Batman: The Killing Joke is directed toward older audiences. With an R rating, Batman: The Killing Joke incorporates sexual humor, raunchy jokes and blood and gore into the story as a way to attract older audiences and create a new-ish line of adult, superhero films. The story takes Warner Bros. and DC in a new direction as it reintroduces Batman and the Joker in a fashion never before seen on screen. The story is demented, twisted and not for the faint of heart as it depicts vivid scenes of torture and implied instances of rape, but as demented as it might be, the freshness (yeah, this word is a bit ironic) provides audiences with the ability to appreciate Batman’s story in a new way. The biggest issue with the film, however, is how long it takes for it to develop. For more than thirty minutes the primary character, the center of the story--the Joker--is absent from the film. Given the title of the film and the synopsis, having to wait for the main character to appear for more than half an hour is frustrating. One must take the good with the bad in this regard because, once the Joker appears, Mark Hamill takes over the show and doesn’t disappoint.
Hamill is a wonderfully gifted actor who is best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga. He’s emotional and relatable in live-action films, but voice acting is a different animal. I’ve heard such wonderful things about what he brings to the table and that his portrayal of the Joker is spot on. The rumors couldn’t be more true! His voice, alone, is enough to intrigue audiences and keep their minds completely wrapped up in what is taking place on screen. His spine-chilling laugh compliments his raspy, haunting voice, and parents should be aware that young children may find his delivery horrifying.
The first half an hour or so of Batman: The Killing Joke needs to be revamped in order to fall in line with the rest of the film. It seems to be, with the exception of a few small instances, to have very little to do with the Joker’s story, and it is Joker’s story that makes the film interesting. Hamill’s performance is scary and may cause nightmares, making him the perfect person to portray the clown king (even if it is only animated). Not having a deep connection with the DC animated universe makes it difficult to appreciate the animation and some of the choices made by Warner Bros. and director Sam Lui. Batman: The Killing Joke ultimately falls short of the expectations I had going in, but there is still a lot to enjoy.
Directed by Sam Lui. Written by Brian Azzarello, Brian Bolland, Bob Kane, Bill Finger & Alan Moore. Starring Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Tara Strong, Ray Wise, John DiMaggio, Robin Atkin Downes, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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