Under the Red Hood: A Half-Assed Review
I'm back from San Diego Comic Con and had the most amazing time - I'll be writing a full report over the next few days.
One of the highlights was definitely the screening of Under the Red Hood.
I wish I had the energy to give this a decent, detailed review right now. But there are dozens upon dozens of those already out there on the internet, what is there left for me to say?
I loved it. Completely and utterly and absolutely.
I enjoy every minute - it's all entertaining, vibrant and well done. The music drives me nuts with how good it is and how it heightens the emotional intensity. John DiMaggio is utterly brilliant as the Joker, bringing something new yet unmistakably, quintessentially J to the role. All of the voice acting is excellent, in fact. The story is tight and reasonably accessible to those new to Batlore - but obviously much improved for those already familiar with the canon.
It's an interesting crime-drama but, more than that, a story of the broken relationship between two men, a really heart-rending tale of a father and son who have lost each other and can never be reunited. What Jason demands from Bruce is something Bruce just won't give him. It hurts to watch because despite all the terrible things Jason wants - his request is a sympathetic one.
I laugh so much watching this movie - and not just at the Joker moments - but I cry a lot too. The final scenes are particularly heartbreaking.
It is much better written than the comic and the characters depicted far more authentic and true to themselves. The interactions are marvellous.
And the Joker - the Joker is absolutely to die for. He's unreal and magnificent. You see so much of his sadism but also his masochism - yet even in that masochism, how he is never anything but utterly dominant.
I watched this with a fellow geek friend the other day and in one scene she went: "Jesus, he is so fucked up".
(My response: "Yeah! *dreamy sigh*")
But I love that the depiction is so spot on it can make someone spontaneously react like that.
Another friend, with no connection to comic books or geekery, also watched it with me and she was both laughing at and appalled by him.
He was completely perfect, start to finish.
I'm frankly staggered this is rated PG. When it comes out in Australia, it will be slapped with an M-rating.
So. Yes. I love this movie. You should all see it immediately. It's fantastic. And, without a doubt, is the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm. Possiby even the best DC animated film since then.
One of the highlights was definitely the screening of Under the Red Hood.
I wish I had the energy to give this a decent, detailed review right now. But there are dozens upon dozens of those already out there on the internet, what is there left for me to say?
I loved it. Completely and utterly and absolutely.
I enjoy every minute - it's all entertaining, vibrant and well done. The music drives me nuts with how good it is and how it heightens the emotional intensity. John DiMaggio is utterly brilliant as the Joker, bringing something new yet unmistakably, quintessentially J to the role. All of the voice acting is excellent, in fact. The story is tight and reasonably accessible to those new to Batlore - but obviously much improved for those already familiar with the canon.
It's an interesting crime-drama but, more than that, a story of the broken relationship between two men, a really heart-rending tale of a father and son who have lost each other and can never be reunited. What Jason demands from Bruce is something Bruce just won't give him. It hurts to watch because despite all the terrible things Jason wants - his request is a sympathetic one.
I laugh so much watching this movie - and not just at the Joker moments - but I cry a lot too. The final scenes are particularly heartbreaking.
It is much better written than the comic and the characters depicted far more authentic and true to themselves. The interactions are marvellous.
And the Joker - the Joker is absolutely to die for. He's unreal and magnificent. You see so much of his sadism but also his masochism - yet even in that masochism, how he is never anything but utterly dominant.
I watched this with a fellow geek friend the other day and in one scene she went: "Jesus, he is so fucked up".
(My response: "Yeah! *dreamy sigh*")
But I love that the depiction is so spot on it can make someone spontaneously react like that.
Another friend, with no connection to comic books or geekery, also watched it with me and she was both laughing at and appalled by him.
He was completely perfect, start to finish.
I'm frankly staggered this is rated PG. When it comes out in Australia, it will be slapped with an M-rating.
So. Yes. I love this movie. You should all see it immediately. It's fantastic. And, without a doubt, is the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm. Possiby even the best DC animated film since then.