Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

            While Marvel is reigning supreme with their live-action adaptations, DC has them beat in one format. That, of course, is in their animation department. For years now, DC has been keeping a relatively steady track record with their animated works, adapting stories that have never been fully adapted before. This year, they release one of their most highly anticipated and extremely ambitious works, “Batman: The Killing Joke.”

            Based on the Alan Moore comic, “Batman: The Killing Joke” shows us the Joker committing one the most physical and psychological crimes he’s ever done, all while presenting us his origin story of how he came to be. What made the project so anticipated, was that it was the first of the DC animated works to get an “R” rating. Considering the kind of material presented in it, that would make sense. But what added to the hype were three big names: Bruce Timm, Kevin Conroy, and Mark Hamill. Yes, the man who brought us the DC animated universe, and the two who played Batman and the Joker, reuniting for this big project. With all the hype the film was getting, it reached the point where Fathom Events decided to give this film a limited theatrical release.

            So, does the animated adaptation of “The Killing Joke” live up to all of the anticipation? Well…sadly, no. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the film, but there are some big problems that I do have with it.

            Some parts of the animation tended to drop in some places. At times it’s really good, but other times you’ll notices it be sub-par with the rest of the film. I understand that this was originally direct-to-video, but so was “Mask of the Phantasm” back in 1993, and it still looks absolutely gorgeous today. Or hell, look at “Under the Red Hood” or “The Dark Knight Returns,” both which are direct-to-video, but the quality in animation is significantly stronger. The film’s pacing was also a bit off, as the film’s first half composed of a new original story involving a crime boss interested in Batgirl, with the second half being “The Killing Joke” comic. The two halves feel like completely different movies and the transition between the two doesn’t really feel natural. I understand that they wanted to give Batgirl more character and give Batman a stronger motive to go after the Joker this time around, but I felt like the first half could have done in a much stronger way. Also for a film that received an R rating, especially an animated Batman film, I kind of wished they went a little bit further with it. If anything, the stuff we see here is no more risqué than anything in “Batman Returns” or “The Dark Knight.”

            With what I’ve said, does the film have any redeeming qualities? Of course it does. When the film does focus more on “The Killing Joke,” the quality of the film does pick up immensely. One of the main aspects that made this story so iconic was it giving us the Joker’s backstory, something that heavily inspired Tim Burton’s film back in 1989. It made us sympathize with what kind of person the Joker was, and how the path he was led upon was all for the good of others he cared about. It’s a sad tale of a broken man turned mad after one bad day. That, and the imagery brought to life by animation is done really damn well. The shocking photos during the carnival ride, the deadly stare and laugh as the Joker is first created, it really captures these moments wonderfully.

            Also, the voice acting is really damn good. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill still have that magic they carried with them since 1992. The way these two carry these lines is music to my ears, not once feeling like one overshadows the other. In my mind, I feel like this was a proper transition into adulthood when it comes to Batman. Starting off as a child watching “Batman: The Animated Series,” then a teenager playing the “Arkham” video games, and then as an adult with an animated adaptation of “The Killing Joke,” especially with Conroy and Hamill as our hero and villain. Voice actors or not, these two ARE Batman and the Joker. I was especially glad to hear Tara Strong reprising her role as Batgirl from “The New Batman Adventures.” While there were some…*ahem*…“questionable” things to be said about her character in the first half in terms of her character, Tara’s performance as the character is still fantastic to listen to. As for the supporting cast, I thought they did really well too. I enjoyed Ray Wise as Commissioner Gordon, I thought Robin Atkin Downes was a good Detective Bullock, and the appearances by Kari Wahlgren, Nolan North, John DiMaggio, Fred Tatasciore, and others were good too.

            So overall, do I recommend “The Killing Joke” adaptation? Yeah, I'd say so. I don’t think this was the best film to receive a theatrical release, but if you decide to rent it or it pops up on Netflix, then I’d say give it a watch. The first half may not be that great, but the second half is totally worth it. I mean, it’s definitely better than “Batman V Superman.”

Rating: 7/10