Batman: The Killing Joke Blu-ray Review
Adapting Alan Moore’s graphic novel work has always been an insurmountable task. Just go ahead and Google discussions on the movie adaptations of THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and WATCHMEN. The dissensions on both sides are fascinating reads, each with their own merits. It just goes to show that his work is highly controversial, but that’s because Moore himself is a controversial figure. He even has gone back on what he’s done in his work, critiquing decisions and narrative choices. BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is the latest to be discussed and dissected by fans.
For many, you’ve heard about this story in passing or in reference. You may have even read the graphic novel or even had someone summarize it for you. It’s known as the definitive Joker story, detailing how all it took was one bad day to create Batman’s arch enemy. It’s also about the Joker capturing Commissioner Gordon in an attempt to prove his “one bad day” theory. BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is also an exploration of the dynamics between the Joker and Batman. It’s a comic book character study.
In the DC Animation adaptation, the story is changed up. The creators said from the get-go that it would be altered in some form because there just wasn’t enough material to stretch Moore’s graphic novel into a feature length animated film. So the animated BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE doesn’t start out as you’d expect. It begins with Batman and Bat Girl (Barbara Gordon). The story is about Batman’s lack of trust in Barbara, believing she’s too inexperienced to fight or deal with villains on her own. He eventually pushes her away because he realizes she’s not fighting crime to serve justice, but to seek an inescapable thrill.
The controversy in this adaptation shows up when Barbara and Batman have a moment of passion after an argument, i.e. angry make-up sex. Both realize it was a moment of weakness, but it certainly throws a wrench into the viewers who’ve long held that the relationship between the two has been a father-daughter relationship. The writers had to explain themselves, saying that it was an attempt to humanize Barbara, which I can understand. But I also understand the complaint that Barbara is further generalized as a damsel in distress and a sex object.
There’s also the minor spoiler that she was a victim in the original Moore work and still is in this movie. In both instances, Moore and the animated movie creators have once again caught flack for their representation of Bat Girl. But we all know it has a happy ending as Barbara becomes the Oracle, as she continues to help Batman. This brushing aside of Barbara’s character as a means for the Joker to hurt and manipulate the men of the story is still an understandable complaint.
But the biggest problem with the animated feature is the opening story. Personally, I thought it was a unique way to begin the movie. The writers create Paris Franz, a tamer villain that may be Barbara’s Joker. He violently flirts with her, gives her pet names and has an appetite for general chaos. He’s not the greatest made-up villain outside the comic book realm, but his purpose is to give Barbara some humanity before the Joker’s untimely shooting and severing of her spine with a bullet.
The largest criticism (which I kind of glossed over) from fans is the sexualized relationship between Batman and Bat Girl. I’m sure outside of some horrible fan fiction on Tumblr, this isn’t something that hasn’t been thought of or at least discussed or done before. What makes it somewhat believable in this movie is that Bat Girl is single and slightly lonely, and I’m sure the Dark Knight doesn’t have too much time to get some side nooky. But I believe that the scene helps create a stronger bond between the two.
It gives us a sense in the second half that it’s not only Jim Gordon who is enduring torture from the Joker, but Bruce Wayne. We also feel the sting more when she takes that bullet to the abdomen. And we can more fully understand why Batman is more persistent and more deeply hurt with the Joker’s actions. But like I’ve stated earlier, the people who believe that it’s a gross misunderstanding by the creators of the character and story, are valid with their beliefs. I can see that argument as well. But that’s not how I view the scene after multiple viewings.
Outside of the first act, the second act of BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is faithful to Moore’s material. Visually and stylistically it’s very similar to Moore’s work. I’ve never been a big comic book or graphic novel fan myself, so I can’t speak to the tone that some may get from reading his work. But it does remind me of something that I thought of when reading it years ago. The Joker isn’t just Batman’s greatest adversary; he’s the greatest villain of all time.
The depth of his character is terrifying and fascinating. The people that try to capture that despicable greatness, like Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson, and Heath Ledger, understand the man behind the corpse white face paint. So it only makes sense that the animators got the man who is the definitive voice of the Joker. For Hamill, he can sleep easy knowing that no one will ever be able to top his vocal presentation of the Joker. As for this visual imagining of BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, this one is far from being the best it could be.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: (1080p Widescreen 1:78:1) The run-of-the-mill animation style is intact from previous DC animated movies. Although the few computer animated parts stick out like a sore thumb.
Audio: (English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) The audio, dialogue and soundtrack, is mixed well, allowing it to flow seamlessly from loud too soft without having the viewer mess with the controls.
From the DC Comics Vault: Like most DC blu-rays, this one comes with episodes from different DC TV shows that can be somewhat related back to the movie. This one features an episode from BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES. Both episodes are very complimentary to the bizarre relationship between the Joker and Batman.
A Sneak Peek at DC Universe’s Next Animated Movie (8:14): I’ve seen JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK hinted on previous blu-rays and it’s good to see that it’s coming together. This feature talks with the director about how this is his passion project.
A Sneak Peek at BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: PART ONE (12:36): If you’re like me, and you’ve seen the movie, then this feature is unnecessary and unwatchable.
A Sneak Peek at BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: PART TWO (6:52): I’ve never seen this before on any other DC blu-ray where they rehash old sneak peeks. It’s skippable if you’ve seen it.
A Sneak Peek at DCU BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM (7:29): This is another sneak peek of a movie that’s already been released. I’ve never seen it so it felt somewhat fresh, despite the lingering knowledge that this shouldn’t have been on the blu-ray.
Madness Set to Music (11:54): After wafting through the content that should generally be at the end of a special features section, we get to the first true feature on BATMAN:THE KILLING JOKE. This one highlights the music for individual scenes, as well as the arduous task of creating the musical number from a comic book that gives no hint of what it should sound like.
BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE: The Many Sides of the Joker (17:43): This is a mini historical lecture on the Joker. It mainly focuses on Frank Miller’s Joker and why it is the quintessential Joker. They make references to other imaginings of the Joker, linking them back to Miller’s vision.