Batman: The Killing Joke [DVD]

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR BOTH THIS FILM AS WELL AS UNDER THE RED HOODLong review ahead; summary: Love the new Batgirl-focused aspects (fixes how she gets treated as a 'character' (read: inhuman plot device) in the original story/comic; tells a fascinating story; ties into Under the Red Hood animated film perfectly and Barbara/Batgirl is shown to be stronger than Jason Todd and just as strong (stronger, maybe given her actual physical scars/condition after facing her abyss for the second time, unlike Bats who only has emotional trauma from his); and finally MOAR BATGIRL, PLEASE!!!Now for the details:Wow, that was very different from what I was expecting, but in a GREAT way! I think they handled the whole 'fridging of Babs/Batgirl' from the comics very well by letting it be her story, told from her point of view from the beginning. I also loved how they tied it in perfectly with the actual Killing Joke/Joker arc to both give Barbara/Batgirl her due weight as an actual human being, even increasing the stakes for Batman by illustrating just how important she is to him, as well as showing her facing the same abyss that Batman stares into when dealing with monsters like the Joker; an experience that changes her as a person, but something she’s still able to face and overcome (along with much more) in the end to continue the pursuit of being a hero and fighting crime once it’s all said and done. Beyond that, the whole Paris Franz thing being a perfect parallel for the relationship between Batman and the Joker, and Batman warning Batgirl off of the case for this very reason (because he's dealt with such an obsessed psycho himself, who took him to the edge of the abyss and he wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially not someone he truly cares for like Barbara/Batgirl because the temptation to just let go, not care and cross the line between justice and vengeance, not to mention sanity and madness, can get far too easy).Now, as for the actual Killing Joke arc; I did enjoy it, however it didn't have as much impact on me as I was expecting. It was just OK for the most part, and I honestly enjoyed the beginning of the movie with the new Batgirl material much more (I also happen to be a huge Batgirl fan and I've waited a long time to see her in animation wearing one of her more modern bat-suits; though we did get a glimpse of her current duds from the comics in Bad Blood (not really my favorite look for her, but it’s OK); hopefully she'll show up in that universe soon) as well as tying it up at the end with the establishment of Barbara as Oracle; again, giving Barbara her due rather than treating her like a plot device to illustrate Batman's pain. I also love that the only main characters portrayed as victims of the Joker are Barbara and her father, not Batman. I also loved how the Joker, trying to prove that any sane person can be forced off the cliff of insanity with one good push/one bad day, got proven so wrong when none of the characters failed to bounce back from experiencing and seeing what he had done. Not Barbara, not his intended target for madness Jim Gordon, and certainly not Batman, who still tried to reach out to the Joker to reform him, trying to avoid the fate that he sees coming for their 'relationship' (which indeed is proven accurate if you check out The Dark Knight Returns).I also thought it was clever to use the same look/design for Batman in this one as they did for Under the Red Hood, given that this is yet another instance of Batman and one of his protégé’s facing the abyss thanks in part to the actions of the Joker. Of course in this story, Barbara shows a strength and will much more potent than that of Jason Todd, who blinked when he looked into the abyss. At first she did indeed recoil in horror, deciding to leave the cape and cowl behind, but she never crossed the line and became what she was seeking to stop like Jason did, and even after the events with the Joker, she decides to give it another go and keep fighting the good fight, now taking on a different role as Oracle. This also makes it a perfect companion piece/spiritual (and even literal) prequel to the Under the Red Hood film (with this taking place after the murder of Jason Todd, but prior to his return as the Red Hood).

Hopefully, some of the reviews here won't persuade or dissuade any potential watchers- let me be clear: there are always things everyone wants to see, and some things they don't, myself included. I give this movie five stars because it was perfect, or as close as I could expect, to me. If you've already read the comic, you know what you'll see, but to watch it all acted-out... to hear the voices of Kevin Conroy, as Batman, and Mark Hamill, as the Joker, makes this entirely worth watching. I'll give a brief idea of another big reason to watch, and what I loved about the movie.The film focuses on three characters: Batman, Batgirl, and the Joker. If you think Batgirl is a minor character, this film proves she isn't, and for a good reason. What "The Killing Joke" truly symbolizes is the legacies that the Joker and Batman will leave. Batman makes it clear, in this film, why his legacy won't, and shouldn't be, someone trying to be like him. In a twist, the Joker establishes his own legacy in Batman. The Caped Crusader is older in this movie, so you can expect a generally calm and efficient Batman, who's coming to the realization that his game with his archrival will break one of them. While Batgirl is full of life and passion, Batman is subdued in tone, and visibly jaded. He's ready for the game to end, but being Batman, he can't just let it all go, or retire: he HAS to be the one to finish it all, and he holds that weight on his shoulders throughout the entire latter half of the movie, until the ending scene. And as for the Joker... well, madness is one thing, but the Joker isn't just crazy: he has a point that he likes to make, and that point is subtly made to Batman. Perhaps, he always knew; perhaps, he still doesn't- or maybe, he just won't admit it to himself. But we know it, because we know him- we know what he becomes and we know that, "All it takes is one bad day." If you haven't seen enough of Batman in his later years, watch Batman Beyond, or The Dark Knight animated movies. Two different takes on Bruce in his twilight years, and just how much the cape and cowl mean to him.Suffice it to say, this film was engaging, dynamic, and poignant. I really don't use that last word often, but the final minutes left me speechless. If you've grown up with Batman, and watched the Animated Series- if to you, there is only one true Batman and only one true Joker- then you absolutely must watch this movie. There's no better end to this particular point in Batman's life. It's truly, and appropriately, bittersweet, the writing is marvelous, and the actors really take you there. I can't stress enough how much I recommend watching "Batman: The Killing Joke".

La película llega a tiempo y en buen estado. La película se ve genial, y se escucha muy bien, basado en un o de los mejores trabajos de Alan Moore. Viene con doblaje en español latino y subtítulos en español latino.

Edizione steelbook molto bella, arrivata in tempi rapidi e in perfette condizioni. Grazie

What's not to like about this, cept maybe the ending was a little too tame.

アメコミの雄、ＤＣ　ＣＯＭＩＣＳの名作「キリング・ジョーク」のストーリーを見事にアニメで劇画化！コミックを読んでから見たい一遍！

Colis bien reçu, parfait merci Amazon ! 👍