Batman: Under the Red Hood Review.

By popular choice, here is the review for Batman: Under the Red Hood.

Thoughts: Batman: Under the Red Hood is a 2010 direct-to-video animated superhero film based on the Batman storylines "A Death in the Family" and "Under the Hood".
2D animation is one of my favorite forms of animation and DC has made some great direct-to-video movies that could even compete with some of the best live-action comic book adaptations and Batman: Under Red Hood is definitely the best of their recent movie.
While this version of Batman is still dark and gritty, it is definitely more rooted in the comic book universe than other adaptations of the character. Also this movie is made more for people who are at least somewhat familiar with the other adaptations of Batman.
The action is fantastic and probably the best animated action I have ever seen (more on action below), the animation style drawn well but the use of 3D animation mixed with 2D animation does not work well at all. There were a few noticeable flaws, some of the dialogue was a little corny, and the movie could have been slightly more realistic in parts of the action. Also if there was a small change to the ending, it would have been perfect. One of the strongest aspects of the film is some of thematic material. Mostly about would it be better to just kill The Joker and end the suffering of millions. Another strong point of Under the Red Hood is the ending, it was very suspenseful, and I was waiting with bated breath during the final scene.



Note: The scoring of the film is relative to other animated movies, not live-action films. Therefore a animated movie with a score of 9.5/10 is not necessarily better than a live-action film with a score of 8.7/10.


Directed by: Brandon Vietti
Genre: Comic Book, Action, Animated,
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Running Time: 75 minutes
MMPA rating: PG-13


The Good: Amazing action scenes, Near perfect ending, Mostly strong voice cast,

The Bad:

Note: Although Under the Red Hood is animated, it is rated PG-13 for violence, and language.




Plot: The following plot summary is copied from Wikipedia.com.
At a manor in Sarajevo, Ra's al Ghul ruefully realizes his mistake in allying himself with the Joker, while his assistant informs him that the Joker has captured Robin (Jason Todd). In a warehouse, the Joker brutally beats Jason with a crowbar while Batman races there. Joker then leaves the warehouse and traps a half-dead Jason inside. Although he attempts to escape, a planted explosive destroys the building, taking Jason with it as Batman arrives too late to save him.
Five years later in Gotham City, a masked man known as Red Hood takes command of the drug trade, assuring eight prominent heads of the business protection from Batman and the crime lord Black Mask in return. The heads initially decline, but Red Hood tosses them a bag full of the heads of their lieutenants, easily changing their minds. Elsewhere, Batman intercepts a stolen truck carrying Amazo, an android weapon, and Nightwing arrives to help take it down. The drivers reveal they were under Red Hood’s orders before being assassinated by their employer. Batman gives chase and eventually ends up at the chemical plant that created the Joker, where Red Hood confronts him and comments that it is the place where Batman made his first great failure. Red Hood then escapes. Afterward, Batman and Nightwing interrogate Joker at Arkham Asylum for information; the clown merely taunts them with Jason’s death and denies involvement.
Watch the movie to see what happens next.




Plot: 9.5/10- Despite a few areas were Under the Red Hood could have improved (noted above), the pace was unrelenting and the serious moments worked perfectly. However, some of the more comedic parts did not blend well with the rest of the movie. Also themes worked very well and the ending was great.

Action: 9.9/10- Although of the action could have been slightly more believable, it is by far the best animated action I have seen. The scenes are very impressive and the use of weapons is very inventive. If you are an action movie fan, it is worth for the action. Additionally the references to The Matrix during some scenes were great.

Voice Acting: 9.2/10- Overall the voice cast is strong including some familiar stars like Jason Isaacs (The Patriot, Harry Potter series), and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother). Except that Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman was not a great Batman, although it is hard to match Kevin Conroy's superior performance. Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood was excellent in the role and one of the strongest aspects of the film. Also John DiMaggio as The Joker was a good mix of Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson, and Heath Ledger. His laugh almost sounded exactly like Hamill's iconic laugh.

Art Style: 9.3/10- While the 2D animation style is fantastic, the 3D rendered objects occasionally added with the 2D did not blend well and it looked unfinished, although it was really only in one scene of the movie. Despite that small complaint, the animation was portrayed brilliantly and fluently during the action scene.

Soundtrack: 7.4/10- A few of the tracks were memorable and overall it complemented the film well enough.

Comedy: 6.9/10- Some of the humor was out of place and was a little corny but Black Mask and The Joker did deliver some humorous lines.

Would I Watch This Again: Definitely, one of the best animated movies ever made.

Note: The scoring of the film is relative to other animated movies, not live-action films.

Overall: 9.5/10- Overall Batman: Under the Red Hood is action packed, yet has depth and a suspenseful ending.

Closing Comments: Batman: Under the Red Hood is a must see for any Batman or animation fan.


Recommended for: Batman fans, Animation fans, Action fans, Comic Book fans,

Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

 

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Top 25 Batman Movie Moments Part 3: 7-1.

If you have not seen Part 1 or Part 2 please click on the links and comment.

At Number 7: Good Cop, Bat Cop

"The good cop, bad cop routine?", "Not exactly". Another one of Ledger's many great scenes. It is hard to describe it, but this just works so well.

At Number 6: I'm Batman

Although the action in this scene was not framed very well, the menacing "I'm Batman." part at the end is just perfect.

At Number 5: The Joker vs. Batman

The final dual between Batman and The Joker ends and I love The Joker's speech at the end of the fight. Possibly the most quotable scene in the entire movie. I have seen this scene at least 20 times and I could watch it all day long.

At Number 4: The Dark Knight Ending

The epic conclusion to The Dark Knight and every time I watch this scene, it makes me even more excited to watch The Dark Knight Rises. This is such an awesome scene, and Gary Oldman as Gordon's speech sums up the film very well.

At Number 3: Phantasm Identity Revealed

I will not spoil the shocking reveal at the end of Mask of the Phantasm but you must watch the movie if you have any interest in Batman, mysteries, comic book movies or animation.

At Number 2: Why So Serious?

"You want to how I got these scars?" The score builds tension, and the famous "Why So Serious?" line is perfect for The Joker's character.

At Number 1: Pencil Trick

Yes, I had to with the "Pencil Trick" but this also includes what comes afterwards about with "Kill the Batman" proposal. This perfectly shows The Joker's statistic insanity and it is so entertaining to watch. Also this is one my of Top 25 Favorite Movie Moments as well.

I know I could not have included every great scene from the movies and there are a few scenes I know had a good case for making the list. So what are some of your favorite scenes from the Batman movies? Please do not include any from the recent Dark Knight Rises because I have not seen it yet but I might write the list again after I buy The Dark Knight Rises on Blu-Ray. Also if everything goes as planed, unlike last week, I should be going to see The Dark Knight Rises Wednesday and post the review Thursday and tomorrow I will be posting "The Dark Knight Plot Hole" so look for that tomorrow as well.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 25 Batman Movie Moments Part 2: 16-8.

Here is Part 2 of the Top 25 Batman Movie Moments.

At Number 16: Train Fight

"I won't kill you. But I don't have to save you." Although the camera work during the fight was done poorly, this was an epic end to Ra's al Ghul.

At Number 15: Batman vs. The Joker

The surprisingly brutal and violent fight between Batman and The Joker at the end of Mask of the Phantasm, which pushs the boundaries of the PG rating. There really could not be a better finish to such a great movie.

At Number 14: Agent of Chaos

Note: This video was edited to mostly show the Hospital parts.

"I took your little plan and turn it on its self.", this is hilarious in a very twisted kind of way and the exchange between Harvey and The Joker is brilliant. Interest fact was that the scene with the building exploding was improvised Ledger and when the explosives did not work Ledger continued to act in character.

At Number 13: "Swear to Me!"

This is another one of those scenes that is just really cool and awesome to watch. "Swear to Me!"

At Number 12: Party Crashing

I love the story about the scars, which is never the same and we never know what was the real story or why he is insane. There are so many quotable lines in just a few minutes of film, Ledger steals the scene as usual. "You know, you remind me of my father. I HATED my father!", "A little fight in you, I like that" "Then you going to love me!"

At Number 11: Batman Begins Ending Scene

This set up The Dark Knight perfectly by introducing the card at the end of movie. Also if you look closely at the officer's name who found the card, it is "J. Kerr", which is similar to one of Joker's aliases "Joe Kerr" like "Joker".

At Number 10: Rachel's Death

Although I did not find Rachel's death all too compelling, it was used as a major plot device very well and setup Harvey's tranformation into, Two-Face.

At Number 9: The Birth of Batman

This scene is so bone chilling and effective with the incredible score and animation.

At Number 8: Bank Heist Opening

Another one of The Dark Knight's many iconic scenes is the Bank Heist. It was pulled off perfectly and introduces The Joker. "I believe what ever doesn't kill you, simply makes you stranger."

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 25 Batman Movie Moments Part 1: 25-18.

Because The Dark Knight Rises has recently been released in theaters, it seemed like a good time to make a Top 25 Batman Movie Moments. A moment can last any were from 1 or 2 minutes to around 10 minutes. Also because not every video that I need has been posted on YouTube, some of what I consider a "Moment" can be longer than the what the shows. I am including any scene that was in any of the Batman theatrically released films however, I do not like the Tim Burton much so do not expect any scenes from those movies. Also there is going to be a lot of Joker clips from The Dark Knight.

Because this includes the best moments from the movies, there will be spoilers for The Dark Knight and Batman Begins but I will not spoil "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" because so few people have actually seen the movie.

Warning: Spoilers for The Dark Knight and Batman Begins.

At Number 25: Escaping the League of Shadows

Note: This is the only video I could find and it is in a different language.

Although Bruce did refuse to kill the murder, he did end up most likely killing him and most of the League of Shadows anyway. 

At Number 24: The Doctor Isn't In

Cillian Murphy's underrated performance as Dr. Jonathan Crane / The Scarecrow is perfect for the role and the way his fear gas is used is very well done. 

At Number 23: First Crime Fighting Attempt

This scene from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm obviously influenced the scene in Batman Begins were Bruce wears the ski mask and tries to fight crime. Although it was not exactly the most successful in the his first attempt.

At Number 22: The Bats

Although very implausible, it is just a very cool and memorable scene from Batman Begins.

At Number 21: "You either die a hero or live enough to see your self become the villain."

"You either die a hero or live enough to see your self become the villain." One of the many great quotes from The Dark Knight and one that would later have a deeper meaning.

At Number 20: "Hit Me!"/Chase

Note: This also includes the chase scene.

This scene is intense and ends with a hilarious line from The Joker "Can you please just give me a minute." and the revealed of that Gordon has not died.

At Number 19: Parents Death

One of the most iconic plot points in Batman's origin, the death of his parents. Which would give him the drive to become what he needed to be to stop injustice.

At Number 18: Training

Liam Neeson's is always perfect in the mentor role and Batman Begins is no exception. Watching Bruce becoming more than a man, but a symbol.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Review.

Thoughts: As I said in my previous about Batman: The Animated Series, I would post the review for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a spin-off of the Emmy Winning Batman: The Animated Series, which you can Click Here to read my review for the series. But you do not have to have much prior knowledge of the series to watch the movie. If you have do knowledge about Batman you could still watch the movie because the flashbacks take you to Batman's origin. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the best animated ever made by far. It is dark, complex, and mature. Mask of the Phantasm is considered by many critics to one of the best animated movies and one of the best comic book movies. Although I had watched this movie more than 10 years ago on VHS, I did not remember anything about the movie. So it was just like watching a new movie for me. The mystery in the plot is one of the best mysteries I have seen in a film, not just animated ones. The amount of emotion that is conveyed in the animation is amazing, if this was made into a live action movie, it could be the best Batman movie ever made. Although I am in the minority, I think that Mask of the Phantasm is better than Batman Begins (not better than The Dark Knight). The story is very compelling, and the characters are multi-dimensional characters despite being 2D drawings. Also there is almost nothing in the movie that would make you think it is a "kid's movie", but it is still mostly accessible to kids. Although Mask of the Phantasm is rated PG, the movie is surprisingly violent and implied some mature themes, which makes the movie better. There is also a good deal of romance in the movie but it is very well made and fits into the plot perfectly. One of the things that this movie and the Animated Series never forgets that Batman is just as much a detective as he is a crime fighter. It is more than an animated movie; it is an intense character study, which shows you a view into Batman's past. There are a lot of flashbacks, so you have to pay close attention to what is a flashback and what is not. The only very minor flaw with the film is that it is short, even for an animated movie but that does not detract from the movie.

For another opinion of the check out Banon's Roar!: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) review.

Directed by: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm
Genre: Animated, Mystery, Comic Book, Action,
Release Date: December 25, 1993 (1993-12-25)
Running Time: 76 minutes
MMPA rating: PG

The Good: Shocking reveal, Excellent mystery, Dark and complex plot, Fantastic voice cast, Best Animated movie by far, Kevin Conroy is the best Batman, Fantastic soundtrack,

The Bad:



Plot: During a conference of crime bosses held in a Gotham City skyscraper, gangster Chuckie Sol is killed by a mysterious cloaked figure shortly after Batman bursts in on the meeting. Batman is blamed for Sol's death. Councilman Arthur Reeves tells the media that Batman is a public menace, then attends a party at the mansion of billionaire Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego. Reeves taunts Bruce for his bad luck with women and for having allowed an old girlfriend, Andrea Beaumont, to get away. Batman confronts Andrea, who soon deduces his secret identity.
In a flashback to ten years ago during Bruce's college days, Bruce meets Andrea in a cemetery while visiting his parents' grave. That night, he dons a ski-mask and black leather jacket and ninja styled outfit then foils an armored car robbery, but is discouraged that the criminals did not fear him. Around the same time, he begins a romance with Andrea. Eventually, Bruce decides to abandon his plan on becoming a crime-fighter and proposes marriage to Andrea. Watch the movie to see what happens next.

Note: The following scores relative to other animated movies not live action.


Plot: 9.8/10- The mystery reminded me of an Alfred Hitchcock mystery. Despite everything that was in the plot it was not over stuffed and every plot thread connected perfectly at the end. There is one very minor plot hole that is not explained.

Action: 8.9/10- The action in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is very good for an animated movie but the action is not the main focus of the movie.


Acting: 9.5/10- Fantastic voice cast including Mark Hamill's excellent performance as the Joker. Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman as in the animated series is perfect for the role. The other voice actors were great as well.

Art Style: 9.4/10- The stylized look of the TV series was upgraded very well to the movie format.

Soundtrack: 9.4/10- From the opening main theme to other tracks the soundtrack is great.

Comedy: 3.5/10- There are one or two humorous lines but it is actually better and more serious without the humor.

Would I Watch This Again: I definitely will watch this again.

Overall: 9.8/10- Overall Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the perfect example of how to make an animated movie dark, complex, and mature yet still mostly accessible to kids. It is not only my favorite animated movie, it is one of the best comic book movies. Even if I was comparing it to live action movies, it would still score around a 9.3/10.

Closing Comments: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm transcends the boundary of animation and makes an excellent animated masterpiece that is better than many live action movies.

Recommended For: Animation fans, Comic Book fans, Action fans,

Below is the full movie in parts that were posted on YouTube. I highly recommend watching it, even you do not know anything about Batman.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.