Near the top on any BATMAN film list, this animated feature is a striking success at every level: characterization, origin info, suspense, action set pieces; with gorgeous animation from the opening credits on. Plus a cherry on the top in its plus perfect All-Star vocal cast, led by Kevin Conroy’s much admired Batman and Mark Hamill’s unbeatable Joker, more traditional than recent interpreters. He even gets one of those late entries beloved by old-time movie stars. Smart move as Hamill might otherwise overwhelm a good story which sees Batman alter ego Bruce Wayne meet up with The Gal That Got Away, a certain Andrea Beaumont, a sexy amalgam of Rhonda Fleming’s red hair, Lauren Bacall’s jaw-line and Dorothy Malone’s googly eyes. Seems her wealthy banker dad got in debt to the Mob, leading to a quick exit and a break in her relationship with Mr. Wayne. Can these two pick up where they left off so many years ago? And who is that near doppelgänger of Batman? The Angel-of-Death Phantasm causing mayhem while letting Batman take the blame . . . or is it credit? With a great look and a great score backing things up, the film revs up to overdrive to cover a storyline that makes more emotional than narrative sense. All told, pretty close to comic book nirvana.
DOUBLE-BILL: Getting the tone right is half the BATMAN battle. See Tim Burton’s 1989 original or THE DARK KNIGHT/’08, second in the Christopher Nolan trio.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: A Joker born too soon? Check out Richard Widmark’s proto-giggler in his debut KISS OF DEATH/’47 or cackling in the omnibus film O. HENRY’S FULL HOUSE/’52.
No comments:
Post a Comment