"Batman: The Killing Joke" Review

Title: Batman: The Killing Joke

Directed by: Sam Liu

Written by: Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, Jerry Robinson, and Brian Azarello

Year: 2016


The 1988 comic, Batman: The Killing Joke, is revered as one of the greatest Batman stories ever put to print. It is also regarded as quite possibly the single greatest Joker story. So when word got out that an animated adaptation was in the works, many people were buzzing. And when certain veteran voice actors were announced, many lost their minds. Does this film do the legendary comic justice, or is it just one big joke?

The Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum with a specific goal in mind; to prove that one bad day is all it takes to make anyone go insane. The Batman is the only one who can bring him down, but he might be faced with a choice that goes against his morals.

One of the best things Batman: The Killing Joke has going for it is the main voice cast. There is an argument to be made that Kevin Conroy has given the best Batman portrayal ever, despite only having voiced the character. His voice is a perfect match for the Caped Crusader, with every inflection and nuance being an extension of the character. Conroy has not lost a beat since the days of Batman: The Animated Series and nails everything we love about the character. Mark Hamill will be remembered for two polarizing roles; as one of the greatest cinematic heroes in Luke Skywalker, and as playing one of the greatest villains in the Joker. Hamill has embraced the character and made such a unique depiction of the Clown Prince of Crime that he might very well be the best Joker. He captures the insane and diabolical nature of the villain with apparent ease. Batman: The Killing Joke allows for Hamill to try out a few new tricks with the character that all pay off.

Tara Strong plays Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and she is great. The entire first act is devoted to Batgirl, which gives Strong much more material than the comic would suggest. Strong makes the most of the character and is a suitable voice for the heroine. The rest of the voice cast is hit-and-miss. Ray Wise as Commissioner Gordon is superb, and the two criminals from the flashbacks are solid. But a lot of the additional voices are very stale, obviously communicating that they are reading lines from a page.

The film opens with a narration by Batgirl, telling us this opening is probably not what we expected. This is the movie's way of addressing the first act. The entire first third of this picture is original, as it is nowhere to be found in the graphic novel. In many ways, it is its own story, focusing on Batman and Batgirl taking down a group of gangsters. This plot thread centers on Batgirl, establishing an emotional connection with her. This was done to make the actual story more impactful later on. This first act is quite entertaining, but easily the weakest feature of the film. I appreciate the intentions, and feel that they work to some degree. However, I think the storyline could have been approached much better. The relationship between Barbara and Bruce is altered significantly (and not entirely for the better) and the thugs are not all that interesting. In the end, this feels more like an extended prologue before the actual show begins.

It is very easy to tell when the film begins to follow the source material. The focus jarringly shifts to Batman and the Joker is finally introduced. The shift from a Batgirl-centric story to a Batman one is very apparent, further disconnecting that first act from the rest of the film. Speaking of the rest of the film, the second and third acts are fantastic. From Arkham Asylum onward, the movie is struck by lightning and instantly becomes vastly more engaging.

Batman: The Killing Joke takes its comic book counterpart and brings it to life on the big screen. There are countless homages to the graphic novel, with many sequences framed exactly like the panels were drawn. The dialogue is almost exactly the same, which is not a bad thing in this case. Alan Moore's writing from the comic was too good not to use. The flashbacks are integrated at the right moments and in appropriate doses. Little original additions are sprinkled throughout, such as Batman trying to locate the Joker. These extra scenes work very well and add a little more detail to the story.

The film manages to translate the purpose and emotion of the original story triumphantly with the following aspects. The horrifying nature is illustrated wonderfully through the visuals and animated cinematography. Batman: The Killing Joke really hammers-in the conflict between Batman and the Joker to astounding avail, effectively depicting them as two sides of the same coin. The "I Go Looney" sequence is one of the film's highlights, contrasting a catchy Broadway-like number with disturbing images that rock Gordon to his core.

The animation works to the feature's advantage for the most part. The crisp character designs and detailed backgrounds are successful at evoking the proper atmosphere and tone. However, there are several moments where the animation is very sub-par. What springs to mind is when Batgirl was running across a roof early in the film. The animation becomes slightly three dimensional and the movement of the buildings does not match-up with Batgirl's running. Another moment is when Batman is walking past other cells in Arkham Asylum. Here, the quality is below standard, and inexcusably so. Even though the visuals have a bit of a "direct-to-video" air about them, they work in favor of the film's tone for the majority of the run-time.

Something that the DC animated films all seem to have in common is magnificent sound direction. The sound effects for this movie are terrific, with marvelous editing to boot. The footsteps carry a delicious weight, movements sound brisk, and interactions with objects are well mixed. Equally great is the soundtrack. There is a nice blend of film noir and jazz stylings that go hand-in-hand beautifully. However, there are noticeable pauses between different character's lines. This makes it abundantly clear that the voice actors were recorded separately, which in turn gives some scenes a disjointed feel.

Is Batman: The Killing Joke a faithful adaptation of the beloved graphic novel of the same name? Hell yes. It looks as if the pages have leapt out from the book and onto the screen at various moments. The main voice cast is impeccable and hearing Moore's words spoken by some of the best incarnations of these characters is a real treat. While the first act pales in comparison to the rest of the picture, and the animation and additional voice-work leaves more to be desired, this is a solid Batman story that makes for a great viewing experience. Creepy, engrossing, and above all memorable, Batman: The Killing Joke is another winner for the DC animated department.

Grade: B+