'Batman: The Killing Joke' Movie Review

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Batman: The Killing Joke is the latest animated film brought to us by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. It is an R-Rated take on the classic graphic novel from Alan Moore. When the Joker escapes from prison, he sets his sights on Jim Gordon and his family. As Batman tries to apprehend him, the Joker tries to prove that everyone can go crazy because of one bad day.
   This is perhaps the most anticipated film in the history of Warner Bros Animation. So how does it stand?

   I would say that The Killing Joke was a pretty good for a direct-to-video movie. It manages to do a pretty good job at capturing the tone and severity of The Killing Joke novel. While, it's not a film worthy of a wide release in theaters, it is still one that you can sit down and enjoy with a group of friends.
   The return of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as the voices of Batman and The Joker really elevated the film. They've both been voicing the characters for so long, that it would've seemed wrong not to have them on board with this classic story. Conroy and Hamill have become necessary pillars of any Batman related animation, and deservedly so. They both do fantastic jobs, and The Killing Joke was no exception.
   When it comes to the story of the film, it was a little hit-and-miss. The film starts by focusing on Batgirl for about half an hour. She's on a case that really had nothing to do with the overall plot of the film, and the entire sequence was obviously tacked on to make the film longer. If you didn't know you were watching The Killing Joke, then you would have absolutely no clue from the first half an hour. It starts as just a straightforward film about Batgirl with Batman as a supporting character. A Batgirl film isn't a bad idea but trying to shoehorn it into The Killing Joke was a big misstep. 
   Once the film switches from the Batgirl story to the actual Killing Joke storyline, it becomes significantly more interesting. It starts to focus more on the relationship between Batman and the Joker, and it's fascinating. The dialogue between these rivals sucks you in and doesn't let you go until the credits roll. You learn more about these characters, how they tick, and why they need each other. The latter half of the film is very strong, and if you're a fan of Batman, you'll love it.
   Personally, I've never been a fan of the animation style in these DC Animated films. It looks like something done quickly so they could meet a deadline. It feels as if they care more about just getting it out, then actually making the animation good. It's a problem that I've seen in a lot of the DC Animated films, and it's one that is also present in The Killing Joke.
   Overall, I thought Batman: The Killing Joke was pretty good. It's obviously a film made to go directly to home video. Despite what some people say, this isn't a cinema quality film. The Batgirl segment was obviously there to make the film longer and it wasn't really compelling in any way. When the film finally fulfills the promise of its title, it does so amazingly. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, once again, are brilliant as the voices of Batman and the Joker. If you're a hardcore comic-book fan, you'll probably love this film. If you're just a casual watcher, Batman: The Killing Joke isn't something you really need to go out of your way to see. While I enjoyed the film, it wasn't as great as it could've been. 

6.5/10

​   So what'd you think of Batman: The Killing Joke? How does it compare to other DC Animated Films? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!

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