Amazon.com: Although the live-action Batman franchise faltered artistically after Tim Burton gave up control, the slack was taken up by the Saturday morning cartoon show, whose creators are responsible for this feature film. Though a cartoon, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is less cartoonish than the popular '60s TV show (which spawned its own movie, Batman: The Movie). Mask of the Phantasm combines the noir of the original comic book, the violence and dark humor of the Dark Knight comic book revision, and Burton's two movies.
In Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, everyone's favorite schizophrenic billionaire crime fighter is investigating the murders of several prominent gangsters. Meanwhile, his ex-fiancée and her father are back in town. Through flashbacks, these two death-obsessed kids are shown falling in love (she lost her mother; he lost both parents--of course, they meet in a graveyard), until she leaves quickly and mysteriously. Along the way, there's a short course in the origins of the Batman costume and the origins of the Joker (voice of Star Wars' Mark Hamill!), a big fight with the smoke-enshrouded Phantasm character, who is suspected of killing the gangsters, and an even bigger fight with the Joker at the abandoned Gotham World's Fair grounds. Altogether, a good ride. --Andy Spletzer
Description: Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in Batman: Mask of Phantasm, "one of the most imaginative films of the past year" (Chuck Rich, Westwood One). Only here will you discover all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and the most grueling battle of Batman's life - the choice between his love of a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of Phantasm is a "mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving" (Cincinnati Enquirer) and a film no fan should be without! Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his name? Year: 1993 Director: Eric Radomski Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda
A great Batman adaptaion ^ Having just revisited Nolan's "The Dark Knight" a couple of days ago, considered almost universally as the best Batman adaptation (and with reason is indeed a masterpiece), I decided to give this animated movie a try. And honestly is pretty damn good, I don't quite remember Burton's movies but I think I'm safe into saying "Mask of the Phantasm" is either at their level or better. And the reason is simple the storytelling is pretty good and like "Batman Begins" it delves deeper into the psychological, emotional, and moral backbones of the Bruce Wayne/Batman character along with what it means to be a symbol and hero. It also helps there is a love story that feels real. I actually wanted to see more of this period in Bruce Wayne life when things were simpler. A interesting note here is that the Future Land ride they take here awfully resembles the Fleischer's cartoon "All Fair's at The Fair" which serves to prove they really took inspiration in the Fleischer's Art Deco style of animation to create Batman The Animated series. The Joker was pretty well played here too, not as a clown but as a complete psycho who could just easily kill you without any reason at all. Towards the end it becomes a little predictable but it never really loses momentum because we care about the characters enough to see them go through every change.
Batman Animated Begins ^ The very first original animated movie of our favorite caped crusader was this spinoff of Batman: The Animated Series. The story reveals several "secret origins", plus goes a step further than the TV series did with its dark subject matter.
Several old mafia bosses keep getting bumped off by a unknown vigilante(never actually called the Phantasm in the movie), but just because he wears a dark oufit and a cape the cops think that Batman is the one doing the killings. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne's old flame, Andrea Beamont, comes to town. Batman thinks there's some kind of connection between her return and the murders. He deduces that all the gangsters were part of an old gang run by the dying mob boss, Valestra. It turns out that the Joker was his hitman, and goes to him to stop Batman who he thinks is the killer. Joker betrays him, and uses him as bait to flush out the killer, and learns that its the Phantasm. Batman then nearly gets caught by the police, but rescued by Andrea who had already known his identity. The masked killer then tracks down the Joker, who figures out that the Phantasm is really Andrea. They fight for a bit, before Joker nearly kills her with a giant fan. Batman shows up to save her, and chases after Joker who almost escapes with a jetpack. But, Andrea makes off with the Joker as his entire hideout blows up. Batman remains unaware of Andrea's fate, although we see her later moping on a cruiser, and obviously Joker survived too.
This movie is probably one of the best stories used in a superhero film ever done, and up until Batman Begins it was definately one of the best Batman movies. Their use of the Joker wasn't just done for fan service, but actually served the story in the end, although it would've been interesting to see Robin in this too. You'd think if his mentor was wanted by the police that he'd look into it. There could've also been a little more interaction between Batman and the Phantasm aside from a brief fight they had that only lasted a few seconds. Aside from this though, the film opens up some major windows into Bruce Wayne's past, and the hard decisions he had to make between leading a normal life or becoming Batman. Most of the other episodes in the animated series didn't go this deep into Batman's character, or his motivation for being a crimefighter. Once again, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are great as Batman and Joker, plus Dana Delany is fine as Andrea, which helpled her nab the role of Lois Lane in Superman: The Animated Series. You simply must check out this awesome superhero epic.
Can't beat origins! ^ This film is like an opener for the Batman animated series. It shows the beginning of Bruce Wayne's becoming of Batman - and also the Joker before he became the Joker! Plenty of action and great story.
Batman animated full length film on dvd. ^ Much like Batman, the animated series, from the 90's, but in full length movie form. One interesting thing about the style of the animation, is that it resembles, the 30 and 40's time period, based upon the cars depicted in the film, the use of gangsters, the clothing and architecture, but televisions and computers are also available. Good action, animation, and Batman/Bruce Wayne characterization, as well.
batman ^ kevin conroy is the best batman voice ever. I watched this movie many times. i love it
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