If nothing else, Batman: The Killing Joke made me more interested in reading the original graphic novel.
I am not an avid comic book or graphic novel reader. I wouldn’t even classify myself as a casual one. Even with my somewhat limited knowledge of comics, I am aware that Alan Moore’s 1988 graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke, has a reputation as “the greatest Batman story ever told.” So, upon hearing it was adapted into an R-rated animated movie, I was excited.
That excitement grew even more when I heard that Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprised their respective voice roles of Batman and The Joker. Many people know and love their portrayals of the characters in TV’s Batman: The Animated Series. Personally, I am familiar with the excellent work they both did for the Batman: Arkham series of video games.
Batman: The Killing Joke, the movie, opens as Batgirl (voiced by Tara Strong) and Batman pursue a semi-truck carrying a stolen armored car full of cash. The heist is foiled but Paris Franz (Maury Sterling,) the person behind it, gets away. Franz develops an obsession with Batgirl and sends video messages to flirt with her while trying to lure her into a trap. Batman warns her that Franz is a narcissistic sociopath who will exploit her lack of crime-fighting experience. Batgirl, however, balks at the idea and follows Franz’s video clues, leading her into a situation from which Batman must rescue her. Batman then forbids her from taking any further part in Franz’s case. Angered, Batgirl physically attacks Batman and the fight leads to angry sex and a complication of their working relationship.
Detective Harvey Bullock (Robin Atkin Downes) discovers a years-old murder scene that has The Joker’s modus operandi all over it. Batman concurs and goes to Arkham Asylum to talk to The Joker but discovers that he has escaped. Meanwhile, The Joker shows up at Barbara Gordon’s apartment and shoots her in the stomach, paralyzing her. He takes her distraught father, Commissioner Jim Gordon, hostage and transports him to an abandoned amusement park outside of Gotham City. His plan is to drive him insane with images of his dying daughter to prove that everyone is only one bad day away from sheer madness. (This is accompanied by a musical number, sung by The Joker, called “I Go Loony.”) Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks that explain how a failed comedian became the infamous “Clown Prince of Crime.”
Not having read the original graphic novel, I can’t compare it to the movie. Something must have been lost in the translation because this movie is kind of a mess. It feels like the actual Killing Joke adaptation takes a back seat to the overly long prologue featuring Batgirl/Barbara Gordon’s relationship issues with Batman and Paris Franz. With the entire film clocking in at 77 minutes, there’s less than 40 minutes devoted to telling the Killing Joke story. As depicted here, this couldn’t possibly be the “greatest Batman story ever told.”
The additional Batgirl material wouldn’t be so unwelcome if it actually added anything to the overall story or was complimentary to the character. The only purposes it serves are to pad the running time and overly sexualize Batgirl. (Ironically, Batman warns Batgirl that Paris Franz doesn’t really know her, he’s just objectifying her.)
While the latter half of the movie is better, it still has problems. The Joker’s rants about normal people being one bad day away from madness are inspired. However, the actual mechanics of his “plot” aren’t very convincing. Maybe I was expecting too much based on the many recommendations the original graphic novel had garnered. Maybe things were toned down for the film? The Joker’s origin story emphasizes his “one bad day” theory but also removes some of the mystery behind the iconic character.
If it weren’t for the stellar voice work by the aforementioned Conroy and Hamill, Batman: The Killing Joke would be a complete waste of time. The animation isn’t even of a consistent quality. Sometimes it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful and other times it’s quite choppy looking. The fact that DC went out of its way to make this an R-rated animated feature is also puzzling. Much more is implied than shown but what is implied (the rape of Barbara Gordon, for example) is definitely not for an audience expecting Batman: The Animated Series.
If nothing else, Batman: The Killing Joke made me more interested in reading the original graphic novel. Perhaps that’s what I should have done all along.
2.0 out of 5.0 stars
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