"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" Feature Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

The first official talkback thread for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm!

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
December 25th, 1993 - Theatrical Release.

Story by Alan Burnett
Screenplay by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko & Michael Reaves
Directed by Eric Radomski & Bruce W. Timm

When Gotham City's most-feared gangsters are systematically eliminated, the worst is feared: that Batman is to blame. But prowling the Gotham night is a shadowy new villain, the Phantasm, a sinister figure with a troublesome link to Batman's past.

Comments?

 

[Harvey Dent]

A wonderful movie with very moving flashback sequences. This film proved that you don't have to turn your heroes into killers in order to tell a good story.

 

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Very moving and a classic moving wondeful animation and a great story

 

[Bleu Unicorn]

[color=63B8FF]Absolutely, without a doubt my favorite of the three animated Batman movies. Even with some of the iffy animation, I still love it. It's got a great story and is a very good representation of Batman... unlike some other movies that I won't mention <coughs "Batman & Robin">

I remember when I first heard that Bruce was going to have a bit of a romance in this movie, I was kind of turned off. In the end, I like how it worked out -- yet one more thing to push Bruce into the role of Batman. It works very well and I like how Andrea at the end short of shoves it all in his face. In a way she is kind of rightt, but Alfred sums it up the best. Just a wonderfully written story all around.

I give it 5 stars, even with its minor flaws.[/color]

 

[Webryder]

Although this movie had great characterization (probably the most definitive Batman/Bruce Wayne ever on film) the route they took with the several flashbacks could get boring at times and take away from the ongoing plot about the Phantasm and why this person is killing former mob bosses. The way they were popping up outta nowhere kinda took away from the flow and suspense of the main story and by the end when I found out who really was behind it I was surprised yea, it was a clever ending yea, but I was so caught up in the backstory with how Wayne became Batman that it didn't hit me like it should've especially since her motives were so close to Batman and in fact could've easily been him if not for Alfred.

For getting the Bat right, which the best version yet, the also very good love interest(his Lois Lane),
how it was really conveyed that he was conflicted between her and his eventual transformation(the look on Alfred's face was priceless),
but I gotta lose some cuz it started to get a we bit on the boring side with the flashbacks I give.....

****1/2

 

[Joker85]

My absolute favorite Batman movie, animated or live action. I loved the flashback scenes and I think that the voice acting and the character development in this movie beats any other! The action scenes with Batman running through the construction site fighting the Phantasm were thrilling! And, I thought that this to date has been the best appearance of the Joker(even in the episodes). He was not the main villain but he played an important part. I still consider myself lucky to be one of the few to actually see this movie on the big screen. It was amazing then, and still is today!

 

[sulimo]

Originally posted by Joker85
My absolute favorite Batman movie, animated or live action.

Me too. Far superior to any live-action effort.

I still consider myself lucky to be one of the few to actually see this movie on the big screen. It was amazing then, and still is today!

I've wished for years that WB would have another crack at an Batman animated feature film.

I would much rather that than another half-assed live-action film filmed with 'a' actors.

 

[James]

Great movie. Sensitive and well thought out. It flows like a proper movie (and not a kids one). It's fluid, well paced and yet doesn't rely on action scenes for entertainment.

I find the Joker is at his best here (aside from his more dead pan ROTJ appearance) and I'm happy they added a bit of his past history to the mix without falling back on dull origins.

Plus on top of this, it's a Bruce movie, rather than a Batman one. I suppose it does have a lot of Batty in it too, but the mix of his two identities seems in better balance than in Sub Zero.

Any grumbles? Well, I've grumbled about ROTJ so I HAVE to add a grumble here. I suppose the end revelation was a little too predictable and a little similar to the Catwoman finale in Batman Returns (it's better though!). Other than that. Hmm, none really.

I wish there was something I could grumble about just to add some more flavour to this thread, but nothing springs to mind! It does come second IMO to ROTJ - that's possibly the most dangerous point I can muster!

 

[Frank White]

*****

I love this movie, especially the portial of the Joker. The Joker should get alot more credit in this movie, after all he figured out Andrea was the Phantasm before Batman even had a clue, plus his traps were pretty good, I loved the one in Andrea's bedroom when he called her "boopsie". What I don't understand is how Andrea does that dissapearing thing, I guess she VERY fast, there is a little evidence to this when she almost outran the Batplane, but other than that I have NO idea how she does that disappearing thing.

 

[Webryder]

Originally posted by Frank White
*****

What I don't understand is how Andrea does that dissapearing thing, I guess she VERY fast, there is a little evidence to this when she almost outran the Batplane, but other than that I have NO idea how she does that disappearing thing.

How DID she outrun the Batjet??

I mean fast is one thing and the Copperfield disappearances another but come on.....what was that about??

 

[TimTwoFace]

My only complaint is that the movie should've been longer! I would've loved a two-hour animated movie.

In other words, I think this movie is perfect, and the best on-screen portrayal of Batman to date - including ALL the episodes of BTAS, STAS, BEYOND, other animated movies, and the 5 live-action films.

-Tim

 

[Ayleim]

Originally posted by Frank White
The Joker should get alot more credit in this movie, after all he figured out Andrea was the Phantasm before Batman even had a clue, ...

Hey, no fair! Wasn't the Joker actually working with the Mob, hence he would have known that Andrea's dad *was* dead? Having eliminated Reeves from the suspect list, surely it wouldn't take a leap of logic to figure out that Andrea was the culprit.

I liked the movie and the protryal of Batman/Bruce, but I've gotta agree with SJJ and Webryder about the cons - the flashbacks interrupted the story flow, and the plot was a little too predictable. Andrea's father was just a tad too obvious, and cynics (like my hubby) caught on very early in the film. I'm one of those who prefer ROTJ too. It's "twistier", and I really was surprised by the ending.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

How did the Joker know about Andrea anyways? Yes he was in the mob, and he even killed Mr. Bomount (sp?). But how can he figure it out. For all he wouldve known, it couldve been another Batman but a killing one.

 

[oranthal]

are there no bad reviews for this movie? is it universally loved by everyone here?

 

[Daredevil_2003]

Originally posted by oranthal
are there no bad reviews for this movie? is it universally loved by everyone here?

Yep, it would seem so ...Hi everybody, I'm new to the board and couldn't think of a better way to start off than by commenting on the best Batman (Beyond not included) movie and one of the best superhero flicks ever made. Too bad pretty much everything that can be said about its awesomeness has already been said!!! Anyway, I love this movie on so many different levels that it would take about an hour to type it all out with my crappy keyboard so I'll just pick one of my favorites...Batman. In MOTP, he's portrayed just as he should be: strong, agile, a detective, a skilled fighter, and a man who although he hides it by attempting to live a normal life during the day is really an emotionally unstable person so scarred by his parents murder and the loss of his one true love (Andrea), that he's driven to dress up as a fearsome creature of the night and seek vengeance on the same criminals who caused his pain with only his butler and closest friend Alfred keeping him from becoming that which he fights against. Man! I think I'm gonna watch this masterpiece again tonight!

 

[gotham_knightz]

i couldn't luv this movie n/e more than da rest of y'all... this movie wuz just...

it'z amazing that a film based on a tv series with such a limited length (clocking @ 78 mintues only), can have SO MUCH MORE character development than the rest of the live-action flicks...

all the characters were dead-on, and did their jobs (tho, i found the joker a bit more menacing in ROTJ, but he did RULE here...)

my fave scenes are:
- batman bein' chased by da GCPD
- bruce pleadin' to his parents at their grave to let things be different
- alfred's speech ("vengeance blackens the soul, etc.")

 

[Apache Chief]

The greatest Batman movie ever. The live action films don't come close. This film is exciting, tragic, fascinating...
I have high hopes for the Batman/Superman flick, but I wish Warner's would just let Dini and Timm make all future Batman movies. live action or animated.

 

[Barb Gordon]

Sometimes when an animated series gets a movie made, it still reminds you very much of a 30 minute cartoon, or kid stuff. Mask of the Phantasm was such a break away from this. It is such an incredibly movie in its own right, animated, live action, it makes no difference, this is a really good movie. I find it to be the best Batman movie so far because it was such a great combination of so many different elements. It had incredible music and voice acting. The animation was superb,mostly, and the storyline itself is one of the best ever for a film. It had humour, love, action, danger, death and its fair share of sadness. The flashbacks were pulled off nicely for the most part, and I haven't seen many live action movies that could convery such much emotion as this animated film did. A perfect example is the cemetary scene with Bruce in the rain. I find it to be one of the best scenes ever, animated or non, doesn't matter, that moment was something else.

~Barb

 

[susan123]

First of all I want to say that I loved this movie. This is animation at its best and this movie is definitely for grown ups or kids who tastes have expanded beyond the trivial like Pokemon.

Just one question on my mind about Mask of the Phantasm: Was it made as a stand alone movie outside the storyline of BTAS or was it included? I ask this because the ending when Andrea disappears with the Joker made me think that she had killed the Joker but if the movie is part of BTAS, then we know that she didn't kill the Joker because we see him return in numerous episodes. If MOTP is a stand alone it really resounds a chord as it shows that Andrea has killed the Joker. Then again, she may have not killed the Joker but since she has already killed 2 men it doesn't matter--Bruce will not take her back since she is a killer.

Thoughts anyone?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batman: You think you know everything about me don't you?
Alfred: I diapered your bottom, I bloody well ought to---sir!

 

[oranthal]

i just bought the DVD and saw it in widescreen. one problem i had. during some scenes where there were flashes on the screen such as batman punching somebody or lightning, it would seem the screen would flicker reallly quick and i could actually make out an image where the black bars are. did anyone else have this?