Hello everyone!! As you know the hype of The Dark Knight Rises, the apparently final film in Nolan’s Batman trilogy (which I haven’t seen) has been large, even in spite of the Aurora, Colorado shooting at the July 20 midnight premiere that claimed 12 lives and injured 59 others. Therefore, to give both some older and newer Caped Crusader fans a blast from the past, my first ever review will be on one of most underrated Batman films ever:
Yep. The Phantasm film which I think is considered very underrated due to it’s low box office numbers. But I’ll get to that later. Meanwhile, here’s the story in the brief sense:
Batman bursts into a meeting of many of Gotham’s biggest mob bosses. One of them, veteran mobster Chuckie Sol slips away into the building’s high-rise parking garage and attempts to escape in his car. Before he can, however, a shadowy figure that he at first assumes to be the Dark Knight approaches him. But when looked at more closely, this guy (the Phantasm, hence the title and name given in the credtis) is dressed totally different: different costume, with a deep, echoing voice, a death’s head mask, and a vicious blade on the end of one arm (almost looks like the Grim Reaper). Sol, frightened like hell, tries to run down the new threat, but the Phantasm disappears in a cloud of smoke, causing Sol instead to smash through the wall of the parking structure and crash into an adjoining building, killing himself on on impact. Batman arrives on scene just as this occurs, and chases the Phantasm, who slips away easily. Since witnesses only saw Batman and not the Phantasm on scene, many people jump to conclusions that the Caped Crusader has started turning lethal after all this time.
This attracts the attention of sleazy Gotham city councilman Arthur Reeves, who builds up an anti-Bat crusade, and recruits Gotham cops who dislike or distrust the Bat (including Harvey Bullock) in an task force to capture or kill him, much to the disdain of Commissioner James Gordon, who firmly believes that Batman would never resort to murder for any reason.
Meanwhile, the beautiful Andrea Beaumont, whom both Batman’s alter-ego Bruce Wayne and Reeves have a past with, returns to Gotham after ten years. Bruce and Andrea’s story is told through flashbacks throughout the film, from it’s fairy-tale beginning to it’s heart-breaking end, and as the film progress, they slowly rekindle their romance.
When the Phantasm strikes again and again, killing several more old Mafia associates of Sol’s, the city turns against Batman even more, and the anti-Bat task force, spurred on by Reeves, grow intent on capturing him dead or alive. As Batman tries to unravel the Phantasm mysteries of who and why, he uncovers a connection with the dead mobsters that is revealed to include Reeves, Andrea and her father, and his arch-nemesis, the Joker.
Ultimately, the Caped Crusader must put the pieces together to stop and uncover the Phantasm’s identity, clear his name, and deal with the romance between him and Andrea.
Now for the review:
The film’s plot is pretty dark, especially for a non-anime film. And the action and violence (which includes some blood) is somewhat brutal as well; basically you can’t get the kind of action watching the animated series. And there are some frighting scenes too, such as the Phantasm’s attacks and when one of is found dead from Joker venom poisoning (that part always startled). But nonetheless this film is terrific just as a majority of critics including Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert said. The animation, also used in the 1992-95 animated
Now you might wonder why a terrific film such as this underperformed at the box office, and on Christmas, one of the biggest movie days ever. Well it seems that after the animated series’ success, Warner Bros. decide to make an film to accommodate it. However, they rushed it into theaters with little to no marketing and promotion beforehand. Big mistake on their part. But, despite this, it became far more popular on home video (I’d say since Warner Bros. had more time to market it).
The voice acting is incredible, especially by the three key players: Kevin Conroy, the best known voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne, once again gives a performance that says that he really is the Dark Knight (at least in the animated sense). You can really detect the uncertainty in Bruce’s voice when he speaks to his parents about marrying Andrea, the sadness in losing her both times, and the determination when fighting the bad guys as Batman.
Mark Hamill (best known in live action as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films) really kills as the Joker, both figuratively and literally. While the late Heath Ledger is and always will be the greatest live-action Clown Prince of Crime, Hamill will always be the greatest animated one. He does this with the Joker’s sinister and creepy, but also clownish tone of voice and his signature insane laughter. Believe it or not, Siskel and Ebert didn’t like Hamill’s Joker voice when they reviewed the film. If you ask me, I’d give them two thumbs down for that.
And Dana Delany (known to most nowadays from Desperate Housewives and Body of Proof as well as Lois Lane from Superman: The Animated Series), gives a compelling as perhaps Batman’s greatest and most tragic love in the DCAU canon, Andrea Beaumont. She provides authentic kindness in Andrea’s voice when she and Bruce are dating and when they briefly reconnect, as well as venom and hate when involved in the final showdown. She’s in a way to me, a mixture of Talia al Ghul and Selina Kyle/Catwoman. I wish Andrea had made a few appearances in the TV series though. That would have been extraordinary.
Oh, and here’s a fast fact: Stacy Keach voiced both Andrea’s father Carl and the Phantasm. You figure the two would be the same person, won’t you? Well… If you’ve seen the film, you know what I meant, but if not… well watch it and find out yourself.
Anyhow, Mask of the Phantasm is a classic masterpiece of Warner Bros. There are some questionable and frighting scenes to watch out for if you’re a kid under 13 or a parent with kids under 13. But if you’re looking to get a Batman film that’s animated but has a darker tone like Batman Returns or the Nolan films, then this is what you need.
I give Batman: Mask of the Phantasm a 9.5/10 and suggest that you BUY IT!!
