Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

I had avoided this movie for the longest time though I did watch the 1990s cartoon. It wasn't until this new century that I tried Mask of the Phantasm and it was really good. Forget Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, this hit the spot!A new villain, a compelling plot, and a woman with a complicated past all combined to form what might be a fantastic murder mystery. Plus we get Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Bruce Wayne/Batman and the Joker respectively.This, along with Batman Begins, are my favorite Batman films. Both go into Batman's past and while not entirely accurate to the DC comic they provide their own spin and reach outstanding in their own respective ways. I've watched Mask of the Phantasm twice already and will watch it more often. Wouldn't you?

I sat down with high expectations for this movie and, on that front I was completely disappointed. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was merely a mediocre movie. I'd like to start off positive by saying the effort put into this movie was incredible. To see TV quality animation in a movie is rare. I guess what I'm saying is that visually, this movie is great. I also loved the darker tone and the violence. The voice acting was stellar. Those are the greatest aspects of this movie and, they keep it from hitting rock bottom. One of my main issues with the movie is it feels like a single stretched out episode of the TV show. It feels like 22 minutes laced with flashbacks to give context to the seen your watching. In this way Mask of the Phantasm feels longer than it is. The problem with this movie feeling to long is that it's only 76 minutes long. This is a major stilted pacing issue of Mask of the Phantasm. As for the final twist at the end of the movie it was nothing but predictable. Giving the Joker a locked down backstory in this canon is something I view rather neutrally. As I view most of the movie. The movie is at best very slightly above average if only for the dark tone. That's about the most I can say without spoiling the movie but, if you have a brain and, can remember things for a period of longer than 24 hours than you'll be able to be 40 minute ahead of this movie at all times.

Mask of the Phantasm is one of the greatest, and criminally under-appreciated, Batman films ever made. It tells a heartfelt story about The Dark Knight which wasn't done like THIS before Batman Begins came along: Bruce Wayne was once a young man in love, trying to balance his personal life with that as a vigilante protecting Gotham City. Batman has secrets that he hides just like his identity. Andrea Beaumont is one of those memories Bruce keeps looking back on throughout the movie, and she really did change his life until she had to leave him. Little does Bruce know that she is still affecting his life as Batman: the Phantasm has been killing gangsters in the underworld, and we learn that Andrea is the Phantasm.This movie is one of the very best animated films I have seen; I kept re-watching it on VHS in the 90s as a kid, and even now it is still entertaining for me. It compliments the Batman: The Animated Series perfectly while also standing on its own just fine. Mark Hamill is still wonderfully chilling as The Joker's voice, Kevin Conroy IS Batman in this film, and Bob Hastings gives Jim Gordon's minimal role real impact on how Batman affects Gotham-life, being a committed voice of reason.Mask of the Phantasm has a great, emotionally complicated story and enough mystery around it to warrant a second viewing for any first-timers.If you loved The Dark Knight Trilogy, want something new and haven't seen this, DON'T MISS OUT!

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a great animated movie where we find our beloved caped crusader facing an unknown and mysterious persona, the Phantasm. I watched this movies after I finished enjoying the Batman Animated Series and it captures everything we love about Batman. We get to see the greatest detective in the world in action, following the lead of a couple of mysterious murders for which he is wrongly accused. We get to see some interesting back story about Bruce Wayne in his early days of becoming the Dark Knight. Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman will always be my favourite and Mark Hamill as the Joker is exceptional and without an equal. I recommend this movie to all Batman fans and to everybody who enjoys a great animation with a captivating story.I give 10 to all the movies I've seen because I don't like grades, all I can say is I AM BATMAN !