Batman: The Animated Series

This film is one of my favorate animated (american animated) films ever and I personally felt was one of the last great ones we'll ever have. The Phantasm villian whom is a great new villian sort of Darth Vader like, is creapy, menicing, from that mask down to that voice. The Joker fit in with the film as the subvillian. Usually having two villians in the same film isn't always a good idea but this film balanced them both out perfectly because it knew who was who and for what reason.



This film plot is great it really has the noir and tragic senability, since we see what is currently happening is corilated to Bruce's past. I really love how Bruce's past is revealed it's almost similar to Frank Miller's graphic novel "Batman: Year One". Batman's/Bruce's past has always been sort of engmatic, as much as I love the character there was always a lot I don't know about him, this was one of those passages in his life that truely put Bruce's humanity in the light.



It was interesting to see Bruce actually have a love relationship which is rare in the Batman series and I always felt was a fundamental weakness in the series where Batman/Bruce focused on his lifestyle a lot but never his personal life enough. The way it plays out you acutally believe it from the emotions that are cared out, I even like how the Andrea character is played out thanks to the voice acting of Dana Delany. One of the interesting and emotional moments was seeing Bruce visit his parent grave and it a rainy night. We see he is having second thoughts about becoming Batman and is thinking of a different future, but that by doing that he is breaking a promise. It really put a tear in my eye just seeing the emotion he's going though when you see him actually have tears in his eyes in his need to know if he's doing the right thing.



Both the past and present really contrast with one another as we see what dreams Bruce and Andrea had back them. But the dreams they held then are gone now due to whatever decision one or the other made in the past which makes it all the more tragic. And that is one of the themes in the film, it really went to show what shapes the future, the three way conflict on who a person is now to who there were then and what they could become. But most of all how one single choice can really become a big turning point into what someone will become. When I saw the one factor on what made Bruce finally complete his path in becoming Batman, I couldn't help but wonder what if things did go the other way, what if Andrea didn't leave would Bruce and Andrea had that happy life togther may'be even of raised a family. Personally I felt they could of gone that direction and been content with it but we'll never know and that's what makes it sad. In a way this sort of reflects what most people feel sometimes, depending on what direction your life is going you can't help but ask questions like what if I didn't go that direction or what if I did ask that girl out? And that's the thing about life you never really know, it's truely the littlest things that can lead to the biggest conclusions.

This (tho it was a movie) is in my super top 5 of DCAU .... "stuff". hhe. Now this is Batman! The first time I saw this movie I was completly uninformed about Joker appearing here..so when I saw him it was like wwwaaawhh!! I mean...the Phantasm is such an incredible villain and mix..."her" with the Joker was a really nice touch. A movie that doesn't get you boring...the flashbacks with the first Batman "but not Batman" mission...the first time Bruce wear the batsuit and Alfred saying....MY GOD!!! it was just amazing. It was Long Halloween for the Valestra mob! MOB! YES...getting the mob involved here was also a great touch, as it was all the cop shooting and haunting Batman. I always get wowed when I hear Bullock saying...FREEEZEEE!!! 10/10

The episode starts off in present time, where Batman first confronts a new villian, The Phantasm. The Phantasm has just killed a gang member and leaves Batman to take the blame for it.



The episodes goes back several years in Bruce's past and shows how he meets Andrea Beaumont. She becomes the love of his life, as we go into other flashbacks during the episode.



Back in present day, more of the certain gang members are being killed. Batman is being blamed for their deaths, and the authority is cracking down on him. In fact, Batman is nearly killed after a major strike attack from the police force.



Much to his surprise, Andrea is the one to rescue him, even though they had been broken up for many years.



By then, Batman has figured out that what tied all of these now murdered gang members together, was Andrea's father. The only member who hasn't been killed yet is the Joker.



In the past, we see a scene where Andrea's father is surrounded by the now deceased gang members. He owes them money and promises them it within 24 hours.



Realizing he can't get the money in time, he takes Andrea with him as he flees to Europe. That marked the end of Bruce and Andrea's relationship.



In present time, we see The Phantasm hunting down the Joker. As we have come to know, the Joker is always a step ahead. He has already figured out the identity of the Phantasm. He knew all along that Batman was not the one killing the gang members. The Phantasm pulls off the mask and reveals that she is Andrea.



In the past we see a scence where Andrea is walking home, years after they escaped from the gang. The Joker (before he was known as the Joker)surprises her by walking out of their house. Andrea rushes in and lets out a scream, indicating that her father had been killed.



Back in present time, she still attempts to kill the Joker, but of course, he has a few tricks up his sleeve. Batman, who has also figured out the Phantasm's identity, comes to her aid.



One of the final scenes shows Andrea holding on to a beaten up Joker. The whole place is wired to explode, thanks to the Joker. Andrea turns to Batman and says that she is going to end it all. Then suddenly she vanishes in a cloud of smoke with the Joker.



In the final scene, we see Andrea standing alone on a boat, indicating that she survived the explosion. Another man on the boat starts a friendly coversaton with her. When he realizes that the conversation is going nowhere, he asks her if she wants to be alone. She responds with, "I am."



The episode was very interesting and I recommend it to all Batman fans.