SpandanNath

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

More added to Moore ... a good attempt!

What will hit fans on the face right in the beginning is how the movie begins. Mark Hamill, during a promotion of the film, stated that Moore himself will probably not like the changes made in the film. It is probably true. It is quite possible that fans will feel similarly. While Moore's masterpiece sets the mood and tone of the graphic novel right in the beginning, one may wonder why at all begin the movie with a Batgirl pseudo-4th-wall-breaking monologue. The monologue proves that the filmmakers knew that there was a fair chance that fans will hate the inclusion of a Batgirl introduction. For a moment, during the first 20-30 minutes (which has absolutely nothing to do with the Joker) the audience might even think that probably Batman will have a heart-to-heart with Barbara about his encounter with the Joker in the Graphic Novel. Thank the good sense of the director, that did not happen. Why would that happen, right? It's not like they are having sex and want to spill their guts and feelings out.... wait a minute, something of that sort does....spoiler...

When the Batgirl arc (sort of) is over, the real story begins all of a sudden. It will surely make the audience wonder what was the real connection? Anyhu, rest of the movie is pretty faithful to the Graphic Novel. However, the mood is already set on a different note and the movie is struggling to set the new mood. The flashbacks are very important, but in the movie it almost seems it is being rushed through. The moment Joe finds out about the tragic fate of his wife has been dealt with such disconnect, it is almost a forced attempt to be faithful.

The whole mood of Batman and Joker understanding each other at some level - the "one bad day" - is lost when Barbara's injury becomes the connecting point between the unnecessary Batgirl introduction and the mid-credits introduction of Oracle. As an audience and a fan, I most missed the afterword and the art afterword of the Graphic Novel. Of course, they didn't need to do it exactly, but something of that kind would have made the movie great.

In spite of all the negatives, it is a good watch. Definitely, do not miss it, but also do not expect the quality of The Flashpoint Paradox or The Dark Knight Returns brought to the fans by the DCAU.