Post by stefancrosscoe on Jan 16, 2018 14:39:19 GMT
"Vengeance blackens the soul, Bruce. I've always feared that you would become that which you fought against. You walk the edge of that abyss every night, but you haven't fallen in and I thank heaven for that."
A new mysterious figure is about to make his grand appearance in the late night hour, and one who seems to have a particular interest when it comes to getting rid off the older guard of Gotham City's former criminal heavyweights. There are no mercy to be shown and as usual Batman is the one to blame.
While the police and media seems to have their hands full on trying to find a scapegoat, the city's favorite playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne are doing some serious soul searching, but when a beautiful memory from the past is about to be reawaken, it will bring with it feelings that he once thought were gone for good.
During Christmas break I decided that it was about time to finally go and re-watch a movie that many seems to agree on as one of the finest animated films of the 90s and one who would be the first in line of many that was based upon the fantastic Batman: The Animated Series (1992 - 1995).
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) is a stunning and majestic piece, full of memorable and very powerful moments and where the mighty introduction are almost guaranteed to send you chills down the spine and pretty much sets the mood for the next 70-75 minutes or more.
By comparing the film and its plot to the other Batman movies of that time, this one is actually rather "different" in that the others often spends too much time with the big bad guys, while the main man almost always ends up playing mostly the supporting role, but here in this animated full feature the focus is mostly on Bruce Wayne and his tragic past which paves way for a very effectively done and written background story, and also without taking up too much time or space.
I know that some fans seems to be rather critical of the heavily Tim Burton inspired look and shape which went on during most of the Batman: The Animated Series run but I have never been bothered by it, in fact I loved every bit of it.
In Mask of the Phantasm we do get a bit of the same stuff that was taking place in the 1989 movie, where as the Joker were given a bit of a background story, and while the name Jack Napier is not mentioned, it does pave way for the idea that he did not just spring up from the ground as the Joker, but that he in fact once was a rather "anonymous" small time crook who mostly had to rely on doing the dirty work for the once powerful mafia kingpins of Gotham City.
Mask of the Phantasm is an elegant, classy film rich with the use of comedy, romance, action, thrills and surprises along the way but one which also finds time for some rather tender and very sad moments. Such as the sight where a heartbroken Bruce Wayne have fallen to his knees in front of his dear beloved parents grave, hoping that they will understand his solution of breaking the promise he once gave them, and to try and live a normal life again along with the love of his life, the beautiful Andrea Beaumont. Sadly for the lovers, fate wants it different and it is this tragic link between Bruce and Andrea which makes me think a bit of the relationship between Bruce and Selina in Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992) where they know each others darkest secrets, and while one part seems to be almost obsessed by revenge the other one is desperate to understand and find a solution.
Anyway, I think it was a fantastic movie to watch again and for me this is not just the among the best animated releases but also one of the finest Batman films ever made and one which last year got a Blu-Ray release, but one that I might just have to come back to later on, as I am very pleased with my DVD copy and while the picture quality might not be as good as on the recent Blu-ray one, I am surprised they could not find time to hand in some new bonus material.
But for those that do not own the DVD copy, it might be well worth a shot.
