PopHorror Let's Get Scared
While Spider-Man is my favorite superhero, I am also quite fond of Batman as well. I love Batman: The Animated Series so I was extremely excited when I heard that there was going to be a movie that took place in the same universe coming out back in 1993 and couldn’t wait to see it. One night back in the day I was hanging out with one of my friends and his girlfriend and we decided to go see a movie. When we got to the theater, I was super hyped to see that Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was playing but my friend’s girlfriend wasn’t having any of that so unfortunately, we saw The Pelican Brief instead because that was the movie she wanted to see (what really sucks is that Man’s Best Friend was also playing but she flat out refused to watch it as well).
Since I missed my chance to see Batman: Mask of the Phantasm during its run in theaters I had to wait several months until it was released on VHS before I got to check it out. So, was it as good as I hoped it would be, or did it fail to live up to my expectations? Keep reading to find out…
Synopsis
Batman finds himself not only dealing with the Joker, but also a new masked vigilante called The Phantasm who shows up in Gotham city and starts killing off some of the local criminals. Will he be able to figure out who is behind the mask and stop their killing spree in time, or is The Phantasm destined to reign supreme?
I’m just going to come out and say it. I adore this movie and think that it is the best Batman movie ever. There is just so much to love about it as it is action-packed, suspenseful, fun, and completely and utterly heartbreaking all at the same time. While I love the live-action Batman film from 1989 and dig Batman Returns from 1992, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is without a doubt my favorite film featuring the Caped Crusader, and in my opinion, it is a flawless masterpiece that is far superior to any of the other Batman movies.
So, what makes it so good? There are several reasons. First of all, who doesn’t love Batman in general? He’s such an awesome character that millions of people adore and look up to, and I don’t think I have ever heard anyone ever say “Man, I just really hate Batman.” The premise of this movie is equally awesome, and it just works for several reasons. It’s pretty damn dark and not really for kids (much like the animated series it is based on), as several characters die as the movie progresses. In addition, it also focuses on Bruce Wayne’s past a bit, and I always thought that these scenes were excellent.
If you’re looking for a well-written Batman movie done by people who get the character, then you must check this movie out.
If you ask me, the cast is nothing short of amazing as well. I’ve always said that Kevin Conroy (Killer Instinct, The Face of Fear) was the best Batman of all time, and he really delivers here. Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Child’s Play) also does an equally fantastic job, and without a doubt he is the best Joker ever in my opinion as he does a wonderful job of making the character both comedic and incredibly creepy at the same time, the way he is supposed to be.
Dana Delany (China Beach, Fly Away Home) does a great job as Andrea-Bruce’s love interest-and as a result the character is just incredibly likable, and you want to see her stick around and end up living happily ever after with Bruce. Overall, the cast does a magnificent job of bringing their respective characters to life, and not a single one of them turns in a bad performance.
Another reason that I love this movie so much is because it is incredibly depressing. Batman is a depressing character in general, but the things that happen to him in this movie are just absolutely heartbreaking.
When I first saw it, I was outwardly sobbing (actually, ugly crying to be honest) during a flashback scene when he finds a note that someone leaves for him that delivers some less than happy news. The bit where he is basically apologizing to his parents at their grave because he is considering giving up being Batman because he has a chance to be happy never ceases to make me bawl like a baby every time I see it, and the stuff with Andrea toward the end really hits you in the feels. The movie just has a dark, depressing tone to it in general (as it should), so if you are expecting a super happy ending you are going to be very disappointed.
Trust me when I say that you will need to have some tissues handy when you watch this movie, as you will cry at least three times for sure as you are viewing it.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is an amazing movie and if you are into Batman then you will definitely dig it a much as I do. So much about it works, and I think that The Phantasm is just a cool-yet tragic-character that most people will enjoy who fits into the world of Batman extremely well. If you’re in the mood for a well-written animated film that just works on every level, then I highly recommend that you check this movie out as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
