In my opinion this is….
-
Stylin291 — 16 years ago(February 07, 2010 09:33 PM)
Well, Holy Guacamole, I'm glad I'm in agreement with the majority on this. It's a great story, great animation, great dialogue, gritty action sequences, and the Joker hits a lady with a slab o' bologna! What more could a Batman fan ask for? Loved it in the theater. Love it to this day.
-
Lt-Ravenstone — 15 years ago(July 03, 2010 09:14 PM)
I probably saw this movie before I was ten years old (memories a bit fuzzy), and it always stuck in my mind. I haven't seen it for many years. I was never sure why it held a special place in my brain until I came here and had my memory refreshed of just what kind of a deep and even gritty movie it was. I now realize that I must have this film on DVD immediately.
This movie defines how I think Batman should be portrayed: a dark hero, bent on vengeance. It shows that, even though he's a crime fighting superhero, he's still human and he still has some serious issues. Great film, I agree. -
dvdfreak66 — 15 years ago(July 26, 2010 09:07 PM)
I came here to post the same thing. I loved the last film (The Dark Knight) but i do think Mask of the Phantasm is the best batman movie to be released to theaters(or DTV), and I like Batman Beyond:Return of the Joker more than i do TDK, but I can admit I think TDK is a better film.
-
secracium — 15 years ago(July 28, 2010 05:31 AM)
i think it's one of the best batman movies, but not THE best. '89 batman and the nolan films are the other ones, but i think phantasm has a drastically different feel than any of the live action films. i can't really choose which one i think is the greater of the four, but up until batman begins, this was, by far, the best one since the '89 movie.
-
Ryan_Pliskin — 13 years ago(June 19, 2012 10:14 AM)
I agree. It's my favorite Batman movie and I'm sad to say the most underrated! I think here's why I love it so much:
- It's the most moving Batman movie in my opinion. Bruce was tempted out of being Batman, and actually gave up his crusade. Turns out he got burned not once, but twice! He broke the vow he made to his parents and came back with his tail between his legs. It really says a lot about his never ending (and plain impossible) crusade against crime.
- No reliance on Bat-gadgets or action. There are barely any epic display of martial arts, bat gadgets and even the Batmobile and the Batwing only have a cameo in the movie. If you pay attention to any Bat-film, there will always be a debut of some sort of Bat-gizmo, new vehicles or suits. This movie has none, and I think it says a lot on the writers really trying to keep the plot focused, and in retrospect that's an amazing achievement.
- Best score. Despite having bad films, Batman never had a bad score. Everyone did an amazing job (Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenhall, Hans Zimmer) but Shirley Walker really outdid everyone here. Listen to the expanded soundtrack and you'll realize that there are various themes and subtleties. I really love Elfman & Zimmer, but the late Shirley Walker was the definitive Batman composer in my opinion.
-
VassilevB — 11 years ago(July 29, 2014 04:31 PM)
Yes, I completely agree. This is the best Batsy movie ever. I couldn't ask for anything more in a Batman movie. It's short (yes, this is not a con!), it's animated, it's stylish, it's dark, it's bloody, it's emotionally charged, it's (somewhat, for a superhero-flick) realistic, it's got the best (and the darkest) main theme (and overall score) and it's got the best Vader-lookalike villain ever. "The angel of death awaits you." Imagine seeing that fog-wearing bastard and hearing that line with the very same tone just before you die. And, underneath this horrifying costume, you've got the best animated chick ever. My blood is freezing.
_
"Strike me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!" -
damonsmiller — 11 years ago(February 14, 2015 07:34 PM)
favorite bat movie still has the strongest scene when bruce first puts on the cowl and turns around alfred steps back in shock and gasps in fear. still get goosebumps eveytime I see that
it makes that noise because you left the parking brake on.
-
preachcaleb — 3 years ago(November 14, 2022 07:42 PM)
You'll find very few people who would disagree. This is a fantastic movie. I recently rewatched it in memory of Kevin Conroy, and I was just blow away by how moving and heartbreaking the movie is. That moment when Bruce is begging his parents to make it ok for him to not be Batman because he's actually happy is one of the most powerful scenes of any Batman movie ever made.
So many stories, so little time.