PaulH
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From the outset I was not sure what to expect with this film. Growing up I was a huge Batman comic book reader and had read the story of Jason Todd, the second Robin, sidekick of Batman, and was horrified when in Batman issue #427 the editor at the time, Dennis O'Neil, had given readers the ultimate power: to decide the fate of Jason. Readers were presented with two 1-900 numbers and asked to vote on whether the character would live or die, and as we know, the verdict swung in favour of his demise. The idea that the audience could control the fate of a well known character in such a crude manner seemed like a conspicuous marketing ploy that would only serve to cheapen the image of Robin, branding him as completely worthless. It happened, and in the most violent manner possible -- Jason was beaten to death by a crowbar at the hands of the Joker.
Fast forward to 2005 when Batman writer Judd Winick did the unthinkable: he resurrected Jason Todd in the storyline known as "Under the Hood" and turned him into one part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, and became the second Red Hood. Jason dons the red mask to taunt Batman who made his "biggest mistake" by letting the original Red Hood fall into a vat of chemical waste, bleaching his skin, lips red, hair green, and with a permanent grin. Disfigured and seeking the revenge, the Red Hood, now going by the alias the Joker, would become Batman's greatest enemy.
The Red Hood
Batman: Under the Red Hood brings back the award-winning comic writer Judd Winick who adapts his original storyline into a full-length animated feature, with an all-star voice cast consisting of Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in 2009's Star Trek movie) as the voice of Batman, Jen Ackles (Supernaturals) as Red Hood, Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Nightwing, and John DiMaggio (Futurama) and Jason Issacs (Harry Potter films) round out the cast as The Joker and Ra's Al Ghul, respectively.
[Potential spoilers follow] The story revolves around an ongoing battle between the Red Hood, who is determined to stop crime in Gotham City, even if that means killing, and the notorious kingpin Black Mask who seeks to control the city's drug trade. Knowing full well that the Black Mask will attempt to enlist the services of the criminal mastermind Joker should his sphere of influence be disrupted, the Red Hood plots to systematically scare his victim into action. Of course, what the Red Hood really seeks is revenge for the brutal beating he received at the hands of the Clown Prince of Crime. Batman, determined to make Jason Todd comprehend the consequences of his chosen path faces his most emotional confrontation to date. [end spoilers]
Robin brutally beaten by the Joker
From the moment the movie began it was apparent that this adult-oriented movie would tackle tough issues of morality, justice and avengement. This gripping retelling of the "Under the Hood" storyline was succinct and action-packed, as if Winick intentionally trimmed the fat to leave only the meaty bits behind. The voice acting in the film is superb, with Greenwood convincingly capturing the tortured mind of Batman as he struggles with the thought of taking down his former partner. Although a first-timer in the booth, Jen Ackles strikes the right balance of portraying the Red Hood as an embittered, resentful, verging-on-insane character, without overplaying the part. The remaining cast all do an excellent job of voicing the supporting characters such as Nightwing, The Joker, and Ra's Al Ghul.
Animation guru Bruce Timm returns as executive producer, as he has for all eight DC Universe animated original movies. The art is moody and distinctive, from the chilling opening scene where Robin is savagely beaten in a dank, abandoned cell, to the shadowy, angular highrises that populate Gotham City. Director Brandon Vietti serves up a perfect balance of intense action sequences and provocative dialogue moments that stretch the Caped Crusader to his limits. The look and narrative flow are impressive to say the least.
At 75 minutes in length, and with plenty of bonus content on the 2 Disc Special Edition DVD and even more content on the Special Edition Blu-Ray, it's easy to strongly recommend this movie to fans of Batman, regardless if you're into the comics. It's an exceptional story brought together by some of the biggest and brightest in the industry, and it all shows. Highly recommended.
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While at the Batman: Under the Red Hood premiere screening I had a chance to meet Ty Templeton, famous Canadian artist for DC Comics' series The Batman Adventures. Here's a couple of pictures of him posing with autographed comics given out at the event:
Me posing with Ty
Catherine Tran posing with Ty
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Batman: Under the Red Hood Image Gallery:
