While Marvel kicks DC’s tail in the movie theater, it’s pretty much even with the quality of the TV shows the publishers put out (much to the benefit of fans). DC doesn’t have a mature show line like Marvel does on Netflix, but their usurpation of The CW with Arrow still fantastic into its fifth year, Flash just as good into its third, Supergirl moving over from CBS for season two, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow taking on The Legion of Doom in season 2, and Gotham getting ready for The Court of Owls in season three, that’s a pretty solid line-up for fans to look forward to this fall. Comic Con had trailers for all five series for you to check out below.
So here’s the deal with The Killing Joke…
The first twenty minutes are like an episode of the animated series, only much more violent, and the addition is OK for two reasons. One, the light tone works in favor of the material to come, making the events from the graphic novel even more shocking than they otherwise would be. Two, it makes dramatic sense to introduce Barbara, and her relationship with Bruce, at the beginning of the film, even if the intended audience doesn’t need the introduction. With a comic book, even a standalone graphic novel, it’s OK to plunge right into an established world with no introduction. It’s not okay with a movie. Don’t ask me why. It’s just not.
Of course, the way the filmmakers decided to express the bond between Batman and Batgirl is wrong, horribly wrong, but in truth the laziness of the writing is worse than the actual act between them. There are other ways to establish closeness between two people in a script.
Also there is too much of an effort to update the material into modern times, and the pacing could be better in places.
This is still a remarkably effective and powerful movie. I loved the retro animation, Mark Hammill is a god, and the entire book makes it into the film intact, without any softening or pandering. Even better: while the film is rated R, the filmmakers show some measure of restraint, and nothing feels gratuitous. And there is a visual reference to the old Vanity Fair cover with Heath Ledger as the Joker. I enjoyed this film a lot. Just go in with tempered expectations (and I gather you already have those).
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What’s more, the film throws the failings of the Gotham TV series into sharp relief. I’m hooked on Gotham, in large part because it’s so weird and over-the-top, but these characters are rich enough to warrant long and meaningful explorations, and instead the show’s producers are throwing them all at the wall to see which ones stick.
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