Batman: Under the Red Hood

WARNING: In most reviews I try to avoid spoilers about story and plot. But I think most people reading this review will probably already know the ins and outs of the plot, so I’m not going to bother. But fair warning, this review will be full of spoiler information.

I was far more impressed by Batman: Under the Red Hood than I thought I would be. Especially considering that it is based on two of the most controversial story arcs in DC history, the death of Jason Todd and the rebirth of Jason Todd. Yet somehow director Brandon Vietti and writer Judd Winick are able to make it all work. Beyond all expectations this movie is quit a well-crafted exploration into what it means to be Batman and the sacrifices he makes.

For those of you who have no background in comic books or recent editorial decisions at DC, here’s a quick review of some of the events leading to this movie. In the eighties the original Robin, Dick Grayson, grows up, becomes a character named Nightwing, and becomes a hero in his own right. Jason Todd, a streetwise punk, becomes Bruce Wayne’s ward and Batman’s sidekick, Robin. The character was not well received by fans and DC thought it would be a neat idea for fans to decide whether he lived or died through a phone-in vote. A slight majority of fans wanted to see him dead, so the Joker killed him. Although it may not have been handled well, it did ad a darker edge to the legacy of Batman, and it did serve as an example that death was sometimes more than just a minor inconvenience in the DC universe. But then, in 2005, DC made the dubious decision to bring Jason Todd back as the Red Hood; a psychopathic villain who was out to get those he felt wronged him. Mainly, the Joker and the Batman. Neither of these events was considered high points for DC by the fans and the character has continued to be the least popular character of the DC universe. I don’t really know too much about either events so I’m not really qualified to give an opinion.

But what I can tell you is that in the movie it works. Somehow they blend the humor of the animated series, with the darkness of The Dark Knight movie, and the science fiction/fantasy elements of the comic book into a very compelling story. The plot remains largely the same; the Joker kills Jason Todd, Todd is brought back to life through Ra’s al Ghuls Lazarus pits (not sure if this is in the comic book), and then wreaks bloody vengeance against the Joker and Batman through the use of a complicated game of cat and mouse and a very involved game of chess, with the Black Mask and the various criminal elements being the chess pieces. All of this leads to a final confrontation with the Red Hood, the Joker, and the Batman. Jason feels that Batman should have killed the Joker for killing him, while Batman asserts that there are some roads that he cannot travel.

A lot of fans were worried that they weren’t using the same voice actors from the original series. I certainly agree that the original voice actors were pretty awesome. Kevin Conroy’s Batman was neither too campy nor too serious and Mark Hamill’s Joker was equal parts charm and malevolence. Even though these voice actors make different choices in their portrayals, I’d say they did as well as a job as the original cast. Bruce Greenwoods Batman is a wonderfully tortured crime fighter who keeps his family at a distance in case they are hurt like Jason. Although his Batman may walk up to the line, he certainly doesn’t cross it. Always keeping his moral center in check. And John Di Maggio’s Joker is absolutely fantastic. I would even say that it’s better than Hammil’s. He just brings a wonderful level of gleeful violence to the role.

The best way to describe this film is as a bridge between the animated series and the more recent Batman movies. It’s both a realistic crime drama and a high science/fantasy thriller with dark undertones. They go a long way of explaining why Batman can’t kill and portraying the Red Hood both as a credible villain and a sympathetic character. Although it’s not a perfect adaptation, they certainly did an admiral job given their source material. My only real disappointment with this film is the lack luster special features. All they really are is a collection of trailers for other DC projects. The least they could do is give me a interview or even a commentary. Or how about a retrospective on the comic book and fans reactions? Based on the special features alone I’d almost say that this is more a rental than a buy.

But is it for kids?

I know what you’re saying, ‘of course it’s not for kids, and anyone can see that!’ and that’s absolutely true. But in many peoples minds comic books and cartoons are for children and they may think that this might be appropriate for kids. It is not. It’s brutal, violent, and very bloody. The issues raised are not ones that children are going to understand or really need to be introduced to. If your child is in his teens this might be acceptable for him or her. Otherwise I’d introduce them to either the original Batman or the new Batman: The Bold and the Brave. They’re a bit more accessible for them and are still enjoyable for adults.

Batman has three modes; the detective, the dark avenger, and the madcap adventurer. Young children are probably more than ok with the Batman as detective or madcap adventurer. But the dark avenger is more of a teenager/adult character and is not meant for children of a certain age in my opinion.