Fathom Events | Release Date: July 25, 2016
6.5
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 245 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
138
Mixed:
74
Negative:
33
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5
AbeMCJul 31, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you're a fan of the other Batman movies, give it a watch. It's dark, depressing, and moody – and (perhaps purposefully) unsatisfying. Conroy, Hamill and Tara Strong are great as always. The animations looked a little stiff sometimes, but usually as good as Under the Red Hood. Good direction and decent music.

But the writing. Oh, man. It didn't really hit me until I had reached the ending (SPOILERS follow). Usually the "bad guy" tries to decrease the height of his crimes by pointing out similarities between himself and the “good guy.” Instead Batman is the one saying that he and the Joker are very alike. Joker gets the tired line, “It's too late to help me,” while sounding all too sane. He tells a joke, and they laugh like two old friends. Batman not wanting to give a “moral high ground” speech was strange. The fact that he laughed was stranger. Is Bruce beginning to go insane? The ending scenes would have been amazing in that case, but it's never established or built up. The one-night-stand with Barbara could even have played into that (I always thought they “did it” anyway, so I wasn't surprised by it). Would it have been THAT hard to play up a Batgirl v. Joker vendetta in the beginning, instead of using a throwaway gangster character as a vehicle for Batgirl angst?

Average movie that never earns the empathy it demands. 5/10
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2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
pyrocloud7Sep 1, 2016
As a longtime Batman fan I went into this wanting so bad to like the movie. Unfortunately, the first half of the movie is completely pointless and 100% inaccurate in the portrayal of the characters. The latter half of the movie is aAs a longtime Batman fan I went into this wanting so bad to like the movie. Unfortunately, the first half of the movie is completely pointless and 100% inaccurate in the portrayal of the characters. The latter half of the movie is a relatively decent portrayal of the characters and story.

The appearance and voice-acting are all very subpar and feel very rushed.

5/10 only because of fantastic the source material.
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
Ecto1Jul 29, 2016
The first half was dull and done before. It also did not portray batgirl or even batman well. The second half was a mostly faithful adaptation, minus some missing subtext and batman killing a few people.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
stone_houseAug 3, 2016
Alan Moore may be the greatest writer in the history of comics. The Killing Joke is no exception, as it is still one of the most surprising, subversive and darkly funny graphic novels ever published by DC. And yet, like just about every otherAlan Moore may be the greatest writer in the history of comics. The Killing Joke is no exception, as it is still one of the most surprising, subversive and darkly funny graphic novels ever published by DC. And yet, like just about every other attempt at bringing his brilliant work to life, this adaptation is inadequate in every conceivable way. I couldn't even sit through the whole thing. I can't help but ask: why continue to slap the man in the face? Haven't you done enough, DC? Just stop. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
marcmyworksAug 1, 2016
It was really hard trying to figure out how I could enjoy this movie. I wasn't so much put off by the additional plot added with Batgirl and her background with Batman as I was with how lame the animation, story and acting (besides MarkIt was really hard trying to figure out how I could enjoy this movie. I wasn't so much put off by the additional plot added with Batgirl and her background with Batman as I was with how lame the animation, story and acting (besides Mark Hamill) was. Overall this is probably an even bigger disappointment than Batman v Superman. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
RalfbergsAug 16, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't know, I was expecting something more interesting or with better story. First part of the story doesn't even make much sense as it really didn't affect much, while second part and the whole Joker stuff, while at first it seemed interesting and of course Mark Hamill is great at voicing Joker, still felt like it lacked something. Wanted to see something a bit different here Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
SecretS1xAug 4, 2016
The movie overall was pretty meh - but then again, after re-reading the graphic novel, why IS this touted as one of the best Batman stories? The graphic novel is only around 60 pages, and outside of a couple of key scenes, there really isThe movie overall was pretty meh - but then again, after re-reading the graphic novel, why IS this touted as one of the best Batman stories? The graphic novel is only around 60 pages, and outside of a couple of key scenes, there really is nothing special here. And this is why the movie isn'y overly entertaining either, in fact the Batgirl prologue (not in the graphic novel) had more character than those in story proper.
The animation was decent and voice acting was great, however the movie could of fleshed more using the original story as a guide. I mean, the Joker's "origin" makes sense to some extent, but he wasn't overly upset the circumstances that led to that "one bad day," nor took the time to even grieve.
Those that loved the movie have every right too, but I have heard many state "facts" about certain scenes from the book and why they were so unique and disturbing. I'd suggest re-reading it (it won't take long) - there isn't as much there as you may remember...
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
tigerskin84Jul 26, 2016
Well this movie gave me mixed feelings, the first half hour i was thinking what the hell is this childish romance??? on the other hand it nails the comic book but i dont know why i finished the movie with a bad taste on my mouth
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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5
EpicLadySpongeJul 27, 2016
Move along, people. Nothing to see here... now I can actually see why the story on the comic that this film is based on probably had a good reason to overstay its welcome.
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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5
MoviebuffreviewJul 27, 2016
When it is adapting the graphic novel of the same name, Batman: The Killing Joke is phenomenal. Although its art style is less haunting, the script itself is very faithful to the script of the comic. This not only keeps all of the interestingWhen it is adapting the graphic novel of the same name, Batman: The Killing Joke is phenomenal. Although its art style is less haunting, the script itself is very faithful to the script of the comic. This not only keeps all of the interesting ideas intact, but surprisingly, the structure of the story also makes for a relatively well paced and entertaining animated film.

Unfortunately, The Killing Joke is not long enough to fill out the runtime of a feature length film. As a result, an extended, thirty minute prologue was added to help flesh out a character whose treatment in the original source material was often criticized. While the intent is commendable, this extended prologue is abysmal. It feels far too disconnected from the main narrative, but it is also extremely rushed and horribly written on its own terms. It not only suffers from not adding anything significant to the story; the things that are added clash thematically and tonally with everything that the rest of the film stands for.

If you skip the prologue, Batman: The Killing Joke is absolutely worth your time, whether you love the original graphic novel or have never heard of it. However, with the prologue included, it's pretty poor. A shame, considering how good the source material (and half of this movie) is.
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3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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5
MattBrady99Jul 29, 2016
Well this was a flat joke.

Batman: The Killing Joke is one of the best graphic novel ever written by Alan Moore. It's dark, haunting and really engaging. It took two iconic characters Batman/Joker and dissects the relationship between the
Well this was a flat joke.

Batman: The Killing Joke is one of the best graphic novel ever written by Alan Moore. It's dark, haunting and really engaging. It took two iconic characters Batman/Joker and dissects the relationship between the two and how both of them tick. It's such an interesting storyline that was pulled off so magnificently. I'm not a comic book reader myself but I do consider the graphic novel to as brilliant. Word quickly spread that a movie adaption was on it's way and I sure was excited for it.

Bruce Timm and Sam Liu were directing. Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy Tara Strong and Ray Wise are set to star. It's based on the most beloved graphic novel ever.

What's not to get excited.

And then I saw the movie and I wasn't impressed. This was very disappointing since it had so much going for it, but somehow fell so short.

Barbara Gordon 30 minute prologue was by far the weakest part of the film. I know the creators wanted to add some character to her since didn't have that much in the comic. If so, It could have been so much better, because it added nothing to the movie and it did drag it down. I don't care about Barbara Gordon, I'm here to watch "The Killing Joke". At one point I was wondering when the actual film was going to start and it eventually dose. It would have been cool if we saw how the Joker broke out of Arkham, having extra scenes of Joker torturing Jim Gordon, or creating the death of Joker's wife that the book never showed, maybe even add a few more investigation scenes and conversations with Alfred. That would have easily covered the extra 30 minutes that was added.

Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill both are once again brilliant as the characters. Their voices are so iconic to the character's that nobody could top the brilliance of Hamill & Conroy. It's no surprise that both are the best parts of the movie.

The animation doesn't look that good and I can't be the only one that thinks that. How much better would it have been if the animation was visually striking and more effort was put into it. There are parts in this where I thought the animation was pretty damn good and also parts when the animation was pretty bad.

Now lets talk about the most controversial scene in the movie that involves Batman and Batgirl having sex. Yes, that actually happens in this movie and it dose nothing with the main plot. The sex between them had no real emotion to it and it's only thrown in there to get Batman angry when Barbara gets shot. The Batman and Batgirl sex scene was like a creepy fan fiction that some die-hard fan would write or draw to satisfy their fantasy.

Overall rating: Batman: The Killing Joke is basically a giant middle finger to the fans who loved Alan Moore's novel. I never really felt engaged in the story and the emotional impact that was in the graphic novel is nowhere here. It was rushed, dull and very flat. Fans and Alan Moore deserve better.

I expected so much more from this and I think everyone did.
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3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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5
ahnehnoisJul 29, 2016
It's easy to see why the story is held in high regard. It touches on powerful ideas. That being said, the source material and this adaptation of it are both clumsy and somewhat trashy takes on the subject. On top of the stultifying dialogueIt's easy to see why the story is held in high regard. It touches on powerful ideas. That being said, the source material and this adaptation of it are both clumsy and somewhat trashy takes on the subject. On top of the stultifying dialogue and surrealistic plot jumps, the movie adds an out of touch prologue that really wasn't needed, apparently for no good reason other than to fluff the limited runtime.

Of course, the movie has been met with plenty of dumb criticism on the gendered aspects of its violence, but that isn't really the problem. The villain here seems genuinely villainous; nothing in the movie could be seen as an endorsement of his sadism. If anything, the movie caricatures its men more negatively, with the prologue adding a gratuitous extra villain delivering silly lines about women, and Batman having been given an extra layer of emotional ice that his already difficult character hardly needs. Combine that with some weak animation and you've got plenty of room for legitimate criticism here.

Several iconic, quotable moments do emerge, but the rest of the movie seems like an exercise in waiting for them. The story seems like it needs to be reexplored with smarter writing, more nuance, and a big budget live action production. Given that The Dark Knight comes pretty close to meeting those criteria, I'd sooner watch that again than revisit this one.
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1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
Shion16Jul 27, 2016
One advice: When the movie ends, leave the theater.
Just go home never look back.
"The killing Joke" post-credits scene is awful ,it destroys the mood of the movie.
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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5
eagleeyevikingAug 15, 2016
Batman: The Killing Joke redeems itself in the second half of the film but that can't hide the filler first half as well as the unnecessary exploitation of Batgirl.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
badgerryan19May 19, 2017
Very good movie. Once again Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy both embody the Joker and Batman. A very interesting and awesome story. I'm very impressed on how this one turned out. It's great that the movie was rated R. No holding back on theVery good movie. Once again Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy both embody the Joker and Batman. A very interesting and awesome story. I'm very impressed on how this one turned out. It's great that the movie was rated R. No holding back on the violence and tone. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
RvwFromUpHereAug 2, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As soon as we found out we were getting an R-rated Killing Joke cartoon everyone was ecstatic. It's been a tough year for Batman; first we have the terrible Fox show Gotham, showing us what Gotham City would be like without Batman. This is the equivalent of making a Spiderman show about the Daily Bugle. Nobody gives a s***. On top of that we had Batman V. Superman, where our favorite DC superheroes were crucified before our eyes for nearly three agonizing hours. You could argue that Ben Affleck's Batman was the best part of that movie; which is like saying the best part about being strangled to death is knowing I don't have to pay bills the next day. Nevertheless DC gave us what we wanted all along by making an R-rated Killing Joke, and unfortunately, they have boned us once again.

The movie starts with an inner-monologue from Batgirl, and immediately you are enthralled. Then her and Batman beat up some bad guys and everything is going great. Batman then tells her it's getting too dangerous and she needs to back away from the case so he can catch the bad guys himself (classic Batman). Batgirl says no and continues to fight crime anyway (classic Batgirl). Then Batman catches her fighting crime and she's like, you're not my dad! Or some stupid bulls***, and then she attacks him, one thing leads to another and they end up f***ing underneath a gargoyle. Now, I haven't read the comic in a few years, but I'm pretty f***ing confident that was never in it. Anyway, after they bang it out Batman doesn't talk to her for a while (classic guy) and Batgirl tells her gay librarian friend all about her sexual encounter (classic girl). Then one night Batman and Batgirl cross paths when they are fighting crime together and Batgirl is all like, I'm sorry, you were right, and Batman is like, I know, I always am. Batgirl decides to retire from crime fighting and Batman randomly goes looking for The Joker, only to find he has escaped. Batgirl and her father are eating dinner at her apartment, and The Joker shows up and shoots Batgirl in the spine, paralyzing her. He then kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and tries to make him crazy. Batman finds out, visits Barbara in the hospital, and that's the last we see of her for the whole film. What was once a Batgirl centered production is now a classic Batman vs. The Joker standoff. Meanwhile there are flashbacks to The Joker's origin story; all of which are boring and unimaginative. At one point The Joker's wife dies and he reacted to it as if he watched the finale to Season 1 of Heroes (blandly). Anyway, The Joker is torturing Commissioner Gordon (classic purveyor of evil and disdain) and Batman is trying to catch him (classic demigod). Batman catches up to him and there is a showdown, but first Batman gives a speech. It goes along the lines of , I don't know how our relationship is going to end. Maybe I'll kill you, maybe you'll kill me...I know how it ends Batman, you don't kill the f***ing Joker, you don't kill anyone, that's your biggest gimmick. Anyway the movie ends with The Joker telling Batman a joke that makes him laugh.

Huge question. Why is this rated R? There was nearly no gore and pg-13 language at best. The most promiscuous thing about this movie is tasteful nude photographs of an injured Batgirl, and we kind of almost see Commissioner Gordon's c***.
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4
superbatAug 16, 2016
Batman: The Killing Joke is a disappointment, considering how good the graphic novel was. The animation is bad, the portrayals are horrible, especially Batgirl. The second half was OK but it wasn't enough to save the movie.
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5
miccaelDec 30, 2020
I welcome the artstyle and the medium, Batman should continue being a comic book "cartoon" animation movie too. However the problems here were evident. The backstory into current story cliche was unnecessary, I believe movie would have beenI welcome the artstyle and the medium, Batman should continue being a comic book "cartoon" animation movie too. However the problems here were evident. The backstory into current story cliche was unnecessary, I believe movie would have been better if you could change the structure. Overall, story is very weak. One thing happens then suddenly another - without any connection. But, yes, enjoyable, for 1 time. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
ivimaster96Aug 3, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very bad adaptation. The real story doesn't begin until half an hour has already passed. Until then we have a stupid and childish romantic story between Batgirl and Batman, who is portrayed like an **** When the real thing starts, you hope for some improvement but there isn't anything really good that could make you like the film.

This movie made me read The Killing Joke again just to see how good this comic is and how is its movie.
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4
SomePersonaFeb 4, 2017
This movie is close to bad. The animation is choppy, the voice acting does not fit (especially Mark Hamill whose Joker takes away from the dark, suspenseful tone the movie is going for), and the writing is flat (in both halves of the movie)This movie is close to bad. The animation is choppy, the voice acting does not fit (especially Mark Hamill whose Joker takes away from the dark, suspenseful tone the movie is going for), and the writing is flat (in both halves of the movie) and oddly uninspired (this IS adapted from a smart comic book). There were parts that were just flat out laughable (they didn't kill me, though). Expand
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6
spacebear1Dec 8, 2017
The Killing Joke was an outstandingly amazing graphic novel.The movie however, is...a mediocre disappointment. Kevin Conroy's Batman and Mark Hamill's Joker were, as usual, amazing. My main problem with the film was just the first 45 minutesThe Killing Joke was an outstandingly amazing graphic novel.The movie however, is...a mediocre disappointment. Kevin Conroy's Batman and Mark Hamill's Joker were, as usual, amazing. My main problem with the film was just the first 45 minutes of the film. It has a really stupid setup that wasn't even in the graphic novel. Other than that, it somewhat does justice to the graphic novel. Expand
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