Ror Reviews: Batman: Under The Red Hood, The Latest DCAU Movie

Ror Reviews: Batman: Under The Red Hood, The Latest DCAU Movie

DC animated movies have a reputation for very high quality. Their favorite character to make toons about has always been The Bat. So how does their 8th foray into animation hold up?

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Jul 18, 2010 06:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman (Animated)
Source: Ror Reviews
You've seen Jman and Johhny Love's hilarious video review(and if you haven't, check it out Here), but I only just got to see this, and I have to say, ladies and gentlemen we have a winner! Under The Red Hood is THE best animated movie from either DC or Marvel I have seen yet.

The story is sort of an amalgam of A Death In The Family and Under The Hood, with a little bit of The Killing Joke thrown in for good measure. It focuses on a mysterious new vigilante emerging in Gotham known as The Red Hood, an alias previously used by The Joker among others. This guy takes no prisoners, he doesn't hold back like Batman, a caught crim is a dead crim. Batman and Nightwing(Dick Grayson, the first Robin) team up to try to stop him and uncover his true identity. Of course, as every Bat fan should know, Red Hood turns out to be Jason Todd, the second Robin, brutally beaten to death by The Joker years before. So whats he doing running around Gotham with a plan for his revenge which involves The Black Mask? Well if you don't already know the rest of the details you'l have to watch to find out.

This really is great stuff. Dc animation has always pushed the boundaries of the pg13 rating but here I think they blow em out of the water! Not just with the violence, but the themes of loss, betrayal, vengeance and the line between good and evil are all taken to a very dark place. Aaaaand the violence! Throats are cut, eyes gouged, crowbar beatings..at times I thought I was watching a Tarantino flick. The voice acting is also taken to a new level. These guys do a terrific job. Bruce Greenwood manages to sound a bit like Kevin Conroy, but puts his own twist on it as Batman. Jensen Ackles is outstanding as Red Hood, albeit really only getting his teeth into the dialog in the last act. And although sometimes I did hear a bit of Futurama's Bender, John Dimaggio gives us a very interesting, gruffer take on The Joker. It takes a bit of getting used to, but by the end I loved it. Neil Patrick Harris voices Nightwing and is ok, he doesn't really get much to do. and Wade Williams is a punch happy Black Mask. He's pretty good but I was never a huge fan of the character. There are also cameo appearances from Rhas Al Ghul, Amazo and The Riddler. Of course the best voice acting in the world won't make a difference if the script isn't up to speed and thankfully here its top notch. All of the dialog sucks you in and gets your emotions going, the plot is paced just right. Its pretty solidly an action flick of course, but there are enough quieter moments to even things out nicely.

My only real problem with the film is how short it is. These animated films are always 90 mins or under, but this clocks in at around 75 and it just didn't feel long enough. They manage to tell the story in the alloted time, but if there had of been just one or two more scenes to round out the characters it would have really benefited the movie. Watching how well they did this makes me wish WB would turn their animated attentions to one of the real classic Batman stories. There are references to The Killing Joke in this, as Todd mentions The Joker "crippling their friend", and some of the dialog is straight out of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Lets see THEM! Or Hush, or The Long Halloween. These stories are more than likely never going to end up on in live action so why not give them to us animated?

Anyway, as much as I have been getting a bit sick of seeing DC use Batman in these flicks, when the quality is this good there can be no complaints. Buy this when its released on th 27th, you won't regret it.



CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 3 Digital Version Makes A Major Change To Mark Hamill's Joker Voice
Related:

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS - PART 3 Digital Version Makes A Major Change To Mark Hamill's Joker Voice

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Reviews Praise Bruce Timm's DC Return; Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed
Recommended For You:

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Reviews Praise Bruce Timm's DC Return; Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
Destroyer14
Destroyer14 - 7/18/2010, 6:40 PM
Great review. I'm still waiting for it to come out so I can rent it on Netflix.
UnfriendlySpidey
UnfriendlySpidey - 7/18/2010, 6:47 PM
Awesome job @Ror! I can't wait til it comes out!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 7/18/2010, 6:54 PM
Great review ROR! :) I'm looking forward to this for both the great cast (especially Harris who I think it awesome in How I Met Your Mother and Jensen "Should Have Been Captain America" Ackles!) and because I really enjoyed the comic arc this is based on! It's just a pity DC failed to handle Jason Todd as well as Marvel did with Bucky... ;(
Zombie137
Zombie137 - 7/18/2010, 6:57 PM
I watched it the other day and liked it as well. But the inconsistencies in the movie drove me nuts. They were small things too, i wont mention them for spoilers sake.


I could not get used to John Dimaggio as Joker, i thought he was too creepy and muscular, too much of a Thug and not funny psycho. Reminded me of the main bad guy from The Mask when he puts the mask on at the end.


Loved Jensen Ackles as Red Hood, thought he was really into the character.

Could really do without Greenwood and Harris doing the voices from now on. Like you said though, Harris did not really have that many lines to work with. And for them to waste a voice like Gary Cole on one of Black Masks goons and a brief voice over by Gordon was such a waste.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/18/2010, 7:04 PM
Cheers guys. I think Cole voiced quiet a few of the characters. But yeah, he should have been given a bigger part. I liked this Joker. He was drawn like Miller's take on him from TDKR, and yes he was very creepy, thats a good thing! Josh, I preferred the whole Todd thing over Bucky, but then again I think Batman is a better character than Captain America so maybe thats why.
droopy1317
droopy1317 - 7/18/2010, 7:13 PM
awesome! i just heard about this movie on a comic today. i'll be definitely looking for it!!
Cattigan619
Cattigan619 - 7/18/2010, 7:13 PM
@Ror, good review, it's a pretty good animated film. but i agree it was a bit too short. I would love DC to do an animated film of BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL.
nerdygirl
nerdygirl - 7/18/2010, 7:18 PM
Nice review!
I really need to see this. Neil Patrick Harris + Jensen Ackles + Batman= perfect movie for me :D
RemiMartini
RemiMartini - 7/18/2010, 7:26 PM
Saw it online. Pretty good, but mark hamill not voicing joker just didn't seem right.
InstigatorGIRL
InstigatorGIRL - 7/18/2010, 7:47 PM
Awesome review Ror! I am so psyched to see this. I am even more psyched because a lot of people are giving it great reviews.
peterparker420
peterparker420 - 7/18/2010, 7:56 PM
WHAT THE HELL!..Does EVERYONE have an EARLY copy
but ME?!?..LOL!

ANOTHER GREAT REVIEW..SOUNDS LIKE A...MUST BUY!!
pirooks
pirooks - 7/18/2010, 8:06 PM
shmexy cant wait
TANKGIRL
TANKGIRL - 7/18/2010, 8:06 PM
i didn't see animations since the age of 10

what is the best comic adaption animation movie to watch
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 7/18/2010, 8:09 PM
great review ROR and i am new to the animated films as i have only seen first flight any suggestions?
MIIIK
MIIIK - 7/18/2010, 8:43 PM
I'm downloading it from Stagevu right now, badass!
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 7/18/2010, 9:03 PM
No Keven Conroy. I still don't know if I want to give it a chance...
Phinehas
Phinehas - 7/18/2010, 9:16 PM
Ror
Always a good editorialist! :)
Well done, sir. I'm all the more excited due to your review to purchase a copy of this movie. And as you and others are, I too would love to see DC/Warner venture out with some equally well-developed stories of other major characters like Flash, and Hawkman. Though DC/WB may be gun shy due partly with the not-so-stellar profits of WW and GL: FL. Perhaps a little more care on their part should have been taken.
I like Bats and Supes, and will probably get Apocalypse, but seriously, throw in some new characters!
gorgeousgeeks
Serious? You're kidding, right? Do you have his poster above your bed or something?
Upupandaway
Upupandaway - 7/18/2010, 9:33 PM
"All of the dialog sucks"

@Ror- You said it! Context matters not. : ) Great review. I've been an advocate of DC using their animated people in live action and this is more evidence that this should be done.

@Tankgirl & Bleedthefreak- Try all of Batman: The Animated Series or Batman Beyond. Paul Dini is the man!
UnfriendlySpidey
UnfriendlySpidey - 7/18/2010, 9:39 PM
@TankGirl & Bleedthefreak Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a must Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is awesome too
like upupand away said:
'Try all of Batman: The Animated Series or Batman Beyond. Paul Dini is the man!' Exactly :D
UncleDrew
UncleDrew - 7/18/2010, 10:34 PM
Jensen Ackles really needs to portray a hero or even villain in a COMIC BOOK MOVIE!!!! HE DESERVES IT!!!! C'MON STUDIOS, BOOK HIM FOR A MOVIE!!!!
MIIIK
MIIIK - 7/18/2010, 10:38 PM
Just watched it, I had a blast....it's an amazing movie!
TANKGIRL
TANKGIRL - 7/19/2010, 2:07 AM
Upupandaway thought I've seen all batman series but i didn't see his movie yet I've heard that wolverine and the x-men is great

UnfriendlySpidey oky i will check it out

but the hard anime i ever watch and i can forget it wasn't
comic book adaption it was manga grave of fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies

Picture of Grave of the Fireflies at Listal
WakeUp
WakeUp - 7/19/2010, 5:26 AM
You can watch it free here, thats what i do most of the time rather than wait


http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/movies/2010/batman_under_the_red_hood.html
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 5:56 AM
Awesome review as always, Ror!!! That made my day :)

Just bought JL Crisis and i'm gonna give it a shot sometime this week. Can't wait to get my hands on Red Hood :)

JENSEN ACKLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAPTAIN AMERICA!!! LOL :P
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 7/19/2010, 6:05 AM
My trousers just got a little tighter!

Shaman - don't you find it amusing that a few months ago everyone was saying Jensen Ackles can't act but from three or four reviews of this movie, everyone says that he is the stand-out star of the show?
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 6:39 AM
Yeah Ron, it's hillarious!

Oh, all of a sudden, some guy out of the CW can actually act. Who would have thought? Yeah, how 'bout you stop talking out of your biased asses! Talent is talent, no matter where its shown.

Jensen Ackles: The living embodiment of Captain America!
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 6:59 AM
Anil- Click the link and read all the comments about him not being able to act. I haven't re-read them all but i recall some of them even flat out stating that it's because he's on a CW show. That's just biased thinking at its worse.
superdog
superdog - 7/19/2010, 7:50 AM
great review ror. really looking forward to this one. i will buy it instead of steal it like the rest of you wankers :)
rolanddeschain
rolanddeschain - 7/19/2010, 8:04 AM
I didn't need any persuading to want to watch this, but now i'm absolutely foaming at the mouth to see this! thanks for the preview into what to look forward to. btw: If dc is gonna be brave enough to keep pushing the envelope, then i'd love to see them do 'knightfall', or 'the long halloween'. Those were dark stories, as well. If they didn't do red hood, i'd be pushing for 'hush' before anything else, but I don't see it as being necessary since they did this one
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 8:28 AM
Anill- I agree! I don't find Bomer feminine at all. And Chris Pine was amazing so i can't wait to see more of him. I'm totally happy that they got someone as awesome as Evans to play Cap. Judging from their other choices, we could have gotten alot worse! But i'm just happy that DC has finally given every Ackles nay-sayer a reason to eat their words.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 8:44 AM
I'd be up for that too ;)
Weeton
Weeton - 7/19/2010, 9:10 AM
this movie was great. thought the writers' wit was on point and the character development was exactly how i pictured. well done.

just fyi in case you didn't know: Frank Miller's Batman: Year One is the next Batman animated flick, slated for q3 2011.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/19/2010, 9:46 AM
Weeton- YAHOO!!!! It would be cool if they followed Year One with TDKR :))
Unionjack
Unionjack - 7/19/2010, 11:20 AM
Slick review ror!!

I hate the character Robin, but surely if done this dramatic, what a better way to help redeem Batman/Bruce wayne in Batman 3!!

Costume wise, i would give him the same costume as batman, just no ears, more red robin style!!
jjmeylar
jjmeylar - 7/19/2010, 11:21 AM
I can't wait to see it. I'm a much bigger Marvel fan than I am a DC fan, but DC makes the best direct-to-dvd animated films......ever.
RoClover
RoClover - 7/19/2010, 7:37 PM
It was really all that Ror says and better! I loved... LOVED... every single voice and every single shot of this movie. It sets such a huge standard for all the DC Universe Animated movies to come and it's easily my favorite of all of them. Jensen Ackles and John DiMaggio gave me chills... as well as fangirl squealing after many (most) of their lines.

My only regret is that Nightwing had such a small part in it <3. NPH FTW and also for Flash!!

BarryAllen2121
BarryAllen2121 - 7/21/2010, 3:29 PM
I just thought it was ok. there is really no tention and it doesnt really give us a reason to root for batman or anyone for that matter aside from..oh well he let his partner get killed. I honestly thought that the animation ranged from good to laughable (the cg) and all of the voice actors were good.
GORLAC
GORLAC - 7/26/2010, 10:25 AM
yeah guys i loved this, was looking for flaws like in the superman batman movie but couldnt find any really here. it was so Batmanny, and the scenes with the bats and joker i was glued to, they were filled with dark hate and coolness. two thumbs and two toes up for animated films!
mpdcop
mpdcop - 7/27/2010, 3:52 PM
I just rented off itunes... I agree it is the best Batman animated movie that DC has ever put out. Voice actors were great. Bruce Greenwood and Jensen Ackles were far better than I thought they would be. I will be adding this to my movie collection. Great review Ror
refused
refused - 7/28/2010, 5:41 AM
I don't know what everyone is talking about on here about how this movie is great. I just wasted $5 renting this thing on demand, and here are just a few of the many things wrong with it:

- There are so many direct rip-offs of both Christopher Nolan Batman movies that it would take the length of the movie to list them all (e.g., the music, the setting of the Amazo scene, the beginning where Batman is racing to save Robin before the explosion, even the look of characters like Gamble, Joker making a school bus comment, etc. etc. etc. etc.).
- Were they intentionally trying to make Batman (for the whole movie) and his motorcycle (in the beginning) look old timey? If so, why didn't the rest of the movie have the same aesthetic? It was like seeing Adam West's Batman in Batman Begins/The Dark Knight.
- The dialogue and voice characters were completely wrong, as in I could have been watching a dubbed anime for all the emotion and acting ability both conveyed (note the sarcasm here). The actors sounded like they were untrained noob actors trying to act in an off-Broadway play, and both the Batman's and the Joker's voices were real jokes. No substance, depth, or emotion with stilted, forced, and often mis-timed dialogue.
- Were the makers of the movie intentionally trying to make Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson look like they were lifted out of a Japanese animated feature? I know the trend lately has been to bring a Japanese/anime aeshetic to animated films but this is ridiculous.
- I like how the cover of the DVD/Blu-ray shows a stylized and more modern look, especially of Batman, but then in the actual movie see my comment above re: Adam West.
- The World's Greatest Detective was fooled by a latex dummy. WTF???

I could go on, but seriously, if people are amazed by this movie, you'd find more enjoyment from reading the various comics the film rips off (I'm assuming everyone's seen BB and TDK). It seems to me all the positive comments for this film are from people who just love the "character development" and "complexity" and how "dark" it is and how it's how a comic book movie should be made and blah blah blah, but these high points are in the comics, not the movie, and are only present because this film just rips off previously released work. I wouldn't mind seeing animated versions of comic storylines, but if you're going to be a hack at least try to do it right/not be as offensive. All in all, Under the Red Hood plays like the makers didn't have any good ideas/didn't want to spend the time/energy to come up with any good ideas (or even their own take on pre-existing ideas), so they just jumbled together some copied source material and farmed out the animation to make a quick buck.
1 2
View Recorder