Review of Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) by Dean M — 11 Sep 2010

In this latest animated movie, we are introduced to the Red Hood, a powerful new villain Batman has to face that has managed to gain control over a large share of the drug trafficking taking place in Gotham. In doing so, he's got the attention and territory once belonging to the crime lord, Black Mask. None too pleased with this Black Mask arranges a familiar face to try and eliminate Red Hood, once and for all.

My first impression, I'm sorry to say, was that I was going to be disappointed because the voice cast used for this one was different than the original 90s cartoon that I have come to revere. Still, I've slowly managed to overcome this snap judgement with each new release, and this entry surely helped.

Bruce Greenwood plays an amazing Batman, his voice fit perfectly in my opinion. Much better than Billy Baldwin did for the same role in "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths." I felt like he conveyed just the right amount of emotion when needed, and it made all the difference. His supporting cast was just as good, save for one, that of Neil Patrick Harris.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan. Yet, in the role of Night Wing, Batman's old sidekick Dick Grayson, he came off as too cartoonish. I had trouble taking his character seriously in part because the voice didn't match the look. The other reason was simply that the dialogue that was written made him come off as some kind of putz, that didn't help. However, his role was small enough that it didn't detract from the overall story of the movie and ruin it in any way.

Our story starts with the Joker beating Batman's then current sidekick, Jason Todd, with a crow bar in some abandoned warehouse in the Middle East. Immediately you realize that this is not a toned down, kiddy version of Batman. This is your darker, welcome the real world (so to speak) Barman that you get in the comic books. As a result, I loved it.

I had no prior knowledge of this story line, and how it played out in the comics, so watching it for the first time with fresh eyes, I was blown away. The story was great, the characters were honest to what we've seen from them before (except Grayson), and the last scene in particular was remarkable. I saw remarkable in the sense that it made me feel something that I've never felt watching a Batman cartoon before.

If you're like me and grew up with the Batman animated series in the 90s, then you can appreciate this film. Granted, it is a drastic change from that Batman, but the key players behind the scenes are still involved. Producer Bruce Timm, and Voice Casting/Voice Director Andrea Romano. Remember these names, and remember that where they go, excellence follows. Since I've grown up and like to think I've matured a little since the 90s, I can't help but feel that Batman needed to as well. The live action version has, it was only natural that the cartoon does as well.

My official opinion is to definitely check this out. Your kids may not appreciate it, but even if you have passive interest in the caped crusader, you surely will.