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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Warner Bros. Pictures
Salesrank: 67644
Released: December 21, 1999 |
| Our Price: $4.33 |
| Used Price: $0.63 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in Batman: Mask of Phantasm, "one of the most imaginative films of the past year" (Chuck Rich, Westwood One). Only here will you discover all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and the most grueling battle of Batman's life - the choice between his love of a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of Phantasm is a "mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving" (Cincinnati Enquirer) and a film no fan should be without! Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his name? Year: 1993 Director: Eric Radomski Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda
Description of Batman - Mask of the Phantasm:
Although the live-action Batman franchise faltered artistically after Tim Burton gave up control, the slack was taken up by the Saturday morning cartoon show, whose creators are responsible for this feature film. Though a cartoon, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is less cartoonish than the popular '60s TV show (which spawned its own movie, Batman: The Movie). Mask of the Phantasm combines the noir of the original comic book, the violence and dark humor of the Dark Knight comic book revision, and Burton's two movies.
In Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, everyone's favorite schizophrenic billionaire crime fighter is investigating the murders of several prominent gangsters. Meanwhile, his ex-fiancée and her father are back in town. Through flashbacks, these two death-obsessed kids are shown falling in love (she lost her mother; he lost both parents--of course, they meet in a graveyard), until she leaves quickly and mysteriously. Along the way, there's a short course in the origins of the Batman costume and the origins of the Joker (voice of Star Wars' Mark Hamill!), a big fight with the smoke-enshrouded Phantasm character, who is suspected of killing the gangsters, and an even bigger fight with the Joker at the abandoned Gotham World's Fair grounds. Altogether, a good ride. --Andy Spletzer
Batman - Mask of the Phantasm Reviews:
Batman animated full length film on dvd. 
2009-12-06 - Much like Batman, the animated series, from the 90's, but in full length movie form. One interesting thing about the style of the animation, is that it resembles, the 30 and 40's time period, based upon the cars depicted in the film, the use of gangsters, the clothing and architecture, but televisions and computers are also available. Good action, animation, and Batman/Bruce Wayne characterization, as well.
batman 
2009-10-29 - kevin conroy is the best batman voice ever. I watched this movie many times. i love it
Better Than Live-Action
2009-10-08 - This is far superior to any recent Batman film (including Dark Knight). For some odd reason, Bruce Timm and the rest of the people behind the DCAU seem to almost get it right everytime. The animation is perfect, the voices are stellar and the stories are compelling and emotional. Like I said earlier, now that the hype over The Dark Knight has died down, I've went on to praise why the other Batman films are better. After Ledger died, I think that's what made the movie so big; an actor's last finished film role (but like I've stated earlier he did a terrific job, though honestly I went to see it due to my liking of the characters and had no idea who Ledger was or what he'd done before and was a little angered at why they didn't get a more seasoned actor to do the role). And also the film's story served more as a character study than what's been done before in the superhero genre (which again is terrific and different). This is done better because its a more personal story than any of the others. Some one frames Batman for the murder of several gangsters while at the same time his former lover comes back to the city (and I must say, she got a lot farther with him than Talia and Catwoman ever did). Even the Joker fits into all this and he's not even featured in most of it. I won't go into the details of the plot as it can be a bit confusing to explain. I did like the emotional struggle within Bruce when he was younger about either going along with the plan or settling down with Andrea. One of my favorite scenes is when he's at his parents grave, practically begging to let him move on. And then when he finally proposes to her, a flock of bats erupts out of the ground, insinuating the fact that he can never be in a real relationship. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles of Batman and Joker. Conroy gets to spend a little more time as Bruce and "shows" the emotion of a man torn between his duty and love. Hamill is the definitive voice of the Joker and the animated version is actually my favorite interpretation of the character. He's not totally insane and he's not the annoying clown figure of the 50s comics. He's an amalgam of both and though the character hardly features until half-way through, he steals every scene he's in. And that laugh is just creepy. If I was in a dark alley and I heard Hamill's laugh and Ledger's laugh, I'd probably be more scared of Hamill's. Dana Delany (who would later provide the voice of Lois Lane on Superman: TAS) also delivers an emotional performance as Andrea, who represents the path that Bruce can take if he ever crosses the line and just murders those he fights. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. is my favorite incarnation of Alfred. His touching speech at the end towards his master is another favorite emotional scene. Musc wise, Shirley Walker (along with other series' regular composers) delivers a score that's emotional (mainly Bruce and Andrea), action scenes (Batman being chased by cops) and a little creepy (the Phantasm's theme, the Joker and whenever they use the organ). Even her main theme for Batman gets a cinematic upgrade, setting the ominus and forboding tone of the film. If only Warner Bros. had given Timm and Co. the two years an animated film needs, I'm sure this would've been a high-grossing film. Even Siskel and Ebert gave it a more positive review than Returns and Forever.
An old favorite has finally come home
2009-09-19 - I remember seeing previews on television for this movie a month before I turned three years old. I have a December birthday, and I wanted to go see it in theaters in honor of that; but Mom and Dad wouldn't take me. Now that I think about it, they probably didn't want to deal with the possibility of a frightened child in a theater; nonetheless, it rankled me at the time.
I don't remember how long it took me to finally see Phantasm; I think I was five, but the memory is fuzzy. I saw it on Cartoon Network, and it blew me away. I'm almost nineteen now, and my sister gave it to me on DVD in honor of graduating high school and getting into a good college.
I finally popped it in tonight, and it's just as powerful and heartbreaking as it was when I was five. I broke down completely at the end, when Bruce finds the locket, and I swear I never cry at movies, but then that scene came and I just started wailing. I cried all the way through the credits, and five minutes after that. I can't even describe what I felt, except that it was heartbreak and sadness and the knowledge that Bruce Wayne will never have a happily ever after. I haven't sobbed so hard in years.
So if there are any doubts about whether or not you should buy this movie, let those doubts be dispelled. This is a true masterpiece. The animation is beautiful, and the voice acting is spot on (fans of Superman: The Animated Series will hear a familiar voice). The story is very simple, but sometimes simple is best. It feels like you're right next to Batman the whole ride, feeling his loneliness and isolation as happiness keeps slipping through his fingers.
The Reason DC Comics Created Batman In the First Place
2009-06-21 - This was the best of the whole Batman antimated lineup.That includes The Batman and it's related counterparts. The 70-some minute feature gave a view of Bruce Wayne's love and sex life, as well as his trouble with women.Also,violence may not be a strong role, but what there is of it is awesome.I have been a Batman fan for years and have never seen this movie until now.The film is rated PG but the amount of violence and sexual references makes it seem like it should be rated PG-13.But don't worry, any sexual references will fly right over your kid's head.All I can say is after seeing it, I stood up and clapped for 2 whole minutes.It's the ultimate Batman experience.
