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FILM DETAILS

Certificate PG

Cast Kevin Conroy Dana Delany Hart Bochner Stacy Keach.

Directors Eric Radomski Bruce W Timm.

Screenwriters Alan Burnett Paul Dini Bob Kane Martin Pasco Michael Reaves.

Running Time 76 minutes

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The Excellently Animated Batman

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Plot
Bruce Wayne has just met Andi when a string of axe-murders take place in Gotham City. To make matters worse, because of the killer's dark appearance, people begin to suspect that it's Batman. He is forced to go on the run and to try and solve this mystery.

Review
Though this spin-off from the excellent animated Batman TV series, was too dark to catch the audiences who flocked to The Lion King, it is certainly the best cartoon feature of 1993. Better-plotted than Tim Burton’s live action movies, this shares their semi-tragic characterisation of the schizo superhero and a love of the art deco gothic of Gotham City. A brooding Bruce Wayne (Conroy) is haunted by an old flame (Delaney) who has returned to his life just as the Phantasm, an even scarier vigilante, has started a murderous crusade against Gotham’s gangsters. In Casablanca style, the film flashes back to the early days of the Batman’s career as he almost calls the whole thing off when the temptation of normal life is nearly too great to resist: in a moment more emotionally powerful than anything in Burton’s films, Bruce talks to his parents’ grave trying to back out of his vow to fight crime, pleading “I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t hurt so much any more... I never expected to be happy.” Though it focuses on the character elements, it doesn’t skimp on the action stuff and the black humour, as Batman battles the Joker (a wildly ranting Hamill) in the ruins of an outmoded City Of The Future exhibit.

Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm Released: 13 June 2005

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Your Reviews

Average user rating for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Superb

Based on the terrific Animated Series of the '90s, this wonderfully cinematic tale is probably the best Batman movie outside of Nolan's trilogy. Conroy and Hamill are just perfect. ... More

Posted by Mr Gittes at 22:43, 08 February 2013 | Report This Post

Fun

the story was good, the joker was funny and the Caped Crusader was strong enough! ... More

Posted by The Great Danton at 16:01, 01 November 2010 | Report This Post

How she disappears?

I think it was the joker who stole the show from Batman. Weren't him, the story would have suck. ... More

Posted by sumiebeg at 07:19, 15 July 2009 | Report This Post

How she disappears?

I think it was the joker who stole the show from Batman. Weren't him, the story would have suck. ... More

Posted by sumiebeg at 07:19, 15 July 2009 | Report This Post

Great

I bought this movie on VHS when I was a kid and it was amazing, after watching the first 4 Batman movies, I just couldn't get enough, I'll be watching Batman Begins before going to watch the Dark Knight next week. ... More

Posted by Paap28 at 14:51, 26 July 2008 | Report This Post

You can fault the Batman movies of the 90s ...but you could never fault the animated series. So clever and dark that it OBVIOUSLY wasn't just for kids. The movie amps up on the emotion, darkness and action of the TV series with astounding effects. Plus you can't beat Mark Hamill's Joker. This ranks just as highly as the amazing Batman Begins in my opinion. ...and you should not be put off by it's supposed "children's animation" pigeon-holing. Sorry Burton ,,,but you didn't... More

Posted by SkullKassidy at 14:11, 07 July 2008 | Report This Post

Back in the day...

of around ten years ago, i was presented with this new batman adventure and have to say i loved it. Even if it didn't remind me of my chidhood, the score, the story, the characters and the handling of such a volitile character (the joker) were amazing! TOP BANANA! ... More

Posted by JCrooks at 20:47, 02 February 2008 | Report This Post

Impressive stuff. They even managed to include the homoeroticism of the Joker and hint at Batman's insanity. Only gripe? the ending...what happens to the joker? But definately worth looking at as one of the only feature-length instalments (along with Batman Begins) to stay true to the Batman character, and incredibly so within a cartoon context. ... More

Posted by jujubeans at 16:30, 02 June 2007 | Report This Post

Amazing!

Good Scrore? Check! Good Storyline? Check! Amazing Cartoon Spin-Off? Check! ... More

Posted by JokerJr at 17:53, 30 May 2007 | Report This Post

This is the batman all fans love! ... More

Posted by Gil at 16:13, 21 May 2007 | Report This Post

Fantastic

Ok so batman begins kinda treads of its toes but as an animated feature this is fantastic stuff. Was a fan of the tv series growing up and recently purchased this and its lost none of its charm. Go buy! ... More

Posted by ben29_99 at 10:02, 11 May 2006 | Report This Post

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