Micransix Crappy film

BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

werlingjakob If you were too go and rank the top ten best movie/television portrayals of Batman, Kevin Conroy's portrayal would probably be in the top five. He voiced batman in Batman: The Animated Series which was a cartoon that ran from 1992 to 1994. He also continues to voice Batman in various animated movies such as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm- which is often considered the best animated Batman movie of all time. And after watching it, I think I could probably agree with that opinion. I recently made a list of 300 movies I have to watch before I'm nineteen and this is the first movie I had to watch in the Animated section. First off, Batman; Mask of the Phantasm had a really good and intelligent story that had a really good final twist and also nicely retold Batman's origin story. It also explored some new narrative ground, introduced a cool new villain named Phantasm, explored Bruce's psychological issues, and had a great romantic subplot as well. The voice acting was on par, featuring both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill at their finest voicing The Caped Crusader and The Clown Prince of Crime. The characters were believable. Bruce Wayne dealt with some very human issues and felt very human (unlike Val Kilmer's portrayal of him in the Batman movie that came next), Andrea felt very human too. And I like how the movie examined and developed their relationship throughout the film. And Phantasm was scary, Joker was psychotic, Arthur was charming- the characters acted like they were supposed too.The action sequences were decent through electrifying, with plenty of exciting fights and chase sequences scattered throughout. The movie also paints a dark, somber, gritty, and mature depiction of Gotham that the popular 60's live-action TV series never showed. The movie's visuals, exciting final sequence, and moral are also very good too. And you would probably be surprised but I found nothing bad at all with this movie. Final Consensus: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is probably the best animated Batman movie of all times featuring an interesting and mature story, good voice acting, good character development, electrifying action sequences, a gritty tone, decent visuals, great final sequence, and a good moral. It is nearly flawless, in my opinion. Due to frequent moderate violence and consistent moderately frightening scenes, this movie is recommended for kids 9+.

ANUNAY SHARMA This screen adaptation of the Cape Crusader is far from good, let alone great. The screenplay is average at best. The direction has mediocrity written all over it. We have seen better stories of Batman than this overvalued piece. Despite being good on paper, the pace hardly picks up until the third act. The revelation of Phantasm, in the end, is not as shocking as it should be due to its tactless handling of the narrative. The predictability of the story is another off-putting thing about it.The portrayal of the Batman is gawky. He has been transformed into a desperate romantic guy from being the world's greatest detective, and that really feels offensive. While some people argue that it portrays the more human side of Batman. OK, well then how about making a romantic movie with James Bond and a family movie with Deadpool. Come on man! seriously... These guys are what they are cuz we love them doing what they do best. Not everyone can digest Indiana Jones into a family drama just because it shows his human side. Similarly, Batman is all about what he does. He is the greatest detective and tactician of the world. And he adores what he does, so do we. If not then what's the difference between Batman and other vigilantes? While It is an interesting character study, it surely isn't the best portrayal of Batman on screen.Voice cast is good. Mark Hamill is good as Joker. Andrea's character was ruined by a defective scripting. The character needed some more time to breath and hence feels one-dimensional.All in all, a strictly average affair...5 out of 10

sharky_55 Bioshock's iconic opening was surely inspired by that of the one in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. They both use the same Futurist- steeped, sleek Art Deco style which inspire the towering structures of the city, and swoop in, out and between the 3D models to establish their mood and atmosphere. The film is from a time when animation was getting more and more comfortable with these types of three dimensional sequences which turn the traditionally flat canvas into a visual playground; think Quasimodo swinging around the bell towers of Notre Dame like Spiderman, or the iconic chandelier shot in Beauty and the Beast. It's an altogether more classical rendition of Gotham City and its inhabitants, cobbling together various anachronistic elements to resemble something of a neo-noir: steel arches, fedoras, figures ripped straight from Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, shameless womanisers, bikers with chains and bats, and the long halls and longer shadows of Wayne Manor. This is a far cry from the recent realist depictions of Nolan's Batman trilogy, which evoked a frantic, terror-stricken, post-9/11 atmosphere in a setting far larger than what a simple animated figure could cover in one night. Nolan's Gotham has slums within slums and cities within cities, indulging in panoramic widescreen IMAX shots, and reflect a reality where the enemy isn't merely thugs with guns but larger sociopolitical and economical structures. It is worlds away from the moralities that Phantasm initially implies in its art: stark, boldly lined, clearly drawn. Like a true good old fashioned noir the story dives almost immediately and often into flashbacks that dole out the backstory. The film avoids the usual familiar territory that has been etched out in previous cinematic adaptations, but also effectively revisits the mythos of Batman and the fear surrounding the dark knight that makes him such a fan favourite. Early on in his crime-fighting career, Bruce juggles intimidation tactics and the conflict between the streets and the empty family home - never before has a cinematic Batman skipped the double murder in the alley and instead shown a torn Bruce Wayne bargaining at his parent's grave, struggling to reconcile his promise to clean up Gotham's grime and his desire for romance and a normal life. When he proposes to Andrea he gets more than a telling sign, an ominous column of bats curling and fluttering into the sky like the first ever bat signal. The ending suggests more of the same; that Bruce Wayne and Batman are two separate entities, that only one of them can truly exist in more than empty shape and form, and that other figures have also experienced similar tragedies and conflicts. The true success of Phantasm is being able to tie these difficult questions into what the caped crusader is truly beloved for: a hammy superhero with an entire arsenal of gadgets and gizmos who fully embraces what he is. The Batman figure has always been a little bit ridiculous - why not go with it? What will endless vengeance solve? It's a good question for an adult in a bat costume, but aside from trying to answer it, there's also classical action taken straight from the animated series and the comic books they are based on, with the type of hits and blows where you can almost visualise the outlines of the 'KA-POW' on the screen. The set pieces are appropriate; the huge, full moon illuminating the city, and the Batman and his arch-rival posed like giants as they battle in the model future world exhibit. Mark Hamill is the voice behind the excellent Joker, who might be the only super-villain able to make brandishing an electric mixer even remotely menacing. With his wide grimaces and infamous cackle, Hamill turns any fight sequence into a heightened battle of the wits, alternating one-liners and swinging fists. Shirley Walker's brass- heavy theme is reminiscent of Danny Elfman's from the Burton movie, retaining most of its grandiose, darkness and mystery as the opening surveys the city skyline. And Kevin Conroy's steely tones are worthy of being included in the best of the on-screen Batman portrayals. He's just, formidable, unwavering - until he is confronted with a glimpse of a second chance at a different life.

lewiskendell Superhero fans of my generation had tons of great cartoons to watch while we we're growing up, and Batman: The Animated Series was right up there among the best. It combined action with a cool art style and serious plots that made the show just as appealing to adults as it was to kids. Mask of the Phantasm is a side-story of that amazing show, so it's no surprise that I still love it all these years later.Phantasm works so well because it pairs the usual themes of the show with an extremely bittersweet love story and tons of the detective elements that are always present in Batman's best tales. Equal time is spent with the present day mystery of the Phantasm, and Bruce's early experiments with vigilante justice. It's great to see Bruce Wayne get equal focus in the story, and in many ways the scenes with him out of costume are the most interesting and pivotal to the story. The Joker plays a crucial part in the plot, and a woman is introduced who had a powerful influence on Bruce's decision to become Batman. What more could the true Batman fan ask for? Mask of the Phantasm is worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as The Dark Knight and Batman Returns. There's a classic story within its animated trappings.