BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1994 Michael John Legeros
Animated film featuring the voices of: Kevin Conroy
Dana Delany
Stacy Keach, Jr.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Abe Vigoda
Mark Hamill
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Running Time: Approx. 74 minutes
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"The way I see it, the only one in this room still controlled by
their parents is you."
- Andrea Beaumont to Bruce Wayne
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM belongs on the small screen. Based on TV's acclaimed "Batman: the Animated Series," this modestly intriguing film is undercut by second-rate animation that was clearly intended for television viewing only.
The plot introduces Phantasm, a fog-shrouded phantom who's preying on key figures in Gotham City's underworld. Dressed in a billowing black shroud, the villain has the police thinking that "The Bat" is behind the crimes. The crooks, fearing for their lives, contact the Joker to contract the Batman. Soon, fights erupt on both fronts as Batman battles both Phantasm and the Joker.
Meanwhile, back at stately Wayne Manor, key subplots emerge which include the reappearance of Bruce Wayne's one-time flame, Andrea Beaumont, and, yes, the origin of the Caped Crusader....
MASK OF THE PHANTASM proves that, in the case of cartoons, what works on television doesn't always work in the movies.
With the exception of a nifty computer-generated opening, the animation in MASK OF THE PHANTASM is stiff and very awkward. The blending of foreground and background movement is lousy and there's far two little detail hidden amid the simple but stylish backgrounds. The fight scenes are fluid and Gotham City looks the part, but that's about it.
The characters lack any expression, which makes watching any non-action a virtual chore. There's a load of lively dialogue in this film--you just can't tell it from spying the speakers! Only the Joker, voiced by a surprisingly talented Mark Hamill, seems to get around this problem. With his grisly grin and gangly gait, he's the only lively thing in the film.
There are a few other problems to speak of.
Plot holes frustrate as only comic-book creations can, a couple of key settings are nearly indistinguishable from one another, and the story relies way too heavily on flashback.
Zowie!
Bottom line: BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM belongs on the small
screen. Only kids and comic-book fans are likely to
to forgive the stiff animation and messy narrative.
Let's hope that Joel Schumacher does a better job
in 1995 with BATMAN 3.
Grade: C+
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