Batman: The Killing Joke - The Book Cut

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"All it takes is one bad day."

Loved it. I've never seen the real version, and I'm kinda glad, because I can't imagine it being good with those additions and Bruce Timm's (Creator of the Batman/DC Animated Series) Batman/Batgirl fetish. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill were as great as ever. The story was twisted, in a good way, but expect that from Alan Moore who wrote the comic it's based on. It almost made my cry the sad story of the Joker. My only complaint was how short it was, but it's understandable with cutting out the useless stuff. I'd love to show it to my brother and I think he'd love it, I think he actually read the comic. I need to compare it to the real version, but like I said, the additions sound stupid and I'm sure this version is better. Again, topnotch, hope my brother thinks so too.

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(Updated: May 07, 2020)
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9.4
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10.0
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9.0
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8.0
“The Killing Joke: the Book cut” is a title suitably lacking in ostentation. Left out simply is the unwarranted, unwanted, and frankly uninspired prologue chapter of the original cut, which culminated in an awkwardly Freudian coital unison between Batman and Batgirl (whom I always saw as having more of an uncle / niece type relationship). I’m not sure what Bruce Timm was thinking with this besides a lame attempt at subverting fan expectations, something that has come to rather dog recent Batman animations. 
 
A subsequently pared-down 39 minute runtime doesn’t feel substantial enough then, when animated DC movies are routinely over an hour (and that is not a criticism of MusicEd921’s stellar efforts at all). Timm should have instead fleshed out the Killing Joke story itself: the proto-Joker's pitiable home life, Batman and Joker’s intractably fractious (and potentially lethal) relationship. Heck, it was a fine idea to give Barbara more screen time, just not... like that. 
 
You see, the “Book Cut” emphasises another issue: this adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic (but brisk) Batman-Joker tale has a surprisingly anaemic, low-rent feel. The art style is fine for the most part, but the animation is janky- seemingly below 5FPS at times. Neither the legendary Mark Hamill nor Kevin Conroy bring their A-game. Hamill is particularly disappointing, barely raising himself above a vague melancholy in one moment of inconceivable tragedy, and never nearly hitting the same magical, maniacal heights for the Joker character as he did in the animated series or the more recent Arkham games. Maybe it was by way of direction, but the feature projects a spare, muted quality... nothing really connects.
 
As for the edit itself, it’s essentially immaculate. No jump-cuts, nor imperfect audio transitions to take us out of the experience. The decision to cut the Joker’s laugh is apposite to the book (leading to the interpretation that the Dark Knight may have broken his one rule). There is an argument to retain Gordon’s trial as it provides some much-needed character / thematic development, even if it is not from the source material.

There was one moment where the “Maybe I’ll kill you, maybe you’ll kill me” line is repeated in Batman’s mind. I found that to be a touch on the nose, but I suspect it may have been inserted in an attempt to jazz up another frustratingly insipid key moment. I would also say, to nitpick, the overlaid rain effect could be less conspicuous; it looks like the source of the rain is just above shot, like someone has a garden sprinkler poised over the top of the camera!
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(Updated: March 24, 2019)
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9.8
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LOVED this version! I'll definitely revisit it many more times, unlike the original cut of the movie (ugh...).

The film starts right where it should, with Batman going into the Asylum, so all the incredibly out of place Barbara Gordon stuff is taken out. This edit makes the story much more personal between Batman and the Joker, just like it should be. It also really highlights how Conroy and Hamill can still nail it even after 25 years playing the parts.

You finally made justice to this story I love so much. Congrats on the great fanedit. :D

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Killing Joke has improved, thanks to this cut!

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9.6
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Perfect. This cut stays true the comic book. I agree with greenman, Gordon's trial should be included in the cut while not in the comics, it adds depth to the story. Good job! Killing Joke, Dark Knight Returns and The Long Halloween are my top three Batman stories. I hope DC/WB makes a Long Halloween version.

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