Batman: The Killing Joke - The Book Cut

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9.4
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9.5(13)
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Overall rating
 
9.6
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9.0
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Absolutely seamless (outside of nitpicking). This should have been an extra on the Blu-ray release. I've read The Killing Joke years ago and watched The Killing Joke last year. I'd recommend people watch this version before they watch the official release as there is no distracting Batgirl love story sub-plot.

A few issues/recommendations though:
1. The compression could be improved.
2. I think Gordon's trial in front of the carnies should be included. It's not in the original book, but it adds a glimpse of Gordon's mental state, makes a statement on the similarities between Batman and the Joker, and opens the question of what Gordon's sense of justice is after experiencing his tragedy (which is later resolved).
3. I HIGHLY recommend removing the added "Perhaps, you'll kill me, perhaps I'll kill you" voice-over when Batman arrives at the carnival as this fan-edit is now a short film and the audience doesn't need to be reminded this was said only 20 minutes before. I also found the audio editing of this voice-over to be distracting.
4. It would be nice if there was a way to edit the ending to show Batman ambiguously killing the Joker as many fans interpret this as the true ending from the comic. It could possibly be done by doing a messy fade to black towards the center and a sound effect of a neck cracking as the two are laughing.


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2 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.6
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10.0
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10.0
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9.0
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9.0
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10.0
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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(Updated: May 07, 2020)
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
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10.0
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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: February 01, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
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9.0
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10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
The biggest compliment that I can give this edit is that it's the closest one can get to watching the graphic novel in motion, like the comic book panels come to life. Having seen the original film, I'm glad the Batman x Batgirl sex scene was cut out and left to fanfiction where it belongs, though I do miss the original film's fight scenes and with so much cut out it feels rather short.

Overall, I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to any Batman fan and anyone who'd prefer a more accurate graphic novel edit of "The Killing Joke."

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Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
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8.0
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8.0
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9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This film, as short and concise as it was, is the best version of the killing joke out there! Removes bad and cringy scenes and plot points and focuses on the real star of the movie: Joker.

I think the editing could have been better at some points, but I honestly loved it despite that because of how it worked and how it managed to tell the story without anything bad within it. It definitely won't make the comic book justice, but I think anyone who watches this will enjoy this very much, and it is thousands of times better than the original.

Thanks MusicEd for making such a cool fanedit and i hope you do more in the future!

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