The Mask (1994)

Directed by: Charles Russell

Story by: Michael Fallon

Screenplay by: Mike Werb

Bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss is transformed into a manic superhero when he wears a mysterious mask.

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As I've become interested in comics, there's one comic that started that interest. I watched a video about how the comic The Mask is based on is actually super violent. I haven't been able to order those comics yet, but I definitely want to come back to those.

I've only seen The Mask once before, and while I knew it's not violent, I still wanted to see it again, mostly to imagine what it would be like if it was like the original.

The biggest factor which makes this movie the way it is, is of course Jim Carrey's bat shit insane performance. His comedy has always been very over the top expressive, because even though we know he is a talented actor, he's even more talented at making all those faces. The thing is, it's not always as funny as it's probably meant to be. The only scene where that expressiveness was actually funny was when his character Stanley Ipkiss dreams  how he's sexy and suave with Cameron Diaz's character, but Jim Carrey is still being very... Jim Carrey. It's because he's trying to be so suave the expressions are so out of place. Everywhere else when he's being the Mask it's just off-putting. Just like the CGI, dear god...

According to the Trivia on IMDb, on the violent and dark nature of the original comics, "the movie script started off in that tone before being transformed as a vehicle for Jim Carrey's unique comedy." That makes a lot of sense because when Ipkiss first becomes The Mask, it feels like you're just watching Jim Carrey being weird. Towards the end it feels less like that, luckily, but before the real conflicts in the story happen, it's kind of a one man show, and a poor one at that.

But the thing is... Imagine if the movie was as violent as the comic. And imagine Jim Carrey giving that exact same bat shit crazy, over the top, cartoonish performance while everything was super violent. That would be so fucked up, and it would definitely be an interesting movie.

The problem with the comedy of this movie is that it's just fast-paced weirdness. It probably comes from the era of weird movies that were weird just for the sake of being weird. There are still few good jokes and gags that actually made me laugh out loud.

The Mask doesn't really leave and impression on me, apart from being super weird yet boring. There's something it needs, and considering my taste, I'd like it to be more violent and dark. I guess people like this, and of course I can see why. Jim Carrey is kind of charming, and if you like this kind of comedy, and you like the way it mixes with the semi-serious criminal plot, it's obviously a movie for you. It just doesn't do much for me.

☆☆☆

3 / 10

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

Directed by: Brandon Vietti 

Written by: Judd Winick

There's a mystery afoot in Gotham City, and Batman must go toe-to-toe with a mysterious vigilante, who goes by the name of Red Hood. Subsequently, old wounds reopen and old, once buried memories come into the light.

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Batman: Under the Red Hood differs a lot from the previous animated Batman movies I've reviewed. It has a different look, tone and sound. Unlike Mask of the Phantasm or Mystery of the Batwoman, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the animated series. The tone is much darker, and the cast is completely different.

The animation in this movie is beautiful, flows really well and it's even really impressive at times. I like the simple look of the series, but for a movie this style really works well.

Actually finding out about the cast was the point where I almost lost my interest. The cast is still talented, but I just adore Kevin Conroy and especially Mark Hamill. I like John DiMaggio in his other roles, but him as Joker? He did a good job, and so did pretty much everyone, but it just doesn't feel right.

The story of the movie is great, but the structure feels clumsy. The beginning just isn't that capturing, and the fact that it starts with a brutal torturing and death and then skips to five years later, it's just annoying. As the story went on, I managed to really get into it, and eventually I really, really like it. It's just a shame that a movie only lasts 75 minutes, and it just doesn't manage to capture the audience immediately. Also I'm glad the twist comes early because it's just too obvious, so no one has to pretend they don't get what's going on.

I also like about how this movie deals with philosophy and morals behind Batman. There are two views to how he operates, and neither one is wrong. We get why Batman doesn't really kill anyone, but I think everyone has at one point wondered, why the hell doesn't he just kill some of the most dangerous villains, who will just keep breaking out of Arkham Asylum and killing people. These are some aspects of Batman's character I'm never tired of exploring.

This movie is great when it gets great, and has interesting and cool things in it. With some fixing it could be even more amazing, but I'm kind of alright with what we got.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

7 / 10

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

Directed by: Curt Geda

Sequence  directors: Jennifer Graves & Tim Maltby

The Dark Knight must contend with a mysterious female vigilante who emulates him, but to a more ruthless degree.

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The DVD box that contains Batman: Mask of the Phantasm also has four other movie, including straight-to-video movie Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. While Mask of the Phantasm was close to perfect and phenomenal, this one is just... ehh.

Don't get me wrong, the mystery part of this movie is amazing. It kept hinting that I was right, yet proving me wrong a lot, and I enjoyed every minute of it. But the thing is, that is the best part of the movie, everything else is just alright, mostly because there isn't much interesting in it, except the mystery of the Batwoman.

The main villain of the movie is Penguin, who's just super boring. I guess who we should be afraid of is who he hires, and in this movie he hires Bane. Freaking Bane! He's supposed to be interesting but I just found him odd. I mean definitely better than Bane in Batman and Robin, but different from the Banes I like: the one from The Dark Knight Rises and the one from the video game Arkham Asylum.

And nothing the villains are planning is interesting. Like sure, in Mask of the Phantasm didn't have a villain with a great plan. The movie had god damn Joker in it and he wasn't even the main villain, but it still was interesting because of other things. Here after the mystery of the Batwoman is solved, everything is just boring. I'm not really sure what Penguin did, probably sold guns or something... It just didn't really seem to matter.

If something saves this movie, it's the nice animation and the fight sequences, which are something really cool, other times... just weird.

Of course you can't expect a direct to video movie to be as great as something that was released in the theaters and which was clearly paid more attention to. Still I would've liked this to be at least a little bit more interesting.

☆☆☆☆

4 / 10

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Directed by: Eric Radomski & Bruce Timm

Written by: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko & Michael Reaves

Batman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually done by a new vigilante assassin.

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I tumbled onto a video of this movie by Nostalgia Critic, and he did a damn good  job talking about the movie, because I immediately wanted to watch it. What really won me over was how the movie has interesting character study without being too analyzing like some other movies filled with 'very important dialogue', and the fact that this story is actually a mystery. While Batman is a detective, the live action films don't really have any mysteries for him to solve. 

The runtime for this movie is only 76 minutes, so there is no time to waste. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm starts immediately, and there are no scenes or moments unnecessary during the story. And the movie actually manages to be thrilling right when it starts. 

The story is interesting. Of course the mystery is intriguing, and very well written. It keeps you invested and guessing. One negative thing I might point out is that it doesn't feel like there's anything to lose. Sure, people thing Batman is killing the mob bosses, but we know he isn't, and honestly, what could the police do about it? Clearly in the world of this story Batman sticks to the shadows and is rarely seen, so it doesn't seem like he could be caught, or that anything could happen to him. Also even if the killer of the mob bosses wasn't caught? It's not like the audience is interested in their lives.

Another great thing about the story is how we see a different version of Bruce Wayne in the flashbacks. He isn't exactly Batman yet, and he considers not even being Batman, since he's in love and actually happy. It's a new side to him, and it asks and answers the question, what if Bruce Wayne was happy? Could he still be Batman?

While watching the movie I was briefly annoyed by the amount of flashbacks, feeling that they might slow down the story, but they actually provided us with some time to breathe. And I won't lie, all those flashbacks were necessary in one way or another. 

And I have to say it: one of the biggest reasons I wanted to see this movie was Mark Hamill, and I love how they tied Joker into the plot. He could've just been thrown in the mix since he's the Joker and people love to hate him, but instead he actually had an interesting role. And honestly, Mark Hamill is the only actor who has made me sort of afraid of the Joker.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is an excellent Batman movie, and if I had to rank all the Batman movies I've seen  - mostly live action - this one would probably be number one on that list. It's well-written, mysterious and while it's a family picture, it's thrilling to both kids and adults.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

9 / 10