All-time Batman story. Easily one of the most neurotic Batmans ever- you can totally see the influence this has on Pattinon’s approach. He’s SUCH a fucking freak. Loved how this portrayed Bruce’s parents/their memory as a dominating, terrifying force to Bruce. He’s so afraid of them. He’s afraid of being HAPPY. His trauma takes on a religious import in this movie and it casts the central conflict, his relationship with Andrea, and the city of Gotham into this sphere of greek tragedy. It’s so fucking good, and a perfect understanding of the gothic appeal of a good Batman story.
Buce kneeling before their grave, looking up at the Wayne “W” which is then mirrored by Batman peering up at the bat-signal hanging in the clouds over the city…what could they mean by this? So many have connected those symbols, but this is the only one where I can really feel the connection. The Wayne identity and Batman are both fragments of a self Bruce is constantly trying to rebuild, the same force with different faces, compelling him to sacrifice himself before them.
I’m about to sound like someone who only eats at Planet Hollywood, but I believe a case could be made that Batman and Superman are some of the best American characters ever. Maybe im crazy. I once heard someone say that Americans are incapable of properly experiencing grief (also very much a theme of The Leftovers) This story gets to the core of this as it relates to Batman. Gotham city is a perpetually churning moral battleground.
Cannot express fully how delightful the Joker’s appearance is here. He’s SO funny. Sorry to Andrea and Selina but Bruce is already married.
Bruce Timm is out of control horny. How this man ruled over DC animation for almost 2 decades is a miracle. We are so lucky. This man’s particular sexual paraphilia spreading into every corner of the dc universe has been a true gift to the animated medium. He should be locked up. How was he allowed to do this??