07-28-2016, 06:55 PM
Normally this would be in the DVD thread, but Fathom events (known for MST 3K theater simulcasts) hosted a 1-night theatrical showing of this straight-to-DVD release. It sold out quickly and they had to add additional showings.
There were no "Coca-cola first look" infomercials and the crowd was excited and rowdy. A very 'Comic-Con' feel.
They showed some upcoming event previews including "The Shining" and "Planet of the Apes". Apparently Dee Dee has never seen "The Shining", time for a big-screen introduction.
Greg knows I'm a fan of "The Killing Joke" so wouldn't miss a theatrical premiere.
Unfortunately they "Hollywoodized" it and created a Batman/Batwoman sexual relationship in the first half of the movie. This was weird and disrespectful of the Batman franchise. Batman does not have sex while working. Bruce Wayne is constantly in bed with debutantes and occasionally Catwoman or Talia al Ghul but never in uniform. Also, Batwoman is his protege and Commissioner Gordon's daughter so ewwww.
The second half was a respectful telling of the "Killing Joke" main story about the origin of The Joker.
[Spoiler Alert - If you plan on watching or reading the source mateerial, stop here]
The Joker was originally a sad-sack comedian with a pregnant wife whose day gig was as a biochemist at a local chemical facillity. After losing his job he agrees to help some gangsters rob the playing card company next door to his previous employers laboratory. Apparently they had no hired security making them an easy gateway to playing-card factory fortunes. The gangsters make him wear a "Red Hood" - a red-tinted helmet that impairs his vision and makes him a target for police as the ringleader. Even after learning his wife and unborn child have died in a freak accident he is forced to help the gangsters.
Anyway - after firing this guy the lab gets some security which surprises the gangsters. Batman assists in the takedown and the "Red Hood" falls off a catwalk and into a vatof chemicals that turns his skin white, his lips red and his hair green. Ta-Dah!
His mind snaps and he does all the Joker things we know and love.
He eventually gets it into his head that he is a normal guy that was driven over the edge. To "Prove a point" he shoots Commisioner Gordon's daughter, kidnaps him and shows him bloody pictures of her naked, wounded body.
Batman shows up to rescue him and Gordon implores him to to take The Joker down "By the book", showing he is still sane and not driven mad for revenge.
So - The first half was terrible, but the second half (with Mark Hamill as The Joker) was fantastic. It was also fun seeing this in a sold-out theater with dedicated Batman fans (translate - no cell phones out) was a hoot. I hope Fathom does more limited events giving us a chance to see classics and straight-to-video releases in a theatrical setting.
The bad? $11.00 for a whiskey and ginger at the theater bar. I didn't buy one, but seriously?
There were no "Coca-cola first look" infomercials and the crowd was excited and rowdy. A very 'Comic-Con' feel.
They showed some upcoming event previews including "The Shining" and "Planet of the Apes". Apparently Dee Dee has never seen "The Shining", time for a big-screen introduction.
Greg knows I'm a fan of "The Killing Joke" so wouldn't miss a theatrical premiere.
Unfortunately they "Hollywoodized" it and created a Batman/Batwoman sexual relationship in the first half of the movie. This was weird and disrespectful of the Batman franchise. Batman does not have sex while working. Bruce Wayne is constantly in bed with debutantes and occasionally Catwoman or Talia al Ghul but never in uniform. Also, Batwoman is his protege and Commissioner Gordon's daughter so ewwww.
The second half was a respectful telling of the "Killing Joke" main story about the origin of The Joker.
[Spoiler Alert - If you plan on watching or reading the source mateerial, stop here]
The Joker was originally a sad-sack comedian with a pregnant wife whose day gig was as a biochemist at a local chemical facillity. After losing his job he agrees to help some gangsters rob the playing card company next door to his previous employers laboratory. Apparently they had no hired security making them an easy gateway to playing-card factory fortunes. The gangsters make him wear a "Red Hood" - a red-tinted helmet that impairs his vision and makes him a target for police as the ringleader. Even after learning his wife and unborn child have died in a freak accident he is forced to help the gangsters.
Anyway - after firing this guy the lab gets some security which surprises the gangsters. Batman assists in the takedown and the "Red Hood" falls off a catwalk and into a vatof chemicals that turns his skin white, his lips red and his hair green. Ta-Dah!
His mind snaps and he does all the Joker things we know and love.
He eventually gets it into his head that he is a normal guy that was driven over the edge. To "Prove a point" he shoots Commisioner Gordon's daughter, kidnaps him and shows him bloody pictures of her naked, wounded body.
Batman shows up to rescue him and Gordon implores him to to take The Joker down "By the book", showing he is still sane and not driven mad for revenge.
So - The first half was terrible, but the second half (with Mark Hamill as The Joker) was fantastic. It was also fun seeing this in a sold-out theater with dedicated Batman fans (translate - no cell phones out) was a hoot. I hope Fathom does more limited events giving us a chance to see classics and straight-to-video releases in a theatrical setting.
The bad? $11.00 for a whiskey and ginger at the theater bar. I didn't buy one, but seriously?
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