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[Shadow_Lord]

I know there's the other Killing Joke thread, but I thought this deserved it's own thread.

Batman: The Killing Joke isn’t kidding around. Warner Bros’. direct-to-video animated film based on the notorious Alan Moore comic has been rated R, the studio’s home entertainment division tells EW exclusively.

The Killing Joke marks the first film in the DC Universe Original Movie franchise to receive an R rating, and the second Batman movie to do so. (The extended home-video version of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was the first.)

Starring Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Tara Strong as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, The Killing Joke is an origin story that finds the Clown Prince of Crime taunting the Dark Knight by capturing and torturing Batgirl. The original comic was published in 1988 and remains polarizing, with some hailing it as a definitive Joker story and others criticizing it as misogynistic.

“From the start of production, we encouraged producer Bruce Timm and our team at Warner Bros. Animation to remain faithful to the original story — regardless of the eventual MPAA rating,” said Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation & Warner Digital Series, in a statement. “The Killing Joke is revered by the fans, particularly for its blunt, often-shocking adult themes and situations. We felt it was our responsibility to present our core audience — the comics-loving community — with an animated film that authentically represented the tale they know all too well.”

There are currently no plans for an edited PG-13 version of the film.

Batman: The Killing Joke will make its world premiere at Comic-Con International in San Diego this summer, with a release on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD to follow later in the year.

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/14/batman-killing-joke-animated-rated-r

I am incredibly hyped for this movie, especially with Hamill and Conroy back for their roles.

 

[SkullHydra]

This is going to be so good.

 

[Sheroking]

I wonder how those "Batman should never be R rated" people will react here.

One of the most famous and revered Batman stories ever, from 30 years ago, faithfully retold - gets an R rating.

 

[RichiRamjag]

I am sooo ready.

 

[A-V-B]

I hope they really tackle the whole story and don't change anything to soften the blow. Comic was famous for a reason, might as well do it justice.

 

[Askherserenity]

Oh, shit. This is going to be great.

 

[bigkrev]

No, I was really excited for this to show up in the kids section in Walmart

An R-rating kills that!

 

[Ashby]

It's been a while but the comic didn't feel super R-rated.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Oh, shit. This is going to be great.

Have you looked at it though?

Beacuse it sure as hell doesn't look great.

 

[CaviarMeths]

Wasn't Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker also R before cuts?

 

[Maximo]

If only the art was alittle better.

 

[Merc_]

So I'm guessing they didn't remove or change any of the content then?

Well, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Dennis]

It has been so long since I read the comic I can't really say if the story warrants a R rating.

 

[Escape Goat]

Too bad the art style is crap. Like watching Saw as drawn by the people who did Powerpuff Girls.

 

[A-V-B]

Too bad the art style is crap. Like watching Saw as drawn by the people who did Powerpuff Girls.

...I'd watch that.

 

[inky]

If only the art style wasn't so shit. Will still watch it on digital whenever that is.

 

[Coffee Dog]

It has been so long since I read the comic I can't really say if the story warrants a R rating.

It only really does if they include the stuff that I would assume they would remove/reduce (the joker's treatment of gordon/barbara)

 

[A-V-B]

It only really does if they include the stuff that I would assume they would remove/reduce (gordon and barbara's abuse)

Basically.

 

[The Silver]

i remember anything in it being worse than what they got away with in the Flashpoint movie

 

[echoshifting]

How is The Killing Joke an origin story at all? It was published as an elseworlds story of the end, not the beginning. They claim they're being faithful to the original but that's a good way to fuck things up right off the bat.

(ho ho ho)

Wasn't Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker also R before cuts?

No, it was PG-13 when they put everything back in (which they did for a DVD release)

 

[Ivan 3414]

Too bad the art style is crap. Like watching Saw as drawn by the people who did Powerpuff Girls.

That's a great idea.

 

[Sheroking]

How is The Killing Joke an origin story at all? It was published as an elseworlds story of the end, not the beginning. They claim they're being faithful to the original but that's a good way to fuck things up right off the bat.

(ho ho ho)

Joker tells a version of his own origin in TKJ.

It's not an ending either. It only suggests an eventual ending to the Batman and Joker dynamic (one or both of them will die).

 

[SimleuqiR]

I wonder how those "Batman should never be R rated" people will react here.

One of the most famous and revered Batman stories ever, from 30 years ago, faithfully retold - gets an R rating.

Snyder's Batman redeemed... Or is that's Miller's?

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I look forward to the voice acting (specifically Mark Hamill).

Shame about how the film looks, though.

 

[RoyaleDuke]

Good.

Hopefully, they don't leave anything out or change it.

As for the art, I never thought it would be possible to get something animated that looks 1:1 with Bolland's artwork. So, as much as I've seen of the animated version, it's okay. It could be better, just like the animation in TDKR could've been a bit better but overall was an excellent adaptation of the source material.

We will see what happens here though.

How is The Killing Joke an origin story at all? It was published as an elseworlds story of the end, not the beginning. They claim they're being faithful to the original but that's a good way to fuck things up right off the bat.

(ho ho ho)



No, it was PG-13 when they put everything back in (which they did for a DVD release)

IIRC, most people I've talked to about TKJ say it's definitely somewhat of a origin story, since Joker's possible origins are glimpsed throughout the comic.

 

[Sheroking]

It only really does if they include the stuff that I would assume they would remove/reduce (the joker's treatment of gordon/barbara)

Well, there's you answer.

They don't reduce or remove it. Honestly, both of those things being uncomfortable and in your face is kind of essential the emotion of the story.

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

There are currently no plans for an edited PG-13 version of the film.

Good, keep it that way.

 

[echoshifting]

Joker tells a version of his own origin in TKJ.

It's not an ending either. It only suggests an eventual ending to the Batman and Joker dynamic (one or both of them will die).

Oh right, I forgot about that. Well that still doesn't make it an "origin story."

 

[Finaika]

This is going to be better than Batman v Superman.

 

[echoshifting]

This is going to be better than Batman v Superman.

 

[Shaanyboi]

This is going to be better than Batman v Superman.

Setting the bar low, I see.

EDIT: lol beaten

 

[Sheroking]

Snyder's Batman redeemed... Or is that's Miller's?

Well, this is Alan Moore's Batman.

Snyder isn't wrong that the DCU can shoulder R rated stuff. He's just wrong about who his characters are and what they stand for.

 

[Master Milk]

huh, didn't know this was a thing, but after looking into it, it's surprising people are shitting on the art

 

[esmith08734]

Can't wait.

 

[PHOTOSHOP]

funny how people going nuts for this when anime been like this.

 

[Wag]

This is going to be so good.

As long as it's 73mins.

 

[Lights and Waves]

If only it didn't look a low budget mess.

 

[- J - D -]

huh, didn't know this was a thing, but after looking into it, it's surprising people are shitting on the art

Why's that? Because that's what the film practically does to the original Bolland art.

More vid/gifs if you think I'm being unfair: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1197136&highlight=killing+joke&page=5

 

[Wag]

Why's that? Because that's what the film practically does to the original Bolland art.

More vid/gifs if you think I'm being unfair: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1197136&highlight=killing+joke&page=5

Holy shit that's sad. 😢

 

[echoshifting]

omg that is UGLY

The facepaint smear looks like fucking MS Paint

 

[Corpekata]

funny how people going nuts for this when anime been like this.

Almost like there's a pop culture figure that's mainly been associated with kids and at most PG-13 affairs involved.

Yes, anime has always had stuff for adults, but you generally don't see R rated Naruto adaptations.

 

[Rentahamster]

That comparison photo isn't too hot. Hopefully it looks better than that.

 

[Master Milk]

Why's that? Because that's what the film practically does to the original Bolland art.

ah, you're comparing it to the original medium, well i guess that makes sense then

glad that won't get in my way of enjoying it

 

[Corpekata]

The art comparisons remind me of some of Square Enix's Final Fantasy iOS ports.

 

[mariachi507]

Hopefully this turns out as good as the Dark Knight Returns did. I do wish the art was better, but I did think the birth of the Joker looked pretty good in the trailer.

 

[- J - D -]

ah, you're comparing it to the original medium, well i guess that makes sense then

glad that won't get in my way of enjoying it

Come on. Not only does it not even look like it's trying to somewhat sorta attempt to match Bolland's art style (not quality or detail), it looks significantly cheaper than its most recent Batman DCAU predecessors.

Batman: Assault on Arkham:

This TKJ animated film looks worse than Young Justice, and that was a tv show.

 

[Dark Ninja]

The current movies are already really violent so it must be nudity or sex

Spoiler

ual abuse

 

[Krappadizzle]

DC doing something right is rather refreshing. Day one.

 

[Amagon]

Why's that? Because that's what the film practically does to the original Bolland art.

More vid/gifs if you think I'm being unfair: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1197136&highlight=killing+joke&page=5

What the fuck is that?

 

[MMarston]

Have you looked at it though?

Beacuse it sure as hell doesn't look great.

Yeah, I'm really just watching for Hamill's sake.