Siskel & Ebert Review Batman Mask of The Phantasm
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Siskel & Ebert review the much under appreciated Batman Mask of the Phantasm. One of the Best Batman movies ever made.
This review was aired right around the time that Batman forever was in theaters. In their review Gene Siskel apologizes for originally overlooking this film, and Roger Ebert reflects on how it made him realize that animation isn't just for kids. Both of them reflect on how this movie was better plotted than any of the live action films thus far.
One thing I really love about Ebert is his willingness to accept animation as a legitimate medium.
…and yet he refused to accept video games.
Unlike 4kids
@@Butterratbee The “games aren’t art” debate wasn’t the ‘90s. His refusal to consider them was in the era of masterpiece games like Shadow of the Colossus which he would dismiss without even looking at them… but I cried when Hamlet suddenly sacrificed himself to save your group from the cannibals in 1994’s “Illusion of Gaia.” If the game designers can make you feel: It’s art.
His logic was that it can’t be art because the player controls the outcome where movies are passively consumed. IOW, Mario Paint isn’t art since the player is the artist and he applies that same logic to all game experiences.
In games the director controls the experience, just like a movie.
Hes an old school movie guy, the world would suck if everyone played games
@@tobe1207 For point of reference, Ebert was still alive when I posted that comment.
He died in 2013. That's a hell of a necropost.
"I don't like this Joker's voice"
Siskel, you might be the ONLY one.
what an idiot
Patrick's Crazy Place I don't like it either
Freddy Richards what?!? You're a dead man, buddy!
Patrick's Crazy Place my dad hates it too. He doesn't like the darker Batman or Joker.
He's not the only one, I don't like this jokers voice either
Wish DC animated films would get more recognition like this. And I totally laughed at the part where he said the Joker voice was horrible which is so funny becuz it's the hailed as the best interpretation.
LMFAO Hamil's voice is the definitive Joker now
Hell yes, really pleased they could appreciate this. My favorite Batman movie to this day.
The Nostalgic Critic best summed up Siskel & Ebert's review style like this, Siskel was prone to nitpick more and be more snooty acting. Ebert looked at the film like an experience and was the more emotional one.
you know there was a time before dvd and blu-ray. I grew up with this thing called a tape.
I wonder if Gene even knew who was the voice of the Joker in Batman TAS. If not, he probably would've been surprised to learn that the Joker was voiced by the same actor who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Perhaps then he would've liked Mark Hamill's voice performance better. I'm also surprised that Gene and Roger didn't even mention the scene where Bruce dons the mask of Batman for the first time. That scene alone is just plain epic!
I find it funny the one thing they didnt like is the one thing everybody loves which is mark Hamill's joker lol
Agreed, Hamil is the best Joker, Siskel is crazy if he thinks Romero's Joker is better. Jack's Joker is debatabl but I give the edge to Hamil's just because of the way he laughs is a perfect fit.
They don't like Mark Hamill's voice as the Joker?
Though I never saw this movie, I did watch the animated series. It was awesome. As for Hamill's Joker voice, it was actually fitting for the character. It's also the personality that makes the character, not the voice.
As for the argument about there being a British accent on Joker, no such animal. TriSixShot is correct on all parameters of the character, and Hamill's voice acting.
Disliked Hamill. Great review but that was a bold move. I respect it though, I think if he saw his other work a sJoker he might like it more.
If the worst thing they could say about the movie was "I didn't like the Joker's voice", then I am satisfied.
To each their own. I actually had no issues with Hamill doing Joker
Oh totally, I think Hamill is the best Joker!
@Notorious1503 Same here. How can anyone not like Mark Hamill's Joker?
@@katt-the-pig agreed. He does an amazing job.
2:08 siskel wants more of this batman, it's called batman the animated series lol
Wish DC animated films would get more recognition like this. And I totally laughed at the part where he said the Joker voice was horrible which is so funny becuz it's the hailed as the best interpretation.
Yeah I liked Joker's voice.
Only years later was Hamill so widely appreciated as the voice of the Joker.
Deathbrewer I know right? Watch years later, Nicholas Cage will be widely appreciated as the Ghost Rider. (≧∇≦)≦
+comixgod50 Nope ghost rider movies were terrible
@@comixgod50 The only time his Ghost Rider is cool is when, ironically, Nicholas Cage isn't on-screen. The Rider himself is more fun, which isn't a good thing.
The important thing about this review is that: 1: they really recognized the films intelligence and didn't dismiss it because it wasn't live action (The way so many other critics had, at the time). 2 It was with this film that Roger Ebert began to champion animation as not being just for kids. It was after this film that they started to review adult Japanese animated films on a regular basis and and any other animated films that where intelligent and might have been overlooked by the media.
Ebert was always supportive of animation.
Mask of the Phantasm and the Transformers animated movie are a great example of catching adult eyes something quite not possible with live action. Do you feel the action, you feel the visceral story even though it's frame by frame animation wonderful.
Siskel didn't like Mark Hamill's Joker voice? Everytime I think of the Joker speaking, I hear Hamill's voice. Siskel might be the only person that didn't like Hamill as the Joker.
Sick Boy not true. Nicholson’s joker was great for it’s time. One of the reasons Bruce Timm said they could make BTAS as dark as it was, was because of the success of Batman 89 which was a success thanks to Nicholson.
To be fair to siskel, this was Mark Hamill's first time doing the joker after the animated series that ebert and siskel likely didn't watch.
Doesn't like mark hammils joker?! Blasphemy!
The stalker I was also shocked because everyone loves Mark Hamills Joker
R.I.P. Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert.
You know, Siskel discovered this great movie years after it came out and was completely ignored by critics and audiences and he Showed it to Roger for review.
After it appeared on this show the VHS tapes skyrocketed and the eventual success in home video of this movie lead to more demand for the animated series, which lead to Superman TAS, which lead to the DCAU and the current DTV DC movies that we get now a days.
Throwing a hissy fit over him not liking (not hating, mind you, just not liking) MH's Joker seems like a really petty thing to complain about.
Word
True while I respectfully disagree if they never did this review the dcau would have never taken off
willam dosantos also mark as awesome as he was in this didn't get nearly as awesome lines as he did in the show
It was only 2 years after it came out that they reviewed it.
Keep in mind it was probably really awesome for the production team to see this. I mean they straight out held them up with the live action films. It was likely this review that accounts for WB animation giving green lights to lots of projects, and them being the premier in comics animation because they were allowed to go for a teen to adult audience.
Siskel is dead wrong on Hamill's voice but at least they appreciated it very much.
He's also just dead in general.
+David McCright Too soon, man...
how is an opinion wrong?
he just didn't like it
Too soon? He died in 1999
Gråskallen rutilus so in a sense hes not wrong in that its an opinion, but when I'd say 90% of people love hamills version of the character hes on the wrong side.
Siskel and Ebert going out of their way to promote this movie is emblematic of how much they loved good movies - that they wouldn't let this low-budget barely-theatrical-release animated Batman fall by the wayside when they could promote it. When they saw that good movies were underseen or not understood, they went to the mat for those movies. They promoted "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer." They promoted "Hoop Dreams." And they promoted "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm."
See, Gene gets it, he's the kind of guy you can always rely on to really understand--
"I don't like this Joker's voice."
Gene? I don't know any Gene. I thought I knew a Gene once, but he turned out to be a lie in the shape of a man.
RIP Siskel & Ebert. They showed a lot of love for good animated films including anime.
True
Mark Hamill was EXCELLENT as the Joker. That voice really fits that character IMO.
remember he's reviewing the performance from the film. seeing as how it's not mentioned, I don't think either one of them had seen the cartoon series. otherwise it's one complaint, for a film they deemed excellent.
Love Siskel & Ebert, but dumping on Hamil's iconic Joker.....sorry, have to draw a line there.
+Rhett Gedies Some people have different opinions.
s
+Rhett Gedies Oh what the heck I'll laugh anyway!
Hahahahahahahaha!
+300daysandnights wrong opinions
+Rhett Gedies Well, I wouldn't exactly say he's wrong in saying that Nicholson's was better, but it's still a great voice. I suppose we'll never know what Ebert thought of it himself.
"I watch it at home on laser disc"
Me: I kinda agree with this guy. He knows what he’s talking about.
“I didn’t like this Joker’s voice.”
Me: *flips table and throws chair*
In 2021 it's easy to forget there was a time where Mark Hamill's take on the Joker was NOT the definitive version of the character.
Jack Nicholson's Joker in 1989's Batman was seen as the best version
Everyone in the school yard knew what was the definitive take. Not a bunch of out of touch fossils 😉
I'm not weirded out by his preferring Jack Nicholson to Mark Hamill. I'm weirded out by his preferring Caesar Romero to Mark Hamill. Nostalgic bias on his part? Sure, I can give that -- but imagine growing up with Jared Leto's Joker and still preferring that to .... well, y'know, anyone else's.
You don't like the Joker's voice...
How dare you!!!
Good day!!!
I say good day sir
*puts on top hat and walks away*
Hamill really nailed the voice. It was scratchy enough to sound damaged by chemicals, while emoting generous amounts of insane whimsy. The speech pattern was chaotic and melodic at times. He'd deliver a line in ways you wouldn't readily expect...
His voice sounds like shit
@@toddreyes2487 No.
You are wrong. Mark Hamil was by far one of the best Jokers.
"I watched it on Laser Disc"
Dissing Mark Hamill's performance as The Joker would invite epic flaming today. Those are fightin' words!
They truly are
They liked the movie though.
Clay3613 Yeah, but for some people, that's not enough.
Used to watch The Animated Series afternoons after I woke up for work. Was impressed with the talented animation, stories and scores. Better than most cartoons of the era.
Now I own all three DVD sets.
Really miss Siskel & Ebert when looking for reviews. Two Thumbs Up was almost a guarantee a film was worthy of renting.
I have it on bluray
Probably the best Batman movie made before the Dark Knight trilogy.
It's a better BATMAN movie than anything in that trilogy but The Dark Knight is still probably a better movie.
@@1mccaffery879 I still suspect people who believe such things never saw Batman Begins. That's the movie that sets up Batman as the emotionally-charge center of the next two films; TDK is great on its own but it's even better when BB makes you actually care about every second Bruce is onscreen cowl or no cowl.
@@KanjoosLahookvinhaakvinhookvin i really like Batman Begins. I like it more then Year One honestly. And I agree that it makes TDK a better movie by how it sets us up to care about Bruce as a character, but I'm not clear on what that has to do with my comment.
@@1mccaffery879 Batman Begins is a better "BATMAN" movie. And I would argue it does the necessary work to make The Dark Knight good as a Batman movie, too (vs. Nolan's "Heat" with a clown and a bat ninja).
@@KanjoosLahookvinhaakvinhookvin I disagree. I'm not saying Begins is a bad "BATMAN" movie or even that TDK isn't. I just think that Mask of The Phantasm is probably the truest portrayal of Batman's character in any movie. Also with the connections to BTAS and the greater interconnected continuity of the DCAU just makes it better than it already is on it's own.
Why, why, why, whyyyy didn't he like Hamill's voice. Opinions are everywhere but this opinion sucks the big one.
Ikr
I kinda understand it just because the Joker had never really been portrayed as actually insane before, like Jack Nickelson and Caesar Romero both gave them a kind of gangster/trickster thing so the critics probably just weren't expecting it and didn't know what to think of it. I mean of course Hamill is one of my favorite Jokers if not my absolute favorite, I'm just saying I think I can see why they didn't like it
That is how critics do for living, finding flaw so I would say it's just a neat picking; the anime is perfect, if the critics could compare with some mediocre super hero film.
s2crmbhh but they made fun of the legend Hamil be it when he wasn't a legend
he is so wrong
Obviously I disagree with his opinion on Jokers voice (it's one of my favourites portrayals), but I can understand why. Coming from someone who more than likely grew up with the 60s joker, and with Nicholson's performance, it's something completely different.
Ebert is a prophet here.
He often is.
Siskel: The only person who disliked Hamill's Joker voice. Though to be fair he did just start out and Siskel seems like an old school guy.
Yeah, he doesn't say its bad so much as it isn't his preference which is perfectly fine.
That, and Roger Ebert claimed that he thought video games would never be considered art. I still respect the two critics and their monumental impact upon cinematic appreciation as we know it today, despite a minor few disagreements.
Exactly, he was an old school guy and at the time this was the "new" Joker voice, not how we think of it now as the loved and established Mark Hamill voice. Siskel is probably fresh off thinking of Joker as Jack Nicholson.
Well, I love Mark Hamill's Joker but in the movie seemed a little weak to me to.
+SuperMicklovin siskel was always clueless.. he gave thumbs down to The Crow, Boogie Nights, Predator.. enough said..
One does not simply, not like Mark Hamill's joker.
People, Siskel was born in the forties and had seen various incarnations of The Joker is whole life - his points of reference are completely different and he was entitled to his own opinion of Hamill's performance. Everyone says that Ledger is overrated, but I'm starting to think it's Hammil, seeing the ridiculous fanboy comments here...
Very fair point you deserve upvotes
I do like Hamil's performance in a lot of ways and do give him credit, but I think what most people overlook here is it isn't just the voice that makes TAS Joker work. It's the writing. They hit a perfect balance of baffoonish prankster and psychotic murderer, with an added touch of Bipolar Disorder that makes his unpredictable nature both hilarious and terrifying.
There is a reason why TAS Joker is considered by many to be the standard by which all other interpretations of the Joker should be judged.
It's the same with Kevin Conroy. It's the writing more than the voice that makes the character such a high benchmark.
tymongoji finally!! Somebody who understands!!
It's hard to overrate something that is so clearly brilliant.
I think Ledger did a fine job. I just couldn't stand the motives of the character.
I am here because of the Nostalgia Critic. Anyone else?
yes
yup
Well, sort of.
+bigoldinosaur pretty much
same
I can't believe what I heard, "I didn't like the Joker's voice" WHAT?! I'M WITHOUT WORDS!
"I watch it at home on laser disc."
Those were the days.
Before DVD.
Oh, Gene, I miss you, but Hammil is the joker's voice and will be for a very long time.
Guys, if they don't like Hamill's voice, it's fine. Seriously, calm down. I love Hamill as much as the next person but if someone else doesn't, it's okay.
Didn't like Mark's joker voice? What? Whatever,opinions,I guess.
RIP Kevin Conroy
You guys are so hung up on Siskel's dislike of the Joker's voice, then you missed the real elephant in the room:
0:24 Siskel liked Batman Forever?
The cheesy 90’s Batman films are way entertaining than the Zack Snyder movies, they don’t take it too seriously and we know we shouldn’t either. Batman, Batman Returns and Batman Forever > BvS and Justice League.
@@007Julie BvS is just an extended trailer for Justice League.
"I don't like this joker's voice."
25 years later: "this Joker's voice" is now the standard ALL other Joker portrayals are compared to. GOTCHA BITCH!
Mark hammil is the joker!
This is my favorite animated movie of all time, I loved it since it appeared during my childhood and I'm really gonna say it...... It's really a masterpiece.
I completely agree. Only a couple of Studio Ghibli films are better than this masterpiece.
"Cesar Romero on the cartoon show"
What? I could've sworn that the 60's Batman show was live action...
Mark Hamill will always be my favorite Joker. He simply gave a flawless performance and love for the role.
Glad it's not just me who takes it a lil personal when he mentions Mark Hamill as the Joker
DangerRanger why would you or anyone else take something like that personal? Your name isn’t mark hamill and it wasn’t a criticism about you?
Love these 2!!!! :) I honestly am surprised that Siskel didn't like Hamill
Two thumbs up 👍👍for my favorite Batman movie
Batman mask of the phantasm.
I don’t think Hamill’s Joker being incredible is set in stone, personally. Dare I say, it’s a bit over the top, and is more cartoonish than sinister (the reason I prefer Nicholson and Ledger). But some people will say that’s what they prefer in a Joker, and I can respect that.
I agree with that. I thought that he doesn't quite suit the Joker in The Killing Joke for example. Because in that the Joker comes across as sad, kind of vulnerable at points, pathetic, etc and I think Hammill is generally too melodramatic and bombastic for this. Tbh I've heard fan made voice readings of the novel, which I liked better. He was perfect in the flashback scenes though. I actually really like Jeff Bennett tbh
The animated Joker’s voice is too….cartoonish. Right.
Forget Siskel not liking Mark Hamill's Joker, is nobody else going to point out that he said Cesar Romero was the Joker in the cartoon show? He was the Joker in the live-action TV series from the 1960s, but not any of the cartoons.
I don't care what anyone says, this is the best Batman film, period. Burton, Schumacher, Nolan, they never got the character like this film.
... You kinda do have a point. As legendary a masterpiece as The Dark Knight is, the Nolan saga never really got the Batman character exactly right. Some people claim Michael Keaton is the ideal cinematic Batman, but I think there's just a very slight plainness to him that holds him back from his full potential... either that, or the awkward costume that limits mobility, especially around the neck. At this point, the Kevin Conroy animated incarnation of Batman remains the greatest rendition of the character to this day.
Your move, Ben Affleck. Don't disappoint us.
The dark knight doesn't even come close to a masterpiece to me. The film is over inflated by it's own self importance and much of the dialogue serves no other purpose than to re-enforce the obvious. The action set pieces are impressive but they are there to distract from the sloppy writing. The entire sequence in Hong Kong was nothing but filler and the film could have ended in at least three different places.
As for Micheal Keaton, he was quitely intense in the role. Kevin Conroy did it best. I am not bothering with Batman vs. Superman because I am sick of the aping of frank miller's batman.
Ricardo Cantoral ... Interesting opinion there. Still, I have yet to see an actually logical argument against Heath Ledger's performance of the Joker. Definitely one of the greatest Joker portrayals ever, if not the defining Joker.
I wouldn't be so harsh with Batman v. Superman, though. Just because the designs are based on Frank Miller's Batman doesn't mean it's going to be a direct adaptation. Lex Luthor certainly wasn't the CEO of fucking facebook in The Dark Knight Returns, was he? Plus, another key difference is that in Returns, Superman is already as well-known as Batman is. In the Snyderverse (yes, that's a term now), Superman has just now emerged and is the hottest topic among the populace, just while it so happens that Batman is growing pretty seasoned from his crimefighting work.
Ledger's performance was great, his mannerisms, his voice, he became his character. The writing for his character however, that was what I had issue with. His tiresome oratory about society and being the "agent of chaos" betrayed his character. He shouldn't give a shit about the world, he should simply enjoy kill people and delight in engaging Batman. Secondly, his efficiency was beyond ridiculous. He knew where everyone was at any given time and the timing of his traps were far too precise to be the least bit plausible. Yeah, you can call it "nitpicking" I suppose but guess what ? Nolan's film invites that kind of criticism. He wants to make his film the social commentary of the century and yet he wants to get away with making a warmed over Heat/Speed rip off.
As for Superman and Synder, it was a match made in hell. Man of Steel was TERRIBLE. I am skipping Bats vs. Supes. I don't care about the casting, as long as the Synder/Nolan camp is in charge, I will never watch another Dc film again.
One of the greatest movie of the Batman franchise up to par with the Dark Knight. What blows my mind is this is the first time I heard Siskel praise a movie for being bold on using animation than Live action. As I remember he was very critical with Toy Story and FF Spirits With in but to this movie he was very pleased and that makes me miss a critic such as him.
This film really is under appreciated. It achieved both the perfect look and atmosphere for Batman, and an intelligent story nearly a decade before the Nolan films were ever introduced.
This movie was one of the major influences for Nolan and his team.
I really miss Ebert & Siskel's movie reviews. I first began to watch them when I was in high school and they had a show on PBS. They then had a show in syndication which lasted for quite a while until Siskel passed away. RIP guys.
Wow...
I loved Romero and Nickelson, but Siskel was sooooo off-base with his assessment of the Joker.
I love this movie, Even the title is genius. Bruce Wayne is the real mask Batman wears, just like Andrea is the real mask the Phantasm wears
I hope before he died, someone introduced Siskel to the Batman animated series
He was a pompous elitist who loved movies and only movies.
Titus McCarthy He liked the animated TV show The Critic.
That's because he was in it and it was basically a spoof on Siskel & Ebert.
And they talked about it on the show in 1994.
This is the beauty of listening to clever critics like Siskel. He has the unpopular opinion that Mark Hamill's joker is terrible. I myself consider Hamill to be the best Joker ever and he is my favorite.
Laser-disc HA!
How can you like Cesar Romero's Joker voice but not Hamill's???
I admit - I stopped the video at "Didn't like the Joker's voice". Granted, I'm all for everyone having their own taste & opinion but... Well... It's Mark Hamil's Joker... THE Joker...
Thank you so much for uploading this. Its been years since I've seen this.
Wen batman jumped off the batwing to tackle and confront phantasm I still get goosebumps lol best moment of the film but seriously stfu hamil is the best joker of all time especially his laugh at the end people under rate cartoons in my opinion cartoons are better than reality shows and this movie is proof of that thank u bruce timm for an awesome childhood
+KAR5AVATARGT Nah, best moment of the film was the scene where he was drawing the cowl, considered giving up, and went to the graveyard to apologize to his parents.
That whole sequence was a spectacular in on the Bruce Wayne psychoses.
I love this review. Especially what roger says about animation.
they forgot to mention Shirley Walker's outstanding score.
If Siskel and Ebert treat animation seriously, why can't the Oscars?
While I agree that he is wrong about Mark Hamill's Joker. What is important about this review is how favorable they are too it and how it made Roger Ebert realize that animation is not just for kids. He did a lot on their show after that to raise awareness about animation as an art form.
My friend got to interview Mark, and got to talk to him on "Talk Geek"
what the hell is talking about, mark hamil was the joker, all the other animated voices have sucked
I was completely on board with this review, until mark hammils joker was blown off.
“I wish Warner Bros would produce more features from this animation team.”
Gene, m’dude, if you only knew what was to come…
You're too late Batman! I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!
I love this movie. It's my second favorite superhero film, right behind The Dark Knight. If you could, please check out my fan trailer for this movie that I just posted right on my channel. Thanks.
Siskel didn't like Hamill's Joker voice? That aged horribly, as he's become the greatest fit for the character's voice. Live action, 🎬 I think Heath Ledger's version is far & away the best one now. It's set the standard for all attempts at the character going forward.
Roger Ebert's opinion on animation not being limited strictly for children... yes. Dude, just yes.
I'm going to get on board with everyone else and hate on Siskel for putting down Mark Hamill's Joker. But... he seemed to like everything else...
“Try renting this” holy fuck, I’m old!
siskel only didnt like mark hamill as joker because he didnt seem to understand the history of how hamill created his take on joker for these wonderful folks at warner, hamill in a interview said that how he created his take on joker because he influenced it from seeing the blue meanies on the beatles yellow submarine animated film and claude raines for the invisible man, hamill could pull off other interesting characters in animation outside of joker
but outside of hamill getting influence for his joker
the film works cause of Other Levels
you have Kevin conroy as batman
in which his batman does quite well in similarity to Michael keaton's batman in the live action batman films
but one thing that is different is, you dont have conroy's batman say the goofy comical one liners keatons batman's does in the live action batmans for a laugh from the audience like "you want to get nuts, lets get nuts"
here you have conroy's batman saying stuff that gets the attention of the audience
I'm just here to see people react to siskel not liking the jokers voice.
agreed
How about "Ebert, the Mask of never getting an orgasm" LOL
Excellent S and E...good review
Mark Hamill's depiction of the Joker is awesome Siskel.
everyone laughs when i tell them this is one of my favorite movies. i'm so glad siskel and ebert are on my side!
I'm surprised, they never gave good reviews to any good movie or animated back then. They liked foreign movies mostly. You know it's damn good when they like it and it's one of my favorites 👍I agree first time I heard Mark as joker I didn't like him as the voice but it took time for me to like him and I mean animated series and phantasm movie, and now Mark is the ONLY and best joker voice like Kevin is BEST Batman voice still in my opinion. Others have been good over the years and well done.
This is actually about as good as The Dark Knight.
He was famously the best Joker voice ever.
Hamill's joker is so underrated. It's clear Siskel never watched any Batman the animated series.
That voice almost changed how dark the character could be on tv/film, and I love it!
Every comment be on the jokers voice