IR Film Review: BATMAN - THE LONG HALLOWEEN - PART ONE [Warner Brothers Animation]
The texture of Batman in the main DC universe is one of angst versus connection. While the bigger universe comes into play, sometimes in a more controlled setting (like animation), a different story can be told simply while not going too far outside the lines. In "Batman: The Long Halloween - Part One", the story follows a multi-issue comic art that integrated the pursuit of a criminal called Holiday (which definitely has shades of Rorschach from Watchmen"). But the psychological aspect that plays most readily is that Batman can be wrong. This story explores what happens when everything doesn't exactly work out right. The Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne connection will always be there (and obviously had a little bit of interest in the press this past week) but these are still two people with alpha personalities, strong desires and a little bit of psychopath in each of them. This is bound to lead them off the beaten path. The question becomes what is too far. Harvey Dent's origin story has been told in many different ways over time (though it is never happy) and the good thing about the Batman Universe is that it allows these interpretations without issue, especially in the same universe.
Part One also brings in different characters like a mutant living in sewer just highlighting it enough for its metaphorical importance. Joker and some other villains were present in the issue run but Joker, as he always does, takes a lead role and yet his actions, even more so here, seem heightened cartoonishly, which almost takes the viewer out of the story. Even the reasoning for doing what he does is arrogantly self aware. Harvey Dent with his family issues per se and Gordon, in a different way, seem much more grounded (and tragic in their own specific ways)...and as a result interestingly enough, they are more dynamic in many ways than Batman. The backdrop of the story revolves around organized crime with Maroni and Falcone, two well known mortals in the pantheon of the Batman universe but their story, particularly of Falcone, tells a story of family and letdown. Part One of this story ends as it should, with inevitable questions yet it also comes up short on others. Life and purpose is fleeting in Gotham but it depends how one lives it. B-
By Tim Wassberg
