Batman: Under the Red Hood; A Hardcore Review *Spoilers!*

Friday July 22, 2010 at San Diego Comic Con Ballroom 20 saw the World Premier of the newest DC Comics Animated movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood. To a thunderous applause the room darkened and the film began.
The premise of the film is from the "Death in the Family" storyline where Joker kills Robin. And then picks up when a brand new Red Hood shows up in Gotham and starts killing of criminals. The ante is upped when Batman figures out the Red Hood is Jason Todd. I have to say, when I found out Mark Hamil wasn't the voice of the Joker, I was skeptical, as the Joker is a huge part of this movie. When I found out Kevin Conroy wasn't voicing the Dark Knight, I was downright crushed. BUT, to my surprise and delight John DiMaggio and Bruce Greenwood's voices were goddamned perfect for the roles. Joker was more sadistic than he's ever been, and Batman was top notch. The addition of Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing was nothing short of phenomenal.
The animation was stellar. Some of the best integration of traditional 2D style mixed with a dash of CGI here and there. It flowed as seemless as I have ever seen. And the score was first rate.
Playing into the storyline involving Arkham Asylum and the flashback sequences was a nice touch and much appreciated.
Look past the potential sin of not casting two of the all time best voice actors in super hero history, and sit back. Cause you are going to have your socks knocked off. A lot of time and effort went into this production, as well as a lot of love. You could feel the energy in the ballroom as the action unfolded. When Batman leaped through one door of a car being heaved at him and through the opposite passenger window to escape, the crowd erupted. As Nightwing quipped and attempted to banter with his larger, angrier mentor, the entire room of well over five hundred roared with laughter. And as the end credits began to roll, the whole audience gave the film a standing ovation, in spirit at least, as most of us had been on our feet for two days already and were fucking exhausted. There wasn't a thing I would have improved upon with this flick. And I honestly mean that. I am an enormous Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil fan. I would cut my own mother to have them do another movie together. But this film was as perfect as you can get. And the fact that I was there to witness the emergence of Amazo from a metal container, only to heave boxcar shipping containers at Bats and Nightwing for the WORLD FUCKING PREMIER was a really special thing.
As you know, if you've been reading my Hardcore Reviews for the two years I have been writing them, you know I base my feelings or grade for the project I am reviewing upon hardcore moments in professional wrestling history. And Batman: Under the Red Hood rates pretty fucking high on the scale. TO couple with this grade, I met Christopher Daniels today as well as saw Paul Heyman walking right down Fifth Avenue not two blocks from the convention center.... In my mind some of the most famous words ever spoken in a wrestling ring were said inside an ECW ring. And as Sandman lay broken and damn near destroyed after a three way dance ladder match in the main event of ECW's last pay per view, 2001's Guilty as Charged, out came the reining Television Champ Rhino who gored Sandman damn near in half. Rhino grabs the mic and proclaims, "If that's the belt everyone's willing to die for. That's the belt I'm willing to kill for!" He then challenges the newly anointed four time World Heavyweight Champion, Sandman to an impromptu championship match. In addition, Rhino threatens to kill Fullington's wife and kids if he doesn't accept. To which Sandman simply replies, "Ring the fucking bell...." Rhino picks up Sandman, gores him through a table propped up in the corner and pins the champ. Sandman kicks out at two. Frustrated, Rhino sitout pile drivers Sandman from the apron through a table at ringside. Drags the all but dead Hardcore Icon back into the ring and pins him.... Rhino then gets back on the house mic and challenges anyone in the back to come out and take his belt. Suddenly, Pantera's "WALK" screams through the P.A.......