So you've heard the news about the animated version of Batman Killing Joke and you're a little incredulous that anything could surpass Snyder's Batman and Robin in it's level of rubbishness? Well don't be, it really is that bad, it's so bad, that even after watching it, you're left doubting your own senses. There's the extra bit of course, which takes up a full half hour and bit of the, just over one hour, sixteen minutes running time. And my god, is the added material awful, it's not just tedious, it's a travesty, a festering appendix begging the immediate attention of a rusty scalpel blade. It not just that I'm afraid though, when it came to the actual Killing Joke part of the animated Killing Joke film, you know the bit that actually deals with the story from the book and not something spawned from the mind of a juvenile after they've awakened from a wet dream, is wholly inept. They couldn't even get the most basic elements right, those visual mnemonics that link the flashbacks are missing or unrecognisable; how does that happen for flip's sake?
Something went badly wrong here, the prologue embodied in the new material is so badly plotted and scripted, it's almost as if it's a case deliberate sabotage. I don't just mean the editorial interference, which is just so woefully evident and completely undermines Alan Moore's narrative but the execution is like an episode of Scooby Do or something you read on the back of a chewing gum card. No one writes that bad, not unless they're an underpaid scribe chained to a desk in the cellar, who only gets to see daylight once a year.
The iconoclasm is unrelenting, they don't even leave the ending alone, there's that little respect for the source material. Those responsible for this catastrophe should beg the forgiveness of everyone who ever bought a copy of The Killing Joke, just before being stripped naked and beaten with birch twigs that have stood marinating in chilly for a year.
"For flip's sake"? I'm shocked and dismayed to see such language on your blog, DSE. I didn't know you knew such words.
ReplyDeleteNow, why don't you tell us what you really think of The Killing Joke DVD?
What i really think is that I'm shocked and dismayed that a studio and a publisher, with resources that probably have nine noughts on the end of 'em, can't accomplish the task a few fans with a pair of scissors, a scanner and a microphone could. What they are pretty adept at is hype, issuing threats and take down notices; none the less I see that a version of the excellent fan produced audio drama based on the Killing Joke, is still floating around on the interweb. It's usually labelled a motion comic, although thankfully, there is actually any of that crummy motion comic animation in it. Catch it while you can if you haven't already seen it.
DeleteThe other things that the animated Killing Joke engenders is sadness and depression. It's sad that all those talented people working on the project wasted their effort. It's sad they could've been duped, coerced or whatever, into participating in the debacle because there's a few names attached to the project that lend it a credibility it doesn't merit. It's depressing that the legacy of the Killing Joke, an imperfect but singularly engaging, thoughtful and artful work, couldn't be tolerated. No it had to be improved, updated, editorialised or whatever flippin' verb you'd like to employ as euphemism for the butchery it has suffered.
I know Moore is a bit of knob but that creative types for you, they're submitted to unreasonable and abnormal demands upon their skills so don't expect them not have a egg on their sweater when they answer the door to you. There's no excuse for the kind of disrespect embodied in the Animated Killing Joke. It's an attack on creative integrity and assault on artistic liberty. It's disingenuous, if they hate The Killing Joke that much, they should be honest and offer a bounty on copies so they can burn them.
But did you like it?
DeleteI'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on that on question but if you're tempted to make a wild speculative guess, you could always infer an answer from the reply above.
DeleteOh well, I guess I'd better read it then. You like to make a guy work for an answer, don't you?
DeleteGenerally the most effective means by which answers to written questions are garnered is by, you know--reading the reply. That is though a rather conventional approach to the task, if ESP, tarot cards or tea leaf divining should provide a more comfortable solution, who am I to foist the conventional wisdom upon anyone who might prefer those means?
DeleteUnless one knows the answer to the question in advance of course. But how would one know one knew the answer unless one read the question and then realized one knew the answer? Aha! That's where the ESP comes in. (Mine was having a rest.)
DeleteI don't understand any of that Kid but I don't have the benefit of being ruler of eight quarters.
DeleteI used to watch that programme when I was a mere kidlet. It was...Ace!
DeleteYeah, I remember it fondly, problems is though, it's been mostly whipped. The final season survives but they'd toned down the spooky stuff by then. We still have the song though to keep those memories alive: Jet white dove, snow black snake...
DeleteIt's not only been 'whipped', it's been wiped as well. They weren't taking any chances, eh?
DeleteThinking about it, that's probably a mistake, I think they only did the whipping at the BBC.
Delete