Monday at the Movies - October 8, 2012

Welcome to Week Thirty-Seven of “Monday at the Movies.”  Our Quentin Tarantino coverage is on hold this week for two animated films that are well worth your time.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) – The DC Universe Animated Original Movies have been quite good as of late, particularly in adapting classic stories.  Here the team takes on Frank Miller’s uber-iconic Batman story from 1986 (and one of the inspirations for The Dark Knight Rises), and it’s perhaps one of the studio’s best efforts.  Where Batman: Year One, also a Miller comic, was an adaptation too tethered to its own source material, The Dark Knight Returns takes what works in the comics and strips away what won’t work in the cinematic medium.  Gone are the overdrawn and slightly dated monologues; instead, we’re left to focus on the story of retiree Bruce Wayne retaking his city from Two-Face and a gang of mutant thugs.  The film is full of action with none of the dragging bits that pulled down Year One.  Though I’m a diehard Kevin Conroy fan, his absence may be noticed but not mourned, as Peter Weller (alias Robocop and the guy who trained Jack Bauer) turns in a suitably gritty but tongue-in-cheek performance as the eponymous Dark Knight.  This Batman, though, might be funnier than the title promises, but it’s all in good fun; the satire Miller may have been attempting in the comic comes through perfectly in here, as when the milquetoast mayor meets his match or when Batman drawls taunt after taunt at armed but outgunned goons.  Finally the filmmakers wisely chose not to cram everything into the 70-minute DCUA format, allowing the film its space to breathe and create an atmosphere (especially through the newscaster segments) without merely translating only the fan-favorite moments.  Though I’m still peeved about this business of splitting movies in half, I can’t say I’m not excited for Part 2 – and Michael Emerson’s turn as The Joker.

Phineas & Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011) – Phineas & Ferb might be the best cartoon on the air right now, exuberantly fun for kids and delightfully earnest and nuanced for the over-12 crowd.  Count me in the latter, among the viewers enamored with P&F’s absurdist non sequiturs and insider references.  Fortunately, their first film, Across the 2nd Dimension, retains in long form all the traits that make the television show a real treat.  Genius step-brothers Phineas and Ferb accidentally help the blundering evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz open a portal to another dimension, much to the chagrin of their pet platypus Perry, who’s also a secret agent and the evil Doctor’s nemesis.  In this alternate dimension, there’s a more evil version of Doofenshmirtz who’s conquered the earth, while the alternate dimension Candace – Phineas & Ferb’s sister – is leading the resistance.  It’s less complicated than it sounds; young viewers won’t stumble over the plot at all, but more sophisticated filmgoers will find much to appreciate.  The story is surprisingly strong, grappling with heavy issues of loyalty, faith, friendship, and revolution... all with a series of memorable musical numbers.  My favorite part of any episode of Phineas & Ferb is always the wealth of allusions; the show has previously dealt homages to Memento, the James Bond franchise, and the Lord of the Rings series.  The film continues this majestic tradition, including impromptu nods to Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Georgia O’Keefe.  (The ending also has an odd relationship with the climax of The Avengers, though I’m not sure what to do with that just yet.)  This all comes, though, in a tight package that does not insult the intelligence of the viewer nor sacrifice emotional payoff (see the big kiss at the end of the film).

That does it for this week’s edition of “Monday at the Movies.” We’ll see you here next week!