It's nice to see dc going back to there original roots instead of having these films in a shears universe I really think this is one of the best things dc had put out animated wise since dark knight returns hush I liked till I saw the ending and I was massively disappointed in really excited for part 2 and I hope they don't change the ending to much like hush but so far what I've seen it's really good when they announced this I was excited but also worried as dc animated film recently haven't been that good if im being honest but I'm glad I was wrong.
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therealhumanghost23 June 2021
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I haven't read the original graphic novel of the long Halloween, so I was excited to go into this with an open mind and a fresh take on this story. I'll admit I was skeptical given the recent wasted potential of both the killing joke and death in the family, but I'm proud to say the delivery was exactly what I wanted
First praise, the voice acting is incredible! Jensen Ackles to no surprise works so well as Batman, Josh Duhamel is an incredible Harvey Dent and disappears into the role, Naya Rivera was an incredible catwoman may she Rest In Peace, Troy Baker is an excellent Joker, and countless other examples. Very good casting choices, and excellent work by the actors
As for the story, I'm so glad I get to come in knowing nothing because this is a legitimately excellent mystery! Without giving away too much, I've changed my guesses so many times as to who holiday is, because there's more curveballs in here than a Rian Johnson movie. I love the pacing, the tone, the suspense, the action, and the way the characters interact with one another. It's almost poetic
The animation is stellar at best, but at worst it needs a bit more work. The landscapes and backgrounds are gorgeous to look at, but some of the characters could do with a few touch ups here and there. These are mostly nitpicks because for all intents and purposes, I think this was very well animated, even by today's standards
Any problems I have with the movie can be overlooked, but I still want to address them. There are more than a few moments where I feel like certain characters should not have come out of the situations they were in unscathed, or at the very least needed a moment to recover, and they can usually walk it off. I also don't know what's exactly Gilda's deal, if she has some sort of issue going on mentally/physically and I'm hoping for an explanation soon, but if it's left unexplained she does come across as a bit irritating. I don't think she's a bad character by any means, but I am hoping she grows on me a little better in part 2
So to sum everything up, I love this movie and I'm so eager to see part 2 when it's released. This is what I love to see in Batman movies, and I think it might be up there with some of my favorites. -
The animation the tone the background music the cast everything is excellent in setting up the type of the batman animated movie we would like to see. It portrays batman in his early years so he has less of detective skill than we are used to which may be covered in part 2 but this movie is as satisfying as a batman movie could be. Do give it a watch.
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From his first appearance in 1939, everyone's favorite capped crusader Bruce Wayne/Batman and his extended universe has continued to provide eager readers/viewers with a raft of eclectic content that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
From the colourful and over the top shenanigans of the Adam West starring TV show, the Gothic goodness of Tim Burton's world, the grittiness of Nolan's Dark Knight period or the confronting nature of Joker, Batman's world can provide a range of entertainment options for any type of viewers wants and desires, with latest animated adaptation The Long Halloween, Part 1 a solid new addition to the ever expanding cinematic catalogue of Batman iterations.
Based on Jeph Loeb's series of graphic novels that first rose to fame in 1996, it's taken some time for the story of Batman investigating a series of grizzly murders taking place on key holiday dates to make its way to a feature length adaptation finality but thanks to Chris Palmer and screenwriter Tim Sheridan, this complicated and intriguing story of murder, mayhem and mystery is vividly bought to life in this first part of a two part series that will have viewers waiting with baited breath over the next few weeks anticipating the next instalment that is due to hit towards the end of July.
With a great old-school animated style that calls to mind late 80 and early 90's efforts, Halloween is steeped in style and flair as Jensen Ackle's Wayne/Batman gets to work in a rain-soaked landscape alongside the likes of the great white hope of politics Harvey Dent, police Commissioner Gordon, thief/love interest Selina Kyle and of course arch nemesis The Joker (wonderfully voiced by the talented Troy Baker) with die-hard and casual fans of the DC staple likely to be spoilt for choice when it comes to throwbacks, nods and recreations of Loeb's well-regarded works.
If there was a major problem with this first instalment of the two-part feature series its in the fact that this sub-90 minute effort does at times feel like more of a long in the tooth build up for what is likely to be a more action-packed and momentous occurrence come the part 2 of this tale but at the same time the groundwork laid here should allow for part 2 of this adaptation to be a must-watch affair for all Batphiles holding out until Matt Reeves next cinematic event hits our screens next year.
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A solid and artistically memorable animated Batman feature, The Long Halloween Part 1 is one of the better examples of bringing a comic book/graphic novel to life without losing sight of what made it resonate with fans in the first place.
3 1/2 boat parties out of 5. -
StephenRcribb23 June 2021Fans have been disappointed by recent animated adaptations of Killing Joke and Hush. I've been more disappointed by the recent batch of animated films like the boring voice cast for Justice Society and the Batman-less Soul Of The Dragon. I'm pleased to say they've delivered an outstanding part one of the Long Halloween. I was thoroughly entertained. The voice cast is fantastic. Naya is quite possibly the best animated Catwoman for me. Troy Baker delivers a spot on Joker channelling Mark Hamill which adds to the atmosphere and style of the Batman animated series from 1992. All this adds up to a win win release.
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Mysterygeneration31 December 2021Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One is a 2021 animated film based on the graphic novel of the same name. Expect plenty of cartoon violence, including murders with a silenced gun. Infrequent moderate swearing, including "s-t," as well as beer and wine consumption.
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masonsaul30 June 2021Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One is the best DC animated movie in years, a dark, atmospheric and suspenseful crime drama. Jensen Ackles is a surprisingly great Batman, Troy Baker is reliably perfect as Joker and Naya Rivera, Josh Duhamel and Billy Burke are all great. The animation is excellent and Chris Palmer's direction is really good. The music by Michael Gatt is good. It's reasonably well paced although some of the time jumps are a little jarring.
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charnelx28 June 2021Where is the development? Things happen and there are long action scenes. The events cover almost a year and in that time some relationship do a 180 but there is no real reason to care because 2 moments they have is their establishment and their disintegration, they don't feel real. The investigation is almost non existent and story flails from one suspect to another without any substantive clues beyond lack of options.
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nfshrk2 July 2021Batman long Halloween part one is a very faithful adaptation from the comics. The movie did an amazing job establishing this world and characters Batman, Harvey Dent and the Joker. Jensen ackles was amazing as this younger not so experienced Batman along with other briliant voice cast. What works best in this movie is the holiday killer itself the mystery of that character will keep you thinking more once the movie is over. Also Dc animation was good too. Can't wait for part the two.
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The new DCAU movie is first of the two part movies based on the acclaimed limited comic book series of the same name by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale published in the 90s.
The movie is among the few screen adaptation of the Batman that showcases his abilities as a detective. I think the movie faithfully follows the original source material while providing a fresh update to the story for modern sensibilities. The visuals share the noir-tinged sensibilities with a Gotham City and character designs that bear a more subtle inspiration to the source material.
Another highlight of the movie is the performance of Jensen Ackles, who previously voiced Jason Todd in Under the Red Hood did a wonderful job as voicing the Caped Crusader/Bruce Wayne. Josh Duhamel's Harvey Sent also requires special praise along with Naya Rivera as Catwoman and David Dastmalchian was particularly effective as the sinister Calendar Man.
Overall with an atmospheric mood punctuated by thrilling set pieces, The Long Halloween is one of the most effective DCAU movie.
With plenty of the comic story still to go, this suggests Part 2 will be even more rapidly paced, as it introduces additional players while moving towards its grand finale. -
FilmChamp2022 June 2021I really wanted to love this. It looked cool and it finally had something I wanted to see for a while, Jensen Ackles as Batman.
However, this movie just didn't hit me or get my excitement up. Something is just missing for a good Batman film. The story skipped around so much and without warning or good transition. There was no good attachment to the characters, I didn't really care about anyone. Felt rushed.
As much as I wanted to love Jensen as Batman, he just didn't play a convincing Batman. His voice sounded too macho man and try hard. I really hate to say that because I waited so long for him to play Batman. I have to be honest though and not biased, Jensen just didn't have the Batman/Bruce Wayne in him here. Especially compared to Kevin Conroy. Even the actor who played Gordon would have been a better Batman voice given a little more emphasis.
Maybe someone will feel the same and explain it better than I, but something was just missing in this film that was capable of convincing me it was Batman.
I give it a 6 because it's still entertaining and will help scratch an itch for a Batman craving for a little bit. But if you're expecting an amazing display of Batman and his world, don't get your hopes up. -
jeremycrimsonfox23 June 2021The first part of a movie that is split into two parts, Batman: The Long Halloween Part One is the first half of the latest DC Animated Movie. Based on the critically acclaimed thirteen-issue limited series that lasted a year (from December of 1996 to December of 1997), this movie, set during Batman's early years as a crime fighter, as he was called in when the nephew of mob boss Carmine Falcone is found murdered after agreeing to aid Harvey Dent with taking him down, causing the caped crusader and district attorney to join forces to take down the Falcone crime family. However, things take a turn for the worst as a Holiday Killer is on the prowl, killing various gangsters on Falcone's side on holidays, and Harvey is showing a darker side in his war against Falcone.
Now this is a movie that feels like a Batman movie. The dark atmosphere it builds up fits with the caped crusader, and the mystery aspect of the plot is neat. Also, the voice cast is perfect, and we get a good selection of characters, with The Joker, Catwoman, Calendar Man, and even Solomon Grundy making appearances. -
Pjtaylor-96-1380444 September 2021'Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021)' is an animated crime-thriller in which Batman teams up with district attorney Harvey Dent and police commissioner Jim Gordon to take down the Falcone criminal family, while also solving a series of murders that take place solely on public holidays. The picture is, first and foremost, a detective story. It has a few action set-pieces, of course, but it's mainly concerned with its central mystery and the way in which it relates to its wider 'cops vs gangsters' conflict. This sets it apart from many of its counterparts and makes it feel much closer to a traditional crime-thriller than something more typically 'superhero'. The film, along with its accompanying 'Part Two' sequel, is based on the famous graphic novel of the same name, though it makes some major alterations to the story from what I understand. That's not an issue for me, but I can see why people expecting a straight adaptation could be disappointed. For the most part, the film is enjoyable. It has its slower moments and, as a whole, doesn't really feel like a complete narrative (because, for all intents and purposes, it isn't). However, it's generally rather intriguing, constantly engaging and occasionally exciting. It gets you involved with its mystery, keeping you guessing as to who 'Holiday' could be, and it plays with some interesting themes of grey morality. Its structure is also somewhat unique, with its events taking place solely on the holidays that end with murder, and it has several cameos from the eclectic members of Batman's rogues' gallery. Overall, it's a compelling mystery-thriller with some enjoyable action and a mature, thematically rich story. 7/10.
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jadediamond9 July 2021I guess my era of DC animated movies began with Batman: Mask of The Phantasm and ended with the New 52, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. I gave this movie two tries but I could not get into it. The voice acting was good with a slight adjustment to not hearing the iconic Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as the voices of Batman and The Joker, respectively. The beautiful Naya Rivera did an amazing job voicing Selina in her final role. This is a true Masked Detective story in the early years of Batman before Robin and the future Batgirl as a kid excited about going trick or treating with her dad. The action is very slow or nearly non existent except during the final few minutes of the film. I did not like the animation drawing style with paper cardboard characters. The post credit scene was meh. The movie was very dry and slow. There was more exposition than actual story being shown. For example, Selina had an entire relationship with Bruce off screen then they break up at a boat party. We never saw their relationship in the movie. When did Selina find out Batman was Bruce and why was he so nonchalant when she blurted out his identity? Better adaptations of Catwoman and Batman's relationship were shown in movies like Hush and Batman: Gaslight By Gotham. In other versions of Batman, there was action and suspense being supported by a great film or television score, this movie had neither. It was also weird hearing the bad guys constantly telling Batman how bad his detective skills were. Harvey Dent was also an uninteresting character in this adaptation along with his relationship with his disenchanted wife and their martial problems. I guess the house explosion was to trick the audience into thinking Harvey was becoming TwoFace and how they survived it made absolutely no sense to me. I was not feeling this movie at all. I did not like how the characters were drawn with the exception of Selina.
So I guess this movie is for a new generation of fans but it was not for me and I love different adaptions of Batman. Adam West Batman, Tim Burton Batman, Kilmer Batman, Clooney Batman, Kevin Conroy Batman being my favorite, The Dark Knight Trilogy Batman, Old Man Bruce in The Dark Knight Returns movie and Batman Beyond: The Animated Series, and New 52 Batman. But I am not into this Man of Tomorrow drawing style.
So I am not saying it is a bad movie. All I am saying is this reimagining, storytelling, and drawing style is not for me. I enjoy the old drawing style when Batman finally had eyes not the dark beady cartoon eyes like in Batman: The Animated Series, at least in the earlier episodes of the series. But if this the new drawing style going forward with the new generation, I'll leave it to those fans and will appreciate and rewatch the style I enjoy. -
hisham-user4 February 2022Part 1 of the best Batman murder mystery to date provides its audience with twists and turns, compelling the viewer to use their head, and presents a set of solid characters of Falcone, Gordon, Dent and Joker.
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Everything about this animation was perfect. The voicing, the storylines, the process of the movie. I don't remember I even blinked while watching it.
Also Jensen did a great Job as Batman, his voice was so real. He showed he is born to play Batman and I hope it happens very soon. -
margineanvladdaniel30 June 2021The design was the only thing good in this movie, with some flaws of course, but still. I remember some things from this story, in the comics, but I didn't or didn't want to remember Batman being so rookie and weak, vulnerable. I like Jensen, but he didn't fit like the other actors that voiced him. I hope they save this story in the next part.
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eprissel9 July 2021The long Halloween part one is a fascinating and awesome start to this two parter. Even if sometimes the movements of the characters can be stilted at times it makes it up with other great elements in the animation (the action scenes and the designs), the acting is great (Jensen ackles and josh duhamel especially), the action is fun, the story is great (so far), it takes its time (which sets a pretty great atmosphere), the characters are fascinating to watch and the ending offers a good shock. A great animated Batman film and I hope the second part lives up to it.
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metahumanity_0124 June 2021Disclaimer: I´m not the biggest fan of the graphic novel, either. While I applaud the artistic merit of both the book and the animation I simply can´t get into it.
If you are into slooooow you might like this. -
aastikhimta1 July 2021The plot was great once again. DC is back and there is alot to know in second part. Post credits scenes were great too and there are alot of twists coming on our way. Though it wasn't that much top tier but yeaah it was better than killing joke.
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"Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One" is a fine kickoff and jump start done in fine animation as it's take on the classic graphic novel is entertaining and interesting a mystery like feel of drama and twist. As the times in Gotham are dark as the power struggles with Captain Gordon, D. A. Dent, and the Falcone crime family all blend in with a new wild card subplot and that's the holiday killer who murders on every holiday! All this blends an underworld of corruption and terror, along the way as Batman becomes involved Catwoman and the Joker play key figures in the chain of events with twist! If you like D. C. comics then yes watch this.
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bahaevengeance27 April 2022A very good and enjoyable movie as well, Batman was presented to us in a different way, I liked the falcon character, the Joker character was wonderful as usual, the drawing I liked very much. Nice and interesting movie, worth watching.
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kimberleyrigg23 June 2021Very well done and has set the scene perfectly for Part 2. The cast has to be the best collective group that they have put together for a long time and they all nailed their roles. I particularly liked early Bats / Bruce and Calendar Man was just down right creepy. I really liked the animation the fight and snowy Gotham scenes where amazing. I am expecting a lot more action in Part 2 and some of my favourite moments from the comics.....please, please do not let it disappoint.
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So someone needs to bring some common sense into these things. SPOILER: The killer is a women, - Gilda to be specific. BUT the killer is drawn as a MAN, not just any man but a MUSCULAR man. Sooo stupid, in the comics the killer was Alberto & Gilda - both would not fit the depiction of the killer in the film. Look, the film is almost 3 hrs. & the twist might have well been Alfred was the killer, since we're just not using logic...if this truly is the case, the film is pathetic because of the plot twist.
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shootlightspeed25 June 2021This really is a return to form for animated Batman. The animation is top notch, and the portrayal of Gotham is superb. The voice acting is note perfect, my only complaint is I wish they'd release it as a compete store!