Here Are 7 Reasons Why This Underrated Masterpiece Is the...

Here Are 7 Reasons Why This Underrated Masterpiece Is the Best Batman Movie Ever (and It's Not 'The Dark Knight')

Nightwing smiling confidently in Batman: Under the Red HoodImage via Warner Home Video

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While Marvel Studios may dominate the Hollywood box office (for the time being), DC Comics has not been behind or lacking when it comes to films, either. They've had some wonderful movies come out in the past, one of the most notable being Christopher Nolan's seminal 2008 thriller The Dark Knight. While that may be the most well-known at the moment, the company has had some real bangers that have flown under the radar, including one that could even be considered the best.

Batman's always been the standout hero of DC Comics, so it only makes sense that they've put the most effort into his solo movies, both animated and live-action. The Caped Crusader has starred in the studio's best work, and that much can be seen through what some consider the all-time best DC film: 2010's Batman: Under the Red Hood. There's yet to be a DC flick that not only shows why the character of Batman is so special, but is such a great example of heroism. Some might scoff at this statement — a direct-to-video animated effort over what many consider the peak of the superhero genre? However, real DC fans will know that Under the Red Hood is the ultimate depiction of Batman's persona, and this list will state why.

7 It's Got Thrilling Action

Red Hood under the rain fighting while holding a knife in Batman: Under the Red Hood.Image via Warner Bros. Animation

It wouldn't be a superhero movie if not for some great, thrilling action. Batman has always had some fun action compared to other superheroes, thanks to the fact that he doesn't have any powers. He's always relied on gadgets and his sheer skill and willpower. Batman: Under the Red Hood has some of the best examples of this distinct approach, as Red Hood (Jensen Ackles) has the same skill and becomes a great match for Batman (Bruce Greenwood), forcing him to push past his limits.

What happens when someone who knows Batman's every move goes up to face him? This 2010 animated film answers that fascinating question and showcases how easily someone like Robin can become one of the Caped Crusader's greatest threats. Batman's biggest failure became his greatest enemy, forcing him to adapt in a way he's never had to before.

6 Batman Fails

Batman: Under the Red Hood with Batman and RobinImage via Warner Bros. Animation

Under the Red Hood and the comic book storyline that inspired it, "A Death in the Family," is Batman's "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" in the fact that this plot features one of his biggest failures. Just like how Spider-Man failed by being unable to save Gwen Stacy, Batman could not save Jason. He's got a pretty good batting (pun not intended) average when it comes to saving people, but not being able to save his own sidekick creates a large, vulnerable space for the character to exist in and look introspectively.

Even though everyone loves to see the hero of a story succeed, it's just as important to watch them fail. Not in the sense of what the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) was speaking of in Spider-Man, claiming that, "... the one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying," but in the sense that it creates an imperfection in the protagonist they must overcome, thus making them relatable. That's why heroes so often lose battles in the first act or two in a story, as it gives them something to overcome. Losing Robin gave Batman one of his greatest hurdles to jump over, which evolves his character in a way that no other project has.

5 The Vocal Performances Are Wonderful

Batman grabs the Joker by the collar and pulls him closer in Batman: Under the Red Hood.Image via Warner Bros. Animation

While the best Batman has always been and always will be the iconic Kevin Conroy, Batman: Under the Red Hood showcases that other actors can also do a phenomenal job as the Caped Crusader, with Bruce Greenwood being the best example. He delivers a performance that mixes the legendary Batman aura with intense emotion that helps aid the story in being one of the most emotionally compelling Batman plots there is.

Another great actor here happens to be this film's Joker (John DiMaggio). Despite not being the legendary Mark Hamill, John DiMaggio makes this Joker incredibly memorable. The highlight performance, however, is Jensen Ackles as the main antagonist, the Red Hood. There simply has not been a Red Hood performance like Ackles since this flick from 15 years ago, and that's because Ackles delivers one of the best performances in his career—impressive for the fact that it's merely a vocal role. An animated film can have an incredible story or animation, but not having good voice actors behind each character can destroy a movie from the inside out.

4 Has a Well-Executed Trolley Problem

Batman pinning Jason Todd to a wall in Batman: Under the Red HoodImage via Warner Bros. Animation

The "Trolley Problem" is a thought experiment that presents the challenge of whether it's better to save one person or multiple. In the experiment, the person must decide who the trolley runs over. One either does nothing and lets multiple people die or makes the deliberate choice to kill one person to save the others. The Trolley Problem is essential to most hero journeys, and is very well represented in Batman: Under the Red Hood. In the climax of the movie, Jason offers Batman the decision: let him kill the Joker, or kill Jason to stop him.

Batman shows the world that there's always a third choice: stop the trolley, which isn't a choice in the true Trolley Problem, and that's the point of it in the first place. However, in this scenario, Batman finds a way to save everyone, as he usually does. Best stated in films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, heroes can't save everyone, but that doesn't stop them from trying. Batman succeeds here, and it's an incredible moment that shows that as long as one tries and doesn't stop trying, there's a chance to make that third option a reality. It's part of why Batman is such an important character (more on that later), and why this movie is easily his best project to date.

3 It's Filled With Great Worldbuilding

Ra's al Ghul voiced by Jason Isaacs from Batman: Under the Red Hood.Image via Warner Bros. Animation

Many consider Batman: Under the Red Hood to be a great starting point for DC films, given the fact that it has some excellent worldbuilding that gets viewers acquainted with the DC universe in a way that serves the plot and doesn't feel forced. Many general audience members don't realize how genuinely difficult it is to worldbuild in a movie, especially one with such a rich source material. It can often feel too heavy-handed or hurt immersion if there's not enough.

The screenplay by Judd Winick (most well-known for his work in Young Justice) keeps audiences invested in the world while not distracting too much from the plot. When it comes to making a movie in a world like DC Comics', subtle yet strong worldbuilding is pretty necessary to make the plots within it effective. The introduction of Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) in Act One—how simply and easily his backstory is explained in just one line—is a great example of this success.

2 It Perfectly Captures the Spirit of Heroism

Jason Todd kneeling with Batman standing behind him in Batman: Under the Red Hood

Image via Warner Bros.

While the most recent example of DC providing an incredible example of true heroism came just this year with James Gunn's Superman, one of the company's best depictions came with Batman: Under the Red Hood. Batman's "no-kill rule" is essential to his character and heroism, and this movie makes the best case for this rule, especially thanks to the big climax scene where Jason confronts his old mentor about not killing the Joker after his death. He's bewildered by the fact that Batman wouldn't seek revenge on his arch-nemesis for murdering the second Boy Wonder and can't fathom that Bruce wouldn't avenge his son after such a brutal death.

Batman's quote in this scene — "But if I do that, if I allow myself to go down into that place... I'll never come back"— is the perfect example of why his no-kill rule is so important to not only him, but also what it means to be a true hero. Despite the fact that he's darker than most, Batman is one of comic book film's examples of a true, genuine hero, and Batman: Under the Red Hood proves it. In an era depicting ruthless, cynical, hyper-violent worlds like The Boys and Invincible, seeing heroes like Batman in Under the Red Hood is more important than ever.

1 Shows Why Batman Is So Important

Batman grimacing mid-punch in Batman: Under the Red HoodImage via Warner Bros. Animation

The big trinity of the world's greatest and most popular superheroes is Spider-Man (of course), Superman, and, clearly, Batman. Why? Because they're incredibly important characters—some of the most important in fiction as a whole. Each of them represents something that teaches people something about life that everyone needs to learn. Spider-Man represents responsibility, Superman represents hope, and Batman represents true justice, which is incredibly important in today's social and judicial climate.

Justice isn't just about simply putting someone in jail; it's about saving people. Despite all of the horrible things the Joker has done, Batman truly still believes that there's a day when he might be saved. In fact, he believes this for all of his villains and for Jason, too. Batman: Under the Red Hood showcases his no-kill rule, showing the hope Batman has for everyone to be better and be saved from themselves. Redemption is possible for everyone, and while he may be more edgy, that's why The Dark Knight is such an important hero.

Batman: Under the Red Hood PG-13 Animation Action Crime Thriller Release Date July 27, 2010

Cast Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, John Di Maggio, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Isaacs, Wade Williams Runtime 75minutes Director Brandon Vietti Writers judd winick Genres Animation, Action, Crime, Thriller Powered by

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