Tag: Gotham

Posted in Movie/TV Reviews

MOVIE REVIEW: Joker (2019)

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*Minor Spoilers here*

Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. Arthur wears two masks — the one he paints for his day job as a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile attempt to feel like he’s part of the world around him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker. -IMDb

The never-ending battle between Batman and Joker is a good vs. evil scenario that will continue into pop culture history. We all know the story of Batman. Ten-year-old Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne. Thus the beginning of our epic hero begins.

However, what do we know about the Joker’s backstory? How did this man descent into such madness and psychopathy to cause great harm to Gotham City?

Throughout the Joker’s comic history, his origin story keeps changing. He has told so many origin stories that he doesn’t remember which one is the correct one. So this somewhat ambiguous backstory gave the writers of Joker the freedom to create their telling of Joker’s beginning.

I had heard early reviews that this movie was a different take on the Joker character. I am up for a unique story or a different way to tell an origin story. However, when I watched this movie, I had found a movie that I needed to chew and digest.

First off, Gotham City is experiencing not only a garbage man strike but a bad financial recession. In the comics, Gotham City has always been portrayed as the ghetto or where lower-income families live. I feel these circumstances extenuate how not only how Arthur feels, but how the lower-income citizens feel.

This film came under a lot of controversy for “glorifying gun violence”. To a certain extent, I can understand where those people are coming from. The Aurora, Colorado movie theatre shooting caused a ripple effect when it comes to movies and portraying violence. On the other hand, where the Deadpool movie was just pure chaos. I felt like the people Arthur, and then Joker, murdered were meaningful and had a reason behind each one.

Of course, this brings up the issue that comes with all violent acts, real or fictional, where mental health is the main factor. People use gun violence because it’s a tangible concept “I can see a gun, and I’ve seen gunfire”.

Whereas the idea of mental health isn’t tangible to most people who are either uneducated in the matter or choose to ignore mental illnesses. “I can’t physically see mental disorders” or “I don’t know anyone with mental illnesses” plague the evergoing argument.

Joker is about a man with mental disorders. Life keeps throwing him hard balls, and he loses his sanity after he lost his job and can no longer afford his medication. He gives up on trying to hide his disorders and trying to just be satisfied with the way the world is in Gotham City. He lets the madness consume him.

Overall, I really enjoyed Joker the psychological aspects of this and my love of the comics made this movie my favorite movie of 2019.

Check out my other movie reviews here!

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Posted in Book Reviews, DC comics, Graphic Novels

REVIEW: Batman: Gordon of Gotham by Chuck Dixon

Posted on by elishasbookreview
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*No Spoilers*

Collects BATMAN: GORDON OF GOTHAM #1-4, BATMAN: GCPD #1-4 and BATMAN: GORDON’S LAW #1-4.

Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon stars in this new collection of crime stories from the 1990s that stars the colorful, determined cops of Batman’s home town.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The first story in this volume, Batman: Gordon’s Law, Commissioner Gordon has stumbled upon a coverup of a huge money laundering bust, the only trace is the few remaining $1,000 dollar bills.

However, Commissioner Gordon refuses Batman’s aide. Thus, he starts his mission to bust up the corruption within the Gotham Police Department.

I felt like this novel set the tone for the rest of this collection. It was gritty, rough, and brought Gordon into a light not many others get to see. He might be the commissioner of Gotham City, but he’s still a cop no matter what politics may dictate.

Seeing him take on this case without much of Batman’s aide, makes you truly see how rough and corrupt not only the Gotham Police Department is, but Gotham City as a whole. Gordon is just one man, but he’s doing his best to clean up the police corruption.

The second story, Batman: GCPD includes three stories from three of Gotham City’s finest detectives. I have read some of the comics surrounding the GCPD, and I have enjoyed them. It’s interesting to see an inside look into Gotham’s police department.

The story starts when Sargent Harvey Bullock beats up a costumed low-life and his partner goes to request a transfer. Commissioner Gordon grants her the transfer, and so he reassigns Bullock a new partner. All while Harvey is dealing with a rampant serial killer, Internal Affairs breathing down his neck, and his partner getting kidnapped on her new case. As well as another set of detectives on the hunt for a string of high-stakes thefts.

I found Sargent Bullock’s case the most interesting, someone in Gotham is going around killing seemingly random men and only leaving them with a teddy bear dressed up as their profession. The mystery was entertaining and intriguing.

Overall, I enjoyed this second story in this collection. I would say the writing was good, and the characters had interesting storylines and characteristics.

The final and main story: Batman: Gordon of Gotham is as fantastic as the other two stories in this epic volume. The story is about Gordon opening up to Batman about a time in his past when he was a beat cop in Chicago. He shares a story about an assassin who got away.

I love how Gordon is telling Batman a story about his past. Both are lonely characters and to see them bonding in this way makes me happy. I just figured the this was just Gordon getting something off of his chest. Boy, was I wrong!

After storytime is over, Batman tells Gordon something he already knew he had to do: go get sweet vengeance.

Overall these three stories, I enjoyed each of them for different reasons. I would highly recommend this collection for lovers of crime dramas, Commissioner James Gordon, and of course Batman. Even though Batman doesn’t have that much of a presence in this collection, it’s not Batman’s story, it’s the hard-working detectives at GCPD who make this collection worth reading.

Posted in Book Reviews, DC comics, Graphic Novels

REVIEW: The Joker: Endgame

Posted on by elishasbookreview
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*No Spoilers*

This horrific graphic novel follows Joker as he prepares for his final joke on Gotham. He is tired of the games and his “friendship” with Batman. So this is one last hoorah. This joke, however, might be the deadliest one yet!

This novel also follows Batman as he’s trying to figure out how to solve the Joker’s deadly endgame plans and save Gotham from total destruction; not only from Joker but from themselves. With the help of the Bat Family will they be successful?

Meanwhile, a small group of inmates from Arkham Manor abduct one of the doctors and take her to meet Joker. Each one tells her these delusions on what the Joker told them. Each wants their delusion of the Joker’s backstory to be true. But are they really correct?

What is the joke that Joker’s planning? Is Joker just a man who went mad, or his he something else entirely?

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This book left me befuddled, amazed and had to ruminate about. I was not expecting the way it ended! I know I continue saying that, but I only say it when the book leaves me not having an immediate response. That’s when you know it’s a good read!

I had to do a little research on YouTube from fellow comic book enthusiasts so I could make sure I understood this story to it’s fullest content. I might have been cheating by doing this, but it’s just a lot to take in and digest. I will link to the resource I used in case any of you are interested in hearing a summary of this epic novel.

Credit for the video

The video does contain spoilers of course. I would say that this is a must read for all comic fans. I would say light research might be needed to fully understand the plot, but I wouldn’t let that detour you from this graphic novel.

Posted in Book Reviews, DC comics, Graphic Novels

REVIEW: Batman, Vol. 4: The War of Jokes and Riddles

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Major Spoilers*

This graphic novel follows the Joker, the Riddler, and Batman as a war breaks out between the two villains. The Joker can no longer laugh, and the Riddler wants to defeat the sullen Joker. Both want to defeat Batman. Other Gotham baddies are forced to pick sides and battle it out in the streets of Gotham for their leader’s supremacy.

This is all told from a flashback, as Bruce Wayne tries to explain to Selena Kyle what happened during the War of Jokes and Riddles. How many innocent lives this war took, and if she could forgive him for what he did.

This story also tells the beginning and end of an underrated hero called Kite-Man. As he’s part of the war he thinks about his son throughout. He debates within himself on whether he’s a loser or not. He fought valiantly and came to peace on the battle within himself.

This book was amazing! It was a fully fleshed out story, and the motives of everyone involved had their reasons for fighting in this war. This book had me glued to the pages wondering who was going to win.

The Joker was really scary in this book. It’s one thing to see the Joker laughing hysterically when he does something evil, but it’s a completely different story when he’s not laughing at all.

The Riddler was creepy as well, giving out his riddles. Being mysterious as he always is. I appreciated how they drew Riddler to look like an Irishman. I thought that those features suited the character well.

I sympathized with Batman/Bruce Wayne in this story. He was pushed so far, and the war took so many innocent lives. I can understand how he felt while he was telling Selena the story.

This is getting my Choice Award because this is one of the better comic books I’ve read in awhile. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Batman, Joker, Riddler, and stories that has “Civil War” vibes. This is a must-read for D.C. Comics fans, and for anyone who loves comics to begin with.

Posted in Book Reviews, DC comics, Graphic Novels

REVIEW: Gotham Central, Book 2: Jokers and Madmen

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Joker week

*No Major Spoilers*

In this action-packed graphic novel follows the Gotham City Police Department. Major Crimes Unit has a more difficult job than the Batman. Having to deal not only with the corruption that makes Gotham what it is, but having to deal with the psychos in costume.

Things have gotten complicated for the police since the court started throwing out cases because the police had been somewhat reliant on calling Batman to help them. However things just gets worse when a sniper starts running loose in Gotham, no one in Gotham is safe!

A cold case resurfaces as new matters bring up old memories for one retired cop with a drinking problem. How does a hostage situation turn into a cold case where the boy’s locker room gets blown to bits? Read this book to find out!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I enjoyed this book! It has plenty of the famous Batman villains in this collection of stories! I especially loved the story involving the Joker! Just wow! There’s a method to his madness, and only Batman knows how the Joker works!

I was expecting a lot of Batman showing up and saving the day, but this is a story where the G.C.P.D. does all the saving without having to depend on Batman to do their job. I loved how they showed just how much effort the G.C.P.D. puts into their jobs. Made me feel like I was watching Law & Order (pick whichever one you want, they’re all great in their own way)!

I did at times, lose track of the characters. Most of the male cops were your stereotypical male cops. The female cops however were great! You can see how tough it is to be a female in a males’ role.

One thing I didn’t like about it was the artwork (I know I’m being picky here). I’m not a fan of watercolor or anything that looks like watercolor. Just a nitpick from me.

I loved this graphic novel. I give it my 10/10, would recommend for anyone who loves comics, and crime! Also the Joker, this week is Joker themed after all.