Batman: Under the Red Hood
- Review Date: July 25, 2010
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Release Year: 2010
- Running Time: 75 minutes
Common Sense Media says
Drug dealers and brutal beatings in animated Batman movie.
- Review Date: July 25, 2010
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Release Year: 2010
- Running Time: 75 minutes
Batman: Under the Red Hood gallery
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Batman: Under the Red Hood is a fairly dark and violent direct-to-video animated movie in which Batman battles the Joker -- as well as some personal demons from his own past. Although the plot involves an organization of drug dealers, no drugs are mentioned by name, and no one is shown dealing or using. The violence includes brutal and bloody fights, guns firing, dead bodies, fighting with swords, explosions, and chases. The movie deals directly with death and loss and has some interesting ideas about where to draw the line between heroes and criminals, though Batman himself remains a rather complicated, tortured "good guy." Kids should stick with safer Batman fare, but teens will enjoy this one.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
The second Robin, Jason Todd, is dead. A dour Batman (voiced by Bruce Greenwood) shuns any other partners, including the original Robin, now called Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris). A mysterious and most peculiar masked man, the Red Hood (Jensen Ackles), appears on the scene. He takes over Gotham City's drug business from a kingpin called the Black Mask (Wade Williams) and offers the dealers a higher cut -- but under the condition that no drugs are sold to children. Meanwhile, the Black Mask enlists the aid of the Joker (John DiMaggio) to stop him. Batman soon discovers the Red Hood's secret identity, making his battle much more personal. Can he stop the Black Mask, the Red Hood, and the Joker, all in one fell swoop?
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Based on a Batman comic book storyline from 2005 and 2006, BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD takes on some of the complex, ambiguous morals of recent efforts like The Dark Knight and does a remarkable job of exploring some tough stuff in its scant running time of 75 minutes. It follows, however, that the movie is undeniably dark and violent and deals directly with loss. In other words, this is not a family-friendly film.
Like the best superhero stories, this one focuses on characters and character history; each of the main characters has a pre-existing relationship with the others, making their meetings emotionally resonant. There's more here than just chases and explosions. Additionally, the filmmakers create an appropriately dark and mysterious atmosphere, bringing back some of Batman's mythic dimensions as a "dark knight" and a loner detective. In all, it's one of the stronger entries in the direct-to-video animated superhero genre.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it thrilling and exciting, or was it shocking?
Why does Batman blame himself for what happened to the Red Hood? Is he really at fault?
The Red Hood argues that by killing the Joker in cold blood, hundreds of other lives could possibly be spared? Is this a sound argument? Do the ends ever justify the means?
What distinguishes Batman from the villains he fights? He, too, is angry and dark; why is he a good guy and the others bad guys?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | July 27, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | July 27, 2010 |
| Cast: | Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris |
| Director: | Brandon Vietti |
| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Topics: | Superheroes |
| Run time: | 75 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violent content and some drug references. |
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QUALITY
good for ages 11-15
i recently watched this movie it was a good movie it is somewhat violent there is brief language and there is one bloody scene when the red hood tasers someones head and a little blood goes on the wall
What other families should know
Too much swearing
Great role models
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QUALITY
Very good,but violent
this is by far the best DC animated film yet, but it has a lot of violence.the joker beats robin with a crowbar (lots of blood is shown)a man comes out of a pit screaming in pain,the red hood opens a bag full of heads(nothing is actually shown) the joker and red hood both blow up lots of buildings, the red hood shoots a taser at a mans head blood goes on the wall. a guy named black mask swears a lot(mild, d--n, hell)the plot focuses around a bunch of drug dealers. overall a very good but dark movie.
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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QUALITY
Sadistic
If you let your kids watch it, be sure to skip the opening scenes when Joker beats a bound Robin to death with a crowbar and taunts him. It was a low point for DC Comics in the 1980s that has been graphically re-envisioned for new audiences. Just plain sick.
What other families should know
Too much violence
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