Most people do realize the studios ask the MPAA all the time for specific ratings? Don't go into The Killing Joke expecting crazy amounts of violence and profanity.

WB likely targeted an R rating from the beginning for marketing purposes. This is not a theatrical feature, the marketing team likely believes the R rating signals the hardcore fan community it's an authentic adaptation.

Well, I doubt they would have shown it in the trailer. They can only show so much. Even if the trailer was rated R (green band) it was to just highlight that there's red colored blood throughout - in an animated "kids" film.

Its mainly for

Not a fan of the animation style. I know it's unrealistic to expect the style of Bolland's art (on this type of budget), but on top of the simplicity, it looks like it's moving at like 6 frames a second.

Yeah, the tone is all over the place. The "adult" stuff in these DTVs just feels so damn out-of-place most of the time. "Look, superheroes saying 'shit!'" It just rarely feels like it belongs.

Yeah, how in the hell does a woman who works with teenagers dress like that?! I get that all of these have to end with a big action climax by nature, but I miss the days of the DCAU. Their elaborate set pieces really seemed cool and exciting, and the dynamic exaggeration of animation was used to cool effect. This just seems like "giant thing smashes stuff while superheroes hit it."

I kind of like Gods and Monsters. It did at least try something a little different.

It's mostly the tone and the subject matter. The source comic is incredibly dark and deals with themes like rape and torture (Alan Moore's weird preponderance for abusing women is a whole other discussion). If you're expecting decapitations and gobs of red paint ala anime, that's probably not going to happen.

How in the fuck Flashpoint Paradox got a PG-13, I will never fucking understand.

It also implies that

The comic mercifully implies more than it shows, but it's really the darkness of the whole tone of the piece. It's about nihilism and Joker's desire to show that pushing someone to the limit can make them as evil as him.

It's the thing about adapting all of these comics for animation: the art styles are just so difficult to translate to animation.

Off-topic, but what IS the frame-rate for animation, especially these DTVs? If it's not 24, how is it encoded that way?

The video is native 1080P at 24 frames per second. All animated DC movies are created at that resolution. I assume you are asking about key frames and such, but animation frame-rates are a subject far removed from your reference of motion pictures like Batman v Superman and such. It's a field of its own.

I agree!

I think WB thought an R-rating for Flashpoint Paradox would hurt sales. I was also surprised that one got PG-13, but the MPAA almost always bends to what the studios want.

I don't think that's really the case. The MPAA is fairly strict if they feel something deserves whatever rating. They don't just go easy because studios want them to. I haven't heard of that with studios pushing for an R or whatever and getting it just because they ask either but that seems a tad more plausible.

Artwork has been updated for The Killing Joke:

Awesome cover art.

I haven't picked up a DC animated release in some time, I might actually buy this one just to support the Rated R cause (aside from liking and owning the comic and all too )

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Batman...lu-ray/155287/
Bluray.com is listing a graphic novel bundle with the movie as a Best Buy exclusive on August 2nd.

I was hoping for that. I'm all in.

I would be all in on that if not having bought The Killing Joke three separate times before.

I'll be buying the Target Steelbook (assuming they're doing one). Already have the graphic novel.

There's also this version:



Looks kinda cheap to me though.

So it's rated R, yet is "For Ages 13 and up"?

pretty sure it's just a disclaimer for the toy...

The toy is such a danger that 12-year-olds may die from handling it.

I'll assume the mock-up cover was created when they thought the feature may be rated PG-13.

I haven't gotten around to watching Gods and Monsters yet, my question is, should I watch the Chronicles shorts before or after the movie?

If it's anything like their last exclusive, the graphic novel isn't full size. It's about the same size (maybe a littler bigger) than the case.

If you wait another year or two, they might re-release it as the full size graphic novel like they have been doing with the other animated DC movies recently.

That makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

Pretty certain that the disclaimer is referring to the toy. That's why there's also a choking hazard notice right by it.

I do think it's a little weird and funny when Funko Pop Vinyl figures that seem perfectly innocuous but are based on characters from R-rated movies have big 14+or 17+ warning stickers on them.