Batman: Under the Red Hood/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • And the Fandom Rejoiced: Naturally people were anxious with the casting for Batman and Joker (See What the Hell, Casting Agency? below), but hopes were raised when it was discovered Neil Patrick Harris was playing Nightwing.
  • Better Than Canon: An amazing case. Not only do many fans like this version of the story better than the comics', Judd Winick, the original story's writer himself considers the movie the better version.
  • Complete Monster: The Joker, once more.
  • Counterpart Comparison: A lot of people noted Red Hood's resemblance to Deadpool when the first trailers went online. The similarities are even more marked in the actual film, where the character behaves near-identically to Deadpool in the latter's earlier appearances.
  • Fridge Brilliance: Nightwing and Batman visit Joker in Arkham to see whether he was related to the Red Hood in any way, which he is not. However, his actions caused Jason Todd's death and subsequent transformation into Red Hood after his resurrection, so in a way the Joker was linked to Red Hood in more ways than one.
    • Not to mention the fact that, in the comics, The Joker (or whatever the hell his real name was before his accident) actually did go by the code-name "Red Hood" before he became The Joker.
  • He Really Can Act: "John Dimaggio? That guy who played Drakken? I guess I'll give it a- holy crap this Joker is terrifying."
  • Idiot Plot: Some accuse the film of bordering on this. Why would ANYONE hire the Joker?
    • He didn't feel like he had much choice. Black Mask wasn't very fond of the idea either, but he was up against both the real Batman and a Darker and Edgier Batman who was more than happy to kill all his men. The Joker is the only guy available who has proved a consistent challenge to the former. Mask probably wasn't too surprised at the betrayal (even if he was at the sheer audacity of how he was betrayed) but really, he didn't have a lot of cards up his sleeve.
  • It Was His Sled: A resurrected Jason Todd, the second Robin, is the Red Hood. For comic book fans, this is pretty much common knowledge and the film barely tries to treat it as a genuine mystery for long.
  • Jerkass Woobie: Jason Todd/Robin II/Red Hood.
  • Like He Would Really Do It: Red Hood tossing a gun to Batman and telling him to shoot The Joker.
  • Magnificent Bastard: See Batman Gambit.
  • Nightmare Fuel:
  • Straw Man Has a Point: Like in the comic, Red Hood raises a good point on the naivety behind the idea that someone like the Joker can continue to walk the earth even though he'll continue to kill thousands.
  • What the Hell, Casting Agency?: Reactions to John Dimaggio's casting as Joker were... mixed, to say the least. The release of the character models featuring a somewhat burlier Joker eased concerns somewhat. And then the film was released and a lot of those who doubted he could pull off the role did a complete 180.
    • Audiences were also skeptical of Jensen Ackles playing a lead character, as he had never done voice acting work prior to this film.
      • And for most of the film, the character is... relatively subdued. Really, a truly emotional performance would be Large Ham for the character. Jenson really delivers at the end. Most of the doubters, one must imagine, were impressed.
      • Jenson wasn't subdued; all that the script called for from Red Hood was humor until the end. Which he delivered on all counts.
    • And anyone other than Kevin Conroy as Batman raises suspicions. But Bruce Greenwood did a good job, especially as a Batman who is supposed to be a little older than we normally see him.
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