Movie Info
Movie Name: Batman: Hush
Studio: Warner Bros. Animation
Genre(s): Animated/Comic Book/Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): July 20, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Let’s get it on!
It seems like Batman’s villains are coming out of the woodworks. When Batman finds Poison Ivy is using Bane and Catwoman, he begins to discover that Ivy is part of a bigger plan. As Batman’s romance with Catwoman begins to heat up, Bruce Wayne finds Selina Kyle also has returned to his life. Unfortunately for Batman and Catwoman there is someone lurking in the shadows and targeting Batman…and he or she might just know all of Batman’s secrets!
Directed by Justin Copeland, Batman: Hush is a DC Animated Feature movie and the thirteenth film in the DC Animated Movie Universe. Following Justice League vs. the Fatal Five in 2019, it is the thirty-fifth overall film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and adapts the Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee Batman: Hush story which ran in Batman (1) #608-619 (October 2002-September 2003). The film premiered at the San Diego Comic Con and received a wide release in August 2019.
You won’t like me when I’m angry, Bruce…
Batman: Hush featured great art and a so-so story. Batman: Hush takes a lot of the aspects of the Hush storyline and crafts it into a new story…which is probably better in the long run. Due to the aspect of the story, a ******spoiler alert****** is in effect for the rest of the review.
My big problem with the Hush storyline was Hush himself. The story introduces a new “best friend” of Bruce Wayne in the first issue and shock and awe, the new villain who seems to know everything about Bruce is Elliot. The story in this version is reworked, tightened up, and not only upsets the expected ending, but it makes it a bit more logical of a villain.
The movie is good in that it brings in a lot of different Batman characters. While you are often dealing with one or two villains and heroes, Batman: Hush has a lot of cameos and roles by many of Batman’s major villains. Like most DC animated films, the filmmakers did some good casting and brought in top actors for the roles. The cast of the film includes Jason O’Mara, Jennifer Morrison, Sean Maher, Rainn Wilson, Maury Sterling, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O’Connell, and Vanessa Williams among others.
Riddle me this…how is this NOT better than the stupid ending to the original series?
I will say that the original art for Hush was great Batman art. Jim Lee’s style and look fit with the story and helped build what drama and mystery there was. For that reason, the art for Batman: Hush is a step back, but it is still very good. It is simply in line with most of the DC animated movies (which is better than most for purchase animated films).
Batman: Hush might frustrate purists who wanted the story to be cleanly adapted for the screen. I feel DC did a good job with it and avoided blunders like the adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke which added too much and altered the characters in a way that didn’t enhance the picture. It isn’t the best DC Animated movie, but it is a good entry in the series…check it out. Batman: Hush is followed by Wonder Woman: Bloodlines in 2019.
