Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a Batman film that finally, in many ways, focuses on the human side of Bruce Wayne, and how his dauntless pursuit for justice affects him as a human being and in his personal life, all without skimping out on some of the best Batman action sequences you'll probably ever see, and bringing a new character into the fold who is able to stand on their own as a fully realized character.

Wonderfully animated by Spectrum Animation, the film is a beautifully gothic affair that fits right in with the spirit and aesthetic of the animated series of which it is a counterpart to. In the same universe as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm works beautifully with the rest of the universe, and, just like the other shows, is a true love letter to Batman, in a way that no live action film (barring perhaps, Tim Burton's 1989 masterpiece Batman) has been able to emulate.

The voice work is absolutely top notch, with Kevin Conroy being able to balance the younger, more optimistic Bruce Wayne with the brooding crime fighter of the present day, with also giving us the best Batman voice ever. His chemistry with Dana Delany's Andrea Beaumont is spot on, and their romance is a believable, organic affair that flows from the narrative quite well, and doesn't feel shoehorned or overly sappy. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. does an absolutely pitch perfect Alfred Pennyworth, and Mark Hamill is, and perhaps ever shall be, the ultimate Joker, able to perfectly balance pure evil with genuine wit and entertainment value. Additional supporting cast members include Stacy Keach as Andrea's father, with his wonderfully rich voice, and the late, great Abe Vigoda as old school mobster Salvatore Valestra. All the voice acting is spot on, with all the actors inhabiting their characters perfectly.

The story itself, dividing a recount of Batman's origins with the new story of a brutal vigilante stalking mob bosses, is simple, yet not pandering. The hopping through time to flashback to show Bruce's steady evolution into Batman is smooth and not confusing, and the gentler scenes, showing Bruce and Andrea bonding and eventually falling in love, only to have that love be supplanted by their own inner demons is truly tragic and emotional. The film also delves into Batman's psychology, showing his innate desire to not only seek justice for his parent's death, but also somehow find personal happiness, and the struggle between those two desires.

All this is furthered by Shirley Walker's incredible score, which she not only wrote, but orchestrated and conducted herself. It's a deeply emotional, Gothic work, with surging strings and brass and choir all swirling together in a comic orchestral and emotional palette. It's probably the second best Batman film score ever written, after Danny Elfman's definitive opus.

So all in all, this is arguably the best Batman film ever made, as it not only has top quality action, and a wonderfully awesome villain in The Joker, but it also truly addresses Bruce's psychology in a way few other films have.

Simply put, it's awesome. Well played Bruce Timm...well played...

5 out of 5 stars.