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Rating:  -
So the 2000 Batman Beyond film finally received an un-cut release. If you didn't enjoy the original cut, you'll be surprised by the rather brutal flash-back scene. Other than that, Return of The Joker just an extended episode of a very poor animated series.
The basic plot of BB:ROTJ is straight forward but cleverly inserts a twist but let's get to most significant aspect of this film. The Joker has returned years after his death witnessed both by Batman and Batgirl; However that night the was already marred with tragedy. The Joker weeks before managed to kidnap Robin (Tim Drake by then) and transformed him into his "son" completely devoid of sanity. This is where the film were was primarily censored in it's initial release and needless to say, the uncut version is leagues ahead. The highlights includes an extension of Joker's "home movie" of Robin being electrocuted and last but not least The Joker's death when he is shot by Drake with a trick "Bang flag" gun loaded with a spear. The Joker's final words were just mellifluous; He spouts "That's not funny, that's not..." before collapses to the ground. I can never get enough of this scene and truly mean it. Bruce Timm was always prevented to take The Joker under his true extremes because the restrictions imposed by network television, this is the shining moment of the character's animated career.
However, this film is just not par with this shining moment.Terry Mcginnis is a pretty dull character who's personality can be summarized as "teenager". You think Bruce, Barbra, and Tim Drake would be the main focus of this film but it's not the case. They are virtually little more then plot devices to be used to just cover the back story; You don't feel any of their personal investment in this film and as result, you could care less about any protagonist in this film.Now I will admit I did like the fact that Tim Drake was ultimately exploited as the host body of Joker, hence the reason of Drake's ordeal that fateful night. However that takes away a lot of the chutzpah of that great flashback scene. The Joker wanted little more than his own self-preservation and this all points to Bruce Timm's Joker as a very flawed incarnation of the character. In Timm's Joker episodes, excluding infamous "Joker Fish", he has always been too logical and worst of all, obsessed with killing Batman. What makes the best incarnations of The Joker so endearing in the comics, especially by Stephen Steve Englehart, is that he is NEVER after anything that could make sense to anyone else or material gain. He also could have cared less about his own well-being which is what makes him so dangerous, he's willing to loose it all just for that one sick "laugh". Most importantly The Joker realizes that a world without Batman is no fun, as Joker once said in comics "Who would I humble ? Mere Policemen ?". Granted, at the very least The Joker's plot in ROTJ is ultimately chaos but where is his trademark panache ? A giant laser making a smile face ? Where is the sadism ? Where the dark humor ? It's just not Joker, it's just far too mundane unless you actually care about J's targets that included everyone Terry cared about but I certainty didn't, not even Bruce who simply sat around during the whole movie.
Overall, I'd say this film is a miss. I'd only recommend it for the flashback scene but to stomach the rest of the film would mean loosing the impact of it.
Rating:  -
A friend of mine loves Batman so I bought him this DVD for a gift. He really enjoyed it. It's one of the best animated cartoons of Batman out there.
Rating: -
This is a different Batman, Bruce Wayne has retired in this series, so we get a new rendition of the dark knight once again. Good animation, other than that though, it's really pretty much business as usual.
Rating:  -
December 2002 saw the return of the Joker, in a direct-to-DVD adaptation of the Batman of the future. McGinnis, it is explained, is the Batman, complete with jet packs and invisibility shields. To be honest, it took me a bit of time to get used to that. What, no cape & cowls?
The flashbacks took care of that doubt. In this universe, Batgirl does not lose the use of her legs and become Oracle, but becomes the next police commissioner. Sorry to you vets out there where this is old news, but Batman Beyond is a new one on me. I must look up these DVDs and watch the 50 something episodes.
Mark Hamill is devilish as the evil Joker. Harley and her nasty twin grandchildren. The Jokerz and the clowns. Put them all together and you get a recipe for mayhem.
The original uncut version was a lot more violent and thus not really a kiddie's cartoon. There are adult themes of relationships, of revenge and of trying to forget the past, but the past, not handled, comes back and bites you hard. Reconcile or die!
The DVD: Commentary by the Filmmakers*; Behind-the-Scenes Documentary; Deleted Scenes; Animation Tests; Music Video Crash by Mephisto Odyssey featuring Static X; Animated Character Bios; Interactive Menus; Production Notes; Trailers; Scene Access; Subtitles: English & Francais.
A fresh new look on the original icon created by Bob Kane, refreshingly so.
Recommended:
Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Guide
Batman Beyond, Seasons 1-3 (DC Comics Classic Collection)
Dc Universe Classics Series 4 Action Figure Batman Beyond Unmasked Variant
Rating: -
Batman Beyond-Return of the Joker is one hour and sixteen minutes and was released directly to video on December 12, 2000. The movie open up with the Jokerz Gang trying to steal some heavy machinery and are thwarted by Batman. The film forwards to the Batcave and we see Bruce Wayne in his seventies or early eighties and Terry McGinnis (the new Batman) watching the news and are talking about Wayne reclaiming his old company and becoming the CEO. At a company party for Mr. Wayne return, the Jokerz Gang and Joker crash the reception. Bruce is in a stake of shock that Joker is alive. Terry dons the Batman outfit and fight off the party crashers. Joker and the gang make their escape by blowing up the party. Batman is force to rescue some people falling to their and is unable to give chase to the Joker and his gang. Back at the Batcave, Terry demands the truth as to what is going on. Bruce never told him about Joker and for Terry safety asks him to turn over the Batsuit. Terry and Bruce get into a heated argument and Terry hands over the suit and quit a Bruce Wayne assistant. Later on at a dance club Terry and Dana are attacked by the Jokerz Gang. Terry fights back but Dana is injured during the conflict. Terry rushes back to Bruce to try to find out why the Jokerz Gang attacked him but find Ace (Bruce pet dog) injured, the word HA painted in red all over the Batcave, and Bruce injected with Joker serum in him. Terry is able to save Bruce. Terry calls Barbara Gordon, the original Bat Girl, and she comes over and helps take care of Bruce. Later on Terry confronts Barbara and makes her tell the truth about Joker. Barbara tells Terry what he wants to know. Robin (Tim Drake) was patrolling the streets alone one night and answered a distressed called. Unknown to Robin it was a plot to kidnap him and it worked. Joker and Harley Quinn take Robin back to their hideout. Batman and Batgirl looked for Robin for three weeks and finally get a break in the case and head to the old Arkham Asylum. There the two find out that Joker has turned Robin into a Joker Junior. Robin hair is turned green, skin is bleached white, and given a mini purple Joker suit. It is revealed that through physical and psychological torture Robin reveals to Joker the truth about Batman. Batman is enraged and a fight breaks out. Batgirl chases Harley Quinn and wind up out side. During their fight Joker Junior tosses Harley Quinn a bazooka gun and Harley tries to kill Batgirl with it. Batgirl is able to dislodge the weapon from her but the gun goes off and both fall into a deep pit. Batgirl is able to grab a hold of the cliff and grab hold of Harley outfit. Harley outfit rips and she is seen falling to her death. Back inside Arkham Asylum Joker and Batman are fighting it out. Joker stabs Batman in the leg and hands Joker Junior a gun and orders him to kill Batman. Robin is able to regain his senses and kills Joker in the end. Batman, Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon bury Joker underneath Arkham Asylum. Dr. Leslie Thompkins is able to rehabilitate Tim back to health but Bruce forbade Tim from ever wearing the Robin costume again. Tim is now married, has two kids, and works as a high level communications engineer. Terry questions Tim (as the Batman) and finds out that Tim is not the Joker. Tim next lead is Jordan Price, who was next in line to head Wayne Enterprises. Jordan is in league with the Jokerz Gang but is not the Joker. We did find out that Jordan wanted Bruce out of the way. Back at the Batcave, Terry and Mr. Wayne discuss their next option; Terry notices that the Robin costume is torn while the other costumes were not even touched. Terry remembers his conversation with Tim and how he resented his role. Batman visits Tim and tries to confront him but find a hologram of Tim and finds it was a trap set by the Joker. Batman is able to free himself from the trap and heads to the Joker hideout. At the hideout, Batman confronts Tim and it is during this confrontation that Tim transforms in the Joker. Joker tells Batman that during Tim transformation into Joker Junior, Joker implanted a microchip (nanotechnology) with the Joker encoded DNA and consciousness. The microchip was implanted in Tim's neck where it sat dormant for years. First the transformation became erratic but soon the transformation of a Joker clone will become permanent. Joker prepares to fire the satellite on Gotham but Ace knocks Joker over and his joy buzzer ring falls into the controls and causing the beam's guidance system set to blow up the builder where the Joker and Batman are at. Joker tries to leave but is stopped by Batman when he seals the factory. At fight begins and Batman uses psychological warfare to defeat Joker. Joker tries using bombs to lure Batman out of hiding. Batman falls to the floor and Joker pins him to the ground. Batman uses the joy buzzer to destroy the microchip and return Tim to his self. Tim, Batman, and Ace leave the building just as it is about to be destroyed. At the city jail the Dee-Dee twins, part of the Jokerz Gang, are free on bail by their grandmother. It is found out that the Dee-Dee twins are the granddaughters of Harley Quinn and Harley did survive the fall. In the end Bruce and Tim reconciles old differences. This unedited version is 100% better then the edited version. I know because I own both of them. The unedited version is a little more violent and in the movie some questions are answered in the Batman Beyond television series. Batman Beyond-Return of the Joker gets an AAA+++.
DVD FEATURES
Play Movie
Scene Selections
Special Features
A) A Word from the Creators
B) Animatics
C) Beyond "Batman Beyond" Documentary
D) Video Character Bios
E) Confidential Bat Footage - For Your Eyes Only
F) Bat Trivia
G) "Crash" Music Video
H) Trailer
Languages
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