Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) (V)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Curt Geda

Writers:

Bob Kane (creator: Batman)
Paul Dini (story) ...

Release Date:

12 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The joke's on you!

Plot:

In this action-packed adventure, the sleeker, more dangerous and seemingly immortal Clown Prince of Crime is back to terrorize Gotham, Batman and the aging Bruce Wayne.

Plot Keywords:

Mentor | Clown | Twin | Secret | Dog

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Will Friedle	...	Terence 'Terry' McGinnis / Batman (voice)
Kevin Conroy	...	Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice)
Mark Hamill	...	Jack Napier / The Joker / Jordan Price (voice)
Angie Harmon	...	Commissioner Barbara Gordon (voice)
Dean Stockwell	...	Communications Engineer Mr. Timothy 'Tim' Drake (voice)
Teri Garr	...	Mrs. Mary McGinnis (voice)
Arleen Sorkin	...	Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn / 'Nana' Harley (voice)
Tara Strong	...	Barbara Gordon / Batgirl (voice)
Mathew Valencia	...	Timothy 'Tim' Drake / Robin (voice)
Melissa Joan Hart	...	Delia & Deidre Dennis / Dee Dee (voice)
Don Harvey	...	Charles Buntz / Chucko (voice)
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Stewart Carter Winthrop III / Ghoul (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Woof the Hyena-Man / Ace the Bathound (voice)
Henry Rollins	...	Benjamin 'Ben' Knox / Bonk (voice)
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Chelsea (voice) (as Rachel Leigh Cook)

Also Known As:

Batman of the Future: Return of the Joker (Europe: English title) (cut version)
Batman of the Future: Return on the Joker (UK) (TV title)
Return of the Joker (USA) (informal English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence. (director's cut)

Runtime:

74 min (original release) | 77 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Germany:6 | UK:12 | USA:Not Rated (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (director's cut) (2001) | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG (VHS version)

Company:

Warner Bros. Animation

Trivia:

When Bruce is checking the future-Joker's voice against that of the past-Joker, the clip is a newly animated (but previously scripted) segment from "Holiday Knights", which was the first episode of the redesigned Batman cartoon that appeared on the WB network.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the edited version when the Joker punches Batman and he falls off of the giant boxes in the flashback, for a brief second a knife can be seen in the Joker's hand and a slash in the bat symbol on Batman's chest. Both disappear a split second later.

Quotes:

Timothy Drake: I owe you big time, kid.
Terry McGinnis: Forget about it.
Timothy Drake: For what it's worth, Bruce couldn't have picked anyone better to put on the mask.
Terry McGinnis: [smiles] Coming from you, that means everything.

Movie Connections:

Features Hare Ribbin' (1944)

Soundtrack:

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker End Title

Quite good

I've never really been that wild about this Terry kid, or this new costume. He seems to rely more on his Iron Man-like costume than his intellect and deductive skills, as the original Batman did. Having said that, my favourite part of Return of the Joker was when Barbara Gordon flashed back and remembered the last time Batman fought the Joker. That is an absolutely marvelous scene. You feel the concern and horror thunder through Batman as he's confronted with the atrocities Robin has endured, as well as his hatred and fury towards the Joker. The people in Warner Brothers animation have thankfully returned to drawing the Joker with the detail they had when Batman the Animated Series started. And as much as I don't really like him, Terry's climactic fight with the Joker is definitely worth checking out. As a previous comment said, it's a pleasant surprise.