Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a spin-off movie based on the Batman Beyond TV series. In Gotham City of the future, Bruce Wayne has retired as Batman and passed the title on to young Terry McGinnis. Wayne still actively assists the new Batman in crime-fighting, mostly by giving him advice, doing research and monitoring his missions from within the Batcave.
When a criminal with a psychotic sense of humor, calling himself the Joker, appears in Gotham, Bruce Wayne is shocked and Terry isn't quite sure why. A clown whose idea of a good joke is squirting flowers and whoopee cushions? Doesn't sound like the most dangerous of adversaries. But Bruce insists on Terry not getting involved with the case, even asking him to return the Batman suit. Terry goes after some answers and finds out just how dangerous a foe the Joker was to the old Batman. Assumed dead for a long time, he's finally back, ready to wreak havoc once more with his own twisted idea of fun. And this time, it's personal.
Return of the Joker is an action-packed film with superb animation and a great story. It ties up a few loose ends of what happened to some key characters between the end of Batman: The Animated Series and the new series, in a way that's sure to please fans of both.
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Main Characters:
Batman/Terry McGinnis. VA Will Friedle.
Terry McGinnis is the Batman of the future. He's slightly less serious than his mentor, Bruce Wayne, and fights crime with youthful enthusiasm. For him the Batman suit is a symbol of his determination to make up for his past mistakes and help people in need.
The Joker. VA Mark Hamill.
The most famous and possibly most dangerous criminal Batman has ever faced. The Joker has a twisted sense of humor, one that mostly involves destroying things - as well as people - in creative ways.
Bruce Wayne. VA Kevin Conroy.
The original Batman, now retired due to health reasons and passing the mantle on to Terry McGinnis. Bruce may be old and limping, but he can still pack a punch when threatened. Still, even though he faced the Joker many times as the Batman in the past and always defeated him, even he is nervous about the clown's return.
Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. VA Angie Harmon.
Barbara Gordon used to be known as Batman's sidekick, Batgirl. She gave up being a superheroine years ago and now works as a police commissioner like her father before her. Barbara has a tough exterior, even slightly bitter about the Batman legacy, but she helps the new Batman in his quest to stop the Joker by sharing inside knowledge about him.
Tim Drake/Robin. VA Dean Stockwell.
Tim Drake used to be known as Robin, the boy wonder. After a fateful night that changed his life, Batman forbade him to assist him as his partner anymore. Like Barbara, Tim quit his superhero life long ago, but some ghosts of the pasts still remain hidden.
Other Characters:
Jordan Price. VA Mark Hamill.
Jordan Price would have been next in line to assume leadership of Wayne Enterprises had Bruce Wayne not stepped in to take the position himself. Behind his saccharine smile Price clearly holds a grudge and is perhaps ready to go to extremes to get rid of Wayne.
Harley Quinn. VA Arleen Sorkin.
Harley Quinn appears in a flashback scene as the Joker's loving (though just as twisted as he is) girlfriend. She helped him carry out his sick plan that was to change the lives of Batman, Batgirl and Robin forever.
Ace. VA Frank Welker.
Bruce Wayne's loyal watchdog.
Joker's henchmen, 'the Jokerz':
Dee Dee. VA Melissa Joan Hart.
Chucko. VA Don Harvey
Ghoul. VA Michael Rosenbaum
Woof. VA Frank Welker
Bonk. VA Henry Rollins
Terry's family:
Dana
Tan, Terry's girlfriend. VA Lauren Tom.
Mary McGinnis, Terry's mother. VA Teri Garr.
Matt McGinnis, Terry's little brother. VA Ryan O'Donohue.
Comments:
There are actually two versions of the movie available: an edited, PG-rated version and the original, uncut, PG-13 version. There are a number of differences between them, including changes in dialogue here and there and even completely changed, re-animated scenes. The Joker's death in the flashback scene, for example, is completely changed in the edited version and later dialogue in the film referring to the manner of his death has been changed to fit the events accordingly.
Although there is no lapse in animation quality and the film is perfectly enjoyable even in edited form, many people consider the uncut version superior. So if you plan to see the movie, be sure to check which one you're getting.
In the "Links" section at the bottom of this page, there's a link to a site that lists every change in the edited movie. Beware clicking it if you haven't seen either version before though, it contains MAJOR spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.
~JessKat
Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker is not only my favorite Batman animated film, but my favorite Batman film of all time - (and I've seen all of them except for the old serials)! Of course, it has my all-time favorite villian - the Joker! And Harley, too. And it shows us Batman from both the present and the future. But I think it's my favorite because it shows us the meaning of Batman - how he makes us feel and why he's even there in the first place!
Watching present time Batman and Batgirl squaring off against Joker and Harley, and seeing what the baddies do to poor Robin is SO scarey and moving at the same time. And then watching Terry, as the future Batman, squaring off against the Joker in a whole different Bat-way is a lot of fun.
The final scene has one of my favorite quotes and captures the whole Batman-Bruce-Terry-Batman situation. Bruce says to Terry, "Terry! I've been thinking about something you once told me - and you were wrong! It's not Batman that makes you worthwhile. It's the other way around. Never tell yourself anything different."
Final note - we know Joker gets beaten (no spoiler by saying how), but do we really believe he didn't have a back-up plan?! I think we'll see him again!
Evil laugh now - Bwah-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
~ Grandpa Budwyn
Favorite images:
Robin in Joker's shadow
Harley and Joker's happy home
~ JessKat
For more great images from this show, see the gallery!
Links:
The World's Finest: Batman Beyond - Complete Return of the Joker edit list
A site listing every difference between the edited, PG-rated and the unedited,
PG-13 version of the movie, with screengrabs. I highly advise you to watch
the movie in any form before clicking on the link, because it contains major spoilers.
~JessKat
This page created by JessKat