Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (SPOILERS)

[Klaus]

Finally got to watch this.

Oh.

My.

God.

I think that's the "adultest" cartoon I ever watched (barring certain anime I'd like to erase from my head).

The Joker's shadow throws a palpable tension over everyone who knew him.

Bruce's reaction upon seeing his nemesis return... you just can see the horror!

Terry running into the Batcave, only to find it full of grafitti, like his own apartment was in the first episode of BB, when his dead died. Plus Bruce's contorted face!

Barbara telling what happened so many years ago.

"So we adopted!"... I knew it was coming, but the animation just made it that much more frightening!

Joker's little movie "Our Memories" (or somesuch)... Seeing Robin struggle like that was just terrible... Poor Tim... And the Joker's narration!

And finally, how the new Batman totally turned the tables on the Joker. "What's the matter? You always wanted to make Batman laugh! HAHAHAHA!!!!"

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Its funny, I never liked Batman of the Future...errr, Batman Beyond at all.

Then I saw this. Definitely one of the best Batman stories out there. I can't add much to this other than a lot of nodding to the scenes you mentioned.

 

[Villano]

It's on sale as a dvd two-pack with the Batman Beyond pilot (with, like, 4 extra episodes of the series) for around $14 at Walmart. Definitely worth picking up.

I have mixed feelings about the series. It began fairly good, but there was a certain point where it started to get goofy (Terry's Friend Dates A Robot, anyone?). OTOH, it did do that great Justice League of the Future episode.

I also used to know a guy who worked on the series. The reason it was cancelled wasn't because of ratings, but because the toys weren't selling. This is ironic because, as anyone who's been in a toystore could tell you, they had 200 variations of Batman, but only one villian toy, the Joker. Of course kids aren't going to support a superhero line with only a single bad guy to play with. :\

 

[Klaus]

Oh, I forgot to add the awesome design for the Joker's pet gnoll... er... hyena-boy!

The series had some great moments that really sold it to me:

After Terry sees a girl he loves being arrested 'cause she's "10" in the Royal Flush Gang, he says to Bruce "You probably never went through something like this", to which Bruce replied "Let me tell you about a woman named Selina..."

After a conspiracy to drive Bruce crazy (through eletronic "voices in his head"), Terry asks how he figured the voices weren't real. Bruce says "The voice called me Bruce. I never call myself that in my head". Terry: "Then what do you call yourself?". Bruce looks at Terry. Terry: "Well, that's MY name now". Bruce:"Tell that to my subconscious".

Terry goes into a desperate fight, and Bruce has to help. Bruce's trenchcoat falls to reveal him wearing a Kingdom Come-esque power armor, and suddenly the B:tAS theme starts playing!

Barbara revealing that she and Bruce had a thing!

 

[The Serge]

Great DVD. I bought the "original" version when it first came out. In spite of the obvious cuts made in the "cleaned up" version, I still greatly enjoyed it. I about blew up when I heard they were going to release an uncut version.

Gorgeous. The final confrontation between The Batman and The Joker was one of the best interactions between the two characters comics or otherwise. The hatred these two men shared all the way until the end... Wow. And they actually let people die in the uncut version. The Joker has a sickening bodycount in that film. The one thing I disagreed with was the idea that The Joker could die. To me, The Joker's the equivalent of an undead villain. He lives on forever in order to kill. That aside, this was a great movie.

 

[Klaus]

Please, share the details of the uncut version that are different from the regular one!

 

[CrusaderX]

I remember a cool fight scene between Batgirl and Harley Quinn in this movie. Batgirl was always one of my DC animated favorites.

 

[FCWesel]

The "cut version" is great.

The "director's or original cut" is 50x better.

I love this movie. This was one where I would not let my family or friends borrow it, I told them they had to go buy it, to support the DVD. I don't do that very often at all. The funny thing is, nearly anyone who did go buy it, would not let anyone borrow thier copy! Hehehe.

Did I read right in that someone said there's going to be a newer release with the original cut, cause I would buy that in a NY Second, even though I have it on my computer.

In fact, I think I am gonna throw it in...

 

[RangerWickett]

My roommate has the original version. The two big changes are very cool, and I almost don't want to spoil them, so I'll put spoiler tags, just in case.

Spoiler

1. When the Joker is talking with his cronies for the first time, he points this lovely toy gun at Bonk. Bonk cringes, it fires a 'Bang!' flag, and the Joker laughs that he's only joking. Then he pulls the trigger again. In the edited version, choking gas comes out that kills Bonk. In the original version, the stick that the flag is hanging from fires out of the gun and impales Bonk in the heart. It is visibly sticking out of his chest for the rest of those scenes.
   
   Then later, the Joker asks his crew if they're with him.
   
   Joker (to the two girls): "Dee Dee?"
   Dee Dee: "Uh huh."
   Joker (to the three remaining guys): "Guys?"
   Guys: "Uh huh."
   Joker (over his shoulder): "Bonk? . . . Oh right. Dead."
   
2. In the edited release, the original Joker dies when young Tim Drake shoves him away from Batman. The Joker loses his balance, falls amid a tangle of electrical cords, and is electrocuted off screen.
   
   In the original version, the Joker tosses a gun to Tim. Tim giggles, points at Batman, and pulls the trigger. The 'Bang!' flag shoots out. Batman looks at Tim with despair, and Tim hesitates. The Joker snarls at the kid to shoot, and Tim, still cackling, fires at the Joker. The stick the flag is hanging from impales the Joker in the heart, and the Joker sags backward. He has enough time to choke out, "That's not funny," and then he dies.
   
   Much more entertaining death, in my opinion.

Great movie, even if it could've done to be a bit longer than 70 minutes. But dang it was great to see Harley again. She's the best thing to come out of the animated series.

 

[TracerBullet42]

I love this movie. This was one where I would not let my family or friends borrow it, I told them they had to go buy it, to support the DVD.

He's not kidding...having HAD to go buy the dvd myself after he wouldn't let me borrow it...

Never regretted it for even one second.

Awesome movie...and I saw the uncut version at Wal-Mart the other day...why I didn't pick it up is beyond me...I'm ashamed of myself, frankly...

Maybe I'll go pick it up during my lunch break.

And the soundtrack is pretty sweet, too.

"Sweetie...get mommy her bazooka."

Classic...