Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Batman - The Animated Series: The Legend Begins

When Batman Beyond first aired, it was a surprisingly entertaining and creative TV show. Unfortunately, it failed in the same way many other TV shows have failed: it had a movie based on it.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is not as bad as it could have been, but it's not nearly as good as it could have been, either. It will suffice for casual fans of the TV show, but hardcore fans will likely be disappointed.

Batman (the new Batman) begins by foiling a robbery and kicking some serious butt. But he and Bruce Wayne soon discover that it was set up by The Joker, who has been presumed dead for forty years. The Joker is planning something big that will not only destroy the Batmen, but also help him in his quest for global domination.

There is a twist at the end when we find out how The Joker could possibly be alive after all these years, but I found it a bit lacking. It isn't that it's a badly conceived idea, but it doesn't quite work.

Return of the Joker has quite a bit of action, but there's something about cheap cartoon action that doesn't have the same appeal as, say, a Bond movie. It's probably fine for younger audience, though.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a decent way to spend 77 minutes, but unless you're an avid Batman Beyond fan there are better superhero DVD's around. Superman, for instance, though comparing a live action film to a cartoon is a little like apples and oranges...

The DVD itself is pretty good. Return of the Joker has actually received a better disc treatment than many of Warners' theatrical releases. The box says the film is presented in full frame, but it's actually shown in 1.78:1 non-anamorphic widescreen. The picture is pretty soft and pales in comparison to many of the really superb DVD's, but for what it is it's good enough.

Interestingly enough, the disc sports a nifty 5.1 Dolby Digital track. For the most part it's pretty surround-less, but there are a few action sequences that actually make good use of the system. Most dialogue and music is restricted to the fronts, but some sound effects manage to creep out of the rear speakers on occasion. Overall, a much better track than expected.

Extras include a commentary by the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes documentary, deleted scenes, animation tests, a music video, and animated character bios.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
77 minutes, non-anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1), 5.1 Dolby Digital
Starring Kevin Conroy, Will Friedle, Mark Hamill, Angie Harmon and Melissa Joan Hart
Produced by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Glen Murakami, Bruce Timm
Written by Paul Dini
Directed by Curt Geda

Batman - The Animated Series: The Legend Begins

When Batman - The Animated Series first aired in the early 1990s, it was a very pleasant surprise. It was faithful to the comic book, fairly well-written, and was about as deliciously dark as the Tim Burton movies.

Let's just say it was nice to have Batman on TV and not have to watch reruns of the original 1960s show (though I have to admit, Batman is just not the same without the sound effects written on the screen for us).

I remember coming home from school and always watching Batman - The Animated Series. So now, several years later, I was intrigued to find that the first five episodes were being released on DVD. As I watched them, I noticed that I'd only ever seen one of them before.

The five episodes included on the disc are "On Leather Wings," "Christmas With The Joker," "Nothing to Fear," "The Last Laugh," and "Pretty Poison." "Wings" features Batman facing off against another bat man, this one a mutant caused by a serum. "Christmas With The Joker" has the caped crusader tackling The Joker (obviously), "Nothing to Fear" has The Scarecrow, "The Last Laugh" is rather obvious again, and "Pretty Poison" features, of course, Poison Ivy.

These are definitely not the highlights of Batman's animated career, but they aren't bad for 20 minute-long cartoons. To this day, I love the fact that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) provides us with the voice of The Joker.

Loyal fans of Batman's animated adventures will probably want to pick up this disc.

The DVD is not very spectacular, however. All episodes are presented in 1.33:1 full frame, not surprisingly, but the picture quality is sub par. It's soft, grainy, and looks a lot older than it should, considering its age.

The audio is Dolby Digital Stereo, and it actually sounds pretty good. Batman was one of those shows that had a lot of things blowing up, and the action sounds surprisingly good for stereo.

Extras include a "Life on the Edge" game, "How to Draw Batman" (oohh, goodie), and conversations with director Bruce Timm.

Batman - The Animated Series: The Legend Begins, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
110 minutes, 1.33:1 full frame, Dolby Digital Stereo
Starring Kevin Conroy

Tell us at TechnoFile what YOU think