Batman Beyond-Return of the Joker/Mystery of Batwoman (2007)

"[Return] ...stylish and wonderfully dark...an exciting animated feature, well-voiced and written, with solid animation.  CurrentFilm.com
"[Return] The whole story is brimming with suspense, action, and humor - in short, everything a great movie can be.  David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
"[Return] Surprising cartoon shocker that would have made a great live action Batman movie.  Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers
"[Return] The PG-13 rating...reflects the mortal intensity of this most chilling of animated Batman tales.  Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
"[Mystery] ...a fun movie that offers characters of surprising depth, with slick (albeit TV quality) animation, an original and zippy musical score, and plenty of action.  Randall Cyrenne, Animated Views
"[Mystery] ...far superior to at least half of the Batman movies. Great mystery, too!  Techtite's DVD & Movie Review
"[Return] ...a strong visual and aural dynamic...one of the best Batman movies, animated or live-action, period.  Vince Leo, Qwipster's Movie Reviews

Editor's Note BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER: This feature-length animated adventure finds Terry McGinnis (the new Batman) in a treacherous battle against the seemingly immortal Joker. More dangerous then ever, the "Clown Prince of Crime" is back to terrorize Gotham, but his primary target is the aging Bruce Wayne. When Terry unlocks the secrets of what truly happened the last time his mentor fought the Joker, he learns how to beat him at his own twisted game. And he might even be able to save Bruce Wayne before it's too late! BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER includes flashback sequences that help bridge the gap between the new animated series and the previous one, and features the voices of Will Friedle (BOY MEETS WORLD) as Terry McGinnis and Mark Hamill (STAR WARS) as the Joker. BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN: In this animated action-adventure, the Dark Knight discovers that he's not the only superhero in town. While the Penguin and Rupert Thorn hatch a plot to take over Gotham City, Batwoman enters the picture, doing whatever it takes to restore order to the troubled city. But when she performs a criminal act, Batman must discover for himself if Batwoman is the decent sort that she claims to be. This feature-length continuation of the Batman saga features the voices of Kelly Ripa (LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY), Kyra Sedgwick (BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY), and Hector Elizondo (CHICAGO HOPE).

	Kelly Ripa - Voice
	Will Friedle - Voice
	Mark Hamill - Voice
	Hector Elizondo - Voice
	Kyra Sedgwick - Voice

NeedCoffee.com 9 of 10
[Return] Having been a big fan of the WB's Batman Beyond series, the arrival of the first feature-length adventure for this new, edgier incarnation of the caped crusader was a welcome day...The story is classic Batman fare, facing the new Dark Knight off against his predecessor's most troublesome nemesis. Timm's crew has always handled the Joker very well--bringing out the dark, deranged psychopath instead of painting him as a ridiculous buffoon with a violent streak--and this incarnation is no exception...This is not to say that the plot is derivative--far from it. Despite decades of exploring the Batman mythos in comics, books, TV, and movies, Return of the Joker manages a few surprises, some of them fairly major, and manages them quite well...Return of the Joker belongs on the rack of any fan of American animation in general, and the Timm/Dini DC comic adaptations in particular. And if you're a fan of the Caped Crusader, it's a better investment than a large percentage of the live-action Batman fare. If you've liked some of the other feature-length Batman productions by this animation team, then this should be no exception. Those completely unfamiliar with the world of Batman Beyond might be a bit confused at first, but the film stands remarkably well on its own, relying very little on knowledge of the characters drawn from the TV series.

ePinions.com 7 of 10
[Mystery] There's a new player in town and neither Batman nor the Penguin is too happy about it...Batman: The Mystery of the Batwoman is a 2003 direct-to-DVD movie by the creative team who worked on The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond...Throughout the movie, and even the animated short, a jazzy-latino type of beat is heard throughout. It's lively and upbeat, something that is a contrast to Batman's world. If anything, this is more of a Bruce Wayne film as it is a Batman one, if that makes any sense. In other words, Bruce doesn't play in the back seat to Batman; he's there on equal footing...Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman is really not a bad animated movie, but I think it definitely appeals more to an older crowd than it does for children. It's safe to say that there is something sexy about the whole look and the way the actors interact with each other. I'm comparing this to more of a James Bond-type of atmosphere. I can see younger children becoming a bit bored with the whole mystery as it moves slowly. Speaking of the mystery, I think the revelation to Batwoman's identity comes too soon for my tastes. I would have liked it if it dragged out for a bit longer. Still, all the clues to her identity fall into place, as contrived as it is. And it's hard to deny that Batwoman fills out the spandex much better, animated or otherwise.

Apollo Movie Guide 9 of 10
[Return] Imagine someone other than Bruce Wayne donning the cap and cowl that is Batman. Goosebumps migrate onto my back just pondering the thought. Throughout their history, comic books have been packed with drastic gimmicks derived to inject a boost in sales. I thought that was what was going on when I heard that a new incarnation of the animated Batman movies was on the way. And Batman Beyond does just that -- it provides drastic gimmicks that go far past fans' initial assumptions -- and their doubts -- and makes me a believer that comic book characters can age...Full of beautiful, rapid-fire animation rooted in Japanese anime, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is an animated masterpiece. The pulse-pounding action sequences are a marvel, and the voice acting, which includes Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill as the Joker, is truly commendable. However, what makes this film tremendously appealing to Batman fans, young and old, is the way it draws from the franchise's long standing history to lay the groundwork for the updated version...This is an intelligent animated film that can be understood by everyone. While it is intense and sometimes violent, this is not any worse than what's on television every day. If the premise of Batman Beyond was originally a gimmick, it has become one that is equally innovative and carefully crafted. - Ryan Cracknell