Batman Beyond-Return of the Joker (2000)

"...stylish and wonderfully dark...an exciting animated feature, well-voiced and written, with solid animation.  CurrentFilm.com
"The whole story is brimming with suspense, action, and humor - in short, everything a great movie can be.  David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
"Surprising cartoon shocker that would have made a great live action Batman movie.  Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers
"The PG-13 rating...reflects the mortal intensity of this most chilling of animated Batman tales.  Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
"...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 The success of BATMAN has lead to an incredible array of different incarnations for the Caped Crusader. Various feature film efforts have emphasized the darker side of Bruce Wayne's alter-ego (Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan's efforts in particular), while the original TV show was a deliriously camp affair. The animated BATMAN BEYOND TV show proves to be an entertaining addition to the canon, and the esteem in which it is held has resulted in a full-length animated escapade for the superhero, titled THE RETURN OF THE JOKER. With Bruce Wayne retired, Terry McGinnis takes up the Batman mantle, and dons the famous costume to go into battle with arch enemy, The Joker. When The Joker goes after the aging Wayne and almost kills him, McGinnis swears to bring down the fiendish villain once and for all. His quest reveals some fascinating facts about the history of the Batman/Joker rivalry, and leads to a valuable and exciting new chapter in the Batman saga.

	Will Friedle - Voice
	Kevin Conroy - Voice
	Mark Hamill - Voice
	Angie Harmon - Voice

Entertainment Weekly
Rating: A- - Entertainment Weekly Recommends 01/12/2001 p.65

Entertainment Weekly
"...It may be animated, but nothing about this saga is cartoonish..." 05/10/1992 p.59

NeedCoffee.com 9 of 10
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.

Apollo Movie Guide 9 of 10
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