BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN
OF THE JOKER
THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION
Prior
to the initial direct-to-video release of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF
THE JOKER, Warner Home Video requested that certain changes be made
to the film- changes that would render it more suitable for a family audience.
Although the changes were made before the film was released to the public,
fans became aware that the filmmakers’ original intentions had been tampered
with. In fact, bootlegs of the original version surfaced on vhs and various
fan websites published detailed comparisons between the altered and unaltered
versions of the film. Of course, all of this stirred up the fan base and
created a demand for BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER to be released
in its uncut form. While it has taken about a year and a half to happen,
Warner Home Video has finally issued BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER-
THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION ($20).
Now,
I am not going to document the changes between the altered and altered
versions of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER, since a number
of fan websites have already done so. However, I will comment that THE
ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION is definitely a bit darker and slightly more
adult than the initial DVD release. Snippets of violence are restored
to film, as are bits of dialogue that were altered to make the film more
family friendly. In its unaltered incarnation, BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN
OF THE JOKER comes with a PG-13 rating, which should tell you that
the program is no longer intended for the youngest of tikes. While BATMAN
BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER was a really good program in its family
friendly form, THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION makes a fairly outstanding
direct-to-video production.
The
premise of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER finds the new Batman,
Terry McGinnis, and his elderly mentor Bruce Wayne facing The Dark Knight’s
worst nemesis- The Joker. Of course, no one is more shocked by the return
of The Joker than the original Batman himself- who personally witnessed
the demise of The Clown Prince Of Crime decades earlier. Although Wayne
warns McGinnis away from engaging The Joker, he soon finds that neither
Batman can escape a showdown with the past, especially when Wayne is nearly
killed by Batman’s old foe. Left on his own, the new Batman must unlock
the secret of The Joker’s demise and resurrection before anyone else is
harmed. BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER features the vocal talents
of Will Friedle, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dean Stockwell, Angie Harmon,
Teri Garr and Melissa Joan Hart.
Warner
Home Video has made BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER- THE ORIGINAL,
UNCUT VERSION available on DVD in very nice looking Letterboxed presentation
that has NOT been enhanced for playback on wide screen displays. Framed
at 1.78:1, the DVD cries out for 16:9 enhancement- why it was omitted
here leaves this reviewer scratching his head and thinking that perhaps
third times a charm. On a 4:3 display, the image is crisp, clean
and well defined. On a 16:9 display, the image needs to be digitally blown
up to the proper dimensions, which leaves it soft looking and introduces
artifacts. Colors are quite vivid and very cleanly rendered. Blacks are
accurate and the picture has good contrast for a direct-to-video production.
Noticeable digital compression artifacts were not introduced in the authoring
stage.
Like
the previous release, BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER features
a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. This is a very good mix for a
direct-to-video animated program. The track takes advantage of the discrete
channels for fairly aggressive sound mix, which utilizes the split surround
channels quite well. Dialogue is sharply focused, with the performances
really coming through in the sound mix- Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill cannot
be credited enough for what they have brought to the Batman saga. The
bass channel is quite solid and it does well to reinforce the sound effects.
Subtitles are provided on the DVD in English and French.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the
standard scene selection and set up features. Through the menus, one can
also access the DVD's supplemental features. Starting things off is a
running commentary with director Curt Geda, writer Paul Dini and producers
Bruce Timm and Glen Murakami. This talk appeared on the previous DVD release
and offers a good deal of detail on the production, as well as expressing
accolades for the talent involved. A featurette entitled Beyond
Batman Beyond runs twelve-minutes and includes interviews with
the filmmakers, as well as the vocal talent.
The
DVD also offers a few Animatics, which are animated storyboards
that include recorded dialogue and music. Video Character Bios
offer animated biographies for Bruce Wayne, Terry McGinnis, the Joker,
the Dee-Dee Twins, and Woof. It should be noted that the bios include
plot developments from BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER. A deleted
scene is presented in animatic form and includes the pre animation dialogue
that was recorded prior to the scene being removed. Bat Trivia
is presented in an interactive game format and tests one’s knowledge of
the BATMAN BEYOND universe. A music video by Mephisto Odyssey for
the song Crash is also included on the DVD, as are trailers
for BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER, BATMAN & MR. FREEZE:
SUBZERO and THE BATMAN/SUPERMAN MOVIE and the upcoming SCOOBY-DOO
movie.
BATMAN
BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER- THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION is a fairly
outstanding direct-to-video production. Fans of the series should be very
pleased to have this program on DVD in its unaltered form. Personally,
I would have like to seen the wide screen presentation enhanced for 16:9
displays, but I guess you can’t have everything all at once.
Prior
to the initial direct-to-video release of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF
THE JOKER, Warner Home Video requested that certain changes be made
to the film- changes that would render it more suitable for a family audience.
Although the changes were made before the film was released to the public,
fans became aware that the filmmakers’ original intentions had been tampered
with. In fact, bootlegs of the original version surfaced on vhs and various
fan websites published detailed comparisons between the altered and unaltered
versions of the film. Of course, all of this stirred up the fan base and
created a demand for BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER to be released
in its uncut form. While it has taken about a year and a half to happen,
Warner Home Video has finally issued BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER-
THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION ($20).
Now,
I am not going to document the changes between the altered and altered
versions of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER, since a number
of fan websites have already done so. However, I will comment that THE
ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION is definitely a bit darker and slightly more
adult than the initial DVD release. Snippets of violence are restored
to film, as are bits of dialogue that were altered to make the film more
family friendly. In its unaltered incarnation, BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN
OF THE JOKER comes with a PG-13 rating, which should tell you that
the program is no longer intended for the youngest of tikes. While BATMAN
BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER was a really good program in its family
friendly form, THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION makes a fairly outstanding
direct-to-video production.
The
premise of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER finds the new Batman,
Terry McGinnis, and his elderly mentor Bruce Wayne facing The Dark Knight’s
worst nemesis- The Joker. Of course, no one is more shocked by the return
of The Joker than the original Batman himself- who personally witnessed
the demise of The Clown Prince Of Crime decades earlier. Although Wayne
warns McGinnis away from engaging The Joker, he soon finds that neither
Batman can escape a showdown with the past, especially when Wayne is nearly
killed by Batman’s old foe. Left on his own, the new Batman must unlock
the secret of The Joker’s demise and resurrection before anyone else is
harmed. BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER features the vocal talents
of Will Friedle, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dean Stockwell, Angie Harmon,
Teri Garr and Melissa Joan Hart.
Warner
Home Video has made BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER- THE ORIGINAL,
UNCUT VERSION available on DVD in very nice looking Letterboxed presentation
that has NOT been enhanced for playback on wide screen displays. Framed
at 1.78:1, the DVD cries out for 16:9 enhancement- why it was omitted
here leaves this reviewer scratching his head and thinking that perhaps
third times a charm. On a 4:3 display, the image is crisp, clean
and well defined. On a 16:9 display, the image needs to be digitally blown
up to the proper dimensions, which leaves it soft looking and introduces
artifacts. Colors are quite vivid and very cleanly rendered. Blacks are
accurate and the picture has good contrast for a direct-to-video production.
Noticeable digital compression artifacts were not introduced in the authoring
stage.
Like
the previous release, BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER features
a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. This is a very good mix for a
direct-to-video animated program. The track takes advantage of the discrete
channels for fairly aggressive sound mix, which utilizes the split surround
channels quite well. Dialogue is sharply focused, with the performances
really coming through in the sound mix- Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill cannot
be credited enough for what they have brought to the Batman saga. The
bass channel is quite solid and it does well to reinforce the sound effects.
Subtitles are provided on the DVD in English and French.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the
standard scene selection and set up features. Through the menus, one can
also access the DVD's supplemental features. Starting things off is a
running commentary with director Curt Geda, writer Paul Dini and producers
Bruce Timm and Glen Murakami. This talk appeared on the previous DVD release
and offers a good deal of detail on the production, as well as expressing
accolades for the talent involved. A featurette entitled Beyond
Batman Beyond runs twelve-minutes and includes interviews with
the filmmakers, as well as the vocal talent.
The
DVD also offers a few Animatics, which are animated storyboards
that include recorded dialogue and music. Video Character Bios
offer animated biographies for Bruce Wayne, Terry McGinnis, the Joker,
the Dee-Dee Twins, and Woof. It should be noted that the bios include
plot developments from BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER. A deleted
scene is presented in animatic form and includes the pre animation dialogue
that was recorded prior to the scene being removed. Bat Trivia
is presented in an interactive game format and tests one’s knowledge of
the BATMAN BEYOND universe. A music video by Mephisto Odyssey for
the song Crash is also included on the DVD, as are trailers
for BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER, BATMAN & MR. FREEZE:
SUBZERO and THE BATMAN/SUPERMAN MOVIE and the upcoming SCOOBY-DOO
movie.
BATMAN
BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER- THE ORIGINAL, UNCUT VERSION is a fairly
outstanding direct-to-video production. Fans of the series should be very
pleased to have this program on DVD in its unaltered form. Personally,
I would have like to seen the wide screen presentation enhanced for 16:9
displays, but I guess you can’t have everything all at once.