Rating: 
Summary: Edited? YES Watered down? NO
Review: For some reason, Canadian chain stores... have recieved Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker much earlier than the stateside release of Dec. 12th. When I saw this tape I quickly snatched it up, not believing my good fortune. After months of anticipation, I would finally get to see the amazing revelations behind the Joker's return, as well as the backstory to Tim Drake, the last Robin. Before I go on w/this review, it's only fair to explain that I already knew all the plot twists beforehand. I'd been to the websites and seen all the screen grabs, but I don't think that took away too much from the film, because it's still really amazing. To settle the question,that everybody's been asking - YES. Warner Bros. DID edit the film, and yes it IS different. However, it's not as watered down as most people are making it out to be. Granted, the scene in question would have had much more impact with the original footage, but it still gets the point across vivdly, especially when coupled with later dialogue. To compare, the violence level is still notches above the regular animated series, and even more intense than Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. It's the dialogue however, that really makes your skin crawl, especially Mark Hamil's excellent deliveries during the flashback sequence. All in all, not much to complain about in the 'editing' department. The animation is smooth and fast paced, much more intense than any of the half hour segments ever were. In fact, my only major complaint about the movie is that some of the dialogue was not delivered very well. The lines are excellently written and the voice actors all put forth a good effort, but sometimes they lack the intensity I would have liked. Mark Hamil and Kevin Conroy were excellent as always, and Will Freidle was good too, except for once scene where he was telling Bruce why he wanted to be Batman. The scene just felt too contrived for me, like it was thrown in purposely to provide background information for people who don't watch the show. Theres nothing wrong w/that, but if you watch the show, this part feels almost unecessary. The woman who plays Barbara Gordon is different, and lacks the touch that Stockard Channing brought, but she was still okay. On a minor point, the inclusion of a clip from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon was uneeded. Can't these guys advertise someplace else??? But those quirks aside, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is an excellent movie. It's just as good as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, if not even better. Even if you'd still rather perfer the uncut copy, there's nothing wrong w/buying this one to wait till that day comes.
Rating:
Summary: The Joker Steals the Show
Review: Quite simply, Mark Hamill IS the Joker. Although I rather liked Jack Nicholson's performance as Joker in the original Batman Motion Picture, Hamill is by far the best, even if he is just voice acting the part. The Jokerz gang gets a new look as the movie begins. Apparently, they have changed in how they commit their crimes. Instead of going after simple cash, they start stealing hi-tech equipment. This change of course, is due to the one and only Joker. He has come back, and better than ever. Right off the bat, when we are re-introduced to the Joker, we get a sense of the darkness that the character emits. Instead of being cooky, the Joker we see in this movie is a MANIAC. He is a lot darker, and in fact, sometimes he is even quieter than he was in animated series. In the original Batman movie, Nicholson's portrayal of Joker was to be goofy and fun. In Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Hamill's Joker is just downright SCARY. There are, of course, other characters that are integral to the plot. Terry McGinnis isn't really the focal point in this story, even though he plays the main protagonist. It is actually the old gang of Batman, Batgirl, and Robin, that get the focus. The reason? They know what happened to the Joker a long time ago. On one faithful day, we witness an event that is life changing to all those involved. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but let me just say that what is revealed is quite surprising. Overall, I thought that the movie did a very good job of story telling along with displaying well done action sequences. Still, there are a few gripes that I have with the movie. First, is the Jokerz gang. The gang from the animated Batman Beyond series are replaced with new characters. These characters, while being nicely varied, don't do a good job of portraying the Joker himself. In the cartoon show, the Jokerz gang were unruly, but had the same sense of humor that the Joker did. In this movie, we get a group of circus-freaks that are uninspired and play a minimal role. Also, the animation wasn't that much better than the cartoon series, however the focus of the movie was on the story, not the looks. Then there is the length of the movie. Its a lot shorter than I would have liked it to have been. I think there could have been more scenes that involved the Joker originally meeting the Jokerz gang. Still, the story is told well enough within the time frame. Finally, there are the cuts that WB is planning to make for the movie. The version I saw was definitely not kid friendly. There are some scenes of torture, as well as blood in this movie. I personally believe that the movie should be released in two versions, one uncut and one edited. This movie was good and I hope that the live action feature(being created by the same team that developed this movie), will be as good as the animated film
Rating: 
Summary: Joker's Royal Flush
Review: Just when you thought it was safe to go to the video store... Warner Bros. introduces a brand new animated masterpiece, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. In the future, Terry McGinness fights crime as the new Batman with his mentor the former Batman and old fart Bruce Wayne. And now, the sinister, maniacal, and seemingly immortal clown prince of crime the Joker has returned to torment them! But how does the Joker return in such a youthful state? Why has he come back? And what happened that fateful, final night Batman fought him? The answers will not only haunt you, but shock you! These logical, terrifying answers are only part of the wonderful, tragic new adventure! Written by Eisner Award Winner and batman beyond writer Paul Dini, this is the movie for the holiday season! To experience this terrific movie yourself, get Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker from Amazon.com today!
Rating: 
Summary: Batman Does Not Believe in Censorship
Review: Batman Does Not Believe in Censorship, especially when it comes to his TV animation. Cool! Some JOKERs at the studio probably want a promotion, so they thought up this ridiculous marketing plan for censoring "Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker." Not so cool! The game plan is to get enough kids to buy the edited version and simultaneously anger enough of us to drum up a storm of protest to get free publicity over the censorship. Still not cool! Then the plan is to release it with an extravagant marketing program to issue the un-cut version to really make a big profit. Not cool at all! Can you believe that this is from the same studio that released "Superman." NOT COOL AT ALL! Avoid the edited version at all costs.
Rating:
Summary: An Animated Masterpiece
Review: BB:ROTJ starts off explosive and dramatic in one of the best opening action sequences I've ever seen- better than any James Bond opening sequence for that matter. The possibilities of animation is truly shown here. It's a shame the WB does not have a proper marketing team cause this movie could have been given a theatrical run. Nevertheless, it demands to be viewed on the biggest screen possible. An even bigger tragedy is that Warners wants to edit this yet to be classic.MAJOR SPOILERS follow. Now don't feel that BB:ROTJ is only a science fiction/ action packed extravaganza. Despite all the action and there is quite a bit, there is also great character development especially on the main character, Terry. My favourite scene in the movie is one where Bruce tells Terry that he doesn't want him to be Batman anymore. In this scene we learn a lot about Bruce- his fears and his guilt and at the same time we discover a side of Terry and his obligation and desire of wanting to be Batman. Paul Dini's script is smart and clever and the voice work, Mark Hamill especially, does indeed do the script justice. My only problem with the script was a misleading subplot involving an unnecessary character and his connection with the Joker-a minor flaw. And who could forget the magnificent ten minute flashback sequence which I hope WB does not touch a second of no matter how violent or disturbing they think it is. All in all a very entertaining and yes violent movie. The fight scenes are incredible. When a guy gets punched boy does he get punched. Credit that to the Sound effects people. Now that I think of it, boy this film if begging for movie theatre treatment. The movie is well done and well paced. Credit that to the editor and the unforgettable script. Oh and Kristopher Carter's (is that his name?) musical score is also very impressive. The movie does have some minor flaws. They will only nag you if you're the type who picks at the tiny details. The movie could have used a few extra minutes to be a little more detailed but who cares, I like the way the movie flowed. What Warners has here is their best attempt at an animated movie to date. It's not Disney . Thank God it's not Disney cause this rocked. I urge all Bat-fans, Comic-fans, anime fans, movie fans , anybody who would like to enjoy 76 minutes of great entertainment to see the un-cut version of this masterpiece. I don't Know how the edited version would turn out but I loved this. It already made my top ten films list for 2000. Trust me it's fantastic. Or as the Joker might say "It's a Killer" HA!HA!HA!HA!
Rating:
Summary: I hope they don't edit it
Review: Although we'll never know what we are missing, other than speculation and rumor, I personally would like to see the unedited version. I feel children see enough violence in every day life that they know this is JUST A CARTOON. I have ulterior motives, I mean, it's not every girl who's boyfriend get's told by Paul Dini that his girl was the "perfect" Harley Quinn. I'm interested to see if they even mention what happened to Harl. We know she's "Gone" because her costume now resides in Bruce Wayne's archives. As far as this dvd/video goes, I've seen trailors, promos, etc. I think it's going to be a great way to bring some of the BTAS/AB&R (Batman the animated series/adventures of batman and robin) fans back into the world of the Bat.
Rating:
Summary: The best animated superhero film
Review: A dramatic, action-packed story that cements Terry McGinnis' place as Batman in the mythos. The Jokers reappearance in New Gotham becomes a mystery for Bruce and Terry to solve; the plot twists and turns convincingly and with great suspense. The story has plenty of pathos and strong themes of betrayal and failure. A couple of scenes may be too intense for young viewers, but overall this is a great animated feature. Top notch animation and great character designs from Timm and the rest. The new Joker looks outstanding. For fans of the Batman animated series, a treat: a twelve minute flashback segment harking back to Bruce Wayne in his prime as Batman. This is a great film for kids and adults alike!
Rating: 
Summary: Five Stars If We Get the Uncensored Original Release Edit
Review: Yes, be warned. It seems that Gore/Lieberman have struck fear into the hearts of WB. "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" has been delayed from Oct. to Dec., so WB can TRIM, CUT, SNIP OUT, EDIT--in other words, CENSOR everything that gives offense to our self-appointed moral guardians (see above). This is no rumor, but fact. So be warned. I would love to own this movie, but if WB censors the expression of the film's creators, I'll simply rent it. One last word, the above rant refers to the cutting-edge and sometimes brutually violent nature of the film. It's no kiddie flick and should not be marketed to kids. Remember, though, that WB saw the screenplay; they gave the go-ahead and green light to Paul Dini and company. So if you don't want your politicians telling you what you can watch, remember to vote. (I'm no Republican, but Tipper "Mrs. Censorship" Gore gives me serious chills....)
Rating:
Summary: This movie is not for kids
Review: This film has wonderful animation, a deep, resonant story, plenty of action, and it's everything a Batman fan could want. But it's absolutely not for kids. I got to see a screening copy of this movie because a friend of mine has the job of evaluating videos' suitability for sales in a family grocery store chain. She knew I was a lifelong Batman fan, and trusted my judgment. I am a 35-year old teacher, and have been a Batman fan since I was able to talk. I have enjoyed violent films, anime, and comic books with no discernable effect on my psyche. With this said, I have to say that I was completely dismayed with Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. I was shocked after the first on-screen death; but I was completely repulsed by the on-screen torture of a 12-year old Robin in a flashback sequence which leads directly to another on-screen death. At one point, Batman throws a folding pocketknife at the Joker's head! If this movie is going to be marketed to kids, and I don't see how it won't be, then parents need to know right now that it is completely inappropriate to let a pre-teen watch this without an adult to explain what's going on. This movie would be fine as a film marketed for post-adolescent viewers, but in this country Batman Beyond gets a clam shell casing and sits next to the Disney movies in the family section. And that's not where it belongs.
Rating:
Summary: Batman Beyond goes beyond animation standards
Review: The 1990's haven't been filled with the best of cartoons. But when Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett and many others collaborated on Batman: The Animated Series, little did they know that they would have a hit on their hands. The spin-off series Batman Beyond has got it all; action, drama, teen romance, humour, and fantastic, sharp dialogue. This futuristic Batman can easily appeal to both children and adults. Kids will get a kick out of the many fighting scenes, but adults and teens will not only enjoy the action, but real character development that seems to be lacking in most animation today. There's very little of that superhero or supervillain banter that you also see these days in cartoons. All the villains have their reasons for their actions and you actually feel sympathetic towards them at times. The animation itself is wonderful for a TV series and is better than most Japanese cartoons (simply because there's no still frames,and repeated frames or animation). The animated movie can only get better with the return of the classic criminal Joker, who is maniacally voiced by Mark Hamill (a.k.a. Luke Skywalker of the Star Wars films). All in all, anyone can enjoy the series and the same should hold true for the animated movie.
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