Rating: 
Summary: Great addition to the Bat family
Review: I'm an animation fan, and find the stylings of the new bat toons and Superman toons really cool. Cyberpunk meets Bladerunner. This movie does a great job of showing off Gotham, the Bat's history, Robin's final battle, and more. Darker than most of the chapters in this new bat future, and a definite must for animation or Dark Knight fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Batman goes hardcore
Review: After the box-office failure of _Batman: Mask of the Phantasm_, Warner Bros. decided to send its TV spinoffs directly to the video market. That's a shame, because this film, with its anime-influenced visuals and kinetic editing, would have been fun to see in a theater.The television series _Batman Beyond_ features a compelling relationship between an elderly Bruce Wayne and a new, teenage Batman. But despite the well-defined characters and lots of heavy action, the new Batman has never really found a villain worthy of the classic "Rogues' Gallery." _Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker_ solves this problem by resuscitating the greatest foe of the old Batman. It's a smart move; the Dark Knight must have a Clown Prince. Free from the restraints and censorship of children's television (at least in the film's unedited version), the creators of _Return of the Joker_ have given us the most disturbing Batfilm ever. Gotham City is dark and horrifying, and the violence takes on a nasty, lethal edge. The Joker's big secrets (such as how he's survived unscathed and intact after a forty-year absence) are nothing short of ghastly. Batfans, anime buffs, and action lovers should all be pleased with this film. But parents with children would do well to stay away from the edited _and_ unedited versions -- this film earns its PG-13 rating and then some.
Rating:
Summary: Proved that cartoons aren't just for kids!
Review: I've seen this movie about 4 times on DVD, and I must tell you... own it, own it, own it! It's not the average cartoon.. and it's definitely the most mature animated Batman movie. It's very dark and disturbing, which is why I like it. People all around in this movie are disturbed. If you're a parent, then you should watch this movie BEFORE letting your child see it, or watch it with them.The plot is great, the acting is amazing, and the ending & beginning theme is REMARKABLE! Thank you Kenny Wayne Sheppard! The WB made a "cleaned up" version to have it better for kids, but if you are a teenager or adult, and you like animation and Batman, this one is for you! My only beef with the movie is that there aren't more animated Batman movies like this one.Hopefully more mature animated movies will be made in the future! Good job, Paul Dini and crew!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Animated Film
Review: I'll admit it. I wasn't originally thrilled with the concept of Batman Beyond. The thought of someone else putting on the costume was not something I was wild about. The thought of it being a high school student also didn't appeal to me. But Return of the Joker did a nice job of making me look at Batman Beyond as just a continuation of the great Batman saga. For those who don't know, the new Batman is Terry McGinnis, who wears a new suit that is computer enhanced. Terry also has a life outside of Batman, including a mother and brother and a girlfriend. Bruce Wayne, the original Batman, keeps an eye on Terry from the Batcave. I won't bore you with the synopsis, but suffice to say, the return of the Joker fills Wayne's heart with fear, although Terry can't see what the big deal is with a clown. That's when he's told what the Joker did to the last Robin, Tim Drake. The scene where they flashback to that is worth the price of the DVD itself. The animation is top notch as usual, with the nice, subtle touches that have been a trademark of the animated Batman shows. The voice over talent is also fantastic, featuring Mark Hamill, Angie Harmon, and Dean Stockwell. They all really bring the writing to life and make the story very interesting. As I said, the flashback scene makes the video worth watching itself, but the rest of the video is also pretty well done. Unfortunately, the ending is very cliched and really makes the surprise about the Joker much less enjoyable. But it you're a Batman fan, this is a very good animated movie.
Rating:
Summary: Necessary for any Bat collection!
Review: Don't forget, Batman was originally created as a dark, film-noir world where the Joker's the sort of guy who makes you laugh ... even as he slips a knife 'tween your ribs (before its cartoon days, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' comics were as dark as you could go and in NO way intended for child audiences). The uncut "Return of the Joker" version is not for children. If you want this for your kids, buy the edited version (which is still somewhat disturbing). That said, onto the show :) This movie has redeemed the Batman Beyond series. The TV show just isn't the same without all the insane residents of Arkham Asylum (*sigh* Two-Face, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, where are you?). To the uniniated: in a Gotham City fifty years in the future, 17-year old Terry McGinnis is shattered by his father's death. His shock boils over into anger when he discovers the death was an orchestrated hit by a greedy CEO. The aging Bruce Wayne, having long since hung up the cowl, passes it onto Terry, who becomes the new Dark Knight. And thus sparks a new generation of crime-fighting, replete with some interesting yet somewhat lacking villains. As to the movie itself ... a new crime wave leaves Terry spinning in confusion. The Joker's returned! Yet mentor Bruce Wayne and police commissioner Barbara Gorden (a retired and much bitter Batgirl) refuse to hear it. The Joker is dead, they say. They were witnesses to the mad clown's death, but they refuse to tell much more. The film even reintroduces a middle-aged Tim Drake (who, as a young kid, became the new Robin after Dick Grayson left to become Nightwing). As the Joker and his new gang (which includes a mutated Hyena-kid and two bizarre twin girls, voiced nicely by Melissa Joan Hart!) wreck havoc, and Joker reveals his plan for the final annhilation of Gotham City, Barbara relents ... and tells Terry of their last fight with the Joker all those years ago. This movie is the bridge between Batman Beyond and Batman: The Animated Series, including why the old Bruce Wayne uses a cane, the cause of Barbara's bitterness, and what happened to the young Robin, Tim Drake. It also features the return of a perennial fan fave, Harley Quinn!! The depths to which Joker sinks is both horrifying, heart-breaking, and in a way, satisfying. Something this evil must be stopped and only increases your admiration for Bruce, plus it makes the characters all the more human. No, this isn't a film for young chilren, but then, Batman never was intended for that. The brilliant talent of the writers continually amazes me. Anyone who can create such a 3-D world with 2-D characters (and makes us care so deeply for them!) deserves an Emmy (which, incidently, was awarded to Batman: The Animated Series in 1992-3).
Rating: 
Summary: PARENTS BEWARE - This DVD shows depraved child abuse
Review: Remember when Batman cartoons were FUN? Parents should know that this twisted "cartoon" shows multiple murders and the disturbing physical and psychological torture of a child character. The producers of this series should be ashamed. They have tainted a great set of characters with this repugnant story. What in the world were all the business and creative people who worked on this project thinking? Creators Dini and Timm and company used to have a fresh outlook on Batman and "family". Now they are so creatively bankrupt, so lacking of real-world perspective, that they have nothing to offer in the way of new stories. So they resort to killing and torturing the characters, and call themselves "daring". The creators should get out of Hollywood for a couple of years. Try to remember the reason you wanted to make cartoons. Kids should not watch this disturbing movie and parents should not buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Uncut version: powerful, disturbing, a great film
Review: I was slow to warm up to Batman Beyond, but Dini and company do deliver solid, enjoyable, well written and stylish animated programs so it was only a matter of time before I relaxed and enjoyed it. I saw the edited version of this movie and enjoyed it-- but it did lack a certain impact; to my eye at least, it was obvious drastic revisions had been made to the film in progress, and the story suffered. Then I got a copy of the uncut version. Wow. I was blown away. I mean, this has some very intense, very disturbing elements. I understand they needed to revise the film-- this is not Saturday AM fare. But it is awesome. What could drive Batman to kill the Joker (not that I'm saying he did...)? If you like Batman, you will love this film. But it is not for young children.
Rating:
Summary: Action packed
Review: I'm an Anime fan, and basically an animation fan in general. My Tivo records Batman Beyond, MIB, Outlaw Star, Justice League, Futurama and more. You get the idea. I like "cooler" looking, gadget-stuffed, action-packed escapism. This movie was really good. Much more violence than you'd see in the typical bat toon, and the way the Joker comes back is (in my opinion) a little lame. Especially when you consider how it ends. If you like the Batman Beyond series, then get this DVD. Like Anime in general? Thumbs up.
Rating:
Summary: A very graphic, deeply saddening movie! Still the best!
Review: Batman: Return of the Joker, is I think one of the BEST American animated movies! The basic plot of this movie is a little deep, hard and too scary for younger audiences to understand! If you have seen both the final episode of The Adventures of Batman and Robin and the Batman Beyond series, then you will understand this. The movie's plot (This is the plot to the PG "Edited" version):
Terry McGinnis (the new Batman) stops the "Jokerz" gang from stealing some electronic device. Later does he find out that the Jokerz work for a new revamped Joker (played wonderfully by Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill) who is out for revenge. Bruce Wayne is later attacked by the Joker, leaving Terry to fend for himself. The city's police comissioner (the old Batgirl, Barbara Gordon) explains to Terry about the fateful night when Batman killed the Joker (Rumored to be shown in the new uncut version, but is shown briefly in the PG version) and Robin was kidnapped and tortured by the Joker. I will not say anymore. This movie is very dark, depressing, violent and sad! The violence in this version is shockingly grotesque for an edited cut of the movie. Some of the violent scenes are cut down but some things are insinuated. Not for the faint of heart or children under 10! I will be back soon with a review of the uncut version, but if you want to see this version, rent it, you will not regret it!
Rating:
Summary: What was rightfully ours all along
Review: First off, it seems that Amazon.com has taken to grouping the reviews of BOTH the edited version and the unedited version together - I hope they stop this, the two films may share a lot in common, but there are enough differences between the two versions that a review of the unedited version may not apply to the edited one. With that out of the way, FINALLY! After nearly forever, Warner Bros. has finally seen fit to release the original version of Return of the Joker, albeit with little fanfare, and if rumors are true, the EXACT same cover with only a PG sticker to mark the difference. Hopefully the above isn't true, but even if it is, fans will live happily with the knowledge that it was their petitions that made this DVD possible. I'm going under the assumption that the people who are reading this have seen the cut version (because again, Warner Bros. has given this release next to no fanfare and publicity), and that spoilers won't be a problem. What we have here are the original scenes, including Joker's original death, the original death of Joker's henchman Bonk, Dee Dee shocking Batman with the taser, Robin's torture, and other cuts too numerous to mention. I've gone back and read my original review of the edited version, and have come up with this conclusion: I stand by my original opinion when I said the film wasn't watered down after the alterations. The motives and implications may have been made less clear to small children, but the crux of the story was still strong, especially to mature viewers, and it's a credit to the talent of Paul Dini that his script could survive such horrible mutilations. With that said, this uncut version will surely please all fans. It's not simply the fact that the material is more violent, which it is, but with that violence comes the horror and tragedy that form the backbone of the story. Tim Drake's fate is the worst thing that has happened in the Batman mythos next to the death of Jason Todd and the shooting of Barbara Gordon in the comic books (both caused by Joker too), and should be treated as such. To any parent who may have objections to the uncut version, I'll say this much: Instead of crying out in protest, use this movie as a chance to discuss the themes of pain, loss, and redemption with your child. Every human being goes through these stages at some point in their life, and no parent can shield it from them forever. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker has finally come home.
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