Barnes & Noble

Like the popular television series and first animated movie, this feature-length adventure follows the post-Bruce Wayne Caped Crusader, young Terry McGinnis (voiced by Will Friedle), an eager teenager with the same passion for vengeance that made Batman Gotham City's hero. This time around, Batman's most infamous archenemy, the Joker, returns for one last round with the Dark Knight, recruiting a gang of misfits to wreak havoc on Gotham, with his psychotic sights set on the Clown Prince of Crime's old foe: Wayne. Mark Hamill steals the show as the Joker, bringing back his gleefully insidious cackle, which remains one of the more resonant memories from Batman: The Animated Series. Unlike that series, though -- which mixed art deco, film noir, and Max Fleischer's Superman cartoons of the 1940s -- Batman Beyond owes more to the hyperkinetic action of Japanese animation, affording one of the world's most popular crime fighters an exhilarating update. Rachael Leigh Cook, Melissa Joan Hart, and Henry Rollins also make good voice appearances. The DVD features deleted scenes, audio commentary by the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and enough other extras to make this film a harrowing good time for fans of the television series -- and beyond! Jason Bergenfeld

All Movie Guide

The young protégé of one of the world's greatest superheroes has his first encounter with an old nemesis in this direct-to-video feature adapted from the popular animated series Batman Beyond. Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) has taken over the crime-fighting responsibilities of Batman from aging Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy), but while Terry has learned a great deal from Wayne, he's never heard the startling truth about Batman's final encounter with his arch-enemy, The Joker (Mark Hamill). However, when The Joker returns to Gotham City as vicious as ever, Wayne decides that it's time that the new Batman learned all there is to know about the green-faced terror before he can bring the city to its knees -- especially after Bruce is attacked by his one-time rival. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker also features the voice talents of Melissa Joan Hart and Angie Harmon. Upon its initial release, the movie sparked some controversy among Batman Beyond fans because of last-minute edits that toned down the violence level. However, it was eventually released on DVD in an uncut format. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 012569717251
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Time: 1:17:00
• Sales Rank: 28,799

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Batman beyond: Return of the Joker/Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman