Releases - DVD - Batman Beyond:
Return of the Joker (Uncut)
Release Information:
Studio: Warner Studios
Original Release Date: April 23rd, 2002
Run Time: 77 minutes
Production Company: Warner Studios
Package Type: Snap Case (Discontinued); Amaray |
Subtitles:
English, French
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1
Note: The Aspect Ratio is actually a form of widescreen--the
video is matted at the top of the bottom to give the illusion of
widescreen format.
Sound Quality:
English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
Commentary (Stereo)
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Special Features
-Commentary by the Filmmakers
-Behind-the-Scenes Documentary
-Deleted Scenes
-Animation Tests
-Music Video Crash by Mephisto Odyssey feat. Static X
-Animated Character Bios
-Interactive Menus
-Production Notes
-Trailers
-Scene Access
-Subtitles: English & Francais |
Review
After relentless demand from fans, Warner Home Video has finally released
the unedited version of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and is
considered second only to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, this story
starring the futuristic Dark Knight faces off against the Clown Prince of
Crime in this revealing, harrowing story.
While the story can be found elsewhere on this site, I'll provide a quick
backdrop on how this release came to be. The first release of this film,
developed while in production on the animated series, was released in 2000.
Unfortunately, Warner executives felt the content and tone was too dark and
extreme for their target audience. As a result, filmmakers Bruce Timm, Paul
Dini, Alan Burnett, Curt Geda, and Glen Murakami were forced to extract
almost five minutes of footage from the print, to lessen the impact. The
flashback sequence was toned down, and fight sequences and dialogue were
either trimmed or cut out completely. The content was essentially still the
same, but the execution was considerably dulled.
A copy of the unedited version was leaked weeks before the edited hit
shelves and the backlash was unbelievable. The story, broken by myself,
caused a massive letter and petition campaign, eventually resulting in the
release of this edition of the movie. The comparison between the cut and
uncut version of this movie can be
viewed
here.
Now what about the actual movie? Amazing. The voice acting is top notch, the
animation is beautiful, and the story is amazing. To say anymore would
really ruin the entire experience, but this is a must-see movie on a
must-see DVD.
And the audio and video transfer? The Dolby 5.1 Surround makes the
action and excellent score sound all the more vivid and intense. The
video is a mixed back. While the Cut release featured flawless video,
this release suffers from a massive amount of interlacing, visible on a
PC monitor or hi-def TV set. Definitely a disappointment.
Despite the packaging claim of being Full Frame, the film is actually
shown in 1.78:1 non-anamorphic widescreen. The widescreen really adds to
the tone of the film, making it seem more epic than those overblown live
action installments. The colors jump against the dark, fully digitally
painted backgrounds, and the detail is brilliant.
The extras for this DVD set is actually pretty impressive for Warner Home
Video. Usually we're saddled with terrible "games," brainless extras, and
horrible production values. But here? We have a solid release, probably the
best Animated DC DVD release outside of the box sets. The extras include
Commentary by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Curt Geda, and Glen Murakami, Animatics,
a Making Of Featurette, Character Bios, Deleted Scenes (In Animatic Form),
Bat Trivia, the Mephisto Odyssey Featuring Static X "Crash" music video, and
some trailers.
The highlight of the release is the commentary. This is a commentary I have
actually listened to on many occasions, multiple times. The four
participants keep it going with Bruce Timm leading the charge. There are a
few brief moments of silence, but the wealth of candid conversation and
information is just mind blowing. It's probably one of the best commentary
tracks I've ever heard and has definite reply value. Fans will truly enjoy
it.
The other extras, while pretty standard, are excellent for this release. The
deleted scenes, including the infamous 'Arkham Asylum" scene, are in
animatic form with voice performances. They're pretty interesting, though
it's understood why they were cut. The rest of the extras are pretty
entertaining and provide a nice look into the process into making and
promoting this feature.
Just a note, the commentary featured on this release is different than the
commentary featured on the edited release.
Overall, I highly recommend this film. This movie ties Batman: Mask of
the Phantasm as the best interpretation of the iconic hero. While this
unedited version can be pretty intense, it really should be enjoyed by all
Bat-fans of all ages. However, parents might want to check it out before
their let their kids do just in case. Very few American animated series have
achieved the quality and excitement Warner Brothers has created with the
Batman franchise, and this is just another example of how excellent this
animated franchise has become. |
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