No Joke, This Film Rocks

Hello to you. Earlier this year, we discussed Batman Beyond, my favourite television show. Now I'm going to blab about the film it inspired. We're going to extol Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker, the uncut version.

Director Curt Geda was sublime at overseeing the project. It's lucidly edited by Joe Gall. The foley artists and sound people thrived. TMS was stupefying at supplying the animation. They took the show's look and amped it up. The character designers worked magic, shoutout to Joker's designs. The storyboarding resulted in comic book-like cinematography. This film's animators were keen at designing, digital coloring, movement and timing. There are concise, deft, non-gratuitous action sequences. Kristopher Carter, penner of the series' theme, prospered at composing the movie's score. Its mixing and playing was quite masterful. Mephisto Odessey, Wayne Static and Koichi Fukada contributed a dope song to the soundtrack.

Andrea Romano and Leslie Lamers assembled a superb cast. Naturally, Andrea was astute at officiating the voice-direction, which entailed ensemble records, individual sessions and long-distance recording. Romano actually contributed some chilling voice-over work. Producer Bruce Timm got in on the act. Vernee Watson and Mary Scheer were the recipients of parts. Though Cree Summer's Max could've been written into the film, Lauren Tom, Teri Garr, Ryan O'Donohue, Rachel Leigh Cook and Mark Jonathan Davies reprised their roles from the show. This picture has a wondrous group of Jokerz! They're voiced fantastically by Melissa Joan Hart, a pre-Flash Michael Rosenbaum, Frank Welker, Don Harvey and Black Flag's Henry Rollins. Arleen Sorkin is so definitive as Harley Quinn. We're gifted with reprisals of Tara Strong's Batgirl and Matthew Valencia's Robin. Angie Harmon supplied a uniquely engrossing portrayal of Commissioner Barbara Gordon. Dean Stockwell was pertinently apt as a futuristic Tim Drake. Kevin Conroy had his usual brilliance as the aged Bruce Wayne and voiced their Batman, too. Once again, Will Friedle compelled as Terry McGinnis and held their own as the dark knight. This flick has work of grandeur from Mark Hamill. Aside from voicing their usual Joker and a slimy red herring, Mark is warped, ominous and sleek as the reemerged incarnation of Gotham's clown prince of crime.

Minus an unneeded scene deletion, the writing is applaudable. Return of The Joker's writers concocted an exquisite premise and executed it exceptionally. Thanks to Timm, Glenn Murakami and Paul Dini, this film is sensationally storied. Dini was deft at scripting its screenplay, too. The dialogue is notable. There's a ginormous plethora of rad scenes, with Joker's introduction, the flashback sequence and an atypical climax being standouts. Joker's plan entails savagery, terrorism and vengeance. This feature pushed the envelope of darkness but had humor. Though the twist has been scrutinized, I find it plausible and horrifying. The piece wraps up with a touching, epic denouement, too.

In short, Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker is an impactful direct-to-video movie. It's a wild, worthwhile follow-up to the show. I've been a fan of it for years. It still enamors me. After viewing its predecessor, you should give it a watch. Incidentally, this is dedicated to Mark Hamill. Happy belated birthday to him.