"Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" Feature Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

Discuss both the edited and unedited version of this critically-acclaimed, fan favorite film - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker!

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
December 12th, 2000 - Video Release / April 23, 2002 - Video Release of "Uncut" Version

Synopsis: The greatest villain of all comes out of the past to threaten Batman, Bruce Wayne and all of Gotham City in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the first feature-length Batman Beyond movie. The sleeker, deadlier and seemingly immortal Clown Prince of Crime is back with his own unique brand of havoc and mayhem. While trying to uncover the Joker's secrets, the new Batman, Terry McGinnis, discovers the greatest mystery in the life of the original Caped Crusader: What happened the night he fought the Joker for the last time. When Bruce Wayne is almost killed in one of the Joker's latest attacks, Batman vows to avenge his mentor and put the Joker to rest forever. Get ready for heart-stomping action, awesome adventure and amazing revelations in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

Comments?

Related Threads:
-Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker DVD Talkback (Spoilers).

Note: This thread is for discussion on both the edited and unedited version of this film. Click here to view the differences between the films. The uncut version of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker was released on April 23, 2002! The thread has been altered accordingly!

[Kylewayne]

One thing that always got me was just how Dana really got smacked around in this movie. I'm surprised she hasn't dumped him yet because this isn't the first time!

Do you think Dana would run from Terry after this? I do not think that Dana would run away from Terry. I think it would bring them closer together. Sure Dana is a bit snobby and spoiled but I think that deep down she really likes Terry I only think that she is fed up with him disappearing all the time and spending too much time with Bruce Wayne (even old i still think he looks hot and ) [COLOR=blue]

[DR. BELCH]

Well, if Dana did break away and run, it would let Terry know what kind of dame she is. I mean, whether you want to chalk it up to several writers who can't agree on just what her character is or the girl herself who can't decide what to be (typical, I guess, for a teen), she runs hot and cold...one minute all peaches and cream, and the next jealous and sulky (cf. "Untouchable"). Even in this movie she seems portrayed a bit unevenly. I suppose it depends on her maturity level, and if she isn't grown-up enough to accept Terry's night life, he'd be better off without her. (Still, Nelson?!? You're lucky Brian didn't put in a vomiting smiley, junior! )

Then again, some men have built their lifestyles on a woman's rejection. The Mad Hatter's villiany was born out of unrequited love for a secretary...and I've mentioned before how a man named Eric Magnus was once corrupted by a wife's love turned cold.

[Kylewayne]

Dana is just being a typical teenager. I agree that she does not know what she wants but you can't blame her for having a boyfriend like Terry. Besides I think that Terry is the one who is confused and all This *ahem* typical male teen does not know what he really wants in life. Everyone knows he took on the mantle of the BAT because he found out Bruce's secret and because he wants to make-up for his days as a rebel kid out of control.
Sure he has proven to Bruce that he is worthy to fill in his shoes but is he really ready to take on the responsibility? Bruce had more time to train and practice before becoming Batman. I am still not used to seeing Terry as the new Batman Terry lacks the dark mysterious aura that Bruce/Batman had and still has btw
I see Terry as another Nightwing or Robin learning under the tutelage of Bruce( the master and true BATMAN ...well in my eyes )

[Blight]

Well, Dana seems pretty attached to Terry (he's missed so many dates but she still sticks with him!) so I think she would stay with Terry if he revealed to her his secret. She might even like it. Of course, since BB is ending we will never know.

See ya!
Blight

[Inque]

dana would run screaming after she found out that inque gave terry a huge "you're an idiot" kiss in disappearing inque.............

[James]

If Dana found out Terry's secret? Hmm, she'd stay. I'd say definitely. She cares a hell of a lot for him and puts up with his poor time keeping (plus dating the Bat must be sooo cool to for a Gotham teen - even if they can't tell anyone!)

However I don't think it would last. She would now know WHY he was always late. She would also know that this wasn't a part time job like she suspected. Terry is not going to give this up.

She puts up with his part time work for Wayne because she believes it's only temporary. When she realizes that she will be competing with this dual identity for life she will leave.

Tough luck Terry old chum!

[oranthal]

if ROTJ went to theater, how much do think it would have grossed? i'm talking about the uncut version of course. and let's be realistic, even though it was a great movie, it wouldn't have grossed $100 million just because it is animated and not from disney. do you think it would have more than Titan AE? how much did that make?

[The Mad Hatter]

Oooh, a portrait of Raistlin! I'd be tempted to use a portrait of Fizban, if I could find one.

Anyway, I agree with you, it probably wouldn't make $100 million. Its chances would be pretty limited indeed, considering that the American public at large is weirded out by animation that's not directly for kids (Simpsons aside, which everyone assumes to be a fluke). Not to mention the fact that WB did a truly horrible job on marketing Iron Giant, and that was a damn good flick the critics went ape over. So, I'll give two estimates:

If WB advertised ROTJ like Iron Giant: $10-15 million. Let's face it, practically nobody saw MOTP when it came out, and it didn't have an ad push either.

If WB did a decent job of advertising it: $30-40 million. The critics would probably like it, and it would probably have generated decent word-of-mouth in the teen set. Most adults would still be a tad confused by it.

Either way, it would have made WB a decent profit... it didn't cost that much to make (relatively speaking, compared to the average made-for-the screen animated movie). Then again, they just relied on their Pokemon cash cow... grumble.

By the way, here's hoping Atlantis finally changes people's minds about more mature animation.

[Calhoun07]

By the way, here's hoping Atlantis finally changes people's minds about more mature animation. [/B]

Titan AE already accomplished that. Many adults discovered the movie on home video and DVD that never saw it in the theater and aren't even animation fans as a whole to begin with. I think Atlantis will reach more people than Titan AE, but I don't think it will do the buisiness at the box office Disney is used to seeing on their animated musicals, however. More than likely, Atlantis will be discovered by more people on home video and DVD. The good news this time around is that, unlike Fox Animation studios, Disney won't close their doors if Atlantis fails to make a certain amount of money at the box office.

And just for the record, I think Atlantis will be better than Titan AE by a long shot.

[Failure]

Atlantis does look like the first cool Disney Movie they've put out in a while. I definitely like the more mature feel I'm seeing from it.

As for ROTJ and the money it makes, I think it could go as high as $50 million, but with all the violence controversies, I'm sure a lot of parents wouldn't be willing ot take their little kids to it, so I guess around the $20-30mil range.

[optimal321]

WB did a crappy job of adverising ROTJ as is. I saw a commercial for it, like twice, and it was the same one. Even the people at school who i talk about Batman and such w/ never heard of it. If not for this site, who knows...

[steaming79]

who knows...but it would've got my 5 bucks.

[Jedi Knight]

The Mask of the Phantasm made about $5 million in it's original run in the theatres. It wasn't backed by much advertising, but it still didn't make much of an impact, even though it was critically acclaimed (it's the only Batman-related movie that for 2 thumbs up).

ROTJ wouldn't have done too much better. Even if it was supported by WB (which is doubtful), I highly doubt it would've made over $10 million, simply because it's not aimed at little children. Only true Batman Beyond fans would show up. Even people who like Batman probably wouldn't bother, because it's way in the future and everything is unfamiliar (except the Joker, I guess).

WB probably made the right decision to release it direct-to-video, 'cause it likely would've been in the red if it went to the theatres first.

[ShadowsofBlack]

In my opinion, had the movie been released in theathers, it may not have done too well, simply because America is still not comfortable with animated violence unless it has a humorous overture to it. But, this movie, had it been backed 1/10 as much as any of the crappy Pokemon movies (I have a baby brother, and I'll watch anything if I'm not working) may have made enough to make an impact. Animation is an art form that can no longer be shunned. With increasingly detestable live-action movies coming out, there should be an alternative. Hell, I'm working on a BB script now. I call it "Vengeance and The Night" after that commercial that used to come on Cartoon Network. I'm certain with a little hype it can make a modest gross of $30 or so million.

And I can say that because I am proud to be a stupid American. Anyway, the last two live action Batman movies, which I hold so much disdain for I will not dignify them by naming either, grossed at least $50 mil a piece simply because they were live action. Batman:The Animated series won an Emmy for Christ's Sake, and it's movie counterpart Mask of The Phantasm got two thumbs up. That's critical acclaim, baby. I blame America's attitude towards anything not Disney related. They'll gladly splurge (is that a word?) their money on a re-released Disney movie than something like Batman. Perhaps if someone with a big name, a Spielberg or the original Batman director Tim Burton were attached to it, it may give it more credibility as a legitimate movie. It's a little late for Bruce's Batman, but Terry's deserves at least that type of consideration.

[The Mad Hatter]

Keep in mind that MOTP got a fairly limited release, compared to the average. If it had gotten an "average" release (talking number of theaters, here), it could have garnered an extra $5 mill, maybe even 10. But yeah, WB didn't really advertise it at all.

Come to think of it, the only thing WB DID do a decent job of advertising was (dare I bring it back to public memory?) Quest for Camelot, and it was pretty darn crappy. Oh, and all that Poke-stuff.

[James]

Titan AE already accomplished that. Many adults discovered the movie on home video and DVD that never saw it in the theater and aren't even animation fans as a whole to begin with.

Which I think is exactly the problem here. Titan AE bombed in the cinemas. REALLY bombed. Effectively bankrupting the studio that had made it.

Titan sales may have been made up for some of the loss in the home market, but I imagine companies such as Fox and WB are going to be VERY nervous about releasing another adult anime to the big screen for sometime time now.... certainly they aren't going to give any anime film the advertisment backing they deserve... I imagine ROTJ wasn't considered for cinema release due to Titan AE's proof over the unpredictable nature of the adult anime market.

[oranthal]

Originally posted by Failure
Atlantis does look like the first cool Disney Movie they've put out in a while. I definitely like the more mature feel I'm seeing from it.

the thing about Atlantis is that it *is* a disney movie. will it attract an adult crowd because it is a mature animated film or will the lil' kids see the "disney" name and want to go see it? the success for this film might not prove that america is ready for a mature animated film unless how much the makes is broken down into age categories.

[nightwing_38116]

To those of you who have [legally] seen the UNCUT, was it worth it and do you still plan on buying a TRUE UNCUT version should WB have the gonads to do release one? I know that they've "said " that they will, however, with their track record (*remember when they told us no/minimal cuts?), until I've got it in my grubby little hands I won't believe it.

Will we ever see a Batman animated series again in production? In your opinion of course.

[Fish]

I will buy the uncut DVD if it ever comes out. That's for sure!

I don't know if we ever are going to see a animated batmanseries again, but I sure hope we do cuz it's the best show ever made!!!!! I mean...how many cartoonshows have managed to capture the hearts of people from the age of 4 to 50? ( and maybe more)

BTAS (all of it) is, was the best ever!!!

<>< F I S H ><>