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| November 2000 |
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Hype
Thurs., Nov. 30, 2000 17:00:42
Gookie (with additional material from Mad Hatter, Dick Grayson, and Kojiro)
A comprehensive, two-page feature article on Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker with news, release delay
and editing issues recap, petitions, movie and screenplay
reviews, new
preview images, credits list,
soundtrack
details, Curt
Geda interview quotes, and related resources.
Note: Many items in this extensive feature contain preview images and/or other spoiler-type
materials from the movie. If you don't wish to see spoilers, in spite of the fact that WB
has heavily edited the movie and there's a chance you won't get to see this material
otherwise, please proceed with caution.
Canadians Score Early ROTJ Release
…But It Wasn't What They Expected
According to World's
Finest, the long anticipated Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker movie was released in
Canada on Tuesday. The video and DVD releases are now available in Canada only and have
been sighted (and purchased) at such retailers as Blockbuster and Zellers. We presume that
December 12th is still is the official release date for the US.
Batman:
The Animated Newsletter mentions that ROTJ is "a big release" for Zellers:
"They have it marked on the calendar and are getting all sorts of ads [and
displays]." Fans were hopeful that "since Canadian censorship laws on movies and
TV are virtually non-existent", the unedited version of ROTJ would be available
there. But these hopes were crushed when our Canadian friends found that not only were
they indeed the edited version, but that the edits were so extensive that it has altered
the most climactic scenes in the movie. [These scenes were previously described by those
who were fortunate enough to view advanced copies or who read the screenplay.]
Ain't It Cool News now
reports that the head of Kids WB is to be blamed for these vicious cuts to ROTJ, according
to "multiple sources". Click here for
these details and heated fan discussion, and here for
further outcry from fans over the initial report of the edits.
[See Dick
Grayson's report for the complete list of ROTJ edits.]
How… when did all of this happen, you ask?
The Recap
If you took up residence under a rock for the past two months and somehow missed the news
on why ROTJ's original release date was delayed, a recap follows. If you're already well
aware of the news, click here to be
whisked away to the next section.
Suspicions were raised in October when Warner Home Video suddenly pushed the release date for ROTJ
back nearly a full two months. The rumors began at aintitcoolnews.com and Coming
Attractions that the movie was getting a slice-and-dice job to tone it down for
younger viewers. With the recent political issues and media hype causing pressure on movie
studios and producers to make more family-friendly movies and cease marketing violent
movies to younger audiences, it's no wonder such rumors got fans all stirred up. It also
explains what scared WB into thinking that such large-scale editing was necessary.
DVDSewer.com reported that
their WB source said the rumors were "all likely a misunderstanding blown out of
proportion, [and that] the 'final' cut of the film was screened for WB execs and it was a
resounding success. So much so that WHV decided that the release would be better served if
it was held back until the holidays and more time and money put into the marketing and DVD
contents." WHV also claimed "the unofficial 'official' reason for the delay
[was] because they were so enthused with the product that they want to make the DVD
release 'bigger and better'."
IGN.com
reported a similar case:
"Warner Bros. finally returned my calls... and assured me that the movie is in
fact not being altered or toned down. 'When we saw the quality of the image, which was a
lot better than we expected, we pushed it back into the holiday season to avoid its being
perceived as a Halloween product,' Warner PR rep Josh Sabarra told me."
"I explained that there is great concern that the movie is being toned down for a
kiddie audience and he said, 'No. We've had the Batman Beyond property for a number of
years, we know what it is and there's no need to mess with it'."
"For what it's worth, this guy sounded sincere. I believed him. So what to make of
the rumors about the alteration of the movie? If WB is lying and the movie is being recut
for the kiddies, they won't get away with it."
"And if they are lying, I resent that this material will be kept out of MY hands in
order to protect kids I don't even have. Let's hope Warner is being straight with us and
not spinning a re-edit to sound like they're improving the product for the holiday
season-- if it turns out that they are, we'll never be able to trust them again."
Finally, there came an official response from Paul
Dini at AICN, but it stated the exact opposite:
"[Dini] confirmed that yes, indeed they were currently reworking parts of BB:ROTJ
to curb the violence to make the film accessible for all ages. Now, up until last night,
Paul hadn't seen what was being done to the film. It was in the hands of Bruce Timm, and
when he saw the results, he was pleased. He felt that the film still works, that the
intent of his story and script is still there. And at one point he said that a part of him
kinda wished they'd written it that way from the beginning.
"What is being cut? A gunshot... and the person that pulled the trigger has been cut.
The results of the scene are the same, however... it is handled differently... less
visceral, more Val Lewton-esque it sounds. And some of the fights don't quite go on as
long as they did before.
"I asked about the possibility of a second... 'special edition' release on DVD with
the original cut. The lady that was speaking with him [Jean MacCurdy] said that the
decision on that issue has not been reached as of yet, and that it was a possibility.
Barring that though... It seems that Paul is pleasantly surprised with the current state
of the film. He doesn't believe it has been butchered, he loves the original version...
but also seems to be very pleased with this version... even noting that it might be better
in some fashions."
As it turned out, the movie was more than "reworked", and the above information
was seriously understated. On Tuesday, November 28, our Canadian friends discovered the
truth, reporting that the edits were harsh and extensive to the point that it has altered
the movie's original intent and story: any show of blood was digitally removed; numerous
portions of the dialog were re-recorded,;and the darker and more graphic tones of the film
had been trimmed or changed, leaving the original meanings largely ambiguous.
[See Dick
Grayson's report for the complete list of ROTJ edits.]
The Petitions
According to the Paul Dini/Jean MacCurdy reply at AICN, an unedited special edition DVD
release is a "possibility". In light of the drastic changes in the edited
version, if Warner Home Video does not come through now with an unedited release, it would
be a travesty and a complete disregard for the fans. The outcry of the fans has been both
enormous and unanimous. They feel they have been lied to as well as ignored, not to
mention cheated out of seeing what some early reviewers have been calling
"remarkable", "incredible", "brilliant", and "an
animated masterpiece". Some have even gone as far as to say that it surpasses all
previous Batman movies, both animated and live-action.
The previously uncut promotional video has become a highly sought-after prize. Before they
were discovered and shut down, bootleg copies of the video were causing bidding wars on
ebay.com, boosting the price as high as 50 to over 100 dollars.
The Toon Zone staff neither endorses nor encourages the buying, selling and/or
distribution of bootleg copies of this movie. Also, we will not participate in any staged
"boycotts" in opposition of buying the edited version of either the video or
DVD.
However, any campaigns and petitions for the release of an unedited version of ROTJ have
our full support. Given the choice of purchasing an edited or unedited version of the
movie, we would choose the unedited version. Nearly six thousand fans responded to
the poll at AICN, saying they would buy an unedited version, if
released. Many others that have children have stated that if both versions were available,
they would buy the edited one for their kids, and the unedited version for themselves.
Simply put, if WHV will release ROTJ unedited, many thousands of us will happily offer our
hard-earned money to own a copy. If money truly speaks to marketing and executive
officials, we hope they're listening.
There are a number of active petitions for the release of an unedited version of ROTJ. All
fans are invited to lend their support to this cause:
World's Finest Petition
Stop
Warner Bros From Butchering Batman Beyond
BB:
ROTJ Uncut Petition
The Review
The Warner Bros Club's own Bob "Mad Hatter" Evatt supplied us with an advance
review of the uncut version of ROTJ, and we must apologize that because of an oversight,
we neglected to publish it before now. In this review, Hatter keeps spoilers to a bare
minimum. So for those who aren't able to read a copy of Paul Dini's screenplay in
paperback, or should WHV never issue an unedited version, this is the movie as it should
have been seen by all Batfans.
When people think of Batman, thoughts of the Joker are close behind. This
evil clown has been tormenting the Dark Knight since the beginning, and remains the most
fascinating member of Batman's Rogues Gallery. However, his presence has been completely
absent from the tales of the future Batman. News of the Joker's animated return has
intrigued and concerned fans of the mythos for months. Would the confrontation between the
Future Knight and the Harlequin of Hate live up to the past struggles with Batman's
greatest nemesis? The answer is a resounding yes.
Return of the Joker begins when one of the many street gangs who pattern themselves after
the legendary madman switch from petty theft to grand larceny of scientific equipment.
Terry McGinnis, the Batman of future Gotham City, is able to fight them off, which does
not please the new boss of these Jokerz. After all, his minions are using his name! The
Joker, apparently as spry as ever, decides to make his grand comeback during the
ceremonies that hand control of Wayne Enterprises back to its founder, former Batman Bruce
Wayne.
Though the Joker disappears without harming his old enemy, Bruce is so shaken by the
Joker's re-emergence that he forbids Terry to take on the madman. But the Joker is far
from finished. Terry's girlfriend Dana becomes injured when the Jokerz attack Terry in his
civilian identity, while Joker himself gives Bruce a near-lethal dose of his trademark
laughing gas. Terry must now learn the secret behind the Joker's return before the clown
can leave his deadly mark upon Gotham with his purloined technology. Along the way, he'll
learn what happened during the final battle between the Joker and the original Batman,
Robin and Batgirl--a dark confrontation that forever tainted its participants.
Return of the Joker never fails to please, partially because the Joker truly shines. Mark
Hamill turns in _the_ performance of his animated career. The Joker shows his wacky side a
time or two, but for the most part, the character has never been as disturbing on film.
He's a sick, demented monster, and it shows in spades. The question behind the Joker's
return drives most of the movie, and the revelation is disturbing, logical and satisfying.
Despite Joker's larger-than-life presence, the rest of the cast shines as well. Kevin
Conroy's Bruce Wayne is bitter but not broken, and he puts forth just the right amount of
dark emotion to convey exactly how dark his encounters with the Joker were. Will Friedle
makes a fine future Batman, especially with his voice work during the final battle. His
character also gets a chance to really prove himself, both in battle and in spirit. Make
no mistake, in ROTJ he shows that he's not just some punk in a costume--he's Batman.
It should also be noted that ROTJ contains a ten-minute flashback sequence detailing the
original Batman's final encounter with the laughing one. While it's great to see Bruce,
Robin and Batgirl in action again one last time, this sequence contains some of the film's
most disturbing elements. Writer and Batman Beyond co-creator Paul Dini mentioned in an
interview one time that what happens to Robin "wasn't good." Certainly, that's
an understatement.
The animation looks good, not Disney quality by any means but much better than the TV
series, especially during Batman's aerial battle with the Jokerz (and on the Joker's
facial expressions, as well). The music is a mix of orchestration and the techno-metal
that's become the signature of the Batman Beyond series, and it works amazingly well.
Return of the Joker is the best depiction of the future Batman, equals the shamelessly
underrated animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and even trumps all the live-action
Batman movies. Anyone with even an iota of interest in the Dark Knight will not be
disappointed. - Bob "Mad Hatter" Evatt
What other reviewers are saying about ROTJ:
This feature-length movie should go a long way toward quieting [fan's] complaints. The
secret behind [Joker's] arrival is perhaps the saddest, grimmest twist any purported
"kids' show" has dared to attempt. (Parents may well want to preview this tape
before screening it for the very young.) Once again, Warner Brothers' cartoon Batman has
outshone all the live-action films. -- Bruce Reid, amazon.com staff
Goes beyond animation standards… real character development. -- Derek Sookdeo,
amazon.com viewer
[The edited version is] not as watered down as most people are making it out to be. It
still gets the point across [vividly]. The dialog really makes your skin crawl. All in
all, not much to complain about in the 'editing' department. - Simon, amazon.com
viewer
[An] animated masterpiece. - Mr. David S. Stairs, amazon.com viewer
A pleasant surprise! Engaging… more than anticipated. - Katana_One, imdb.com
[It] just plain rocks… well-designed and exciting… inventive and
heart-wrenching at the same time. Paul Dini's writing is superb. The characters are better
developed, the dialogue more believable and situations more dramatic and affecting than
anything Joel Schumacher or (dare I say it?) Tim Burton brought to the live-action series.
I HIGHLY recommend this film to anyone who has become disenchanted with Batman or isn't
sold on the "new, hip" Batman Beyond. A reminder of how cool Batman can be in
the right hands. - Major Tom, darkhorizons.com (also posted to AICN)
A great, great flick… something special. -- Jedi, darkhorizons.com
[It's] not for kids. - James McClain, amazon.com viewer
Paul Dini's genius at writing a killer story shines like the Hope diamond. The Story is
tight… more twists and turns than you'd ever expect. All the characters are given a
lot more depth to their personality. Well conceived. You'll love this movie from start to
finish and watch it over and over, it's that good. -- SgiMan, darkhorizons.com
Best of the [Batman] films yet! Incredible…Never before has any adaptation on film
been so daring, so bold, and so brutal. -- oldbluebear, imdb.com
Remarkable. -- LHS, darkhorizons.com
Renews all faith in the Batman series because it really is the way Batman was written
to be. The movie's acclaim can be attributed to one character: The Joker… more
twisted and evil than ever before. The plot in this movie exceeds those of any of the
movies or cartoons. [A] wonderful animated feature… several jaw dropping moments.
Impossible to describe just how brilliant this movie is. [A] definite keeper. -- Cinema
Confidential Review
[An] action packed extravaganza… great character development… very
entertaining… [it] rocked. - Andre Rudder, amazon.com viewer
Beautiful, rapid-fire animation…an animated masterpiece. The pulse-pounding action
sequences are a marvel, and the voice acting is truly commendable. Tremendously
appealing… an intelligent animated film… innovative and carefully crafted. As
much of the comic book world struggles, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a shining
light of hope. -- Ryan Cracknell, apolloguide.com
The Credits
This is a full list of the movie's voice cast, courtesy of the ROTJ screenplay, with
additional credits supplied by "Mad Hatter":
WILL
FRIEDLE as Terry McGinnis/Batman
KEVIN CONROY
as Bruce Wayne
MARK
HAMILL as The Joker
ANGIE
HARMON as Barbara Gordon
DEAN
STOCKWELL as Tim Drake
TERRI
GARR as Mary McGinnis
ARLEEN
SORKIN as Harley Quinn
TARA STRONG as Batgirl
MATHEW
VALENCIA as Robin
MELISSA JOAN HART as Dee Dee/Dee Dee (The "Deeds")
DON HARVEY
as Chucko
MICHAEL
ROSENBAUM as Ghoul
FRANK WELKER as Woof
HENRY ROLLINS as Bonk
RACHAEL
LEIGH COOK as Chelsea
RYAN
O'DONOHUE as Matt McGinnis
LAUREN TOM as
Dana Tan
VERNEE
WATSON-JOHNSON as Ms. Carr
MARK JONATHAN
DAVIS as VR Newsman
MARY SCHEER as
Mrs. Tim Drake
ANDREA ROMANO
as Laughing Boy
BRUCE TIMM as Guard
For scans of the complete credits for the movie (as they originally appeared in the
screenplay), please follow the links below:
Credits:
Page 1
Credits:
Page 2
Credits:
Page 3
[Screenplay pages © 2000 DC Comics and Watson-Guptill Publications]
This exclusive Toon Zone ROTJ feature continues on Page 2 with a screenplay review, new
preview images, soundtrack details, ROTJ director Curt Geda interview quotes, and related
resources.
Batman Beyond: Return
of the Joker Hype - Page 2
This feature article was written by Craig "Gookie" Crumpton, Assistant Editor
for Toon Zone, as well as Editor for The Voice
Actors Ultimate Links Treasury located exclusively at Netscape's Open Directory. All text, except where noted
otherwise, is copyright © 2000 C-Plus Productions and may not be republished or
distributed in any form without written permission from the author. |
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