Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

HELLOOO and welcome to Cultures Compendium of Reviews! As always, I am Culture Shock. Your guide to all things cultural in Equestria and beyond. Today, we're donning our cape and cowl for a futuristic film favorite. Before we begin, let's review the rules. First off, all content within this blog is expressly the opinion of its author. It does not, nor should it ever, reflect the overall opinion of the fandom. Lastly, if any of you notice any mistakes, be it typos or otherwise, don't hesitate to let me know. With that said, let's begin. Shall we?

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker was a direct - to - video superhero animated film produced by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment. The film takes place during the Batman Beyond continuity years after the original Batman, Bruce Wayne, has given the mantle. In the film, 40 years have gone by since the original Joker, voiced by veteran Mark Hamill, had the last laugh. Now years after he makes a ghostly return and its left to Terry McGinnis, Bruces replacement, to stop him. But can he fill the shoes of Gothams dark knight? Or will a ghost of the past be his final curtain call?

Okay, so here is a film that was a bit ahead of its time. Before production for The Killing Joke began Batman Beyond was the darkest animated incarnation of the franchise. Having a more darker style the show held no punches when it came to things like drug addiction, crime, and full on death. This film was no different.

One major highlight I loved was how the story kept paying homage to its predecessors with flashbacks and old screenshot clips. I especially loved how Mark Hamill reprised his iconic role as the original Mr. J himself. Something we wouldn't see again till The Killing Joke.

Unfortunately, along with its popularity the film also had its fair share of bad press. Before its release, the film underwent severe editing to censor out a lot of hits graphic material, creating a " Not - Rated " version of the film. Following this, an petition was filed to have the original version released sometime after. Making it the first animated Batman film to recieve a PG -13 rating by the MPAA.

Generally speaking, I overall loved this film. It was dark, edgy, and really stayed true to the Batman image. Batman Beyond was by far my favorite caped crusader. Unfortunately the series didn't last long and left fans like me wanting more. One can only hope that in the coming future DC will answer our prayers for a live action film adaption of the series. I know will.

Alright! This concludes my review of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Highly a great film for the Batman legacy and huge recommendation for any Batman fans. I give this film a 9 / 10. Hope you guys enjoyed the review. Be sure to leave a like if you did. Also, don't forget to follow us for more updates. Got a suggestion for a review? Leave it in the comments below. This is Culture Shock, your guide to all things cultural in Equestria and beyond, saying KEEP CALM AND BRONY ON! PEACE!