8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In this action-packed adventure, the sleeker, more dangerous and seemingly immortal Clown Prince of Crime is back to terrorize Gotham, Batman and the aging Bruce Wayne.
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Will Friedle, Angie Harmon, Dean StockwellComic book | 100% |
Animation | 79% |
Action | 78% |
Fantasy | 67% |
Sci-Fi | 62% |
Adventure | 62% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
German: Dolby Digital 2.0
Swedish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, German SDH, Spanish, Swedish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Bruce Wayne and Bruce Timm: the two have practically become inseparable. When Batman: The Animated Series premiered in 1992, Timm was just another name in animation; an upstart storyteller with little more than a distinct voice and an equally distinct visual style. But by the end of the series' tremendous first season, he had become far more than just another name. He had quickly emerged as one of the foremost visionaries in Batman's corner of the DC Universe. Fast forward, all the way to 2011. It's been almost twenty years since his fanboy-approved, critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning television series made its fateful debut. In that time, Timm has delivered a number of terrific animated series, produced a string of excellent feature-length animated films (to great success I might add), and helped guide and nurture some of the finest Batman stories to grace the small screen, not to mention the long-standing Batman mythos at large. Suffice it to say, Timm's career, his clout as a creator and, yes, the Caped Crusader himself have come a long, long way. I'd even go so far as to say it's next to impossible to think of either Bruce, Wayne or Timm, without soon thinking of the other.
The Joker's back with a vengeance...
Return of the Joker looks the part as well. Granted, Warner's 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation has drawn some fire of late, but almost all of it is
unwarranted and based on misinformation and misunderstanding. The confusion stems from the Blu-ray edition's aspect ratio: while the previously
released DVD is presented in 4:3 letterboxed to 1.78:1 widescreen, the BD is presented in 16:9 1.33:1 open-matte via a pillar-boxed image. Did Warner
crop the
picture? Is ROTJ's high definition debut a window-boxed fiasco? Are we dealing with a non-anamorphic disgrace? Thankfully, the answer to each
question is a resounding "no." Though Timm and his fellow filmmakers' original intent was for Return of the Joker to be presented in widescreen,
Warner's encode is an open matte beaut; one that showcases every inch of the animators' work. That being said, the studio could have avoided
alienating any fan by including both the film's 1.78:1 widescreen and open matte 1.33:1 presentations. Options are always appreciated, and tossing in
both versions would have been ideal. But should such wishful thinking affect an evaluation of an otherwise commendable encode's raw quality? Not in
my estimation.
The first thing Batman Beyond junkies are bound to notice is the high definition image's color, contrast and clarity. Arresting splashes of
intense primaries fill the screen, stark comicbook inkiness lends every neo-noir shadow and pitch black silhouette a welcome richness, and the animators'
lineart is crisp, refined and only subject to almost negligible intermittent aliasing. (The bridge of the Joker's nose is affected more than anything else, but
it rarely amounts to a distraction). The technical presentation is notably proficient as well. Minor artifacting and banding haunt a number of backgrounds
-- enough to draw the eye on more than one occasion -- but I suspect most instances trace back to the film's source, not an encoding deficiency.
Moreover, significant compression anomalies, noise and other issues aren't a factor. To cut to the chase, Return of the Joker has never looked
better and DVD owners will be more than satisfied with the upgrade.
Traditionally, Timm's punchy soundscapes have been built around passable sound design and little more. Return of the Joker isn't much different. While Warner's high-quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track drafts every speaker into service, the film and its mix remain rather front-heavy, particularly when the action subsides. Ambience is more sparse than it could be, directionality is limited, and acoustics are less-than- enveloping. Even so, it's hard to complain about the studio's lossless efforts. Dialogue is bright, clean and impeccably clear, effects are engaging and distinct, the LFE channel demands more and more respect with every passing spin-kick and explosion, and the rear speakers stretch Kristopher Carter's orchestral score and heavy hard-90s-rock riffs across the soundfield. Turns out Return of the Joker has never sounded better either. Its original sound design isn't going to turn heads or rouse the neighbors, nor will it leave audiophiles in awe. What it will do is thoroughly please fans of the film.
Aside from a trailer for the Young Justice animated series, the Blu-ray edition of Return of the Joker doesn't include any new
supplemental material and merely recycles the original DVD's standard definition special features. Sadly, the only extra worth digging into is the disc's
excellent audio commentary.
No, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker isn't presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and the lovely 1.33:1 open matte encode Warner has provided. No, longtime fans of the film aren't treated to any new special features (or, really, many special features at all). Even so, no one should avoid the Blu-ray release of Return of the Joker. The film itself remains one of the best animated Batman features to date, its open matte video presentation is quite striking, and its DTS-HD Master Audio surround track does a fantastic job with what it has to work with. It isn't an ideal release, but it is an excellent one. If you have any love of Return of the Joker, don't hesitate to add it to your cart.
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #8
2010
10th Anniversary | Commemorative Edition
2011
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #13
2012
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #3
2008
DC Comics Classic Collection
2003-2004
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #23
2015
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #9
2010
25th Anniversary Collector's Edition
1996-2000
Commemorative Edition | DC Universe Animated Original Movie #4
2009
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #6
2009
2011
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #14
2012
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #7
2010
Commemorative Edition | DC Universe Animated Original Movie #2
2008
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #18
2013
DC Showcase Animated Shorts
2010
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #25
2016
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #1
2007
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #17
2013
DCU
2014