Starring: David Giuntoli, Mark Dacascos, Michael Jai White, Kelly Hu & James Hong
Running Time: 83 minutes
Rated: 15 for strong violence, brief sexual threat

Renowned animation producer Bruce Timm takes the Dark Knight back to the 1970s for a supernatural-laden martial arts extravaganza in Batman: Soul Of The Dragon, the next entry in the popular series of the DC Universe Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated film will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of Batman, world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva, and their mentor O-Sensei to battle the monsters of this world and beyond!

The ensemble cast features a core group of actors playing martial arts students-turned-heroes in David Giuntoli (Grimm, A Million Little Things) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Iron Chef America, Hawaii Five-0) as Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu (Arrow, X2: X-Men United) as Lady Shiva and Michael Jai White (Spawn, reprising his role from Arrow) as Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger. Their mentor O-Sensei is voiced by James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner). Josh Keaton (Voltron: Legendary Defender; Green Lantern: The Animated Series) is featured as Jeffrey Burr, and additional voices are provided by veteran voiceover actors Grey Griffin, Chris Cox, Erica Luttrell, Robin Atkin Downes, Patrick Seitz, Jamie Chung and Eric Bauza.

Soul of the Dragon has strong flavours of both Enter The Dragon and James Bond. It’s a retro treat in terms of the style of animation and the music which is all heavily influenced by and in the style of the 70s.

As someone previously unfamiliar with this story and this series of comic books is why Batman is in the story? I’m not certain that the character fits in with the other characters or the story itself. Having watched the film, I felt at the end, why was Batman even in that film? It would have been just as good without him.

The voice cast is good, but I wonder if someone more dynamic than David Giuntoli could have been chosen for Batman. I did enjoy James Hong as O-Sensei. But hearing Hong in anything is always a delight. He’s the perfect choice in my opinion - always. And I love him as Po’s Dad in the animated series of Kung Fu Panda.

Soul of the Dragon is full of ku fun action sequences and has a quick moving story with useful flashbacks to give extra character development. it’s stylish, nicely animated with plenty of detail in terms of 70s backdrops, clothing and hairstyles. I was entertained by Soul of the Dragon and recommend it to fans of DC Comics, old and new.

The film is dedicated to legendary DC writer Dennis O’Neil, who co-created the characters Richard Dragon, O-Sensei, Bronze Tiger and Lady Shiva. O’Neil passed away on June 11, 2020.

Batman: Soul Of The Dragon Special Features

DVD:

• A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie - An advance look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection, Justice Society: World War II.

Blu-Ray:

• A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie - An advance look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection, Justice Society: World War II.


• From the DC Vault: 2 Bonus Cartoons

BATMAN and all related characters and elements are TM and © DC. © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Author : Kevin Stanley