Batman: Soul of the Dragon

Last updated

Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Batman Soul of the Dragon film Blu-ray.jpg
Blu-ray Disc cover.
Directed by Sam Liu
Written byJeremy Adams
Based onThe Characters from DC
Batman
by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Produced by
  • Jim Krieg
  • Sam Liu
  • Kimberly S. Moreau
Starring
Edited byBruce A. King
Music byJoachim Horsley
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release date
  • January 12, 2021 (2021-01-12)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a 2021 American animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. It is the 42nd film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The film is directed by Sam Liu and executive produced by Bruce Timm featuring an original story not based on any comic, set in the 1970s and inspired by martial arts films of that time. It features the voices of David Giuntoli as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Dacascos as Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu as Lady Shiva, Michael Jai White as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger and James Hong as O-Sensei. White reprised his role from the The CW's TV show Arrow and Hu reprised her role from Rocksteady Studios' video game Batman: Arkham Origins . The film was dedicated to comic book writer Dennis O'Neil who died on June 11, 2020, at the age of 81. [1]

Contents

Plot

In Bruce Wayne's younger years, while training himself to become a vigilante crime-fighter, he travels to Nanda Parbat, a secret monastery in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, where he meets its caretaker, O-Sensei, and five other students training in the martial arts; Shiva, Richard Dragon, Jade, Ben Turner and Rip Jagger. O-Sensei eventually entrusts Shiva with Soul Breaker, a Muramasa sword in his possession, but otherwise remains secretive about a certain door at the monastery's outer perimeter. One night, Rip penetrates the forbidden door and kills Jade with Soul Breaker, which is the key to a mystical gate O-Sensei was guarding. This gate opens to the home dimension of the serpent god Nāga; four of his servants emerge and devour Rip before turning on O-Sensei and his students. Bruce and the others kill the demons, but to close the gate, O-Sensei sacrifices himself by entering Nāga's realm. The chamber then collapses, leaving only the gate intact.

Years later, Richard discovers that millionaire Jeffrey Burr, leader of the Kobra cult, has gained possession of the gate. Richard travels to Gotham City to ask Bruce for help, but they are attacked by a mercenary gang known as the Axe Gang, hired by Burr's chief killer Schlangenfaust. During this fight, Richard learns that Bruce is Batman and that Schlangenfaust is looking for Soul Breaker. They head for Gotham Chinatown to inform Shiva, now the resident crime lord, but the cultists attack them there and Schlangenfaust uses the distraction to steal the sword. Needing assistance, the three recruit Ben, now a martial arts teacher, and together they track the cult to a fortified island where they are preparing to open the gate by sacrificing several kidnapped children to Soul Breaker. They also learn from Ben that years ago he had tracked Kobra after discovering that Rip was one of their members and that he learned that due to an obscure prophecy, Burr means to become Nāga's earthly avatar.

Arriving by plane, Batman, Richard, Shiva and Ben parachute down and penetrate Kobra's defenses through a set of catacombs. However, they encounter Schlangenfaust, who is revealed as one of Nāga's demonic servants. While Batman and Ben battle Schlangenfaust, Richard and Shiva prevent the sacrifice of the children and engage the cult members. Vanquishing their opponents, they corner Burr at the gate, but Burr turns Soul Breaker against himself, opening the doorway. Nāga emerges, having possessed O-Sensei's body, and swiftly overwhelms the companions. Nāga reveals that Richard is his actual destined host and tries to seduce him with promises of power, but Richard refuses and, with some help from Batman, uses Soul Breaker to banish him by stabbing O-Sensei.

Freed from Nāga's domination, O-Sensei bids his students farewell before dying in their arms. To permanently close the gate, Batman enters Nāga's dimension wielding Soul Breaker, with Richard, Shiva and Ben willingly following him. Once the gate has closed, the four prepare for battle against Nāga and his demon horde.

Cast

Production

The film was announced on August 13, 2020, along with the film's voice cast. It features an original story set in the 1970s. [3] [4]

Release

The film was released on digital platforms on January 12, 2021, and was also released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 26, 2021. [4]

Reception

The film was well received by critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 93% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. [5] DVD Talk rated the film three out of five stars as "Recommended". [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Snake</span> Comics character

King Snake is a character appearing in media published by DC Comics, usually as an adversary of Robin and Batman. Created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Lyle, King Snake first appeared in Robin #2 (1991). He is a master martial artist and the father of the villain Bane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ra's al Ghul</span> DC Comics supervillain

Ra's al Ghul is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Created by editor Julius Schwartz, writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, the character first appeared in Batman #232's "Daughter of the Demon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Dragon</span> Comics character

Richard Dragon is the alias of two characters appearing in media published by DC Comics. Although both incarnations differ in alignment, they are both portrayed as extremely accomplished martial artists with connections to the League of Assassins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze Tiger</span> Comics character

Bronze Tiger is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dennis O'Neil, Leopoldo Durañona, and Jim Berry, he first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 during the Bronze Age of Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Shiva</span> Fictional character

Lady Shiva is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was co-created by Dennis O'Neil and Ric Estrada, and first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #5. Over time, she has become more closely associated with Batman and related characters, both as an enemy and an ally. She is a Chinese/Japanese martial arts grandmaster and one of the most skilled combatants in the DC Universe. She is an assassin-for-hire who specializes in killing her targets with her bare hands, and is the mother of Cassandra Cain, aka Batgirl.

Judomaster is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">League of Assassins</span> Fictional villain group by DC Comics

The League of Assassins is a group of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The group is depicted as a collective of assassins who work for Ra's al Ghul, an enemy of the superhero Batman. The group appeared in Strange Adventures #215, but did not become officially known as the League of Assassins until Detective Comics #405.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Dini</span> American writer and comic creator

Paul McClaran Dini is an American screenwriter and comic creator. He has been a producer and writer for several Warner Bros. Animation/DC Comics animated series, most notably Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), and the subsequent DC Animated Universe. Dini and Bruce Timm co-created the characters Harley Quinn and Terry McGinnis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kobra (DC Comics)</span> Two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics

Kobra is the name used by two supervillains published by DC Comics. The Jeffrey Burr incarnation of Kobra and his brother Jason first appeared in Kobra #1, and were created by Jack Kirby. Jason Burr debuted as Kobra in Faces of Evil: Kobra #1 by Ivan Brandon and Julian Lopez. The Kobra identity is later established as an international terrorist organization that frequently clashes with superheroes associated with the Justice League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheshire (comics)</span> Comic book character

Cheshire is a DC Comics fictional character. She is a long-standing rival of the superhero team, the Teen Titans, and occasional love interest of Roy Harper.

<i>Batman</i> (franchise) Franchise based on DC Comics character, Batman

The DC Comics character Batman has been adapted into various media including film, radio, television, and video games, as well as numerous merchandising items. The Batman franchise has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sensei (DC Comics)</span> Fictional super-villain and martial arts master

The Sensei is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The Sensei was created by writer-artist Neal Adams and first appeared in Strange Adventures #215. The character is a martial arts sensei and adversary of the superhero Batman, along with Deadman and several other heroes.

Nanda Parbat is a fictional city in the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Strange Adventures #216, created by Neal Adams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman in film</span> Film adaptations of the DC superhero

The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s: Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with the 1989 film Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of Batman Unchained.

<i>Batman: Gotham Knight</i> Japanese animated superhero film

Batman: Gotham Knight is a 2008 Japanese-American adult animated superhero anthology film based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The film consists of six segments produced by Japanese animation studios Studio 4°C, Madhouse, Bee Train and Production I.G in association with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. Set between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the segments in the film depict Batman battling against the mob of Gotham City, as well as other villains. Although stated to take place within The Dark Knight trilogy, the producers have acknowledged that the plot from the anthology is not necessarily integral to the main story told within the films. The shorts are written by Josh Olson, David S. Goyer, Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka, Jordan Goldberg and Alan Burnett. Although all use Japanese anime art styles, each segment has its own writing and artistic style, similar to other DC Universe works and The Animatrix; however, some segments are connected, giving it the nickname, "The Batimatrix". All six segments of the anthology film star Kevin Conroy, reprising his voice role as Batman from the DC Animated Universe.

The DC Universe Animated Original Movies are a series of American direct-to-video superhero animated films based on DC Comics characters and stories. From 2007 to 2022, films were produced primarily by Warner Bros. Animation, but subsequently fell under DC Studios Animation. Many films are usually stand-alone projects that are either adaptations of popular works or original stories. From 2013 to 2020, the DC Animated Movie Universe was a subset of this series featuring several films that took place in a shared universe, influenced predominantly by "The New 52". Following the DCAMU's conclusion, the Tomorrowverse was launched the same year, beginning with Superman: Man of Tomorrow.

<i>Batman: Arkham Origins</i> 2013 video game

Batman: Arkham Origins is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by WB Games Montréal and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the follow-up to the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City and is the third main installment in the Batman: Arkham series. Written by Dooma Wendschuh, Corey May, and Ryan Galletta, the game's main storyline is set eight years before 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum and follows a younger, less-refined Batman. When a bounty is placed on him by crime lord Black Mask, drawing eight of the world's greatest assassins to Gotham City on Christmas Eve, Batman must bring Black Mask to justice, while also being hunted by the police and having to face other villains, such as the Joker and Anarky, who take advantage of the chaos to launch their nefarious schemes.

<i>Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout</i> 2016 American film

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout is a 2016 American animated superhero comedy film based on the Lego and DC Comics brands, which was released on June 21, 2016 in Digital HD and on July 12, 2016 on Blu-ray and DVD. It is the sixth Lego DC Comics film following Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom and Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash. Some actors from various DC properties reprise their respective roles, including Nolan North as Superman, Grey DeLisle as Wonder Woman and Troy Baker as Batman. The film received positive reviews, with praise for the action, although the consumerism was criticized.

<i>Batman: Gotham by Gaslight</i> 2018 animated film directed by Sam Liu

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a 2018 American adult animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, featuring an alternate version of the DC Comics character Batman. It is the 31st film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. It is directed and produced by Sam Liu and written by James Krieg, loosely based on the standalone graphic novel of the same name by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola.

References

  1. ↑ Stone, Sam (November 18, 2020). "Batman: Soul of the Dragon Trailer Is All About the R-Rated Film's '70s Setting". CBR.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Dar, Taimur (December 11, 2020). "Check out new images from BATMAN: SOUL OF THE DRAGON animated feature". The Beat. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ↑ "'Batman: Soul of the Dragon' Summary & Review - Batman Goes Kung-Fu! | DMT". Digital Mafia Talkies. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Ankers, Adele (August 13, 2020). "Batman Voice Cast Set for 1970s Set Animated Film Soul of the Dragon". IGN . Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Batman: Soul of the Dragon". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ Jane, Ian (January 26, 2021). "Batman: Soul of the Dragon (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray +Digital)". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.