Movie Review: Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

After the successful animated TV series, Batman would spin off three stand-alone films. One I have already reviewed on here (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm if you wish to view it), and the other will be another time. Today I want to focus on the one after the series ended. Mystery of the Batwoman, released on DVD in 2003, left fans with mixed feelings, but my brother and I thought this was a pretty good mystery superhero film. As always spoilers will be ahead. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

With Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (Tara Strong) away at school Batman/Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) and Robin/Tim Drake (Eli Marienthal) have Gotham to themselves, or so they thought. A new hero, named Batwoman (Kyra Sedgwick) by the press, emerges. She begins targeting illegal weapon shipments by three of Gotham’s crime bosses: The Penguin (David Ogden Stiers), Rupert Thorne (John Vernon) and gangster Carlton Duquesne (Kevin Michael Richardson). However if you think Batwoman is on Batman’s side you are mistaken. She has no problem taking out any and every one in her way of stopping the three villains; which makes finding out who she is Batman’s priority. As both Batman and Bruce Wayne he meets three potential Batwomen all with motives against Penguin, Thorne and Duquesne: Detective Sonya Alcana (Elisa Gabrielli), the newest member on Commissioner Gordon’s (Bob Hastings) force, Bullock’s (Robert Costanzo) partner and whose family lost their business thanks to Thorne but was never charged due to lack of evidence, Roxanne “Rocky” Ballantine (Kelly Ripa), a brilliant new employee of Wayne Tech whose fiancé is in jail thanks to a set-up from Penguin and Kathy Duquesne (Kimberly Brooks) and finally Carlton’s daughter whose mother was killed because of Duquesne’s criminal connections (Bruce also becomes attracted to her.) However any connection Batman seems to find proving one of them is Batwoman gets proven otherwise. To make matters worse Penguin and Thorne, against Carlton’s wishes, bring in Bane (Héctor Elizondo) to handle their Batwoman problem. About as far as I should go without giving away the film.

I will admit that this film is not as good as the previous Batman direct to DVD films, but I still enjoyed it. I like a good mystery and this one was actually hard to figure out for a while. It was good to see old villains in Penguin, Thorne and Bane while creating interesting new characters in Carlton, Kathy, Rocky and Sonya. I thought the voice casting was pretty spot on; writing wasn’t great but not bad. Overall it was not a bad Batman movie. I think if you liked the animated series this might be good for you to watch, but if you are not really into superheroes or are just getting started save this film for much later.

Movie Review: Batman: Under The Red Hood

One of the best not just Batman animated movies, but I have seen this one some of the best Batman movies of all time. This is also one of my favorite Batman movies as well, I would say my brother’s as well, but he loves all Batman everything so that would be moot. Under The Red Hood, based on the popular comic, was in my opinion not only well adapted, but was a huge critics hit. In case you haven’t seen it spoiler alert, only because I actually can’t avoid it. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Ra’s Al Ghul (Jason Isaacs) soon regrets hiring the Joker (John DiMaggio) in his scheme after he kidnaps and tortures the second Robin, Jason Todd. Before Batman (Bruce Greenwood) can arrive the Joker sets off a bomb in the shed and kills Jason (if you know the comic that famous shot appears). Five years later Batman along with the first Robin, known as Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) fight crime in Gotham, and as always there is a crises. This time a criminal under the guise of Red Hood (Jensen Ackles yeah the guy from Supernatural) takes over the drug trade of Gotham; and for those wondering how let’s just say heads rolled. Batman stops one shipment of the Amazo droid which was supposed to go to the gangster Black Mask (Wade Williams) who seems to be the top target for the Red Hood. Through a series of flashbacks and evidence Batman soon discovers the Red Hood is someone from his past and it may not be easy to beat him.

Even if you haven’t seen the movie I’m sure it’s not hard to figure out who the Red Hood is. Aside from the obvious the film is excellent. The action is perfect, voice casting is spot on and the writing is fantastic. I will admit hearing the voice of Neil Patrick Harris come out of Nightwing is somewhat weird for me, but I will say Jensen Ackles is so good as the Red Hood; honestly he is the best part of the movie and how he came to be. If you haven’t seen Under The Red Hood it is worth a watch.