Today’s quick review: Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Richard Dragon (Mark Dacascos) contacts his friend Bruce Wayne (David Giuntoli), now a crime-fighter in Gotham, to help him hunt down the snake cult Kobra. Richard and Bruce reunite with Lady Shiva (Kelly Hu) and Ben Turner (Michael Jai White), fellow students of martial arts master O-Sensei (James Hong), to stop the cult from summoning the Naga, a demon that wants to take over the world.
Batman: Soul of the Dragon is an animated fantasy action movie based on DC Comics characters. The movie expands upon Bruce’s martial arts training and embroils him and his allies in a battle for the fate of the world. Soul of the Dragon features a 70s setting that pays tribute to the kung fu movies of that era, as well as an original variation on Bruce’s backstory. However, weak villains and a misused lead make the movie a mixed bag.
Strangely enough, Soul of the Dragon is handicapped by the fact that it is a Batman movie. With his background in martial arts and mysticism, Batman should be a natural fit for the story. However, Soul of the Dragon chooses to sideline Bruce in favor of his fellow students, particularly Richard. The few parts of the movie where Bruce is in costume feel forced, and nearly every major moment in the movie belongs to someone else.
This awkwardness hamstrings what could be an engaging story. The plot is different enough from Batman’s usual fare that it breathes new life into the franchise. The supporting cast scores solid hits with Richard, Shiva, and Ben, skilled fighters with distinct personalities and fighting styles. The backstory of their training under O-Sensei manages to be intriguing, and while the action isn’t groundbreaking, it gets the job done.
However, Soul of the Dragon is dealt another blow by weak villains. The snake cult Kobra has very little that sets it apart, and the movie drops its attempts to build up the cult’s leader, Jeffrey Burr (Josh Keaton), into a James Bond-style supervillain almost immediately. Soul of the Dragon also whiffs with its 70s theming, opting for costumes and light stylization instead of fully embracing the era to draw the audience in.
Batman: Soul of the Dragon has an interesting premise, but its flaws keep it from living up to its potential. The three supporting heroes and a decent plot are enough to carry the movie through the finish line, but the bland villains, watered-down style, and uncharacteristically passive take on Batman all drag down the excitement. Fans of DC’s animated offerings may want to give it a shot, but it has little in common with Batman at his best.
For another animated Batman film that plays up the martial arts background of the character, try Batman Ninja, Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout. For another action adventure movie that combines martial arts heroes with snake-themed villains, try G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra or Snake Eyes. For a spoof of the same era, try Black Dynamite.
[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12885852/). I give it a 6.5 for promising ideas with tepid execution.