In this edition of the DC Animated Movies, I covered films that travel back in time. A two-part film that dived into a comic book storyline that shaped the Caped Crusader at a young stage. One ambitious film that took a storyline born in a video game and brought it to the animated universe. While I do miss the main DC animated Universe that ended with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020), this new universe that is being built is looking pretty good too. Enjoy this editions of the DC Animated Universe review series.

Batman: Soul Of The Dragon (2021)*****

Starring: David Giutoli, Kelly Hu, Michael Jai White

This movie is set in the 1970s, where parachute pants and thick sideburns reign supreme. The movie follows Bruce Wayne (Batman), Shiva (Lady Shiva) and Ben Turner (Bronze Tiger) as they leave the training lands of Nanda Parbat and embark on their own journeys. The main villain of the movie is the cult group Kobra as they try to release an evil god. Batman has so many villains that it is easy to forget about Kobra. It was refreshing to have a different villain group receive some screen time. Even characters that are traditionally considered a villain are placed on the good side (Lady Shiva and Bronze Tiger). Pairing that along with the fun fashion, music, and atmosphere of the 1970s and this was a fun movie. 

Justice Society: World War II (2021)****

Starring: Stana Katic, Matt Bomer, Liam McIntyre

I have always been a fan of alternate timelines or how the DC Universe titles it “The Multiverse.” This alternate timeline surrounds World War II and if superheroes were involved with that war. We get classic heroes like Hour-Glass Man, Hawkman, Black Canary, and Jay Garrick’s The Flash to head up a young version of the Justice Society of America. They are led by Wonder Woman, after newly joining the world of man. This movie did make me think of Gal Gadot’s first Wonder Woman movie. A lot of her motions during fights did match Gadot in her first outing as Wonder Woman. While this movie was fun and entertaining, they transitioned to fighting the Atlantians fairly quickly and completely disregarded the war which did leave me unsatisfied with the ending. 

Batman: The Long Halloween – Part 1 (2021)****

Starring: Jensen Ackles, Josh Duhamel, Naya Rivera

Immediately, the animation of this film was a blend of the 90’s gritty animated tv series and the source comic book series. It gives off a unique and balanced feel of jagged and crispness and those are feelings that Gotham is meant to give off. My only knock on this film is that if you are a casual fan and don’t know the history of this specific storyline, you won’t know that this takes place within the early years of Batman. I wasn’t completely familiar with the storyline, but knew this was an early adventure, so I was asking myself often “shouldn’t Batman know how to do this by now?” It was distracting for me as the audience. 

Batman: The Long Halloween – Part 2 (2021)*****

Starring: Jensen Ackles, Josh Duhamel, Naya Rivera

This is a case where the sequel outdoes the prequel. In the final entry in this two part series, a lot of emphasis is placed on the creepy aspect of Halloween. Jonathan Craine’s Scarecrow is introduced and instantly, you feel the fear as Batman is dosed with his fear toxin and you see what he sees. Jensen Ackles voice acting perfectly captures the scared and innocence in Bruce’s voice. The initial seeds that led to Harvey Dent’s transition into Two-Face were subtle in the first film then amplified in the second. Josh Duhamel’s deep and raspy voice when playing Two-Face is extremely reminiscent of the early 90’s Batman Animated Series Two-Face, and that was extremely enjoyable. 

Injustice (2021) *****

Starring: Justin Hartley, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs

I knew of the video game but never got the chance or time to play it. Going along the same lines of my review of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), a storyline that includes an evil superhero person or team sparks my interest. This is different as Superman is finally corrupted and goes immensely strong into his altered views. I partly sympathized with Superman due to the way he was corrupted but the way Director Matt Peters makes the audience hate Superman with each terrible act he does is poetry. Anson Mount as Batman did sound like a lighter Jensen Ackles when he portrayed the Caped Crusader in The Long Halloween. The fact that a video game adapted this storyline first is also very impressive. The deaths in this movie are also very gruesome for both the heroes and villains.