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Batman: Soul of the Dragon
2021 83 min United States of America R 18+
★6.8
Animation, Action, Adventure, Crime
Director: Sam Liu
Trailers
Description
Bruce Wayne faces a deadly menace from his past, with the help of three former classmates: world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva.
Starring
David Giuntoli
Actor
Mark Dacascos
Actor
Kelly Hu
Actor
Key opinion
Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a stylistic experiment that leans heavily into 1970s martial arts tropes and exploitation cinema aesthetics. While the visual homage is appreciated, the film is widely criticized for its thin script and an unfocused narrative that fails to balance its ensemble cast.
| Production | The film successfully captures a distinct 1970s aesthetic, blending blaxploitation and Hong Kong martial arts influences into a cohesive visual style. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay feels superficial and disjointed, struggling to integrate the present-day conflict with necessary character-building flashbacks. | |
| Theme | Character development is inconsistent, leaving Batman relegated to a secondary role and under-exploring the supporting ensemble of martial artists. | |
| Pacing | The narrative focus is scattered, favoring repetitive demon and ninja battles over meaningful plot progression. | |
| Direction | Opinions on the overall execution are divided; some appreciate the genre-blending experiment, while others view it as a mediocre departure that fails to deliver a compelling Batman story. |