Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a 2021 Warner Bros animated film set in the 1970s with a martial arts theme.
Directed by Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke) from a screenplay written by Jeremy Adams (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge) and executive produce by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series).
The Dark Knight is voiced by David Guintoli (Grimm) alongside Mark Dacascos (One Night in Bangkok; The Driver) as Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu as Lady Shiva, Michael Jai White as Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger, James Hong (Beast Mode; R. I. P. D.; The Vineyard) as O-Sensei and Josh Keaton as Jeffrey Burr.
Plot:
Batman, Bronze Tiger, Lady Shiva and Richard Dragon join forces when they come to realize that they share a common acquaintance. The martial arts master that trained them has been missing for a number of years and under mysterious circumstances.
When a cursed relic resurfaces, the mystery of their dead master re-opens and Batman and his former classmates must face-off in the ultimate test of their martial arts skills to gain control of this dangerous relic.
Reviews:
” …it’s an ensemble movie with Bruce Wayne, but not much The Dark Knight. For me, the story was so strong that I wasn’t bothered too much, however it did cross my mind once or twice. That being said, this was a very enjoyable movie for a genre of which I don’t have much knowledge. I liked the atmosphere, the characterizations, and the story itself.” Batman on Film
“Soul of the Dragon is definitely my type of jam. I don’t watch a lot of animation, but when I do, I want to watch animation like this. I would recommend you buy if you’re an action fanatic. However, be careful if you’re a huge Batman fan, you might want to rent first or possibly avoid.” Bulletproof Action
” …one the most genuinely fun films in the DC Animated Movie line. From thrilling, tightly choreographed action set pieces to a stellar voice cast performing at the height of their powers and an effective, atmospheric setting, Soul of the Dragon is a huge love letter to the martial-arts genre and grindhouse cinema era that seamlessly weaves in memorable characters from the DC Universe.” CBR.com
“Overall, the film is a blast. Other than some poor character choices and lack of wide angles, everything else about this film works. Creators have managed to tell a compelling original story, not based on any prior comic books. The characterization and relationships of these characters are a unique blend that puts them at the forefront and Batman in the backseat for a change.” Fandom Wire
“Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a very entertaining film with great animation, characters and a strong cast. The choice to focus more on DC’s other martial artists and give them time to shine rather than solely on Batman was a wise choice as it opened up so many more avenues for the story. Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva steal the show on several occasions and the animation of the fighting sequences with the characters different styles is well done.” Flickering Myth
“The film is light on plot and heavy on action and ’70s martial arts movie tropes. It also boasts a strong voice cast, many of whom would be equally at home in a live-action version. But while the straightforward nature of the plot isn’t an issue, the lack of character development for Richard Dragon is. This is the rare Batman movie where Batman himself is the weakest link.” IGN
“With a groovy soundtrack, superb voice acting, great animation and a strong story, Batman: Soul of the Dragon is easily my favourite animated Batman movie in a long, long time. More like this please WB Animation!” Nerdly
” …Batman: Soul of the Dragon is heaps of camp retro fun, even if a generic plot and thin characterizations let it down some. Anyone in the market for a distinctly retro experience can’t go far wrong here, though anyone after a little bit more bite in their snake-monster escapades will be better served elsewhere.” Ready Steady Cut
Batman: Soul of the Dragon’ is tonnes of fun if you let it wash over you. The story hangs together despite being somewhat shallow. While the concept was strong and lots of fun. I felt that the villains were a little one-note […] Thankfully, the main heroes of the film get lots of character development. Richard Dragon, Ben Richards, and Lady Shiva all have interesting story arcs.” SciFi Pulse
“Long on action and entertainment, short on plot and characterization, just like the films that inspired it, Batman: Soul of the Dragon honorably follows in the path of its cinematic forefathers.” Voices from the Balcony
Release:
Batman: Soul of the Dragon will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on January 12, 2021, and on 4K Combo Pack and Blu-ray + Digital on January 26, 2021.
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