In between seasons 2 & 3 of The Batman, or perhaps during season 3, I can't remember, Warner Home Video decided to try out a DTV feature version of the series, pitting the Caped Crusader (Rino Romano) vs. Dracula. There really isn't a lot to like.
In most vampire movies, it usually takes three nights for a vampire's victim to be transformed into a vampire him/herself. In this film, conversion takes mere minutes, in order to move the story along.
Not a good idea.
It all starts when a common skel, who we don't see again the rest of the picture, offers Penguin (Tom Kenny, SpongeBob SquarePants) an opportunity to share some loot with him, hidden somewhere in the Gotham City Cemetery. The Joker (Kevin Michael Richardson) escapes, and Penguin takes advantage to flee Arkham Asylum himself. I've always believed that Penguin doesn't belong at Arkham, but rather a common prison, such as Blackgate, and whomever it was that decided to put him in Arkham made a poor decision.
Anyway, Penguin encounters Dracula (Peter Stormare) and is hypnotized into becoming his servant. A night watchman is Dracula's first victim, and, as noted, joins the undead in mere minutes, blowing a hole in the main plot right away. Considering story editor Michael Jelenic's more recent track record, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that he let this slip through. Enough digressing. Penguin convinces Dracula that if he wants to be top dog, he needs to eliminate the societal top dog in Gotham----Bruce Wayne.
To do that, Dracula decides to target reporter Vicki Vale (Tara Strong), whom Bruce has begun dating, or at least, is trying to forge a relationship. Given their history in the books, well, you know that won't end well. Vicki bears a close resemblance to Drac's dead wife. Uh-oh. Making matters worse, Joker is turned, and later captured by Batman, who uses his nemesis as a guinea pig for an experiment he hopes will save the city and defeat the vampire lord.
I'll spare you the lameness of the movie. We'll throw up a trailer, instead.
Rating: C-.
4 comments:
It was during Season 3 between epi 30 and 31.
Thank you. It must've been close enough to Halloween to hit the stores.
A classic case of so much potential but poor execution.
I actually didn't hate on The Batman as much as others did during its run. I admit the show improved a great deal once Alan Burnett joined the creative team, but it wasn't unwatchable.
Just the same, I'm glad I watched this one for free rather than having to pay for it via download or DVD.
I personally wasn't on board with the character designs. Just way off.
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