The Batman Vs. Dracula (2005)
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“The Batman vs. Dracula” is basically a 90 minute standalone episode of “The Batman”, the latest in the Batman cartoons since the epic 90s “Batman: The Animated Series”. The latest is that of a young Batman, still learning the ropes, and still untrusted by the citizens of Gotham city. The Batman's other afflictions include an overly very angular drawing style, simple, monochromatic backgrounds, a lack of moving background characters, and an apparent lack to cheekbones and NOSE. TBvD is “The Batman” with a slightly bigger budget. If you're looking for “Mask of the Phantasm” production values, you'll be disappointed, but here are some really great compositing elements, moments of fluid traditional animation, and a Gothic atmosphere that takes advantage of this minimalist approach. What I do like about it is that you don't turn this on midway and wonder what you're watching - it's instantly recognizable as Batman.
The story opens in Arkham Asylum, where the Penguin receives a tip about a buried cache of treasure in Gotham Cemetery . Unfortunately, so has the Joker. After breaking out, Penguin tries to work a deal with him, but instead gets the Joy Buzzer. Batman trails Joker to a bridge, from which the latter falls to his apparent death via electrocution with a drowning chaser.
Penguin escapes and makes it to the graveyard. His confusion in looking for a grave with a cross (wow... how many are those in your typical cemetery?) inadvertently takes him to the crypt of our main antagonist here, Dracula, who comes to life and makes Penguin his official Renfield for the duration of the movie, but not before treating us, the viewers, with an unintentionally pee-funny heart view cam, illustrating a rather simplified circulatory system as well as Drac's obvious bloodlust.
Cut to Bruce Wayne and yet another of his social events, where the highlight is a device that can collect and emit sunlight. Okay, that was fast. We've met the Vampire and the Wayne Industries Vampire Killing Weapon™, so there's got to be more to this tale than this. And there is.
First we have Dracula, or as he calls himself in polite society, Dr. Alucard, making an army of the undead in the catacombs. For some reason, the animators took special care with him, drawing him about 15 times more complex than any other character, showing his physical progression from a zombielike Nosferatu to a noble gentleman capable of fitting in at Wayne's gala events, showing only his aversion to garlic as a clue to his vampirific nature. As Gotham 's greatest detective, a suspicious Bruce Wayne writes Alucard on a metal serving tray with lipstick, and then views the reflection, deciphering the vampire's elaborate code. Wait, what? Oddly enough, the letters themselves aren't reversed, just the order of the letters. I want to know how THAT works!
We also have a slightly pre-love interest Vicky Vale, who has to deal with Wayne 's constant busyness AND the affections of the vampire in order to resurrect his old flame Anaksunamun, uh, I mean Carmilla, who exists only as ashes in a jar. It turns out it's going to take a bit more than blood to bring her back, she requires Vicky's soul and a clichéd spooky ceremony labeled, get this, “The Blood Wedding”.
We're also treated to not one, but three flashbacks, one of Dracula's capture, and two extra psychedelic dreams of Wayne 's parents getting taken out and his preoccupation with bats.
And then there's Vampire Joker, by far the most hilarious and awesome thing about this movie. As one of the undead, he seems to be the only one to retain his personality, and takes to robbing blood banks ala “Love at First Bite”! He gets captured by Batman, who keeps him in the Batcave as his human guinea pig, at which he cries out, “The horror! The horror!!”
Speaking of horror, “The Batman vs. Dracula” has a fair amount of blood and creepy undead minions, so this isn't for younger audiences. It is surprisingly much darker than your typical “The Batman” episode, despite the simplistic plot elements. Still, it stands well on its own with lots of action and some well done fight sequences, especially where Batman administers a bandolier of anti-vampire drugs to the horde, John Woo style.
Anything with a Vampire Joker is worth watching on principle alone.