The Batman vs. Dracula (2005) - 3/4

Two icons, both creatures of the night, black-cloaked and sharing the bat motif are pitted against one another: The Batman vs. Dracula, a concept so cool it can make a nerd ejaculate on the spot. And the realization of that concept? A work of art.

The film begins with a sort of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly moment: The Penguin and the Joker, both locked up in Arkham Asylum, both become privy to a hoard of cash hidden in Gotham Cemetery. Searching for the stash, in an homage to Black Sunday, Penguin cuts his hand and bleeds directly into Dracula's sepulcher. Dracula is now set loose in Gotham and has plans: he plans to make the ever-gloomy city into a city of the undead with which to take over the world. He also takes a keen interest in Batman, whom he sees as having borrowed his image and thus his child in spirit. As more people begin disappearing, Batman and Alfred rig up some hightech vampire-fighting equipment in preparation for the big showdown. (I say 'fighting' and not 'slaying,' because, like in Near Dark, vampires can be cured in this film.) There's also a subplot about Bruce Wayne's difficulties with maintaining the romance between he and Vicki Vale. Do you suppose she'll end up in Dracula's clutches?

The influence of Dracula's image on Batman is arguable but the similarities are undeniable and Dracula came first. This film is, so to speak, Batman's 'anxiety of influence,' his struggle to surmount the influence of that other great Gothic figure. Dracula is more powerful than Batman, and Dracula also implies that Batman is merely a cheap copy. Of course, Batman is a good guy. But that doesn't stop the confused Gotham S.W.A.T. team from shooting at Batman without any real evidence. All of Gotham seems to go mad during Dracula's reign of terror; even the Joker falls under Dracula's spell. Batman is at risk of losing not just his city, but his identity and his soul to Dracula.

When you watch a film called "The Batman vs. Dracula", you're not really expecting or really desiring the build up of emotional and psychological depth. The motivations of the characters don't even have to be delved into, because these are legends, archetypes: The Batman is the crusader of justice and Dracula is the incarnation of evil. Dracula is an evil bastard and Batman has to stop him: simple as that. What you are expecting are great scenes and visuals; oh boy do you get it. Every frame from this film could be printed out and hung on your living room wall. It is one gorgeous, expressionistic art deco painting after another. Being animation, the universe is much more plastic: the director is free to create stunning and inventive visuals without worrying about his camera getting in the shot or requiring a set or lighting. The blood bank scene in particular stands out for creepy visuals, with the vampire crawling across the high, distant ceiling as Batman looks around. Dracula meeting Bruce Wayne at a party, the fight with Dracula on the moonlit highrises: these scenes are pure art in motion.

The Batman voice and character design are spot on. As a person, though, this Batman is very much a pure do-gooder. He grieves when he believes Joker to be dead. He won't stake a vampire, since he can cure them. The characterization is, as such, a bit bland. Bruce Wayne is more of the same. Although he has a sense of loneliness, I thought, given the subject matter, the film missed an opportunity to draw some comparisons. Both Batman and Dracula are rather lonely figures, for instance. But this film is more dedicated to the action. Dracula's voice is exactly what one would expect and his image is more like the Castlevania image or the Vampire Hunter D image than any of the movie incarnations. The only voice that's a little odd is Joker's; it's just too deep. However, his character design is fascinating. Long hair and hunched like an ape, this Joker is a pretty creepy guy even with Dracula around.

Being animation, the film is probably aimed at a younger audience. As such, it's peppered with one-liners, some of which are humorous in an odd way. Most of them come from Joker and Penguin. My favourite is when Dracula discovers a solar powered machine, he expresses his amazement; but I won't ruin the line. On that tenor, there's even a cameo by Sloth from The Goonies. He's playing bingo in Arkham.

The simple plot and its predictable, action-dedicated plot make it not a very deep film, but a good and very entertaining film that is better than many of the Batman live-action films out there. It could have been more in the right hands, but it's quite good as it is. Moreover, while not particularly scary, it has its moments and enough Gothic visuals to make a dozen Hammer films. Plus, it's Batman battling an army of the undead lead by Dracula!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/4149639476_6976fd6fc5_o.jpg - The anxiety of influence?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4148879911_706ee9bd59_o.jpg - Who rules the night?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4148879895_7512a8ebca_o.jpg - Loneliness
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2507/4148879871_8a9f3e8353_o.jpg - Penguin, Penguin, if you watched Bava you'd know better.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/4148879853_630ea58bed_o.jpg - ARGH!


3/4