Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
DVD cover art
Directed by	Curt Geda Sequence directors: Jennifer Graves Tim Maltby
Produced by	Benjamin Melniker Michael Uslan Sander Schwartz Alan Burnett Margaret M. Dean Kathryn Page Curt Geda
Screenplay by	Michael Reaves
Story by	Alan Burnett
Based on	Characters by Bob Kane Bill Finger
Starring	Kevin Conroy Kimberly Brooks Kelly Ripa Elisa Gabrielli Kyra Sedgwick David Ogden Stiers Kevin Michael Richardson Hector Elizondo
Music by	Lolita Ritmanis
Studio	Warner Bros. Animation
Distributed by	Warner Home Video
Release date(s)	October 21, 2003 (2003-10-21)
Running time	74 minutes
Language	English

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman is a 2003 direct-to-video animated film based on the animated series The New Batman Adventures. It was released in the U.S. in October 2003 and was produced by Warner Bros. Animation.^[1][2]

This film is rated PG by the MPAA for "action violence" and 12 in the UK for "moderate violence".

Plot

A new hero has arrived in Gotham whose identity is a mystery— even to Batman. During patrol, the Dynamic Duo spots her trying to stop one of Penguin's shipments on Gotham's interstate, using a plasma rifle to send Penguin's truck with its driver off the bridge. Batman and Robin saves the driver from falling to his death. Batman must figure out who Batwoman is and to stop familiar enemies Penguin and Rupert Thorne from selling illegal weapons to the fictional nation of Kasnia. The two employ Carlton Duquesne, a gangster, to provide protection.

Batwoman's main focus is on illegal activity by the Penguin, Thorne, and Duquesne. Despite taking the symbol of the Bat as a sign of justice, Batwoman sullies the Bat prefix by taking out criminals with ruthless and dangerous techniques. She seems uninterested in sparing the lives of her adversaries.

Batman, with Robin, sets out to stop the Batwoman from making mistakes as she tries to take out the villains, and as he encounters numerous twists, setbacks, and apparent false leads in determining her true identity. The newest gadget on display is a wind glider used by Batwoman that utilizes some of the most advanced technology ever seen in Gotham City. Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego, also becomes involved with a new lady in his life: Kathy Duquesne, the crime boss's daughter.

In addition to Kathy Duquesne, Bruce is introduced to two other women who, as his investigation into the Batwoman's true identity continues, seem to fall well into suspicion: Dr. Roxanne "Rocky" Ballantine, a new employee of Wayne Tech whose technology development is used by the Batwoman against the Penguin; and Detective Bullock's new partner Sonya Alcana, whose knowledge of the weapons being smuggled by the Penguin and Carlton Dunquesne is much greater than the detective should know. With Carlton Duquesne unable to stop Batwoman's raids on the various facilities used to hold the various weapons, the Penguin calls Bane for additional support to ensure that there are no more losses as a result of the Batwoman.

Not long after Bane's arrival in Gotham, it is revealed that there is not one but three Batwomen, all of whom were the women suspected by Batman; Kathy and Sonia met taking art classes at college and Sonia and Rocky were roommates. They had taken turns to remove suspicion on any one of the three, while using Roxanne's technological genius and contempt for the Penguin (who had framed her long-time fiance Kevin), Kathy's money and access to several key aspects of her father's organization (Kathy wants to end her father's criminal career as it led her mother being killed), and Sonia's physical and police skills to ensure that Thorne's operation is thwarted (as the crime lord previously left her family in financial ruins after arsonists who worked for him burned down her parents' shop and were not punished due to the lack of sufficient evidence). Alcana was also saved by Batman nine years prior, the event giving the detective the original inspiration for the costumed identity she now shares with her friends.

In the final confrontation, a ship taking the weapons into international waters for the exchange is destroyed by a bomb planted by Kathy. She and Batman narrowly escape the explosion despite the efforts of Bane, who falls into the Gotham River and vanishes. At the conclusion, the GCPD are left to assume that Sonia is the only Batwoman after she helps rescue Batman from the ship. Sonia resigns from the police due to the potential problems her presence could cause and decides to leave the city. Batman gives Sonia evidence he discovered which helps clear Rocky's fiance. Carlton agrees to testify against Thorne and the Penguin after saving Kathy's life during the ship's destruction. After she reconciles with her father, Kathy drives off with Bruce.

Cast

• Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman
• Kimberly Brooks as Kathleen "Kathy" Duquesne
• Kelly Ripa as Dr. Roxanne "Rocky" Ballantine
• Elisa Gabrielli as Detective Sonia Alcana
• Kyra Sedgwick as Batwoman
• David Ogden Stiers as the Penguin
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Carlton Duquesne
• John Vernon as Rupert Thorne
• Hector Elizondo as Bane
• Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth
• Eli Marienthal as Tim Drake / Robin
• Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon
• Bob Hastings as Commissioner Jim Gordon
• Robert Costanzo as Detective Harvey Bullock

Cherie performs the single "Betcha Never" at Iceberg Lounge as herself. This is the only time in the DC animated universe that Paul Williams did not voice the Penguin. This film marked the final performance of John Vernon as Rupert Thorne.

Production design

Despite that the majority of returning characters retain the same designs from The New Batman Adventures era, the character animation is considerably brighter and more lively than from the series. Rupert Thorne was featured in the original show Batman: The Animated Series, but not in The New Batman Adventures. As such, the animators had to create a new appearance for him specifically for this film; he is streamlined and seems to have lost some weight compared to his previous appearance. Carlton Duquesne is a new character introduced at the start of the movie. He is a large, powerfully built African-American man, presumably middle-aged, who apparently has established himself in Gotham City's underworld. Bane is placed next to him in one particular scene and is seen to be even larger and stronger than Duquesne, further adding to his menacing aura in this movie.

Series writers Alan Burnett and Michael Reaves created the script, and Kevin Conroy reprises the voice of Batman. The movie also shows further continuity with previous Bruce Timm-developed Batman shows: Barbara Gordon is shown to have a romantic interest in Bruce, which will later turn into a relationship (as mentioned in Batman Beyond). This film is set before those events, however, as Robin and Batgirl have not been forced to quit in the wake of the events revealed through flashbacks in Return of the Joker.

Reception

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman received mixed to positive reviews.

Chase Me

Chase Me
Directed by	Curt Geda
Produced by	Alan Burnett Margaret M. Dean Curt Geda Benjamin Melniker Michael Uslan
Written by	Paul Dini Alan Burnett
Based on	Characters by Bob Kane Bill Finger
Music by	Lolita Ritmanis
Studio	Warner Bros. Animation
Distributed by	Warner Home Video
Release date(s)	October 21, 2003 (2003-10-21)
Running time	6 minutes
Language	Silent film

Chase Me is a 2003 American direct-to-video animated short film based on the animated series The New Batman Adventures. The film contained no dialogue and was released as a bonus feature on the DVD for Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman in the U.S. on October 21, 2003. It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

The film follows Batman as he chases Catwoman across Gotham City. The chase sequences are accompanied by a soundtrack mix of a quiet piano score, with then later a high upbeat jazz style score that plays up the chase and slowly dips into a slower/methodical jazz score as the film reaches its downbeat climax.

Plot

The piece begins with the view of a large penthouse to which Bruce Wayne is gazing out the window. He's pulled to the dance floor by three lovely young ladies. Each has their turn before Alfred rescues Bruce, who dives into a nearby elevator. When he reaches his floor, he sees none other than Catwoman at the safe, stealing a bag of money. Catwoman pins Bruce to the wall while she finishes robbing the safe, and makes her escape. Bruce breaks free, and heads after her as Batman.

He finds her on the rooftops, and the chase begins. She dives several dozens stories below into busy traffic, breaking her fall with a banner and swinging onto a tour bus. She poses for some pictures until Batman arrives, taking most of the publicity away from her.

Screen capture.

They jump on a milk truck tanker and Catwoman blows the tires out. The truck spins off, and Batman pursues after her, ignoring the truck dumping gallons of milk on a couple of stray cats, as well as onto Harvey Bullock.

Then, they jump on a train, where, while going into a tunnel, Batman loses Catwoman, only to see her trail leading into a zoo. Expectedly, she had detoured through the Large Cats exhibit and leaves Batman. He escapes through the sunroof while Catwoman runs into an aviary to be chased out by a flock of bats. She is then cornered by Batman against the gates of the zoo. She notices he was scratched earlier, and leans to kiss him. Batman pushes her away, and she appears hurt. Batman then sweeps her into his arms and kisses her.

The cops arrive, and Catwoman looks around, concerned. She pushes at Batman to leave. Batman then slowly smiles at her. He takes the bag of money, and leaves. Catwoman smiles, thinking she's been let off the hook, only to find herself handcuffed to the fence. She falls to the ground, despondent, then looks up in quiet rage.

A remorseful Bruce Wayne looks through the window at the party, again, watching the cop cars fly past. A woman grabs his arm and pulls him back to the party.

External links

• Official website
• Chase Me at the Internet Movie Database

References

1. ^ Tyner, Adam (2003-10-19). "Batman - Mystery of the Batwoman". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/7967/batman-mystery-of-the-batwoman/. Retrieved 2010-11-25. 
2. ^ Pirrello, Phil; Schedeen, Jesse (2010-02-23). "Ranking the DC Animated Universe". IGN. http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/107/1071196p1.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 

External links

• Official website
• Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman at the Internet Movie Database