Batman vs. Dracula (2005)

Batman geeks can quibble the fine points but dramatically speaking, to those who are merely familiar with the Batman legend in all of its forms (from Adam West to Batman and Beyond), Batman vs. Dracula is passable entertainment. Passable animation, passable script, with a paddable if strong central plot: Dracula inexplicably arrives in Gotham City and begins an arithmetically progressive dinner on its citizens, converting greater numbers to undead vampires. I can't see how any parent would let their 4- to 8-year-olds watch this show because it presents Batman with an adversary who is "evil incarnate" and greatly stronger and faster. (Spoiler: He's unbeatable without Batman's lux ex machina -- but don't worry about this clue if you know Latin, because the script clearly shows you Batman's two secret weapons early in the story and repeatedly comes back to them in case you don't get the hint -- for example, if you need the brilliant Bruce Wayne to write down ALUCARD and read it in a mirror to figure out the identity of his mysterious guest.) My 11-year-old son didn't have a problem with the show's gore -- but there is a lot of blood splattered about and gulped down by the crazed Joker. (He's vamping in more ways than one.) Some may call the script weak but remember, this is comic-book fare not Shakespeare here; some may slight the animation as weak, and I can only agree. 3 stars.