Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman is a solid straight-to-video effort from Warner Bros. that forgoes the more extreme dark material that's shaped their previous feature efforts (see the exceptional Batman Beyond: Return of Joker for more) and embraces the superhero's core detective skills through an involving web of intrigue and adventure. While there are still copious amounts of action, the focus here mostly lies in the wonderfully rich characters and their connections with each other throughout the mazelike story line. The caped crusader's rogue gallery is opened once again, with the rotund Penguin making a comeback, along with the intimidating hulk Bane, who's always good for a slam-bam fistfight with the masked hero. You get a little more Bruce Wayne in this yarn, which is always a welcome change. This time, he has his hands full with not one, but three lovely ladies -- making room for the more charming and comical aspects of the millionaire playboy to show through. The artwork is a slight step down from the hero's usual animated outings, though the style and pizzazz are still present. With the help of high-class voice talent, and top-form writing for an animated feature (never mind a non-theatrical one), Mystery of the Batwoman is yet another thrilling installment in the Batman animated franchise. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide