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    Movie Review: Catwoman: Hunted

    Posted on

    by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

    Selina Kyle is back in action as Catwoman takes center stage in Catwoman: Hunted! Temptation is a dangerous thing, and when you’re a world famous cat burglar, that means putting everything at risk for high reward. Now you can enjoy this feature-length, high-energy adventure on 4k, Blu-ray and Digital!

    After crashing a masquerade party being held by some of the world’s most notorious villains, Selina finds herself on the run with the emerald of her dreams. Not only does she have Interpol, Black Mask, and the criminal organization known as Leviathan in hot pursuit, but she also has Batwoman close on her tail.  Now fans get to experience a different take on the Bat/Cat dynamic as Catwoman is enticed to team-up with Batwoman to take down the big bads. What exactly is the dynamic between this new dynamic duo? Can Selina keep several steps ahead or does this mean the end of her nine lives? What we find is a visually impressive adventure that takes this team-up in interesting new directions and establishes an interesting pairing that could continue to evolve in future iterations.
     

    For those fans who have complained about the lack in animation style with the more recent DC Animated Movies, you are in for something completely different. This anime-inspired feature opens with a truly impressive title sequence which is reminiscent of early 90’s Japanese animation. Cowboy Bebop and Lupin III fans in particular will feel the undertones throughout the film, but the creative team absolutely took risks to do something unique for this Catwoman adventure. The character and costume designs are translated beautifully with the anime undertones, making them recognizable but distinct. Aside from the visuals, the outstanding score made this film a standout for me personally. The opening music is spot on, but the jazz musical beats during the chase sequences were uplifting, intense, and perfectly crafted to make this a joyous experience. 

    Catwoman: Hunted features Elizabeth Gillies (Dynasty) as Catwoman, Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Encanto) as Batwoman, Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) as Black Mask, Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Star Wars Rebels) as Solomon Grundy, Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead) as Julia Pennyworth, Keith David (Gargoyles) as Tobias Whale, Zehra Fazal (Young Justice) as Talia al Ghul and Nosferata, Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: the Next Generation) as King Faraday and Boss Moxie, Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Good Place) as Barbara Minerva/Cheetah, Kelly Hu (Arrow) as Cheshire, Andrew Kishino (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Mr. Yakuza and Domino 6, Eric Lopez (Madagascar: A Little Wild) as Domino 1, Jacqueline Obradors (NYPD Blue) as La Dama, and Ron Yuan (Mortal Kombat 11) as Doctor Tzin. Gillies’ version of Selina was entertaining from the moment the character first appears on the screen. Selina’s confidence and calculated approach to each situation came across consistently, and her sense of humor was able to shine brightly as well. To no surprise, Beatriz as Batwoman was a perfect casting choice. Kate quickly became my favorite character in the story, and her delivery of the characterization will easily make you want more. David as Tobias Whale was another enjoyable selection, as his recognizable vocal talents worked very well to compliment the imposing character. 

    Young Justice fans are sure to get a kick out of this standalone adventure written by Greg Weisman (Young Justice, Gargoyles). The film was Directed by Shinsuke Terasawa (Gintama, Yo-kai), Produced by Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms) and Executive Producer Sam Register.

    Special Features

    • Digital Download
    • When The Hunter Becomes The Hunted (New Featurette) – When does the hunter become the hunted? In this case it’s when Selina Kyle steals the “Cat’s Eye” emerald and Batwoman informs her, “Congratulations, Selina, you just became Leviathan’s No. 1 target.” In this all-new featurette, our experts break down the backstory of each integral villain.
    • Catwoman: The Feline Femme Fatale – Watch the documentary on Catwoman’s history.

    Overall
     
    The creative team without question understood the assignment. Catwoman: Hunted is a unique, thrilling, and engaging adventure, providing a viewing experience that is very different from the previous DC Animated Movies that came before it. The Catwoman/Batwoman pairing worked shockingly well, and I hope that the Powers-That-Be grant viewers another opportunity to see this team bring these characters together again in the near future. 
     
    Rating: ★★★★☆
    ComicsOnline gives Catwoman: Hunted 4 out of 5 anime adventures.
     
    Photo Credits: CATWOMAN: HUNTED  © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. CATWOMAN and all related characters and elements TM & © DC. Photos were provided by WBE for use with this review.

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    Matt Sernaker
    (Managing Editor/Director of Media Relations) Matt interviewed MacGyver once (true story), and was invited on a submarine to the Arctic. It hasn't happened yet, but Matt hopes that some day he will get the call and he and Richard Dean Anderson will go off and have a wacky adventure.
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