Movie Reviews
BATWHEELS: Episodes 1.1-1.3 Review
The action BATWHEELS is set during the cloak of night in Gotham City. So, the animation is visually dark. However, the creators employ bright colors through the character’s outfits and the animation to make the series lively. The episodes aren’t long, but they keep viewers of all ages engaged and even laughing. BATWHEEELS has a strong moral worldview. It promotes helping others without expecting anything in return, staying together as a team, and instilling confidence in others by believing in them. Episode Three even has a strong redemptive theme of love thy enemy. Each episode contains fights that aren’t overly violent. There are some scenes involving creepy villains, however. So, Movieguide® suggests discernment for younger children.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Strong moral worldview promotes helping others without expecting anything in return, staying together as a team, and instilling confidence in others by believing in them, plus Episode Three has a redemptive theme of loving thy enemy, which leads to repentance;
Foul Language:
No foul language;
Violence:
A few scenes contain mild violence with several heroes and villains fighting one another such as vehicle chases, villain’s boat causes vehicles to crash, and Mr. Freeze tries to freeze Batman and finally is able to freeze Batman in his Batmobile, but a side villain repents and helps Batman and his friends;
Sex:
No sex;
Nudity:
No nudity;
Alcohol Use:
No alcohol use;
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No smoking or drugs; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality:
There are more minor questionable elements such as stealing, lying, deceiving.
BATWHEELS is an exciting, funny animated adventure series on Max based on the famous comic book characters Batman, Robin and Bat Girl. The three famous vehicles of the superheroes jump into action to save Gotham City and put villains behind bars. Each episode features action sequences that are not overly violent but include some violence. There are creepy scenes involving villains such as Harley Quinn’s menacing gaze. So, MOVIEGUIDE® suggests discernment for younger children.
BATWHEELS Episode One opens after the notorious villain, the Joker, and his cohorts have stolen a boatload of money. Just when they think they’ve gotten away with the robbery, Batman, Robin and Bat Girl come to the rescue and stop the villains from completing the robbery.
Following the trio’s successful mission, the Gotham City mayor offers to honor them with the keys to the city. Bat Girl and Robin are excited by the recognition, but Batman initially declines the invitation stating they “don’t protect Gotham for awards.” After some convincing, Batman relents, and the group accepts the mayor’s invitation.
Meanwhile, back at the Batcave, an intruder triggers the bat computer to activate the heroes’ vehicles to protect the cave and the city in the absence of the heroes. Assisted by Batman’s robot aid, MOE the Bat Mobile (BAM) receives upgrades, bringing the vehicle to life to fight crime in Gotham City.
Episode Two shows the Batmobile, Redbird and the Batgirl Cyle and their friends thwarting the villainous Penguin’s Ducky Boat’s evil schemes. As the Batwheels hit the streets of Gotham City, they arrive at the marina where Ducky Boat can be found. Ducky Boat has been given a fuel cell upgrade and has become the fastest boat at the marina. The Batgirl Cycle impulsively races towards Ducky Boat, jolting the rest of the Batwheels into action. However, each vehicle is plagued by an obstacle from Ducky Boat, ranging from beach balls stuck in tires or green slime which cause crashes. Ducky Boat escapes, so the Batwheels return to the Batcave for needed repairs.
One of the team’s challenges is establishing a leader to turn to in times of trouble. Bam, the Batmobile, takes on that role and does his best to lead the team to victory. However, he messes up, and the team flops. Bam soon realizes that being a good leader requires more than barking orders. It’s about trusting the team to do what they do best and step in only when necessary.
In Episode Three, Batman is battling Mr. Freeze and his snowcrusher vehicle, Snowy. Batman ends up chasing them, but Snowy swerves to avoid an animal and crashes. As a result, Mr. Freeze is thrown from the vehicle. Mr. Freeze keeps running, and Batman keeps chasing him.
Buff, the Bat Truck, stops to help Snowy. He suspects Snowy is not such a bad vehicle, because he risked injury to save the animal. Buff and Snowy become friends, and Buff takes Snowy to the Batcave to get repaired. The other vehicles are wary of Snowy, but they start making friends too, and Snowy creates a bunch of fun ice ramps for them to play. He even makes it snow in the Batcave!
However, Mr. Freeze orders Snowy to return so he can use Snowy’s ice machine to freeze Batman. A fight ensues, but Buff still believes in Snowy. He doesn’t think Snowy will hurt him. However, will Buff’s faith in his new friend be rewarded?
The action in the first three episodes of BATWHEELS is set in the cloak of night in Gotham City, so the atmosphere is dark. However, the creators employ bright colors through the character’s outfits and the animation, which makes the series lively. The episodes aren’t long, but they keep viewers of all ages engaged and even laughing.
BATWHEEELS has a strong moral, redemptive worldview that promotes helping others without expecting anything in return, staying together as a team and always instilling confidence in others by believing in them. Episode Three adds a strong redemptive theme with a wonderful message of love thy enemy.
Each episode in BATWHEEELS contains fights, but they aren’t overly violent. There are a few creepy scenes, however, involving villains such as Harley Quinn’s menacing gaze. So, MOVIEGUIDE® suggests discernment for younger children.