The Batman

Over the years, we’ve been given so many different Batman stories. From campy in Batman and Robin, uber serious in The Dark Knight trilogy, and whatever the hell Battfleck was going for. All has their own spin on the character, but each had their own shortcomings. I never felt that I was watching the Batman that comic readers know. Then, The Batman. This is Batman. Worlds greatest detective. The Gotham Knight. Vengeance. This movie absolutely nails it, start to finish. A fresh, young, brooding Batman. Lurking in the shadows, striking fear in the hearts of those around. He’s brutal, every punch thrown has real weight behind it. He’s not looking to just stop criminals, he’s looking to teach them a lesson. This iteration focuses less on gadgets, and more on sheer strength and hand to hand combat. That’s not to say there aren’t some really fantastic gadgets that make appearances. This Batman isn’t polished, he’s still learning. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and adjusting. I really hope we get more. Also, that car chase scene? Fuck yeah. There’s so many gorgeous shots in this movie, it’s beautiful to look at. To accompany that is one of the best film scores in recent years. Fantastic. Michael Giacchino, who has been my favorite composer since Lost, works his magic once again creating a haunting theme for the bat, and reusing it in a new context each time we hear it. Masterful. There’s not much licensed music in the movie, but the 2 uses of Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” as bookend moments for Bruce Wayne gave me chills. I loved it. As far as performances go, everyone puts on a strong showing. Robert Pattinson is devilishly brooding, and yet I never felt like he ever took himself to seriously. He walked the razors edge with his performance, and it’s all that much better for it. A small detail I loved is the sound he makes when he walks, the heavy thud of his boot followed by what sound like spurs. Similar to how Star Wars does with Boba Fett. It’s clear that in this city, Batman is the law, but he’s also the stranger, the literal Man in Black. Then you have Zoë Kravitz who brings Selina Kyle/Catwoman to life in the best way possibly. Sultry, yet bold. Stylish, yet strong. From the way she walks, talks, and holds herself, to the small details that Kravitz obviously took great care curating. Paul Dano. Paul fucking Dano man. This guys got creep flowing through his veins. When they announced he would be The Riddler, I didn’t know how to feel. Now? I’m all in. Akin to his performance in Prisoners, you always feel uneasy when he’s on screen. His reveal is one of the best scenes in the film, and it basically opens the movie. Fantastic work. The idea to make The Riddler a more maniacal villain akin to The Zodiac Killer was a stroke of genius. Jeffrey Wright and Andy Serkis don’t do anything terribly inventive with James Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth respectively, and that’s okay. This is a story about Batman, coming to terms with his secret identity of Bruce Wayne. They play second fiddle, and know exactly how to make him better. Jon Turturro is fine as Carmine Falcone, but is often upstaged by Colin Farrell’s Penguin. A character often used for comedic relief in Batman stories, Farrell brings new weight to him. Truly transforming both his physical look, and the way he spoke, to be unrecognizable. Really fantastic stuff. A bright spot for this movie is that it never holds your hand. We don’t need to see Thomas and Martha get gunned down in an alley. We don’t need to see Bruce training. Just give us Batman, and they absolutely did. For fans of the comic there’s plenty of Easter eggs to find. Notable ones being The Court of Owls, Bloodhaven, and a blink and you miss it reference to Hush. While the story is based around The Long Halloween, they definitely drew from the Hush storyline and it really really works. The fight choreography is astounding. Just top tier shit from start to finish. I do have 2 complaints, but they’re not enough to knock this from 5 stars. First, it slows down for a bit leading into the third act, and felt a little like it went on too long, but it kicks it into high gear right after. Second, I wish that we had got a new suit. Batman has grown by the end of the movie, changed. A suit that matches that growth would have been nice to see. Other than that, it’s a nearly perfect movie. Mixing action and noir to be the best Batman film yet. The Batman kicks so much ass. Also, there’s a moment toward the end where a rumored character makes an appearance, teasing for a sequel maybe? God I hope so. “They think I’m hiding in the shadows, but I am the shadows.” Chills. Literal chills.