The Batman

This is exactly the kind of Batman movie I've been hoping for. A revitalisation on the big screen the character desperately needed. In an age where we seem to be drowning comic book adaptations, each new film feels less special and increasingly disposable. The Batman is one of the few exceptions, and the mark that it leaves on comic book cinema will last a long time. Maybe even to the point of being a modern classic, the same way we look at The Dark Knight or Spider-Man 2. We finally get to see the investigative detective aspect of Batman that's reminiscent of The Long Halloween graphic novel, tracking a John Doe-esque rendition of The Riddler that is played brilliantly by Paul Dano; and the film works as a brilliant procedural thriller, independent of the Batman mythos surrounding it. Robert Pattinson makes his mark as a terrific Batman, communicating so much through his eyes, even when in the cowl. Matt Reeves' new sprawling vision for Gotham feels like its leapt of the pages of a comic book, and it still feels surprisingly grounded; with the brilliant visuals of Greig Fraser and score of Michael Giaccino, this is a city that sticks with you long after you've left the theater. Clocking in at 3 hours, it still left me wanting to see more of this dense world Matt Reeves has created.