The Batman

“When that light hits the sky, it’s not just a call. It’s a warning.” Wow. Matt Reeves you are a beautiful genius. This is easily my favourite Batman film. It’s so smart and creative that it feels familiar yet so unique. The concepts brought to us are absolutely fantastic and certainly establish the film as the best Batman film to me. First off, Robert Pattinson shines as the Caped Crusader himself. His performance as the recluse vengeance driven vigilante is absolutely phenomenal and is easily one of the best CBM performances of all time. Paul Dano was absolutely terrifying as the Riddler. The atmosphere surrounding the character and the way Dano presents himself is amazing to watch. The Zodiac killer influence was a very interesting take and it certainly paid off. Jeffrey Wright’s Gordon was such a blast to watch and his partnership with Bruce was very enjoyable. Andy Serkis’ Alfred, despite having very little screen time, left a fantastic impression and showed some great depth to character. Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman was a perfect origin for the character and a complete scene stealer. Kravitz was oozing with electricity as Selina and The Long Halloween influences they took with her character was absolutely incredible. Colin Farrell and John Turturro’s Penguin and Carmine Falcone respectively were also great inclusions and both offered some truly great performances. Matt Reeves’ direction was absolutely outstanding. Every frame was filled with so much detail and passion, making it such a joy to watch. The dark and gritty tone was definitely the right call and the grounded elements amplified the story, whilst still retaining some of the fantastical elements. The influence of Se7en and Zodiac are apparent, but easily contribute to the main story which provides a masterfully created mystery. The Riddler was the perfect antagonist for this Batman and the way he challenged our hero was stunning to watch. The detective aspects of this film really shined and it was great to see the World’s Greatest Detective side to our hero while still being pushed to the edge by Riddler. I absolutely adore how Reeves took inspiration from the Telltale games as well as TLH for the way the Wayne family was portrayed. It was incredible to see them explored in different way in live-action compared to the usual idealistic billionaire family. The way Reeves handles the characters and the plot demonstrate how he truly understands the characters he’s dealing with and combined with the cast’s enthusiasm aids in the creation of the perfect story. The set design for this film is remarkable. Gotham is the perfect modernisation for the city and it is very much reminiscent of the Arkham games. I love how the city feels like a character itself something which has been severely lacking in almost all superhero films in recent years. The costume design for this film is also incredible. The Batsuit is easily my favourite we’ve seen thus far in live-action. It blends that homemade and militaristic feel very well while also maintaining the comic book aspect. The cinematography by Greig Fraser was stunning, allowing for some absolute beautiful shots. The reliance on practical sets and effects also elevate this film and show how other comic book films have been severely lacking in that department. Michael Giaccino’s score is absolutely perfect. Every theme is used correctly and never feels out of place. It is only in service of what is shown and I absolutely adore it. The combination of Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” is also fantastic and definitely fits the tone of the film. The overall aesthetic of this film is truly remarkable. From Bruce narrating sections of the film allowing the audience to understand his mentality as if it were a comic panel was definitely the right choice. The structure of the story was also incredible. Leading us on a path of various mysteries as we follow Bruce as he tries to uncover the truth was phenomenal. The way we spectate Bruce using his detective skills as he finally learns the truth about his parents and captures the Riddler to the final battle in which Bruce doesn’t face off against his villain, but instead has to face his own demons in the Riddler’s supporters who have been inspired by Bruce himself and realise that vengeance isn’t the way is such an interesting concept and works really well. Speaking of which, the action in this film is by far Batman at his best. It is what we’ve all been craving from a Batman film and Matt Reeves certainly delivered. Overall, The Batman is the most comic accurate interpretation of the character put to screen, creating a gritty, scary and intelligent story for our hero to embark on. This film completely exceeded my high expectations and is everything I have ever wanted from a Batman film and more. This film is Batman at his very best, delivering the best Batman film and one of, if not the best comic book film to date. I absolutely adore Matt Reeves and the cast for bringing this film to us and I absolutely cannot wait to see the inevitable sequel and the spin-off shows because even if they’re only a fraction as good as this film, we’ll be in for a goddamn treat!