The Batman
everyone knows the batman and his story: a child orphaned by murder that grows into gotham’s bonkers-rich reclusive hero. it’s an iconic development, one that any stranger could recite to you without missing a beat. while this has certainly contributed to the character’s popularity and image, it has also raised an important question; can a story remain interesting if everyone knows it? matt reeves decides to tackle this head-on, by offering audiences a fresh take on the caped crusader. the batman we’ve always known is seasoned, wise, and calm. robert pattinson breathes life into the role by giving us a younger, more inexperienced take on the iconic hero. we see him struggle with his identity and influence, as well as being ignorant of his regular life. he has no interest in being bruce wayne or carrying forward the wayne enterprise. this batman is deeply troubled, rough around the edges. i truly believe this is the greatest embodiment of the character we have seen to date. pattinson is haunting as the titular hero; his rendition is strikingly powerful, and i’m excited to see his future as the character.
as for the movie itself, the neo-noir, borderline-horror spin that reeves has brought to the movie is amazing. batman the detective is a fascinating watch, and the mystery at hand is truly enticing. the movie plays out very carefully and methodically; every aspect of the story is allowed to fully develop and all characters are soundly established. reeves concocts an intricate web with great detail. the mystery is well-crafted and extremely engaging, and an exciting tension builds as the movie progresses that pulls the viewer in deeper and deeper. this batman has a much darker tone to it than any other before it, and it’s likely not even close. the bleakness of gotham and the people within help underline how truly dark this batman is. the cinematography is this movie is truly unbelievable; the moody color palette combined with the haunting aesthetic is perfectly brought to life, and the film is filled with phenomenal shots.
paul dano’s riddler is terrifyingly brilliant. he brings an eerie calmness to the villain, but can become a fiery killer the very next moment. while i would still give the edge to heath ledger’s joker, dano makes a convincing case for the best batman foil in cinema. he leaves nothing to be desired and deserves heaps of praise for this role. other characters, such as colin farrell’s penguin, jeffrey wright’s gordon, and zoë kravitz’s catwoman, are also well-portrayed.
“the dark knight” set what many, including myself, saw as an impossible standard. it always seemed like a superhero movie that good would never ever be made again. but i think, after fourteen years, it’s time to pass the torch to matt reeves and “the batman”. this movie is really that good, and dc, who has been stumbling for years now, has finally gained its footing and more. this movie is a start of a new era for dc and for the batman, and i’m unbelievably excited to see where this road leads.