The Batman

The Batman is the best superhero film ever made, let alone the greatest Batman film ever made. In a time when the hero genre was plagued by unnecessary series, dull films and characters that had been milked way too much, The Batman shone above the rest. Gotham City in The Batman is arguably the best portrayal yet. It feels like it has a signature identity, like it has its own dark and grimy personality. In previous adaptions, Gotham has perhaps felt too unnoticeable and the same as any other city. But in this, it is truly one of a kind. The constant rain plunges the characters into an ever bigger mystery than they already are in. The colours emphasise a distinct warmth, which is juxtaposed by the events that take place, and the gothic nature of the architecture further highlights the film’s dark theme. Even in daylight, instead of blazing sun, the light seems bleak, as if the most brightness the residents of Gotham will get is not nearly satisfiable enough. It really feels alive, in the most twisted way possible. Bruce Wayne and Batman in this are basically indistinguishable. They both shower themselves in darkness, they are both reclusive unless they must interact with others to achieve their goal, and they are both relentless. Batman’s turmoil and aggression really feel real, and they almost seem to consume the personality of Bruce Wayne. His mind is fully set on being Gotham’s dark knight to the point that he no longer cares about being the billionaire playboy prince of the city. That’s why when we see him leading everyone out of the stadium, it feels like he really is the people’s warrior. Furthermore, not once is he called Batman, just ‘vengeance.’ He isn’t the champion of the people, only the protector. We even see this near the beginning, as the officers in the hallway look upon him as some sort of freak. The universe that Matt Reeves has created is truly stunning. Everything finds a perfect balance between fantasy and reality. Nothing is so impractical that it’s hard to believe, yet nothing feels too grounded and realistic. Take the Batmobile, for example. It seems like an ordinary car, yet it holds an enormous engine on the back. And even then, we can believe Bruce has built it. Additionally, the underworld is not only excellently made, but is deafeningly tragic. It is a world plagued by scandal, rage, corruption and violence, and even more than expected. This whole franchise is probably my favourite of all time. Batman seems like the only superhero who has truly been built up to be the masked vigilante that he is. While other adaptions of the caped crusader have perhaps squandered in places, so far The Batman has been flawless. Part Two can’t come soon enough.