After multiple delays due to COVID-19, “The Batman” is finally in theaters. Robert Pattinson dawns the cowl of the dark knight in this version of the caped crusader and is on a mission to take down the Riddler, who is depicted as an anonymous serial killer who threatens to expose the corrupt Gotham authorities; leaving behind notes, riddles and ciphers at his crime scenes, inspired by the real-life Zodiac Killer. The question now is, how good was Batman’s latest adventure?
People who are interested in the cinematic aspect of the movie need not worry; “The Batman” excels in cinematography, visual effects, lighting, costume, and set design. One of the best design choices of the movie is Batman’s costume. Pattinson’s suit does a fantastic job at giving Batman the horror element that makes criminals fear him. The rough look of the batsuit and the silhouette of Pattinson in door frames can give viewers an idea of what makes Batman so menacing to criminals. Compared to previous movies, the toll of Batman’s night crusades shows on his body, unlike the Batmen who came before who always looked fresh and well-rested. When Pattinson takes off the helmet, he looks battered and exhausted, which reflects Matt Reeves’ vision for Batman in the movie. Reeves explained in an interview with Empire that this version of Bruce Wayne is not the same charming billionaire playboy from previous iterations.
“That’s when it came to me that, rather than make Bruce Wayne the playboy version we’ve seen before, there’s another version who had gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse,” Reeves told Empire. “So I started making this connection to Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, and the idea of this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor.”
In terms of a story, “The Batman” brings a new experience to casual movie fans; however, for hardcore fans of the caped crusader, connections can be made between the movie and previous Batman stories. I find myself comparing the movie to Batman comics like Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Hush, and Batman: Year One. The film is not a direct copy of those stories, but rather it adopts elements from them while applying its own original ideas.
The casting in “The Batman” made for great interpretations of characters. Jeffery Wright plays Lieutenant Gordon in the film and does a great job at portraying the character. Wright’s Gordon is focused on bringing justice to Gotham all while having to deal with the corruption in the Gotham Police Department. Zoë Kravitz takes on the role of Catwoman and brings out the best of the character. Catwoman is one of the standout roles in the movie with how well Kravitz is able to translate her personality onto the big screen. One of the most interesting characters in the movie, however, is Paul Dano’s Riddler. Unlike the wacky costume-wearing trickster that was seen in “Batman Forever,” the Riddler in this movie is a sadistic serial killer that wears saran wrap on his head and military attire. While he may still leave riddles for Batman to solve, Paul Dano’s interpretation of the Riddler makes for a great new take on the character.
“The Batman” is able to bring the caped crusader to life in an entertaining fashion. The personal rating I would give “The Batman” is an 8/10. Some of the story elements taken from other Batman media do feel a little played out, but the movie has enough fresh parts to it to create a new and exciting experience.
