Matt Reeve’s The Batman buzz has been non-stop — but was this movie actually worth the wait? Well, let’s just say it is the best Batman movie yet!
Yes, it’s true everything that you have seen, heard, and imagined — The Batman truly is the best batman movie yet. Being someone who loved Ben as the character and was sad to see him depart, I can’t help but imagine the world we would be in now if he didn’t decide to go in his own direction. A world without this movie. As someone who would have loved to see him continue, direct, act, and more, Matt Reeves is your next go-to guy.
After successfully finishing out an amazing Planet of the Apes trilogy I needed to know what he was going to do next. What was next is The Batman. My anticipation only got higher and higher as Robert Pattinson was cast, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, and so many more. Trailers dropped, posters, stills, score sneak peeks — every bit of this only made me more excited and created my anticipation on a whole other level. This is my most anticipated film of all time and it lived up to those expectations.
Setting Your Expectations For The Batman
Typically with any review, I do I like to start with my pros but for this film I want to start a little differently. This is due to the nature of comic book fans, general audiences, and film twitter. The Batman is a beast of a movie clocking in at 2 hours and 55 minutes (each minute was needed for this long story). With a run time like that some might expect an epic action-adventure as Batman in the past has been depicted as.
As such looking at the last ten years since our last solo Batman Movie the Comic Book Genre has blown up with each film getting bigger in scope, scale, and as well action set pieces being so huge. The Batman has incredible action there is no doubt about that. Many of which are shown in the trailer but there was enough that had me hyped in my seat all the way through. The Batman is a true Crime Noir with a horror undertone. If the Riddler is the villain, Batman is the monster that everyone should be afraid of.
Your expectations must be prepared for a slower, more methodical, burn of a film that harkens back to old school noir and many Batman comics. This is the closest, most straight forward, adaption of the character yet when it comes to showcasing the greatest detective in comics ever.
The Batman Pros
Many are probably wondering if Robert Pattinson KILLED it as The Batman/Bruce Wayne and I would say as a young Batman he is the definitive version of that character. For almost 95 percent of the film he is in the suit doing what needs to be done. As for Bruce Wayne, without getting into spoilers, he has quite a few emotional moments that are extremely powerful because of the way Pattinson portrays him.
This is a Bruce Wayne that hates being known as Bruce, but believes more in Batman and what he can symbolize for the city of Gotham. Creating, in a sense, an origin story for what Bruce Wayne could eventually mean for this city down the road. I can’t wait to see more. Robert Pattinson is THE BATMAN.
Alongside Zoe Kravitz who crafts such a different version of Catwoman than we have seen before that truly brought such a unique atmosphere each time she was on screen. As well as her journey throughout the movie and what her motives, in the end, bring her to feel. The bat and the cat might have that nice ring to them but their parallels that bring them together are such a unique aspect of the film.
Then we get to the connection all three of our main characters have throughout this noir and that is Paul Dano’s Riddler. Dano is such a creative act that makes choices that are eerily uncomfortable but at the same time campy — but it always works. He was a perfect choice for a sadistic serial killer and kills it (no pun intended). It was a perfect combination that I feel only he could bring to the role.
As for the rest of the cast — Colin Farrell steals almost every scene he is in as Oswald Cobblepot, Andy Serkis brings an emotional Pennyworth that is needed for this version of The Batman, Jeffrey Wright is just INCREDIBLE as James Gordon and the relationship between Batman and Gordon is such a delightful surprise in this film. But John Turturro as Carmine Falcone might have been the shining surprise for this film. A very important but precisely needed character for the entire story.
Matt Reeves got the best performances he could from everyone, while also crafting his own version and the best version of Gotham into live-action. The city feels real, it feels lived in and doesn’t just feel like another city in the United States. It actually feels like the Gotham you would read about or see in The Batman Animated Series. A lot of this is because of Greig Fraser’s cinematography and the way he captures the dark heart of this city — but also the way that Reeves writes the corruption and secrets that are waiting to be unburied.
I truly was shocked to see Gotham become its own character but in a way that I personally loved. Plus adding the mystery element to it all was intriguing and not predictable. Reeves really takes you for a spin in this one and I can’t wait to see what the does next after seeing the powerful finale. This entire film truly captures the important origin of what Batman means to a city that needs hope in its darkest of days, as well as what Batman could be represented as if not displaying the right energy towards the people.
His line “ I’m Vengeance” is a core piece to this entire story and I LOVED how Reeves had so many things connect in subtle but clever ways. Adding in lastly Michael Giacchino might have crafted a perfect score and the best Batman Theme yet. Each moment feels perfectly intertwined with the moment that is happening and it truly blew me away. Plus the action is very boots to the ground brutal — shot in a way that many old-school noir thrillers would have displayed their action and a car chase that is LITERALLY EDGE OF YOUR SEAT GRIPPING.
The Batman Cons
Personally, for me, there was not a single issue with the film that I had but I can see others having issues with the slow burn and one or two choices that happen throughout the story. These resemble characters’ lines, looks, and even decisions. These shouldn’t distract or kill the film overall, but knowing how our world is and the fan bases, there will be a group who feels this way.
Overall Thoughts
The Batman isn’t just one of my favorite comic book movies of all time, it is my personal favorite Batman story of all time told on the big screen. A gritty, angsty, dark crime noir that creates a horror undertone for Batman being a monster towards all the corruption and criminal underbelly in Gotham. This is more than just a comic book movie and I can see many loving it who maybe are tired of the genre.
Matt Reeves has truly created a life in Gotham City that very much had my jaw on the floor from the worldbuilding and looks of everything. Robert Pattinson is THE BATMAN, Zoe is amazing as Catwoman, and Dano is incredibly scary. I truly did not think this would meet my expectations but it did and more — don’t miss out on the best BATMAN MOVIE YET.
Grade: A+
NEXT: All Hail the New King in Town: A Look at the Most Important Comic Book Film of All Time
About The Batman
Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.
The Batman hits theaters on March 4th.
