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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
When it was announced that Warner Bros and DC would be making another Batman that was considered a reboot, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I sat wondering how often we will see Batman’s parents die and go through the same story and shit over and over again. After Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, I was done with Batman because that trilogy was FANTASTIC and so well done; I didn’t know how you could top it. When Ben Affleck came along and was Batman, I didn’t even watch any of his performances. You get a little tired when you have almost ten different Batman. Plus, I don’t think Ben Affleck would make a good Batman.
When it was announced that Robert Pattinson would play Batman, I laughed because I was like, Mr. Twilight is going to be the Cape Crusader. I really thought that this was going to be another failed reboot of the famous detective. Plus, Robert Pattinson, really? When I saw that the film was around three hours long, I didn’t even go to the movie theater to watch it. Fast forward, and I was on a flight from LA to Atlanta. With nothing to do, I saw that I could watch the Batman. Since it was a four-hour flight, I put my headphones on and decided to give it a try. I want to be the first to admit that I was wrong about Robert Pattinson, this film, and everything that was presented.
Directed by Matt Reeves, who wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig, the story picks up two years into recluse billionaire Bruce Wayne’s (Pattison) never-ending mission to rid Gotham City of violence and municipal corruption. Batman is still trying to make a name for himself and is seen as a thorn in the police’s side. Gotham is a vast city that still oozes with the stick and taste of corruption. The city is put on alert when the mayor is killed at the hands of the Riddler (Dano), a psychotic terrorist hitting corrupt high-profile targets. Batman’s only ally is James Gordon, one of the few police officers who trust him. As the Riddler claims each target, his mission is soon realized as he is obsessed with the Wayne family and Bruce himself. With each clue of the Riddler’s solved, it soon becomes apparent that the sins of the Wayne family will come to light. As Bruce elected himself as the dark knight, he tries to find his place in fighting the criminal underworld while trying to capture the Riddler. Will the city see him as a friend or foe?
I want to talk about the story first. I will not compare it to the other Batman films. This one was great, as it got rid of the origin story of Batman. We all know the story right now, and it takes up too much time to tell. This one went the Spider-Man route starring Tom Holland. We know it; let’s jump in it. This is what this film did. Starting off two years into Batman’s mission was a perfect idea because Batman is still on the edge of being a friend or foe with the police. The police see him as a nuisance beside Gordon, and the city sees him as a threat.
What is fascinating about the story is that it tries to have some realism. Could we see a terrorist attacking high-profile people for corruption? Yes, we can. That is why the introduction of the Riddler was so well done. Yes, he gave riddles as clues, but they weren’t over the top, nor was he dressed as a cartoon. He was an individual who had a rough childhood and wanted revenge. Seeing Batman trying to figure out how to stop him was a great action adventure flick. For one, criminals feared Batman, but they all thought they could take him. In the opening scene, when he walks through the dark corridor and you hear his tapping feet, it is chilling. Another scene dealt with the Penguin as he drove away and cheered but wasn’t intimidated. It was all fascinating to watch.
Another theme is identity. Love how Bruce is a recluse with that emo look going on. Bruce didn’t want any part of the outside world. It was a far cry from other versions that saw him out with people and mixing up with the elite to gain information. This version had him as a kid or man who just wanted to be Batman and believed that was his true identity. It wasn’t until the film’s end that he accepted both sides of his identity.
Also, the film has so many different characters and their ambitions to do what they want to do. Selina Kyle is the daughter of Falcone and wants to see his ass dead. She works at his club to gain trust just to put a bullet in him. Penguin is the right hand of Falcone and wants the throne but likes where he is. Also, the backstabbing with Falcone giving evidence, sending Salvatore Maroni to jail, and taking over his organization. It was all great to watch.
What set this film apart was the atmosphere and visual effects. Damn, was the atmosphere depressing, dark, and a place you didn’t want to be. Gotham is not a place I would want to live. That is why it works because you have Batman wanting to clean it up, but he has darkness in himself. The visual effects just add to this film in a significant way. The city landscape was beautiful, with the Batman and Catwoman scene.
I want to give Robert Pattinson some major respect for his portrayal of Batman. He played the recluse, emo Bruce Wayne to perfection. The inner monologues were exceptionally done and added a nice touch to the character. You really got a sense of what this character cared about and how he saw the world. He showed that Bruce had many inner demons and wanted to put those demons against others. The rage that he had when he beat up people went to a new level.
Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman was equally good. She does it all as a nightclub waitress, drug dealer, and cat burglar who meets Batman while searching for her missing roommate. Kravitz has excellent sex appeal but also a bad side to her that draws you to the character. You don’t know her motivations until the very end when she wants revenge. I have to give major props to Kravitz because I really enjoyed her in this role.
Another person that deserves significant credit is Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/Riddler. This dude scared me with his acting and how he portrayed the Riddler. He drew you in with his pain, insanity, and goal to bring down the rich and powerful for ignoring the less fortunate. How he used social media is something that is very prominent today. He was looking for something other than views but a way to spread his message to a broader audience.
Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon was a nice added touch. I like how the Batman films make him a simple detective rather than the commissioner. It adds to his character, and Wright did a great job showing that he was the only officer that was an ally to Batman. Really quick, let’s give props to Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot/Penguin. Dude’s makeup was on point, and I didn’t realize it was Farrell. Even though he has minor scenes, he makes the most of them.
The Batman is one of the best Batman films. It is a fantastic reboot that showed the early years of the cape crusader. Robert Pattinson deserves praise for how he portrayed Batman, which impressed me. The atmosphere and story are fantastic as they draw you into the story. Hopefully, Pattinson will keep up with this role, and the atmosphere will stay the same. Maybe cut down on the run time but keep this version of Batman going.
