_poster.jpg)
Since the first trailer dropped at DC FanDome 2020, it was clear we were in for something special with Matt Reeves' "The Batman." And for me personally, there was a certain kind of excitement for the first solo Batman film in 10 years outside the larger scope of the main DCEU. Well, if you still had doubts about this movie because of certain casting or design choices, you can lay them aside. The hype is real as a unique new take on the Dark Knight has arrived.
Director Matt Reeves has delivered on so many fronts. The Gotham City presented is a perfect mix of the gothic nature of Tim Burton's films and the grounded reality of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy; it's really the first time since "Batman Begins" where I've felt Gotham had its own landscape and atmosphere. I think the fact that we start the story with Batman already being established also helps make this world feel like its own and not just trying to fit Batman in our's. Story wise, Reeves has crafted a grand mystery and deep conspiracy to uncover; while there's a lot to unpack within this nearly 3 hour movie (which means you can probably get even more out of subsequent viewings), you'll be completely immersed not only thanks to the film's tone, but also to the engaging characters with no performances not to like. I also have to give a lot of praise to Michael Giacchino's score, who joins the ranks of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer of iconic Batman movie composers, creating unique themes for Batman, Catwoman, and Riddler.
While I've talked before about the film's comic inspirations back in my "Ego" review, my first viewing of the film brought to mind which ones are the most prominent. The heaviest influence on the film from what I could see were the "Earth One" series from Geoff Johns and Gary Frank along with the neo-noir writing style of Frank Miller's "Year One" with a splash of the Telltale video games (that last one making a certain twist in the film honestly not much of shock to me). Put them all together though, and it certainly brings a live action Batman not seen before.
As previously mentioned, I couldn't think of one performance I didn't like from this film. It's such as star-studded cast with Andy Serkis as Alfred, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Jeffrey Wright as Gordon, Colin Farrel as Penguin, and John Turturro as Carmine Falcone. But of course, it's our main protagonist and antagonist who shine brightest.
* Like Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck before him, Robert Pattinson had a lot of hate to overcome in his Batman casting, mostly due to a certain series of films he starred in (and again, it's really time to get over that). Like his predecessors, Pattinson has risen above and delivered a new take on the character that will stand the test of time. Pattinson's Batman is probably the most intense portrayal of the character yet, as the deep seeded anger of the character exudes whenever he's on screen. There's also this raw realism to his fighting style that brings Charlie Cox's Daredevil to mind, where even if you get a hit in on him, he'll make sure you'll get hit back harder. Plus, while it can be scary for Batman just to appear, there's a feeling of dread that can arise just from hearing his footsteps as he approaches. His Bruce Wayne portrayal is also quite different in that he'd rather not be Bruce Wayne; this struggle of balance is reminiscent of Keaton's version, but Pattinson's Bruce hasn't reached the point of caring about that, wishing to be Batman 24/7. It's a good starting point for this version of the character as future sequels can show how Bruce can change, doing good for the city under his real name while also realizing that Batman has to be more than just an outlet for his childhood trauma. I also loved his relationships with other characters, from his partnership with Gordon (which is probably the strongest we've seen between the two characters before on film), his budding romance with Selina, and the strained father-son dynamic with Alfred (which culminates in a scene between the two that nearly got me chocked up).
* Paul Dano delivers a terrifying performance as the Riddler. As a terrorist bringing Gotham to the edge, it reminds me of Heath Ledger's Joker, but not as refined and rough around the edges. Since Dano did study serial killers for the role, I found his performance very believable and how such a person would behave in real life. And while this version is vastly different from Jim Carrey's in "Batman Forever", I surprising found a similarity between the two; whether it was Bruce or Batman, Riddler felt a one-sided kinship with the man he would eventually call his enemy. In Dano's case, his Riddler is inspired by Batman, believing himself a hero and taking the crusade against the city's corrupt further, even becoming a cult of personality himself in the process; I can't recall a villain in a Batman or comic book movie that was able to create a following out of normal citizens.
And while not technically a character, I loved this film's interpretation of the Batmobile. For one, its design is truly believable for an early years Batman in a grounded setting. More importantly though, I can't remember when a Batmobile can stoke as much fear and be as unstoppable as Batman himself, which isn't surprising since Stephen King's "Christine" was cited as inspiration in its depiction. The sound of its engine being the loudest thing you can hear whenever the Batmobile was onscreen and how it reverberated through the theater was a nice touch.
Overall, with Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson at the helm, it would appear that the future of the Dark Knight on film (and its HBO Max spin-offs) is a bright one.
