Batman is on the hunt for a sadistic serial killer known as the
Riddler, whose murders have some ties to Gotham's corrupt past. ACTION/CRIME
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The Batman (2022)Directed by Matt Reeves
Written by Matt Reeves and Peter Craig Starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard Reboot of 1989's Batman and 2005's Batman Begins Based on characters from DC Comics |
After astonishing audiences with his unique take on the long running Planets of the Apes franchise, it was announced Matt Reeves would next be tackling a new take on iconic comic book character, Batman. Granted, this was after already attempting with Ben Affleck; only for him to back out due to creative differences. Nonetheless, this was exciting news for me. Even when it was confirmed Robert Pattinson would be the one to don the cape and cowl. I say this because a lot of people were angry. Minds would change, however, when the first trailer dropped. This little tease promised us an adaptation we haven’t seen before. A unique take on one of comic’s most beloved hero. As the film kept getting delayed due to the pandemic and new trailers would drop, the excitement just got higher. Now, finally, here we are with the newest rendition of the Dark Knight.
This is the first take which truly makes us intimately aware of the fear Batman is inflicting on his foes mentally. From showing us how criminals are scared once the signal is out and the shadows are their darkest, this gets very close to horror at times. That’s not even including how they have Batman walk out of the shadows; with the audience hearing his boots before we actually see anything. But that’s not the only part they play up. For once, we truly see the World’s Greatest Detective part of his title as the plotline allows it for once. Backing all of these things up are absolutely stellar performances from all of the cast. If I had to pick standouts, it would be Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Colin Farrell. The first two share amazing chemistry together and do complete justice to these beloved characters. Dano does an absolutely tremendous job of making the Riddler one of the most terrifying villains I’ve seen in a comic book movie. Finally, Farrell nearly steals the show as Oswald Cobblepot, sinking into his character. By mixing the film noir genre (with a tinge of horror), a fully realized world, and some of the best performances in a comic book adaptation; Reeves has truly knocked it out of the park. This might just easily be my favorite take on Batman and his universe. I hope to visit it for years to come. |
Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and now...Robert Pattinson? I remember when he was announced. The virulent backlash, the Twilight comparisons, the general disbelief. It wasn't fair, especially after The Lighthouse came out and people started to see Pattinson in a new light. Then, in late 2020, we got the first glimpse of footage from The Batman, and holy shit. Not only did Pattinson absolutely look like he was born to play the Dark Knight, but the general tone of Reeves's vision looked on point with the Gotham City fans have been wanting for decades; a sort of hybrid between Burton's fantastical Gotham and Nolan's realistic Gotham. After a long and arduous wait, The Batman is finally here, and it may just be the definitive Batman adventure.
Two years into his crusade, Batman (Pattinson) is wondering whether he is actually making a difference. A serial killer calling himself the Riddler (Dano, who is absolutely terrifying) is targeting Gotham's elite and a corrupt GCPD is trying to stop him. Batman teams up with Selina Kyle (Kravitz) to find the connection to mob boss Carmine Falcone (Turturro) and his right-hand Penguin (Farrell, who steals the show). I don't want to give too much away, but this film earns every second of its mammoth runtime and gives us an unforgettable Batman movie that is hopefully the start of a trilogy that will define Pattinson's career. He was the perfect choice for the role. In fact, everyone was. From the gorgeous cinematography to the almost horror atmosphere to the awesome choreography and chase scenes, The Batman is near perfection. Few filmmakers have understood the nuances and details of Batman like Matt Reeves, and I can't wait to see where he takes this story next. With many teases of what's to come, Reeves clearly has a vision. Here's to the new generation of Batman, which may be the best one yet. |