Enthralling enigma: ‘Batman’ returns in a gothic masterpiece (Review)
GRITTY AND GRIMY: DC’s newest take on Batman takes the audience to the dark side of Gotham. The movie released March 4, 2022.
The Caped Crusader has made his long-awaited return to the big screen in a spectacular fashion with The Batman (2022). In a mysterious, action-packed, and sometimes bone-chilling interpretation of the Batman character story, Matt Reeves was able to direct an instant classic and set up future projects for a new and improved gritty Bruce Wayne.
Robert Pattinson gives one of the best Batman performances I have ever seen. Pattinson perfectly depicts a dark twisted young Wayne bent on vengeance and a skewed view on justice dishing out revenge to the grimy criminal world of Gotham City, all while showing the inexperience of a young Batman not sure of his place in the world yet. The best thing The Batman was able to accomplish was the casting choices; Zoë Kravitz as Selena Kyle and Paul Dano as the Riddler steal the show, giving performances that are the best depictions of their comic book characters while elevating the level of acting of those around them.
The plot of The Batman is one of my favorite stories for a Batman film, only behind The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. It shows Batman in his purest form as the world’s greatest detective, helping James Gordon (Jefferey Wright) untangle the enigmas the Riddler has set up to reset Gotham and uncover the decades of lies the scummy city was built on.
The Batman also has what I feel is the best depiction of Gotham, showing a dark gloomy city with high skyscrapers yet gothic elements to perfectly reflect the tension amongst the people of Gotham, where the wealthy and powerful live well and look down upon the underbelly of the city filled with crime and corruption. In this film, Gotham feels like its own character, a living breathing person that both sides of the fight are struggling to take control of.
To me, there is nothing wrong with this movie when it comes to casting or the plot. However, the 2 hours and 58 minutes run time can be a bit strenuous at times especially with it being a non-action-focused film, more focused on Batman using his intellect to battle the Riddler. This causes spells of time where there is nothing but dialogue going on.
In conclusion, The Batman is a refreshing take on my favorite DC Comics hero and an overall beautiful film that I would highly recommend anyone take the time and see.
FOR THOSE THAT WANT A SPOILER:
The only spoiler that I will sneak in here is the brief cameo of the Joker, giving us our first look at Barry Keoghan as the clown prince of crime. Overall, I’m not thrilled with the casting and appearance of the Joker in this film; however, I feel this portrayal could grow on me and become just as memorable as the other characters this classic gave to us fans.
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Jarrett is a senior at Carlisle High School. He enjoys being very active outside of school, he plays three sports for the Herd and is a member of senior...
Owen • Mar 28, 2022 at 1:23 pm
I agree with almost everything you have said, except the statement that this is the best adaptation of the Riddler. That goes to the Arkham series.
Nick Stiltner • Mar 24, 2022 at 8:19 pm
I’ve been wanting to see the movie but have not yet. I like Batman and other superhero movies and want to see how this one compares. This article makes me more excited to go see it!
Chloe • Mar 24, 2022 at 7:37 am
I was not planning on going to see the new Batman, but after reading this article, I am reconsidering. I agree on the importance of casting.