The Batman – Film Review

Batman (Robert Pattinson) 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.

Make no mistake about it – Matt Reeves‘ The Batman is definitely not a superhero movie. Sure, it may feature the titular iconic superhero utilizing some gadgets, gliding around Gotham City, driving the Batmobile, and kicking it into full throttle, and it may come complete with some chilling villains to boot, but this is the furthest thing from a superhero movie imaginable. In other words, I kind of loved it.

That’s not to say that I don’t like superhero movies, because I do. All you need to do for proof of this is to look up my reviews for some of the previous DCEU and MCU films to see the excellent scores I’ve given them. But sometimes all it takes is one movie to come along to show you what a real superhero movie can be, and Reeves has done exactly that. From the opening few minutes which are sure to send shivers down your spine to the pulse-pounding final few moments, The Batman is quite possibly the best comic book movie ever made. Yes, seriously.

It’s significantly better than any other comic book film I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen mostly all of them. And in case you’re wondering if this means I think this film is better than Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight? I do. Reeves has crafted a world so deeply disturbing to the point where it’s almost impossible not to be totally sucked in. The story is genuinely engaging and challening. Seriously, if you’re thinking of taking your nine-year-old Batman-obsessed kid to this movie, maybe you shouldn’t. Sure, there are some scenes they’ll enjoy, but this is mainly a straight-up psychological crime thriller in all the best ways.

Gotham City has never been a more terrifying place than it is in The Batman. Anybody who knows me knows that I adore the Batman movies with my whole heart. I seriously love them all (except for Batman & Robin), but as much as I love these movies, Gotham has never really given me the creeps. Even in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Gotham doesn’t feel grimy. It doesn’t feel like the criminal capital of the world. In Reeves’ film, it finally does. The streets are littered with crime and there’s only one man who is capable of putting an end to it all.

Of course, I’m talking about Batman. Everybody who had fears about Robert Pattinson portraying the titular superhero doesn’t need to worry because he delivers the best live-action Batman performance of all time. He’s absolutely phenomenal in the role and legitimately terrifying, as well. There are several scenes in the film where director of photography Greig Fraser (who, by the way, needs to win an Oscar for his work in this film) locks down the camera on a wide shot of Batman stepping out of the shadows, and with each step closer, you feel more and more intimated by his presence.

What truly blew me away here as well was how realistic and grounded Batman as a character felt in this story. Obviously, I knew I was looking at a guy dressed up as a bat meanwhile everyone else in the movie is in normal clothes, but I never once felt like I was watching some fantastical story. This is essentially the comic book movie version of Se7en.

I also never would’ve expected to be absolutely terrified of the Riddler, because in the comics and in the Batman: Arkham video game series, he’s kind of just an annoying side character that nobody cares about. He’s a jokester that likes to mess around with people in the form of riddles. Sounds kind of silly, right? I would’ve agreed with you completely before I saw The Batman, but now that I have, I understand fully just how legitimately unsettling Riddler can be with the right story and actor involved.

Paul Dano gave me goosebumps in the theatre while watching his performance. There is one scene in particular that had the entire theatre holding their breath because of just how creepy it was. Dano may have a boyish face, but don’t let that fool you – as the Riddler, he’s never been more gut-wrenchingly disturbing.

Obviously, as many Batman fans will know, some of the best stories featuring the Caped Crusader involve Selina Kyle / Catwoman and The Batman is no exception. Zoë Kravitz is an absolute revelation in the role here. Some parts of her Catwoman seemed to have been borrowed from Michelle Pfeiffer‘s from Batman Returns, whereas other aspects seemed entirely her own. It was a beautiful amalgamation of the best of both worlds.

It’s honestly incredibly hard to wrap your head around The Batman because of just how big and bold it all is. Reeves had a clear direction for what he wanted this film to be, and I’m beyond thrilled that he was able to get it made because this is going to be a serious game-changer going forward. I wish all comic book movies could be as deeply enthralling as this one. Bring on any sequel or spin-off you want to make, Reeves. I’ll be there in the theatre on day one.