Rotten Tomatoes/Critical Reception Thread

[Gothamsknight]

currently at 87%; looking like 90% will be an uphill battle. just so many negative reviews tied to how dark the movie is. honestly bizarre. it's like saying se7en is too dark and bleak...that's the point.

it's very strange to me. The trailers told us what this is but they act like it's not what it was supposed to be.

 

[BatLobster]

it's very strange to me. The trailers told us what this is but they act like it's not what it was supposed to be.

You have to remember though, this line of criticism has been persistent since the Nolan days. You can find TDK reviews that criticized its lack of fun. Some critics simply aren't in love with the idea of a Batman movie that is uber serious, and this seems to be going even darker than the Nolan movies.

I think it just comes with the territory for Batman. Some critics just fundamentally believe that superhero films should be more about escapism, and the more serious takes on Batman delve more into exploring the darkness of our own world.

 

[I Am The Knight]

It is doing pretty well from what I can tell.

 

[Captain Tired]

It is doing pretty well from what I can tell.

Seriously, you'd think the BvS reviews had just dropped all over again, the way some people here are reacting.

 

[TheScarecrow]

Seriously, you'd think the BvS reviews had just dropped all over again, the way some people here are reacting.

It's all a matter of perspective. Starts off at mid-90s which makes people think its universally adored, and then 85-87% after that makes people nervous.

Also - Joker and WW84 had big drop offs after this point, so lets just hope that doesn't happen.

 

[Another_Fool]

Also - Joker and WW84 had big drop offs after this point, so lets just hope that doesn't happen

WW84 definitely had a huge drop off after 100 reviews but I think Joker already started at least in the low 70s if I recall right? A lot of critics were divided right off the bat with that one.

I don't think this film will have the drop like WW84. WW84 was such an anomaly, even industry experts commented on how rare that was.

For Batman if it says in the 80s that's fine. Remember, Infinity War and Batman Begins are in the 80s. Heck I think Dune and Blade Runner 2049 are absolute masterpieces and they're both in the 80s. The Batman would be in good company.

 

[Gothamsknight]

You have to remember though, this line of criticism has been persistent since the Nolan days. You can find TDK reviews that criticized its lack of fun. Some critics simply aren't in love with the idea of a Batman movie that is uber serious, and this seems to be going even darker than the Nolan movies.

I think it just comes with the territory for Batman. Some critics just fundamentally believe that superhero films should be more about escapism, and the more serious takes on Batman delve more into exploring the darkness of our own world.

that's fair. Perhaps Batman is forever gonna be subject to those type of critiques so long as tone stays the way it currently is. All in all, I'm happy with the response so far and it's honestly better than what I was expecting in all honestly. Very very pleased.

Seriously, you'd think the BvS reviews had just dropped all over again, the way some people here are reacting.

It doesn't really bother me, I just don't get why sometimes critics believe anything so serious in the genre is a bad thing. Especially when trailers show you what it's gonna be. It's like they already had their minds made up is my point.

 

[Marvolo]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

 

[emc5466]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

Good point.

 

[Boom]

Let's see how the movie actually performs with audiences before concerning ourselves with that prospect.

 

[RokMeAmadeus]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

Part of me actually hopes for the opposite. One reviewer basically described it as "toothless" with a saying of "go hard R or GTFO". It's been a genuine concern of mine for a while. A "dark, gritty, mature" film where characters can't even smoke does feel a bit "toothless" to me. Hell, by today's standards, Returns would've been R rated if released now. I think if people complained about the "darkness" of it, it's probably coming from a place of "how can I take this superhero film seriously as it tries so hard to be edgy yet simultaneously hasn't the guts to reach the logical conclusion of that edginess? "

And call me crazy, but I think WB are aware by now that forcing the lighter tonal shift just.... Doesn't work lol

 

[dhandler01]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. First of all talk about jumping a gun. Second BVS had a score in the 30s the correction was needed. Hell it wasn't enough for most people...

The Batman is certified fresh and is gonna be majorly profitable. Even mentioning it in the same breathe as Snyder film reactions is disingenuous at best.

WB is getting everything they want they aren't gonna tinker.

 

[Boom]

It'll likely end up in the 80 percentile range and I suspect it'll do well at the box office. There is literally zero cause for concern right now.

No offense to anyone in particular, but the vibe I'm getting from this place is that some people were expecting 90%+ and for this to be an undisputed masterpiece. Remove the preconceived expectations and the film is scoring well despite some strong opinions against the tone.

 

[marvelboy10]

well, according to the reviews, it seems this movie is a masterpiece like seven or dark knight. can't wait

 

[cryptic name]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

In the case of BvS, we’re talking about a reaction (or over reaction) to predominantly negative reviews and a movie that they saw as underperforming financially. This is not the same situation.

 

[Invader Joker]

165 critics have reviewed this movie.
Of those 165, only 21 have disliked it.

Literally zero, and I mean zero cause for concern; especially when a bunch of those that liked it loved it and gave it 10/10's or 5/5 or somewhere in that ballpark.

 

[cryptic name]

Part of me actually hopes for the opposite. One reviewer basically described it as "toothless" with a saying of "go hard R or GTFO". It's been a genuine concern of mine for a while. A "dark, gritty, mature" film where characters can't even smoke does feel a bit "toothless" to me. Hell, by today's standards, Returns would've been R rated if released now. I think if people complained about the "darkness" of it, it's probably coming from a place of "how can I take this superhero film seriously as it tries so hard to be edgy yet simultaneously hasn't the guts to reach the logical conclusion of that edginess? "

And call me crazy, but I think WB are aware by now that forcing the lighter tonal shift just.... Doesn't work lol

But Reeves has said he wrote with a hard PG-13 in mind and he agreed with WB that that’s what they should be shooting for. Nobody forced anything. I don’t understand this desire in some parts of fandom to push for an R-rated Batman.

 

[SpideyZERO]

That's pretty good overall. I have been following leaks and the way these leaked reactions went, the movie sounds like a 90%+ RT. I have hoped for a certified fresh so this is still great, though I admit I do feel slightly let down that it was not higher.

 

[RokMeAmadeus]

But Reeves has said he wrote with a hard PG-13 in mind and he agreed with WB that that’s what they should be shooting for. Nobody forced anything. I don’t understand this desire in some parts of fandom to push for an R-rated Batman.

Tbh that quote in the pic I provided from the review I was mentioning sums it up pretty eloquently lol. The only real reason for a "hard" PG 13 is an attempt to have your cake and eat it too, so people can take their kids to see the movie and the filmmakers and others can still pretend it's such a gritty film.

I don't want pointless forced F words every five seconds like, say, BoP, or pointless nudity or what-have-you, just something with no ridiculous limitations.

 

[MrMojoRising]

Batman Begins has a 68% top critic score. Funnily enough, a lot of the complaints from rotten reviews are the same, that the movie is too dark and brooding. Which is funny, because Begins is arguably the lightest movie of the trilogy.

 

[Gothamsknight]

The negative reviews about tone only concern me because WB is dumb as hell. Look at how they reacted to the complaints about Batman Returns and BvS. They forced an over correction and made a mess of the following film. If people cry enough about the dark tone I wouldnt put it past WB to push Reeves for a lighter tone in which case his working relationship will become strained, the sequel could be compromised, or he could just walk away from the sequel entirely.

The movie is getting phenomenal reviews though and it's Average rating is incredible. I really don't think there's anything to worry about haha

 

[Brotherhood]

Right now, its back on 88% (for me). 146 fresh. 21 rotten.

 

[Captain Tired]

Batman Begins has a 68% top critic score. Funnily enough, a lot of the complaints from rotten reviews are the same, that the movie is too dark and brooding. Which is funny, because Begins is arguably the lightest movie of the trilogy.

True that.

Rises gets a lot of points for unintentional comedy though!

 

[Boom]

True that.

Rises gets a lot of points for unintentional comedy though!

The final jerk she does will never not be funny.

 

[JackWhite]

It will definitely have it's detractors saying it's derivative of Nolan's Batman films and with hearing how brutal this version of Batman will be; you can for sure bet on it getting the "omg it's so overly grim/dark" tag.

But I think it will ultimately have a lot more acclaim from fans and critics. So I'm gonna go with a 89% fresh RT score.

I could have added the run-time being an issue, but that was too easy, lol.