The Batman - Rate And Review Thread (Spoilers)

[Blade Hoarder]

I just feel it ultimately turns Riddler into TDK Trilogy-style, "burn society to the ground" type of villain, when him being a serial killer with a more focused intent had helped set him apart up until that point. I also feel like it ends up losing the whole riddle/game theme, which is also what makes him cool/different.

Another issue for me is the moment you realize how extreme his endgame is, you know exactly how the last 30 minutes are going to go. You know Batman is going to save the day and become a 'first responder' type of hero for Gotham. Although the image of mass shooters lurking around in an arena is pretty disturbing, ultimately the tension and edge of your seat quality wasn't really there for me because it didn't feel like we'd been building to this.

It's a perfectly serviceable climax, but it's one of a couple of instances where I feel the movie is trying to have its cake and eat it too.

Yeah. His ultimate scheme comes out of nowhere. It’s not like in the Nolan trilogy where the villains lay out their philosophy and method way in advance of the climax.

 

[shauner111]

So if they don’t lay out their philosophy and method way in advance, it’s “a scheme that came out of nowhere”? No middle ground? Just jump from 1 to 100 lol

 

[BatLobster]

I mean, I can understand wanting a villain's plot to feel a bit more tied into the main narrative of the film.

I get what they were going for the carpet tucker thing, like the real endgame has been right under our noses the whole time. But I do wonder if there was a better way to reveal the plan. Maybe a clue that Batman mistook falls into place, rather than something he missed entirely. I dunno. I just wonder if it could've felt more like an "oh sh**" moment where something we thought we understood gets turned on its head.

It also feels a bit iffy to me when the seawall starts exploding, because on one hand we've just completely deconstructed Edward as this incel pathetic loser, but on the other hand somehow he managed to acquire seven vans and successfully pulled off what has to be the biggest terrorist attack in Gotham's history in addition to several high profile political assassinations as well. Like, he leaves a pretty high bar for future villains to clear to surpass him. Does make me interested to see how the stakes will be raised in sequels though.

 

[DeadlyWest]

The only way I can possibly think of that they could've done it is get rid of Martinez, Batman doesn't realize via the tucker. Instead, he notices one of the blinking lights in the corner of the room, half covered by the carpet. Then he looks at the tucker and realizes, leading to him ripping it up.

But at the same time, I think the way they did the reveal is perfectly fine and Martinez is great, so

 

[zmystico]

I watched this movie at home and initially gave it a 8 1/2, but after letting it sit and settle... I give it a 7.

I was pleased with how Pattison played Batman, dark, gritty...a bit emo, but I felt he played his Bruce Wayne the same...like it was almost no need for him to wear a mask. I know this was to be a darker toned Batman film, and the character is still establishing himself, but at times I felt like public figure Bruce should have been lighter...maybe even make him have awkward attempts to being the billionaire playboy.

It took me a minute to accept the Riddler but once the film got going, I appreciated this take on the character, I felt his plans were great and really thought out...especially the "bring him into the light." His final scheme felt a bit forced though, it just didn't flow with everything he had done the entire film.

I may be nitpicking here, but I hated the reimaging of Thomas/Martha, not making them bad guys, but associating them.

The movie was kinda long to tell the story it did, really could have cut at least 30 minutes IMO.

I really don't feel like this warrants a sequel, its fine as a single entry.

 

[shauner111]

It warrants a sequel because Bruce isn’t fully developed yet. The point is that the end of this movie will pave the way for the creation of his public persona, and what he’s going to do (as Mr. Wayne) to help the city during the flood. Then you have Selina, Oz and the Joker who aren’t fully formed yet either.

I think it works as a single story but the story itself also makes our minds drift into multiple directions for a sequel. And who doesn’t want to see that bloody power grab that was promised?

 

[cryptic name]

I watched this movie at home and initially gave it a 8 1/2, but after letting it sit and settle... I give it a 7.

I was pleased with how Pattison played Batman, dark, gritty...a bit emo, but I felt he played his Bruce Wayne the same...like it was almost no need for him to wear a mask. I know this was to be a darker toned Batman film, and the character is still establishing himself, but at times I felt like public figure Bruce should have been lighter...maybe even make him have awkward attempts to being the billionaire playboy.

It took me a minute to accept the Riddler but once the film got going, I appreciated this take on the character, I felt his plans were great and really thought out...especially the "bring him into the light." His final scheme felt a bit forced though, it just didn't flow with everything he had done the entire film.

I may be nitpicking here, but I hated the reimaging of Thomas/Martha, not making them bad guys, but associating them.

The movie was kinda long to tell the story it did, really could have cut at least 30 minutes IMO.

I really don't feel like this warrants a sequel, its fine as a single entry.

I think the full scope of his plan re-contextualizes the initial murders. We come to understand that he was cleaning house so that Gotham could truly start from scratch after his biblical flood. Its was all one plan from the beginning, as we see from his mention of the "day of judgement" in his first broadcast.

Anyway, I can't wait for the sequel. This is the Batman content I want.

 

[Herofan]

Terrible. Not the worst but pretty close to it.

Way too much felt like just rewatching movies I had already seen, with this being worse or as bad.

I am pretty against reboots in general but this was a good example of problems with them.

Pattinson was pretty much playing Bale Batman, not as well, but with some Keatonisms added in, which felt very cheap and cynical.

I had been looking forward to Dano and Farrell, they were really really disappointing, Dano particularly disappointing to see him getting bad material and direction. John Turturro makes almost all things better and he was pretty great in his scenes, Jeffrey Wright most things better and he did improve many of his scenes, they were about the only positives.

 

[shauner111]

Terrible. Not the worst but pretty close to it.

Way too much felt like just rewatching movies I had already seen, with this being worse or as bad.

I am pretty against reboots in general but this was a good example of problems with them.

Pattinson was pretty much playing Bale Batman, not as well, but with some Keatonisms added in, which felt very cheap and cynical.

I had been looking forward to Dano and Farrell, they were really really disappointing, Dano particularly disappointing to see him getting bad material and direction. John Turturro makes almost all things better and he was pretty great in his scenes, Jeffrey Wright most things better and he did improve many of his scenes, they were about the only positives.

Sooo different from Bale.

 

[DeadlyWest]

Terrible. Not the worst but pretty close to it.

Way too much felt like just rewatching movies I had already seen, with this being worse or as bad.

I am pretty against reboots in general but this was a good example of problems with them.

Pattinson was pretty much playing Bale Batman, not as well, but with some Keatonisms added in, which felt very cheap and cynical.

I had been looking forward to Dano and Farrell, they were really really disappointing, Dano particularly disappointing to see him getting bad material and direction. John Turturro makes almost all things better and he was pretty great in his scenes, Jeffrey Wright most things better and he did improve many of his scenes, they were about the only positives.

Obviously "that's your opinion", yadayada all that jazz

But at the same time like



I do not recall a single shot of Bale, in cowl, which conveyed that much emotion in one shot.

 

[shauner111]

Completely different performances, designs and characterizations.

 

[The Joker]

Terrible. Not the worst but pretty close to it.

Way too much felt like just rewatching movies I had already seen, with this being worse or as bad.

I am pretty against reboots in general but this was a good example of problems with them.

Pattinson was pretty much playing Bale Batman, not as well, but with some Keatonisms added in, which felt very cheap and cynical.

I had been looking forward to Dano and Farrell, they were really really disappointing, Dano particularly disappointing to see him getting bad material and direction. John Turturro makes almost all things better and he was pretty great in his scenes, Jeffrey Wright most things better and he did improve many of his scenes, they were about the only positives.

Ok genuinely curious. You say its not the worst but close to it. So you're rating it down there with Batman and Robin. Even if this movie is not your cup of tea, from a movie making perspective how can you rate it down that low? I'd love to hear some detailed reasons.

 

[BatLobster]

Obviously "that's your opinion", yadayada all that jazz

But at the same time like

View attachment 56425

I do not recall a single shot of Bale, in cowl, which conveyed that much emotion in one shot.

The pic is loading as just a black frame for me, but I still zoomed in to be sure because it seemed feasible that it was an actual shot from the movie.

 

[Herofan]

A lot of the basic themes were just too redundant and of the style excessive and annoying and the focus on realism and seriousness (like no heroic music in most of the fighting particularly early on) made aspects stick out more even at times as goofy. It did get worse as it went on.

It gets a lot of praise for finally being a detective story but a lot of the mystery developments and reveals just randomly happen, a lot of the focus and story feels disjointed.

Hated Bruce not caring about Bruce life and Wayne business and its effects on the public at all (caring about his parents so much to intensely fight crime, otherwise not caring about them, their legacy at all). Found Catwoman mostly more annoying than appealing, the Thomas Wayne corruption element also offputting.

The Riddler's mask felt like overcompensation, he gave himself up for no reason, too much of him felt like just doing Joker and Bane again but combined, then him going from punishing and exposing the corrupt to try to kill everyone felt terribly forced.

 

[shauner111]

No heroic music early on. Well, there was a point to that..

 

[Wheels]

2nd best Batman film behind the The Dark Knight for me. The best atmosphere of the Batfilms, great performances by the cast, Arguably the most Batman of all the films honestly. Love it.

 

[BoredGuy]

I didn't think it was all that amazing, but was more sour on it initially because I was underwhelmed... after giving it some time I'd bump my vote from a 6 to a 7

 

[Gothamsknight]

For me it was kind of the opposite. I gave it a big 9/10 when I first saw, but after numerous viewings, I dropped my score to about an 8/10. Still a solid movie, but there are certain things that bother me and are starting to bother me more and more. I'd place it under TDK trilogy, Mask of The Phantasm, and Batman Returns in my rankings. At this point, I'm unsure if I'd even rank it above Batman 1989.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I'll give it an 8. It's a hell of a film, but there are things that didn't work for me. I'm mainly substracting points for Riddler (he was a perfect villain for this film but i just don't care what they did to the character as I would prefer a classier version of Riddler and not the psycho incel type they went with) and stuff like the hospital scene, which was supposed to be a big emotional moment but wasn't earned and so it fell kind of flat for me. And I think Bruce needed a bit more characterization overall.

BTW, I know Reeves did not want to give an specific answer but I found Alfred's flip flopping about who killed the Waynes kinda annoying Since the film takes inspiration from Chinatown, maybe the scene should have played out like this:

Bruce: Who killed my parents?
Alfred: It was Falcone.
Bruce: *slap*
Alfred: It was a random thug.
Bruce: *slap*
Alfred: It was Falcone through a random thug!

 

[Gothamsknight]

I'll give it an 8. It's a hell of a film, but there are things that didn't work for me. I'm mainly substracting points for Riddler (he was a perfect villain for this film but i just don't care what they did to the character as I would prefer a classier version of Riddler and not the psycho incel type they went with) and stuff like the hospital scene, which was supposed to be a big emotional moment but wasn't earned and so it fell kind of flat for me. And I think Bruce needed a bit more characterization overall.

BTW, I know Reeves did not want to give an specific answer but I found Alfred's flip flopping about who killed the Waynes kinda annoying Since the film takes inspiration from Chinatown, maybe the scene should have played out like this:

Bruce: Who killed my parents?
Alfred: It was Falcone.
Bruce: *slap*
Alfred: It was a random thug.
Bruce: *slap*
Alfred: It was Falcone through a random thug!

I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt that was odd. The entire parents angle didn't work for me at all honestly.

I don't know if it's just me, which it probably is, but I really feel like this movie lacks a specific identity or something that will cement it's legacy.

 

[shauner111]

Just you.

 

[BoredGuy]

I don't know if it's just me, which it probably is, but I really feel like this movie lacks a specific identity or something that will cement it's legacy.

Nah I'm with you, as a film its a little bit Nolan, a little bit Fincher, maybe Alex Proyas, Chinatown as y'all mention was an inspo... it felt very derivative, and like a retread of so many Batman stories that've come before

 

[Blade Hoarder]

True.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

For me it was kind of the opposite. I gave it a big 9/10 when I first saw, but after numerous viewings, I dropped my score to about an 8/10. Still a solid movie, but there are certain things that bother me and are starting to bother me more and more. I'd place it under TDK trilogy, Mask of The Phantasm, and Batman Returns in my rankings. At this point, I'm unsure if I'd even rank it above Batman 1989.

Batman 89 with ease. Not only does it have a tighter script, it’s way more unique and influential within the history of comic book movies.

There are very few movies that can give me a similar experience to B89.

Meanwhile I can watch Zodiac or Se7en and get a “the Batman” type of experience. But with way better screenplays.

 

[Gothamsknight]

Batman 89 with ease. Not only does it have a tighter script, it’s way more unique and influential within the history of comic book movies.

There are very few movies that can give me a similar experience to B89.

Meanwhile I can watch Zodiac or Se7en and get a “the Batman” type of experience. But with way better screenplays.

It's a more enjoyable experience for me as well. It's never boring and there's never really any filler. Batman 89 is far from a perfect movie, buts legacy speaks for itself. It's iconic in every sense.

I think The Batman makes me feel similar to how Joker did. Not as much as Joker, but quite similar. Lots of style but not much attachment to any of the characters sadly.