The Batman (2022) -
In full transparency, I was hyped to the moon for this film. It was likely the most hyped I was for a Batman film since 2008's The Dark Knight. Which isn't a slight on The Dark Knight Rises in 2012 - which I was hyped for that, but it was a bittersweet hype due to the understanding that a well loved series that is now one of the most beloved trilogies of all time was coming to a close.
And while I was hyped for The Batman - I wasn't excited or even wanting it to exist, for quite awhile. I, like many, felt burned we weren't getting the Affleck solo film we were promised. With Ben's comic accurate look, strong casting, his directing/writing history proving promising and the world he exists in being the fantastical, Gothic shred universe - it all was hard to hear that we would be not enjoying such a thing.
That said, I never was upset over Pattinson's casting. It was fair casting, I felt.
Though, the set photos revealing the costume also didn't endear me, neither did the reveal of the Batmobile. Both things told me that we were getting yet another 'early years' Batman that we got in Begins, Telltale, Arkham Origins and countless graphic novels - an angle I felt was played to death.
However, the enthusiasm of the filmmakers and actors, as well as the official stills and eventually the first trailer won me over despite these hang-ups.
The Gothic aesthetic, the rawness, the rain, the noir. It seemed chock full of elements that I felt were time to explore in a modern Batman film. Each trailer and interview only drove home the confidence I had in the film and pushed my hype higher.
So how was the film?
Well, I personally would say overall - it's good. Maybe great. But 'good' is the word I'm currently stuck on.
The Good/Great -
The film's noir-ish elements are a highlight. This film oozes atmosphere and style. Everything is dirty, grime-y and being soaked in rainwater. It's never truly 'daytime' in Gotham City. And I love that. The monologues of Bruce Wayne's journaled thoughts are a welcome touch of introspection, if a bit dramatic at times, that I think was underused but welcome when utilized.
Throughout the film, we meet many of Batman's most notable characters - The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman, Carmine Falcone, Alfred, Jim Gordon, etc.
All of them are perfectly acted and written as they all should be, really. Riddler is obsessed and enjoying his 'game' with Batman. Falcone is charismatic and smooth. The Penguin is insecure and volatile. Catwoman is slick and crafty. Alfred is tough and caring. And Gordon is a good cop.
Visually, the film is a treat. So many shots are frameable and the lighting is artistic, drastic and provide atmosphere to even the most normal settings. The cinematography is among the best the genre has ever seen, bar none.
Nothing in this film feels rushed, under-thought or thin.
This film (partially due to its three-hour runtime) is allowed time to breathe. No shot ends too soon - but some may end too late, for many. There isn't anything in this film that feels 'rushed' or like it wasn't given enough time to bake in the oven, in terms of what's shot.
The action is a great highlight. Batman is tough, quick, agile, hard-hitting - but not invincible or able to dodge every swing that comes his way. Some of his moves, from the grappling gun swings to the cape-action, is pure Batman.
Batman's moodiness is a welcome 'true to character' angle. He has presence - and it's a subtle, unsettling presence. He's understated in the best way.
Everyone in the cast has amazing chemistry and works off each other, so well. Batman and the Penguin interact so in character with each other. Gordon and Batman's dynamic has this cautious trust that you'd expect from their relationship at this point. Catwoman and Batman have exactly the sexy, mysterious rogue charm that the best stories in comic form brought.
The film sells the Batmobile as this Stephen King, 'Christine' like beast of power. The reveal of the Batmobile will go down as the greatest reveal of the character's ride in film history. It's scary, it's angry, it's bat-ash.
The action is generally frenetic. Batman hits hard. The Batmobile hits hard. His style of combat and flow feels like a hybrid of Bale's Batman and Affleck's more Arkham-esque style. So - a happy medium.
The sound design is sheer perfection. The roar of the Batmobile, the clicking of a neck-bomb, the filters over Dano's voice - it's perfect. This is Oscar-worthy sound design.
Also, this film...at times...feels like a gritty, dark version of '66 Batman. Batman doesn't hide in the shadows. He's around cops in GCPD and crime scenes. He's in the daylight if needed. He stands alongside arresting officers taking in a crook, in front of cameras. He's not an urban legend - he's reality.
It just feels a bit '66. In a great way.
The music is dark, contemplative, creepy and just overall...perfect for Batman. It's among the best Batman scores alongside Batman Returns and The Dark Knight Rises.
The sets are so polished and character driven - both the characters of the film and the character of the city. Bruce's home is incredible and unlike anything we've ever seen, even if I have a hard time seeing this version of Thomas and Martha Wayne living in such a place, it definitely fits this Bruce.
Riddler's home is equally incredible, if not more-so. So full of items, puzzles, ledgers, codewords. Clutter. Crazy clutter. It's so Riddler.
Dano is truly amazing - and when he's in the mask, on the video call or on the news, he is at his very best. He's energized and crazed and enjoying himself so very much. His downfall and emotional crashing is wonderfully performed - highlighting an almost angry man-child combined with Mark David Chapman obsession.
Matt Reeves has created a world.
Pattinson's Batman, again, is understated - but so effective. The Bat-Glare, is there. His voice is aggressive but low-key. He nails 'Batman'.
Overall, this film has so much going for it that only will get better with the next two installments, should we get them.
The Bad/Not So Great -
As for the writing, plot and characters - that's where the technical elements remain unmatched in their perfection and the film becomes a bit lopsided.
The opening setup and reveal of the villain is horror-like. It's thriller-esque. And very effective. He's crazy. Determined. Obsessed.
But that's kind of all he is.
Batman's first scene is also effective, albeit rather low-key. Rather than crashing down, popping out of a smoke bomb - he simply walks out of darkness and kicks some ash.
He's aggressive. He's angry.
And one of the issues the film has is that - that's kind of all he is.
This highlights the issues with the film's characterization overall - what you learn about Alfred, Batman, Gordon, Penguin and so on - in their first scenes, is really all you know about them and their personalities. There's no more dimension to them than what we're first shown.
The only character that we learn a bit more about is Catwoman - and that isn't so much about her as it is about her parental figure.
This film is more about unraveling a mystery and digging up the past - the dirty, grime covered past of a decaying bad place-scape called 'Gotham'.
And because it's more about the mystery - it isn't that character driven.
Batman himself is quiet and economical with his words. His eyes do a lot of the talking. Which, for Batman, is quite effective. But Bruce Wayne is portrayed as a shell of a human being. He's empty, cold, almost dead-inside.
That's how he begins the film and that's how he stays. The journaled monologues of the start of the film go on hiatus and we're left without much to to on, from Bruce. His portrayal as this cold shell of a human would be fine if we knew more about this version. We don't learn anything about him, really.
Cultural osmosis only goes so far. And there's no clear 'journey' our protagonist is on. There's really no 'arc' and the arc that the film seems to think exists (Batman realizing he needs to be seen less as vengeful and more as hopeful) comes so late in the film that it almost doesn't feel like it stuck the landing. It comes through a monologue rather than being shown growth progressively.
Some may say the ending 'rescue' scenes show that growth, but his near sacrifice and assistance at the end of the film doesn't seem like anything the dark, vengeful Batman throughout most of the film wouldn't have already done, anyway.
The film's antagonist, The Riddler, suffers the same issue. The Riddler is not as well known as Batman - so he relies on even less cultural osmosis. We don't find out much about him - where he acquired his skills, how he found out what he knows, what's his top motivation, what broke him, etc.
That leaves me to believe that the characters weren't the point - the mystery was. But we still need a driving narrative. Of which the film, at times, lacks.
The film ping-pongs between The Riddler's games and the hunt for him - and the mobster story of past and current corruption, alongside Catwoman's search for a missing friend. By proxy of the film's length and lack of character depth - once you're away from one of those three plot threads - you forget they exist.
There was a point at the start of the third act where I went "Woah, I forgot Riddler was in this."
And that shouldn't happen.
The film seemingly had too much story with too little character.
We learn nothing of Gordon's life or motivations. We learn nothing of Alfred's past much. And so on.
The most depth and character-driven growth is in Catwoman - as she mourns someone close to her, grapples with anger and lust for revenge alongside a complicated lineage.
Bruce himself grapples with issues in his lineage - when he learns of it, he's depressed, quiet and angry. The issue is that before learning of that - he was just as depressed, quiet and angry.
So not only does the film introduce a big beat that doesn't change the character, but it immediately backtracks on that reveal a scene or two later, leaving a viewer wondering the point.
Overall, while the film does have the central mystery-unraveling plot - it bounces between those other three threads in such a way that it leaves the film feeling devoid of a sole, driving narrative throughout its three hour runtime.
And for as great as a chase like the Batmobile/Penguin chase is - scenes like that lack urgency or stakes that make it as memorable as the Batmobile chase in Begins managed to be.
Pattinson's Bruce - while has potential - isn't given enough variety in what's needed of him to feel like a three dimensional person. He doesn't seem to have that much to do as Bruce - which may be the point...but doesn't make it engaging to watch as his Batman.
So, while the film is good or even great - there are issues that I didn't expect. Most of them based on characterization or lack thereof, alongside a lack of driving narrative and a runtime that allows a viewer to forget that a plotline (that we veered from) existed at all.
Conclusion -
Overall, The Batman is a visually stunning feast for the eyes that adapts the world and characters of Batman in a faithful way, but also in a way that expands and adds new flair to existing style, mythos and looks.
The action is truly great, the cast all bring such strong, A-game performances and the chemistry they have is a strong match for Nolan's amazing series.
The film excels on every technical level - sound, image, shot-framing, cinematography and music. It's near perfect in that regard.
And it lays a strong foundation for what will no doubt be a great series - but it leaves a lot of room for improvement in the character writing, plot-driven and general writing departments that future films should be able to address.
A film this damn good in so many areas shouldn't have suffered from the plot, character and writing issues present here. But for many fans, these issues will not matter as much or be made up in all the other areas.
It's just the film is so strong in so many areas with a ton of thought - that it makes its flaws so much more puzzling.
It's definitely good - perhaps great.
And I'm still looking forward to repeat viewings.
8/10 (Maybe 8.5/10...we'll see.)
