I do kinda get
@OnLeatherWings point, even if it's a common cycle among fandoms. When you see younger generations come in, and try to retroactively change the perceptions of certain films, and or make weird arguments to discredit older adaptions to prop up the new ( such as TDK is a good movie but not a great Batman movie), it gets really annoying.
Thanks for this post. I was being a bit cheeky in good fun - but there is, yes, an underlying annoyance with this phenomena. And sadly it's not confined to Batman, of course.
Especially when you couple that with the fact that I have not heard many people talk about The Batman, outside of Twitter or here. I love The Batman and what Reeves is doing, but my interactions regarding the film with the GA have been "too long, too slow". Every single time I've spoken to someone, such as coworkers, that's the response I've gotten.
I know that your experience shared here is anecdotal so it's easy for people to dismiss, but I will back you up on this.
This has also been my experience, to a tee.
The film is right up my alley - especially given that Reeves and Pattinson's favourite Batman film is mine as well -
Batman Returns. I know why I like it - but the reasons I like it are unusual for casual moviegoers.
Most people I know and have met who we've talked about this film - they didn't care much for it. Bloated. Too long. Too pretentious. Slow. Realism is boring.
I find that this film, structurally, writing-wise, and vibe-wise - is
much more
niche than anyone in online spaces (like you mention) are willing to admit. It's just conceptually and execution-wise, not a film that I think is a general-audience-friendly film.
I am genuinely curious how the sequel will do. I personally think it could go either way - it could be a mega-hit, or it could do significantly less money if yours and my experiences is reflective of the general audience. Plus, I think moving the release date several times with delays could really cause audience interest to wane.
But online - this film is seen as a masterpiece (I don't agree). People talking about how the sequel will do a billion at the box office.
Except on Facebook - that site's users are quite hostile towards the film and Pattinson, in particular.
To me, if you think BvS Batman or TB Batman is the most faithful Batman ever, then you missed the point of those versions. And there are sects of Snyder and Reeves fans who definitely seemed to miss the point.
They’re not supposed to be faithful to the classic version of Batman.
But a lot of fans seem to operate solely on bias and fuel their opinions by cherry picking aspects they view as faithful, while downplaying or ignoring the obvious deviations.
IMO, none of the live action Batmen from Keaton onwards is worthy of being called “The Most faithful Batman” or whatever. Not because such a thing can’t be achieved, but because modern Batman directors are more invested in creating a very particular take on the character, rather than do what Donner Superman/MCU Captain America/Netflix Daredevil did and essentially bring the comic character to life.
This, 110%. You have nailed it for me.
And this isn't a criticism, either. It's just a fact that none of these versions are more faithful than the other - it's just they all trade off which elements are faithful and which aren't, with a director's own ideas sprinkled in.
The fact is, we've never gotten the Batman series on film that hits accuracy to the point of something like the DCAU/Arkham Series.
And it does annoy me that many fans nowadays conflate or confuse 'I don't like this' with 'this is not as faithful as my preferred film'.
