The Batman is a 2022 superhero movie that focuses on a new iteration of the iconic Caped Crusader of Gotham City.
Do we really need another Batman movie? We already have a ton of films featuring this iconic character, so cinephiles might find it a little unnecessary at this point. However, when we have first found out that Matt Reeves was going to write and direct a new feature about the Caped Crusader of Gotham City, our excitement has gone through the roof! Many actors have previously played the part such as Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer, and now we have Robert Pattinson taking on the role. The Batman is a completely different take on this character that has nothing to do with any of the previous installments, including the DC Extended Universe. It takes place in its own separate universe, while planning to start a new trilogy with this hero.
The Batman focuses on a much younger Bruce Wayne/Batman (Pattinson) who is still an inexperienced vigilante we have not really seen before in previous iterations, which is quite refreshing to see. Yes, they also skip the origin story, since most people are already familiar with his backstory. He’s on a dangerous mission to team up with Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and Gotham City Police Department lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) in order to take down the serial killer named The Riddler (Paul Dano). In a world where people have superhero fatigue, this is proof that comic book films can be a compelling genre with the ideal filmmakers in charge. Reeves most certainly justifies the existence of his new Batman movie.
There’s a lot to love about The Batman, so let’s start with the cast. Everyone does a great job, and they all have time to shine whenever they’re on screen. They all have terrific chemistry with one another. Pattinson finds interesting ways to make the role his own in a more nuanced way, especially because we have not really seen a young and inexperienced Batman on the big screen. He’s a flawed protagonist, which is something they heavily develop throughout. You can tell Reeves is a huge fan of the source material, while exploring the concept of what it truly means to be Batman. Kravitz is great as Catwoman, and it makes you look forward to seeing her in future installments as this character. The real standout is Dano as The Riddler who is menacing from start to finish. He’s able to bring lots of suspense to the premise, but it also makes you realize no one could have portrayed the main antagonist as well as he did.
The tone and atmosphere wonderfully set up the vibe of Gotham City, and it feels like you are actually watching the comic book world of Batman come to life on screen. It’s dark, gritty and brutal, which is exactly what you would expect from this vigilante’s universe. It’s a very investigative thriller that brilliantly illustrates Batman’s skills as a detective compared to the other installments. For a movie that almost has a three-hour long runtime, it’s never boring. Reeves completely reinvigorates the superhero genre with horror and mystery elements we haven’t seen before in previous films.
The Batman is everything you want in a Batman adaptation. It’s a phenomenal and spectacular film. It takes some of the best elements from previous installments, while adding some new things along the way. After you’re done seeing it, Pattinson will be sure to be your definitive cinematic portrayal of the Caped Crusader. Absolutely worth watching on the biggest screen possible, especially in IMAX.