For much of his storied career as a superhero and vigilante, the character of Batman has appeared in every form of media beyond his comic book roots. The character has become so relatable and iconic that his status as a symbol of justice remains embedded in the world of popular culture and cinema. We've had many versions and interpretations of The Dark Knight through the years, and many have identified with various actors who have donned the cape and cowl ranging from Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. All have had their fans and detractors thanks to the way they've been depicted on screen. Some have remained legendary and iconic, while others are remembered for less than honorable reasons. However now the time has finally come to welcome a new man behind the Batsuit - and that's young English actor Robert Pattinson who portrays the title character in "The Batman".
Directed by Cloverfield and Planet of the Apes sequels director Matt Reeves, The Batman is yet another film reboot of the Caped Crusader's adventures in the big screen. Originally meant to be helmed by DC Extended Universe Batman Ben Affleck himself, the Oscar winning director and Hollywood actor instead stepped away from the project - leaving Warner Bros. to move on and give it to Reeves instead. As a result a new version of the character was envisioned and created, with Reeves drawing inspiration from 1970's crime films and reworking the story to focus on Bruce Wayne's early years fighting crime. This Batman is only on his second year dealing with criminals and working together with Jim Gordon, and has yet to master his methods as a crime fighter and detective - the latter skill being heavily emphasized as the movie sees a serial killer known as The Riddler systematically taking down Gotham's elite while leaving clues for the Dark Knight to piece together to solve the mystery.
Thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines, I finally got to see this nearly THREE HOUR LONG murder mystery superhero film at a FAN SCREENING held on March 1 - mere hours before the movie opened in select theaters past midnight of March 2! To say it was everything I hoped for in a non-sequel Batman movie is an understatement - Matt Reeves has created an EPIC masterpiece of a Batman movie that touches on what makes the character more than just a person donning a Bat costume and fighting crime to avenge his parents' deaths.
Be sure to strap yourselves and get ready for a ride. Here's my review for The Batman.
Movie: The Batman
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, John Turturro, Andy Serkis
Directed by: Matt Reeves
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
THE BATMAN – Main Trailer
Epic. Cerebral. Heroic. Engaging.
There's plenty of ways to describe Matt Reeves' take on Batman, and all of it has undoubtedly been on the positive side since the review embargo was lifted and many scores were revealed ranging from a perfect 10 to 90% + on the Rotten Tomatoes scale. This is a very different Batman movie - one that doesn't need to tell an origin story or show how the Waynes were murdered. Instead, we are pulled right into a noir and crime-ridden world where hope is all but lost and one man uses his rage to fight back and dub himself as "vengeance" incarnate.. While dealing with a killer who is targeting all of the big names that hold the fragile city of Gotham together.
Much like past Hollywood actors who were ridiculed and judged too quickly for being cast as Bruce Wayne/ Batman, Robert Pattinson proves once again that you have to see the final product before making opinions for yourselves. Working with the fantastic script and direction Matt Reeves has given to this film, we are treated to seeing a reclusive and tortured Batman who is not yet fully formed and is only starting to establish his reputation. The man dubbed as "Battinson" is wrestling with his own inner demons and his haggard, panda eyes look tells the story of someone who has yet to achieve balance between his dual identities. It's a great take on the character - and unlike Christian Bale's portrayal in The Dark Knight Trilogy that glossed over using detective skills, Battinson goes all out in solving the mystery and studying the clues he picks up or the riddles that's left behind by The Riddler. It's refreshing to see, and that's why the hero is called "The World's Greatest Detective" as well.
Zoe Kravitz is arguably one of the best versions of Selina Kyle we ever got in the big screen, and that's thanks to the fact that Reeves and the filmmakers decided to employ some of the character's background, personality, and origins as seen in Batman: Year One, Batman: The Long Halloween, and Catwoman: When in Rome. She may dress like a cat burglar and earns the moniker "Catwoman" for loving cats, but Selina's backstory is tied to crime and a certain big time individual in Gotham City - which is explored in The Batman and it's great it finally gets the live-action treatment. Many say she doesn't have much chemistry with Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne/ Batman, but I think both did a decent job mixing in the Bat and Cat flirtations and leaving room for more in potential sequels. Kravitz is also acrobatic and graceful as Selina, so that's a big plus there.
We've seen Heath Ledger bring a different kind of Joker to life in The Dark Knight, and the same can be said for Paul Dano's portrayal of The Riddler - who is more of a serial killer who systematically kills Gotham's elite while leaving clues and mysteries for The Batman and the GCPD to solve. Much like the Saw films and Zodiac, this version of Edward Nashton (or Edward Nygma) is not there for fun and games. His crimes are instead a message to the people of Gotham, with "No More Lies" acting as a mission statement that ties into everything about the city and its history. This is a very different portrayal of Riddler than we're used to seeing in comics, games, or even the version played by Jim Carrey in Batman Forever. Much like Ledger's Joker, this will make people see the villain in a very different light.
Jeffrey Wright is probably my other favorite actor to portray Jim Gordon after Gary Oldman, and in The Batman his truth and faith in the up and coming vigilante is reciprocated as both actually work together side by side to stop The Riddler and his path of destruction. The same can be said for Colin Farrell's unrecognizable portrayal of The Penguin. He's still more of a lackey than he is a fully formed villain, and that's because he works under crime boss Carmine Falcone, who's played by the legendary John Turturro. Every one of these characters has a big part to play in influencing The Batman and his mission - most especially Andy Serkis as Bruce Wayne's trusted butler and father figure Alfred Pennyworth. He's absolutely great as the latest actor to play the man who raised and assists Bruce in his crusade, and I hope we get to see him again in future sequels too.
While Year One and Ego are easily seen as inspirations to The Batman, I highly recommend you all to check out Geoff Johns "Batman: Earth One" graphic novel series. Much of the story beats and elements depicted in those books influenced "The Batman" - especially when it comes to Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, and The Riddler. I'd also recommend checking out and playing "Batman: The Telltale Series" - as a certain plot thread used in the movie is directly lifted from the first act of that episodic game adventure.
Overall, I can't give enough praise to Matt Reeves and his team for creating one of the most memorable Batman films in existence. Barring the long running time, everything about The Batman is absolutely phenomenal - it's a masterpiece that doesn't even feel like a superhero movie because it focuses largely on the murder mystery plot and grounds itself more as a crime film. Even the score by composer Michael Giacchino is haunting and mesmerizing. It leaves you feeling every fiber and being of Bruce Wayne as he struggles with his inner demons and mission, and the rest of Gotham is a character in itself that you come to deeply care about and be concerned about all the way until the end.
Catch The Batman in theaters now courtesy of Warner Bros. PH!
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