The Batman

By Jonah Naplan

March 4, 2022

The violence is brutal. The budget is grand. The set design is uncanny. The “Twilight” star is now a detective. The tone is grim. The runtime is nearly three hours long. “The Batman” is finally here.

I’ve been following the marketing and have been ecstatic over the trailers for “The Batman,” ever since the first one released during 2020’s DC Fandome. The filmmakers promised a newfound Batman detective story. And boy, did they live up to their promise. Matt Reeves and his team have made an excellent film.

“The Batman” will not be for everyone. Maybe not even for cinephiles. But I can’t possibly imagine a scenario whereas the Batman fanbase is disappointed with this film. It’s the Batman movie I’ve been wanting to see for years, at least ever since I first laid eyes on Ben Affleck’s portrayal. From scene one, “The Batman” has great ambition. It alludes to and eventually delivers a twisting mystery, one involving the menacing presence of Paul Dano’s Riddler, the main villain of the movie, I would say. There’s so much to unpack with this extraordinary film, so let’s start with the aforementioned. Each time the Riddler entered a scene, which was quite often, mind you, an uneasiness shuddered through my theater. There are moments that heavily push the PG-13 rating, each being a brutal reminder of how unsafe Batman really is. In the few opening scenes alone, the atmosphere and villains of Gotham City are utilized in a way that makes them appear to be threatening, although it’s clear a certain fear is always enacted in them whenever the prospect of Batman stopping their endlessly vicious schemes comes into the picture.

We at first, with Bruce Wayne’s narration, feel as if the city is safe because of Batman and Commissioner Gordon’s security, but a few moments later, we’re left reeling from those thoughts as we witness The Riddler commit his first deadly crime. We think Batman has already met his match, but we don’t realize how much more there still is to come. And it’s really remarkable how much the film was able to pack in, all in a surprisingly efficient manner. Unlike the terrible, “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “The Batman”’s plotlines are all organized neatly, as each small moment builds up to an awe-inspiring finale that succeeds with flying colors.

Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson work hand-in-hand as a marvelous team, delivering a film so different from not only every other Batman movie, but every other comic book movie ever made. It is a dark and grim character piece that’s best compared to the Christopher Nolan trilogy, although still being a tonally different adaptation. We finally get the Detective Batman we’ve been wanting for quite some time, and we realize how much that side of the character works. We see Batman put the pieces together in his head, and we’re right there along with him. 

Pattinson is terrific as both Batman and Bruce Wayne. His character doesn’t really say much throughout the film, only really talking when necessary. Much of Batman’s intimidation comes from simple stares and his footsteps as he walks into a crime scene; the presence that he creates is exactly the way it should be. Wayne narrates at the beginning saying that he “is the shadows.” That’s never been more true, although we realize that Bruce is still a broken character, grounding the film on a much deeper level.

Pattinson has really nice chemistry with Zoe Kravitz as well, playing off of Selena Kyle in each moment when their relationship must work. We buy into them as partners, and as friends under the surface. They work nicely as a team, especially when one particular revelation is revealed. Bruce holds back Selena, even though he desperately knows they both want vengeance.

Colin Farrell’s Penguin isn’t in the movie as much as I wanted him to be, although the scenes he does appear in are almost comical to watch. From the makeup, to the accent, to the way he shuffles around from scene to scene, Farrell disappears into the role. I was a little nervous going in about how they would balance the multiple villains, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well they were each executed.

But one of my favorite things about “The Batman,” is how Gotham City is the real villain in the end. Gotham plays as a character, trapping Bruce Wayne in its clutches, making him unsure of his family legacy, and whether or not he should continue being the Caped Crusader. When The Riddler unveils his final plan, we too feel caught in his grasp. Much of this is due to the incredible direction from Reeves, but the atmosphere that the filmmakers created feels flawlessly eerie, dangerous, and utmost frightening. Everything from the sound design of the Batmobile that shook the whole theater, to the terrifying shaky-cam videos that The Riddler presents to the public, make “The Batman,” oh what’s the word? An experience.

The tension in the funeral scene alone should stand for the grade sitting at the top of this review, and the presented violence feels so grounded, that each time an action scene takes place, we’re drawn to the screen like flies to a bright light. “The Batman” is so much more realistically compelling than any other comic book movie I’ve ever seen, that it’s almost euphoric to witness. Films with a noir-type feel to them, like the one “The Batman” has, just aren’t made anymore. Be honest, when was the last time you were truly blown away by a comic book movie that defied its well-established genre? These things just don’t happen.

Therefore, during the final hour of “The Batman,” I was almost in a state of shock as each moment came together seamlessly. The runtime actually works to the film’s advantage, making each payoff that much more satisfying. The film may have been bleak, but the ending alludes to a hopeful future for Bruce Wayne. Just thinking about the movie makes me love it more and more. It’s a perfect Bat-flick.

However, what I enjoyed most about “The Batman,” was not the action, or the payoffs, nor the dark tone. It was how much the film focused on the relationships between Bruce Wayne and everyone he met. In a lot of ways, this Bruce Wayne is an entirely new character. One that sits in the shadows, and doesn’t say much. But he’s still determined to do good in the world, and his arc becomes fully developed by the end. I enjoyed one particular scene in the third act where Batman acted as a light whilst leading people out of wreckage.

“The Batman” is the intense and largely adult movie that I, and all of the comic book fans have been waiting to see for years. If I was forced, I could technically break the film apart and nitpick tiny flaws, but I don’t see that as necessary, nor do I want to. The film’s many strengths make up for its few small weaknesses. Leaving the theater, I felt happy. Like I had just witnessed a true achievement. And I had. Vengeance had officially been served for the Dark Knight.