“Fear,” Bruce Wayne says in a dark voiceover at the beginning of The Batman, “is a tool.” He’s speaking about how the image of Batman Batman can be employed to intimidate villains however it’s also possible director and writer Matt Reeves took this to heart when he came up with his idea for reinventing the iconic superhero. This is the most terrifying Batman ever. From the first harrowing scene it is evident that this isn’t the Caped Crusader of your grandmother. This is a creeping, angry, white-knuckle-inducing psychological thriller with a heavy dose of crime noir – and believe it or not, Reeves absolutely pulls it off, achieving a grimly beautiful masterpiece.

The Batman can stand on its own however, it’s also dripping of cinematic references. Some of the films I was thinking about during watching the film: Zodiac, Se7en, Chinatown, and Saw! Did I think about? The majority of previous live-action Batman films. The gritty realism of this film is like Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. But this is a fresh and bold modern cinematic version of The Dark Knight.

In fact, its grounded character is similar to the 2019’s Joker. The difference lies in the fact that this Joaquin Phoenix thriller didn’t really require to have the world-class DC Joker villain’s title to convey the story of a poor man who is who is ostracized by society. The Batman film, however is an Batman story in a surprising faithful manner. It draws from and reinterprets diverse stories from the comics in a daring but respectable manner, yet being quite different from the films we’ve seen on television at this point.

First of all, it’s not the typical Batman source story. Reeves is aware that Thomas as well as Martha Wayne are dead, and he’s rightly assuming we don’t have to watch their bodies being shot again. Instead, we’re thrown in Batman along with Jim Gordon’s partnership as a vigilante and detective. The story is set late enough in Bruce Wayne’s tale to not repeat scenes we’ve seen many times, yet it’s also early enough to show that he has lots of growing to go through before he’s a almost flawless superhero. We don’t get to see the beginning however we do witness many developments along with several clever callsouts and additions to the stories of various Gotham families.

In that regard, Robert Pattinson is playing an even more vulnerable and human-like version of the billionaire orphaned than we’ve ever seen. With a character that is so famous, it’s easy to draw a parallel – perhaps in a way – from the numerous actors who have played before his However, Pattinson is making Bruce himself. There’s no convincing impression of a charismatic , likable playboy that as we’ve seen in the past. We’re presented with a sad , twisted character bound and motivated by the unresolved trauma he’s suffered in a manner that is enthralling to see. The Bruce is broken and not able to conceal his feelings even when he’s wearing a cowl. The performance of Pattinson, on the other hand is extremely painful regardless of whether he’s wearing or not of his Batsuit.

However I’m telling you the truth Pattinson’s performance may not be The second-most memorable in The Batman. The top spot goes to Zoe Kravitz and Paul Dano as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and The Riddler, respectively. The first one was a genuinely inspiring (dare I say, perfect?) casting right from the start and Kravitz’s complex performance of the catburglar went beyond my expectations. The actress has all the sexiness and slinkiness you’d want however, just like Pattinson’s Bruce the Bruce, she’s also very vulnerable while offering an unending desire to get revenge. Pattinson could be the one shouting ” I am vengeance”,”but it’s Kravitz who is a simmer with a desire for revenge. Additionally Kravitz and Pattinson’s rapport is unquestionably strong. When they’re exchanging fists or exchanging information, it’s very hot.

If Pattinson and Dano meet the battle is impossible to turn away.

In the case of Dano Riddler, his character is probably the most live action Batman character since Heath Ledger’s Joker. This is a away, far cry from the previous most infamous Riddler performance of Jim Carrey, with Reeves giving a contemporary, violent twist on the wordsmith who’s heavily inspired by his real-life Zodiac Killer. Dano is sucked into this unhinged, yet brilliant killer, displaying shocking realisticity. Incredibly, Dano managed to give me chills by just one eye motion in a single scene. The most effective Batman villains are those who test at minimum two of his morals, mind and body, and this Riddler puts all three to the examination. If Pattinson and Dano confront each other they are impossible to stay away.

Colin Farrell and Jeffrey Wright also stand out in their roles as The Penguin as well as Jim Gordon, respectively, each of them delivering some very enjoyable moments of humor. Farrell is completely unrecognizable (seriously even if I didn’t know that he was the actor I wouldn’t have believed it was him) for his role as the mobster and is clearly having fun with his prosthetics. Wright is, however, has a great friendship with Pattinson that has resulted in some of the most campy (in the best kind of) detective noir scenes. Andy Serkis’ Alfred Pennyworth has a unique relationship with Pattinson that is paternal that ties him to his Wayne family, and delivers an emotional punch when required.

If you think that’s an enormous amount of material to squeeze into one movie, The Batman does clock at three hours, so it certainly has plenty of time! The majority of the time, it is able to earn the bladder-testing time, but there were times during the middle of the film when I wasn’t completely enthralled to the political mystery that is at its heart. But once the story and the action increased in intensity it was as if one of the bat’s grappling hooks struck me and pulled me back with such force that I had no the time to complain.

The final hour makes all the building worth it by showing a few large, stunning, beautifully choreographed action scenes. This film’s grounded approach raises the stakes of fight scenes. And when Batman throws or is hit and takes a hit, it can be painful. Additionally, the cityscape the backdrop of the film is gorgeous and dark. If you’ve seen all of the Batman’s advertisements you’re aware of the style that you’re looking at and that is constantly bathing Gotham in a color palette of red and black. Cinematographer Greig Fraser’s clever contrast of dark and saturation prevents it from becoming monotonous and keeps us captivated within the unique Gotham which is similar to other important U.S. city in a variety of ways, yet remains completely its unique. Michael Giacchino’s epic, dramatic score brings everything together, providing a handful of breathtaking moments that rival the best of comics popular characters.

The Batman is, as always, an individual story and performs very well as such however, don’t be fooled it’s a story that opens the door to the possibility of a sequel. It’s possible that’s understating it; there’s a huge hole for the possibility of a sequel. It’s not a bad dark, grim, and politically dirty world that I would love to be swept in again.

Verdict

The Batman is an enthralling beautiful, stunning, and sometimes, truly terrifying psychological thriller that gives Bruce Wayne the grounded detective story the character deserves. Robert Pattinson is great as an extremely broken Batman however, It’s Zoe Kravitz and Paul Dano who are the stars of the show, with their movingly layered Selina Kyle/Catwoman as well as a frighteningly reckless Riddler. Director/writer Matt Reeves managed to make an Batman film that is completely distinct from other Batman films within the world of the live-action comic and yet, it’s remarkably faithful to Gotham the lore of the entire city. It’s a film that is a true testament to the legacy of this iconic character.

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