The Batman is a 2022 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman. The film was directed by Matt Reeves, who wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig. It stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. The film is essentially the latest reboot of the Batman franchise.
We loved Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Zack Snyder’s iteration of the character in Batman v Superman and Justice League. Therefore, we had serious misgivings about this reboot. Especially when we were looking forward to a Batman movie with Ben Affleck’s version of the character. So psychologically that ‘prejudice’ had to be set aside when watching The Batman. But glad to report that on the whole, the film is enjoyable though overly long (176 minutes!)
At least for two-thirds of the film, The Batman was gripping, taut, dark and gritty and generally faithful to the Dark Knight interpretation of the character as depicted in the comics by Denny O’Neill and Frank Miller. So comic book fans will definitely find a lot to love here. As expected, there are some major alterations made especially to the Riddler and the Penguin – compared to the comics – but all these changes worked.
For the casual movie goer, there are enough dynamic and thrilling action sequences and superficial mystery solving to keep engagement high, at least for the majority of the film. The problem with a three hour film like this is that your story structure must be tight if not, then you will lose audience engagement at some level. And this is true here, the third act – such as it is – seems tacked on, very similar in this respect to Transformers: Age of Extinction.
So, The Batman is definitely recommended viewing subject to the above caveats. Expect a story analysis in a week of two after most folks have seen the film.
Now showing at the cinemas!
… still there’s more …