The good-hearted vigilante has taken many forms on the big screen and has returned to roam the streets of Gotham through Matt Reeves’ rendition.
From the start, there is a dark tone established, with the film beginning deep in the shadows of a subway. Reeves had a difficult task when trying to reimagine one of the most beloved characters from the DC Universe, but he delivered a refreshing and twisted image on Batman that the fans hadn’t experienced before.
Batman (aka, Bruce Wayne) is played by Twilight’s sweetheart, Robert Pattinson who delivered an amazing performance of the character and his relationships. While there were many critics that questioned the casting for this role, Pattinson managed to fully immerse himself in the character and channel all of the trauma, from Bruce Wayne being a millionaire orphan into the morale driven vigilante of Batman.
The film takes on various elements from the genres of horror and mystery to create an eerie but thrilling feeling for the audience. There are various intense scenes between Batman and staple characters from the comics.
This includes the popular crime lords of Gotham city, the Penguin (played by Colin Farrell), an imposing-looking supervillain that runs a nightclub, and John Turturro’s Carmine Falcon, the deceiving mob boss that was close friends with the Wayne family.
The iconic allies were also incorporated; the butler Alfred was played by Andy Serkis, serving as a parental figure and mentor for Bruce. The one and only Catwoman, played by Zoë Kravitz, showed the sexy and independent woman pursuing her own vigilante agenda.
Pattinson and Kravitz shared phenomenal chemistry on screen and created a dynamic relationship among their characters surrounding their similarities and skills.
One of the distinguishing factors from the previous franchises is the elevated focus on Batman.
Although Bruce Wayne is the public figure that holds the money and family name, this film shows how his real identity lies with Batman. In reality the mask is Bruce Wayne. There were several details, like the minimal screen time of Bruce Wayne and the makeup he wore while working in his basement that suggest that Batman was the main focal point.
Batman is a known vigilante. This idea is explored throughout the film through the characters of Batman and The Riddler, played by Paul Dano.
While both of them have taken action into their own hands, The Riddler wants to flush out the corrupt officials in power and takes it to the extreme through a sadistic approach. This brings back the elements of horror, with the riddles always filled with tension and suspense.
In this case, the villain is someone that the fans have never seen and each riddle reels the audience further into the narrative until the climax of the film, where the citizens of Gotham join The Riddler in his quest.
Reeves is able to lay out these riddles along with the corrupt officials and crime lords to provide a complete picture of Gotham city that alludes to the popular New York City. The film shows an in-depth perspective of the city and the intricacies of organized crime, which was not as prevalent in the previous films.
The Batman checked off all the boxes in terms of characters, setting, and themes while adding its own dark and unsettling twist to the franchise. Overall, there was a consistent following of the riddles and progression of Batman’s investigation. Each clue led him down a darker path and it uncovered a new layer of the character that added a sense of realism to the film.
