We have our first superhero movie of 2022 with the recent release of The Batman. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies tend to get the most fanfare these days (for good reason) there are some truly iconic DC comics characters that get a lot of attention when they hit the screen. The two most obvious would be Superman and Batman. In each case, as much of the focus is on the actor portraying the role as on the movie itself. So, let’s take a look at The Batman, with an eye on how the latest actor to put on the cape (Robert Pattinson) delivers and how the film compares to other recent adaptations.
The Cast
Let’s jump right in to Robert Pattinson. Let’s just say that fans weren’t overly excited when he was announced as the latest actor to take up the role. He joins a list that includes actors like Adam West (from the TV series), Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. Fans and critics have their favorites, but let’s just say there are a number of performances that left people feeling disappointed. So, what about Pattinson?
For me, he’s probably around the middle of the pack, which isn’t terrible. My personal favorites are Christian Bale and Michael Keaton. But, after that, it gets murky. Pattinson could fit anywhere from 3-5ish. His take on Batman (and Bruce Wayne) is very, very brooding. A bit over-the-top emo at times. He has basically withdrawn from society since his parents were murdered. So, honestly, there isn’t a huge difference between Wayne and his alter-ego. It’s an interesting interpretation but may not appeal to everyone.
Batman the Detective
As far as the movie itself, this is a somewhat different take on the character. In many ways, this isn’t really a superhero movie at all. Yes, Batman wears his costume and takes vengeance against criminals (note that he uses that term, not justice). When we meet Batman, he has been fighting crime for 2 years and has already built a relationship with Detective Gordon. So, Gordon brings him in when a particularly gruesome and high-profile murder occurs (the mayor of Gotham City) and the killer has left a note for The Batman. This begins a hunt for a killer, who is apparently exacting his own form of justice against corrupt members of the Gotham City government.
With each murder, he leaves new clues in the form of riddles (he is the Riddler after all) and ciphers. Batman and Gordon work together to eventually follow the clues and unmask the killer, but it is largely just following a plan that the Riddler put in place himself. The movie reminded me more of Seven than of any particular Batman movie from the past.
How Does it Stack up Against Other Batman Movies?
Well, it’s definitely a bit different, which can be a very good thing. Recently, we’ve seen the movie Joker take a serious look at that iconic villain, again in a way that didn’t follow any superhero structure and in fact didn’t really include any superheroes in it. The Batman is more in line with that approach than attempting to remake or continue any past Batman movie. This film exists entirely outside what we might think of as the larger DC universe. There is no mention of other superheroes in this world. It has no relationship to the recent Justice League films at all. But, it also doesn’t exist in the same universe as Joker.
The film is well-made and the cinematography is excellent, if very dark. I mean literally dark. Only a couple of scenes take place during the daytime, and even then we really only see the sun once. So, it’s very dark and atmospheric.
Compared to other Batman movies, it exists somewhere in the realm of The Dark Night (2008), but again, with less of a superhero vibe. Ranking it against the others, it comes in below the recent Dark Knight trilogy, but ahead of many of the older Batman films.
Watch it or Not?
If you are a die-hard Batman fan then it’s a must-see. It certainly holds up as a serious entry into the Batman universe. That said, if you are looking for a true superhero movie, this one may not be for you. It has some superhero action (some visceral fight scenes and a great car chase), but again there are no super-powered people here. You also need to be a fan of darker, somber films (although not gory in any way). But, if all that is your boat, then The Batman should be on your calendar. Do see it in the theater as it is a cinematic experience and likely will show better on the big screen.
