Batman

The superhero overload we got from the MCU and—to a noticeably lesser extent—from the DCEU over the past decade exhausted me. At some point after Endgame, I abandoned the genre for quite some time, especially considering the rapid decline of these universes. The Batman by Reeves happened to be released during this period, so I never paid attention to it. Until today, when I completely lost it. So, here are some belated thoughts on The Batman, but also on the cinematic Batman in general.
In 1989, Tim Burton made it clear on the big screen that Batman is a universal character; he doesn’t exclusively cater to children, nor is he the hero you’re used to. Several films later, we’ve seen different narratives and periods in the life of the caped crusader—sometimes successful, sometimes not so much—with the Nolan trilogy as a reference point. However, in my opinion, Reeves comes to revise everything and lay the foundation for the best Batman shared universe we’ve seen so far.
I'll start with the simplest thing. The scene between Batman and the Riddler in Arkham is the most Batman thing we’ve ever seen on the big screen. And not just in terms of script or direction, but even more so in terms of acting. Pattinson's phenomenal performance managed to convey the hero’s desperation in a completely human way, a state that has been highlighted many times in the comics as well as in the Arkham video games. Batman is neither super nor a hero; he’s a detective who first and foremost struggles with himself, and Reeves managed to depict this as vividly as possible throughout the film.
Of course, I have no intention of starting comparisons. Everyone chooses which depiction of Batman they liked the most—and fortunately, we have many versions to choose from. I’ll simply say that, at least with this movie, Reeves gave me everything I’ve been searching for all these years from a cinematic Batman: a dark, dirty, suffocating noir.
And with that in mind, I’d like to briefly touch on the most underrated Batman movie, 'Batman Begins.' Although I think Nolan changed direction narratively in the next two films, making them more action-centered and closer to the 'superhero' genre—without saying that’s a bad or inappropriate thing—in the introductory film, we have exactly that atmosphere, the tragedy, the suffocation. Plus, we finally see a beloved villain, Scarecrow, in a true masterclass performance by Cillian Murphy. I never understood why it’s often overlooked.
Anyway, that’s about it. We’re eagerly awaiting the development of the universe. And if, after this movie, there are still people who believe that Pattinson doesn’t belong among the best of his generation, well, I don’t know what to say.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha