“The Batman” serves justice to the character
“The Batman,” released March 4, 2022, paints the perfect view of what Batman is meant to be. Through the directing, acting and even lighting the ominous tone of Gotham and the hero himself is shown as it has always been intended.
Robert Pattinson stars as Bruce Wayne and with his performance brings to light how odd the character is. There have been many different Batmans and many actors have taken on the role with each showcasing different specific traits the character possesses, but Pattinson wanted to bring out the internal war the character is having with himself in year two of being Batman.
Some people may oppose the way Pattinson chose to represent the character because of how he portrayed the more social recluse chapter of Bruce Wayne, in comparison to Christian Bale’s version who was known for his philanthropy and playboy lifestyle. Even though there is controversy due to the differing representation from past films, I believe that with every new movie the character representation is the way it should be for that era. The originally bright filming scope used in the first movie in 1966 is drastically different to the dark focus most of the other movies have put into view.
Every detail in the movie was placed for a reason and it left you on the edge of your seat, waiting for what was next. The story was distinct and it followed through to the end, leaving just enough loose ends for you to want to see a sequel without leaving space for annoyance at the ending.
Director Matt Reeves executed the film perfectly. The dark idea of who Batman was when he started and the idea of who he became at the end of the movie are both so easily seen. At the beginning of the movie he narrates himself as something to fear, something that lurks in the shadows, versus how at the end he talks about how he isn’t meant to be just the shadow but more of a symbol of light and hope in a city where there is none.
Gotham itself even helps to get the message across. The dark tint with the eerie lighting following the trend of red and black colors the city in the way Gotham should be. It represents itself as the home of villains while giving the impression that ordinary people, outside of the superhero bubble, live there.
The action sequences and the varying people within them provided clear shots and gave the audience an understanding of what was going on in the scene. Every new scene had a new fighting style which then brought a new character into light. Way too often, fighting sequences in movies are drowned out by their poor editing and cinematography. Meanwhile, “The Batman” energizes its fight scenes using practical effects and simple yet effective editing techniques. A brilliant example of this is the car chase scene. Using simple filmmaking strategies, the creatives behind the movie were able to make an exhilarating chase only using cameras mounted on the sides of cars.
Reeves and the cast bring new energy to these almost century-old characters, staying true to their roots while simultaneously keeping it fresh. Although DC has had a rough start with their movie franchise, “The Batman” has opened up new doors for their future.
