The Batman (2022) Movie Review
When I saw the runtime for The Batman I felt like I couldn’t commit to seeing it. Two hours and fifty-six minutes is a long movie. I figured I’d need to get two sodas and two popcorns to make it through that marathon. Plus, I was very on the fence about Robert Pattinson being Batman. I really disliked Ben Affleck’s version of Batman and I just didn’t know if I could handle another disappointment. I finally decided to sit down and watch it despite the long runtime and despite my feelings about Pattinson.
This version of Batman is very different than the others, but in a good way. It’s a lot darker. For starters, Pattinson looks like the lead singer of a 90’s emo band. He has long swooped hair that is constantly in his face. Oftentimes he looks like a raccoon from excess eyeliner around his eyes. There’s even a Nirvana song in the first few opening scenes. This is a grunge Batman and to be honest it really worked. The premise of this one focuses on the Riddler (Paul Dano) who is slowly picking off Gotham’s elite one by one and leaving clues for Batman to solve at each crime scene. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) gives Batman VIP access to the crime scenes and they have an already established bond of trust. They rely on each other and work together to piece together the clues of who Riddler will target next.
Batman comes with some cool new gadgets too. He has contact lenses that are actually cameras. So he is able to replay crime scenes and conversations with people and analyze them from the comfort of his own home. He is a recluse, holing up in his somewhat abandoned mansion with only Alfred (Andy Serkis) for company. While he is conducting his investigations into the Riddler, Batman links up with Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz) AKA Cat Woman. Selina runs with a tough crowd including Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell) as she investigates the disappearance of her friend.
There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the movie. It feels more like a detective-noir at times rather than a traditional “superhero” movie. Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed it so much. They made Batman more of a detective who can conveniently kick some ass when he needs to. Robert Pattinson blew me away with his portrayal. He was the perfect amount of brooding, intelligence, and determination that was needed for this new take on Bruce/Batman. Paul Dano is reliably creepy as The Riddler and his confrontation with Batman was just spooky enough to make you afraid of him.
This is a darker, more understated version of Batman with less gadgets and less flamboyance. Even though the movie is nearly three hours it didn’t feel that long as I was pretty engaged in the story the whole time. In short, I was extremely pleased to be proven wrong with this movie. I’m happy to report it is most definitely worth a watch, particularly if you’re a fan of Batman and want to see it taken in a new and fresh direction. For me, nothing will ever top the Christian Bale trilogy, but this movie comes in a close second. And it’s also worth mentioning that Kravitz is the best Cat Woman yet. Her chemistry with Pattinson is palpable and she doesn’t just play second fiddle to the main character. She has her own story arc and handles business on her own, which was refreshing.
“They think I’m hiding in the shadows. But I am the shadows.” If that’s not epic grunge, detective-noir vibes, I’m not sure what is.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. Batman is one of your favorite superheroes
2. You like detective stories
3. You want to see a new take on Batman
