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The Batman 2022 Review [Spoiler-Free]
Digital Content Manager | Pop Culture Nerd | Cosplay & Musical Theatre Enthusiast
Vanessa is a Sydney-based content specialist who is passionate about all things pop culture. When she isn't creating content or cosplaying, you can find her rehearsing for the next musical she's in.
The Batman (2022) is a fantastic version of this over-done superhero/vigilante. Back in 2005, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale set the bar for the quality one expects from a Batman movie. It was dark, gritty, complex and perfectly executed. Here’s why I think ‘The Batman’ starring Robert Pattinson is equally as successful, if not better.
The movie clocks in at a whopping 2 hours and 55 minutes. It’s not unheard of in film but to keep an audience’s attention span, most films steer clear of the 3-hour mark. There are some films that drag on when they could have easily ended at 2 hours and left audiences on a cliff-hanger, followed by an awesome sequel (*cough* ‘Australia’ *cough*). This is not the case for ‘The Batman’ which keeps the viewer fully engaged until the final scene through the use of music, plot, characterisation, realism and lighting.
Music & Plot
The plotline is full of mystery and investigation but every scene and piece of dialogue included serves a purpose to the overall film. The underlying music score complements the investigative nature of the plot and dialogue by using a drone or pulse to incite a feeling of intrigue in the viewer. This music technique creates an ‘unfinished’ feeling in the viewer which inadvertently hooks them to the point where the length of the film is forgotten.
Image source: Variety.com
Realism & Characterisation
Unlike Superman, The Flash or Wonder Woman, Batman is a human man with no supernatural abilities. Pattinson’s Batman is a more realistic take on what a rich dude would have been like trying to save his city. A standout moment: when tried to land after flying and completely botched the landing. Thank you. This was a cinematic masterpiece. The character of Bruce Wayne was also excellently portrayed and you can read more on why in my blog on Robert Pattinson here.
Dano’s acting as The Riddler was maniacal and convincing. Along with the direction given, he perfectly captured the nature of mental illness and the extremes it can lead us to. The atrocities he commits align with radicalists and serial killers in the real world to make his entire character all the more terrifying and captivating.
Image source: DenOfGeek.com
Lighting
Batman is a hero of shadows and night so you can assume the movie will be mostly in the dark. There are many films where lighting is so dark you can’t even see what’s happening so interest is lost or there’s an overall lack of understanding of the plot as a consequence. The Batman has been edited extremely well in terms of lighting so the viewer can see all the important pieces of visual information that aren’t given through the spoken dialogue to help advance the plot.
If you haven’t seen ‘The Batman’ yet for whatever reason, I urge you not to listen to critics and make your own judgement. I was not planning on seeing this film initially, firstly because I am not a huge Batman fan, and secondly is probably for the same reasons you don’t want to. I was pleasantly surprised and entertained for the entirety of the 3 hours.
One piece of advice though: don’t stay back for the post-credit scene…just look it up on google later.
