The Batman Review: Vengeance served in thrilling fashion 

The worlds greatest detective finally gets to do some actual detective work.

Director Matt Reeves brings to life a version of Batman that is dark and thought-provoking and is sure to go down as a classic Batman film for the ages. Great artistic direction paired with near-perfect casting and performances makes this one of the greatest comic book movies of all time.

Read on knowing that this review is spoiler-free.

One of the best live Action Batman stories

The Batman skips the typical conventions of a superhero backstory in favour of a film that serves as a character-driven exploration into the juxtaposition of justice and corruption. How these two forces while opposed in theory are ultimately two sides of the same coin.

While he may seem younger than previous live-action adaptations of the character, Robert Pattinson’s take on the masked vigilante has two years of crime fighting under his belt during the events of the film. However, the emergence of a sadistic and masked killer forces Batman to solve a set of riddles. Each new puzzle is a clue to unravelling the bigger mystery and narrative of both the villainous figure and the narrative and backstory of the city itself. How did it come to be a breeding ground for such crime and mayhem and who exactly has allowed and aided in this complete collapse of justice and morality?

Polish paired with an epic soundtrack

Any fans of Batman comics or video games will immediately love the cinematography and visual storytelling of this film. Reeves goes all-in by creating a work that at its core is a homage to film noir, a genre that many fans will know is intrinsically woven into the fabric of both the character of Batman and the iconic Gotham City he tries so hard to save and preserve.

The dark and gloomy lighting paired with what seems like a constant source of rainfall accurately represents what Gotham City has always been intended to be. A city falling apart due to corruption and darkness, even those standing for justice and order succumbing to the overwhelming evil that permeates the city streets, clubs and even police buildings. All the while, composer Michael Giacchino’s epic and haunting score completely immerses you in its world.

While the cinematography was a focus of the film, it in no way resulted in a lack of quality regarding action-packed sequences and stunt work. As one has come to expect from a Batman film, hand to hand combat and close quarters action sequences feature at large throughout. The Batman does a spectacular job of making the most basic fight sequence both entertaining and terrifyingly brutal. Fans of the popular Batman Arkham games will enjoy watching some moments play out as if they were straight from a combat sequence in one of those games.

Early trailers for the film teased a car chase sequence between Batman and Penguin that in its entirety is one of the best chase sequences in recent films. Pattinson’s version of the Batmobile is sleek, simple but very effective.

Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz Shine

Many felt as though Robert Pattinson would be unable to fill the shoes of the iconic caped crusader in a way that did justice to the character. However, he does more than succeed; Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman captures the essence of the character in a way other versions have only gleamed the surface at. His gritty, complex and at times deranged take on Bruce Wayne adds authenticity to not only his actions but provides great motivation and understanding for why and how a young child from a rich family evolves into such a foreboding and menacing figure.

However, a film of this nature would never be able to succeed without an exceptional ensemble cast. Similarly to Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz silences the naysayers and takes on the iconic role of Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) with a tenacity and confidence that has her owning — and dare I say stealing — every scene she’s in. The chemistry between Kravitz and Pattinson is one of the standout elements in this film, their evolving relationship and moments together a great way to provide moments of levity and humanity in a film that largely focuses on destruction and corruption.

A twisted take on Riddler, played to perfection

Of course, a superhero film would be nothing without a great antagonist for the hero to face off against. Paul Dano’s take on Riddler is dark, twisted and menacing in a way that pushes the film’s PG-13 rating to the absolute limit. His inclusion as the film’s primary villain is what finally, after years of Batman films, allows the hero to fully live up to his title as the world’s greatest detective. Collin Farrell’s Penguin is another great antagonist figure that further proves how versatile and exceptional the pool of Batman villains is.

One of the positive aspects of the film’s long run time is that it gave the film ample time to delve deep into the plethora of familiar names and faces of Gotham City. While many of the characters featured in this film have made appearances in other Batman films, each character feels fresh and fleshed out in a way that avoids the need for comparison to other versions.

Pacing issues and a slightly messy final act

For arguably the first time, we’re given a Batman film that plays out exactly how his detective work and investigations are often depicted in Batman comics and video games. We see him work closely with the police, study footage and crime scenes in forensic detail and even use his identity as Bruce Wayne to uncover information and intel unobtainable when wearing his suit and cape. While the allowance of a longer run time is one of the film’s greatest strengths, the almost three-hour runtime does get bogged down early on with the mystery and intrigue that then results in a fairly rushed final act.

Despite these minor issues, The Batman cements itself as a worthy addition to the Batman canon. It’s one that fans of the character will appreciate with all their heart but also an experience that filmgoers will simply enjoy because of its immersive and polished cinematography and design.

The Batman is currently in theatres in Australia and across the world.

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