The Batman (2022)

The Batman

The Batman (2022), follows Bruce Wayne who disguises himself as Batman as he tries to solve the mysterious killings plaguing Gotham City. The movie itself was directed by Matt Reeves and it stars Robert Pattinson as Batman (and Bruce), Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as Penguin. 

This is one of my favorite movies of all time; the story is great and the cinematography is also amazing.

Batman

Batman was portrayed by Robert Pattinson, who's known for his roles in the The Twilight Saga, the Harry Potter movies, and other films. His portrayal of Batman leaves little to be desired, as his voice sounds natural and not forced. His Batman costume also looks amazing, looking less out of place and more in-tune with the scenes. In this film, Batman’s detective side shines more as he tries to figure out who keeps killing powerful politicians and officials in Gotham. Through this movie, he is forced to confront his past as a member of the Wayne family. This movie is quite dark and it's reflected in Pattinson’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne. In this movie, Bruce is more silent and moody; a sharp contrast to Christian Bale’s portrayal. However, it’s also the first movie so Bruce Wayne as a character isn’t fully developed yet. 

Catwoman

The actress that portrayed Catwoman (also known as Selina Kyle), Zoe Kravitz, did amazing. Zoe looks more like the comic Catwoman with her short hair (she’s wearing a wig in this picture) and sharp features. I enjoyed her character because she played a large role in the story and her character didn’t revolve solely around Batman. The movie also explored more of Selina’s past and her own motives. I also enjoyed the budding romance between Selina and Bruce, although it’s more implied rather than direct (except for one scene). Both of these characters didn’t need to express themselves through words during conflict and other scenarios; instead the actors utilized their expressions and gestures to show what they meant. Like Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz created a memorable Catwoman.

The Riddler

The Riddler was played by Paul Dano, who did an excellent job portraying the villain. In the movie, the Riddler began to spark fear and terror into the people of Gotham, mostly towards the rich and powerful. His character was violent however his arguments also resonated with the inequality and injustice that regularly happens in Gotham. He confronts Bruce about the Wayne family’s past, challenging his view on his own parents and his family. Although the Riddler acted like he was deposing the city of the rich and powerful (also the injustice), he harmed innocent people in the pursuit of  his twisted sense of justice, making him no better than the people he despised. Paul Dano portrayed the Riddler’s twisted personality well, making the character more believable.

The story was pretty amazing (in my opinion). It had a great buildup and suspense, shown through Batman’s efforts  to uncover the truth behind the murders that occurred in Gotham City. The scenes and clues further added to the suspense and dread that followed Batman. The characters were pretty fleshed-out and their personalities shined through as seen with the Penguin, Catwoman, and Falcone. The actors and actresses did an amazing job with bringing these comic book characters to life. The song choices fit the movie overall and I enjoyed how Batman realized that striking fear and being “vengeance” may do more harm than good. He realized that the most important thing was to bring hope to the people of Gotham, which was a decisive change in his mindset. All in all, this movie was pretty great and it marked the beginning of great DC movies (followed by Superman which was also an amazing movie).