This is my "The Batman" review. I don't know how long this will be so buckle up. The way I'll be doing this is by categories.
1. Aesthetic
2. Plot
3. Characters
4. Final thoughts
There may be more, but for right now this is the way.
1. Aesthetic
2. Plot
3. Characters
4. Final thoughts
There may be more, but for right now this is the way.
The film is aesthetic is amazing. Gotham actually feels like Gotham. The dark corners make you feel claustrophobic.
It makes you like someone could be around the corner about to shank you.
It really does the job really well of inviting you in this terrible city 1/
It makes you like someone could be around the corner about to shank you.
It really does the job really well of inviting you in this terrible city 1/
This is where Matt Reeves out does Nolan. Many of you know I'm a Nolan fan boy, but I never felt Gotham as a city in his interpretation of it. Matt's Gotham seems a lot more flushed out and dangerous. It doesn't look like a regular city. 2/
This is Nolan's Gotham π
This is Nolan's Gotham π
When you meet the Riddler he in cased in darkness. You don't even see him until light passes by. It creates a real sense of fear.
The movie is really dark. Not in just tone, but literally dark.π You barely see things at times. It did help the experience though. 3/
The movie is really dark. Not in just tone, but literally dark.π You barely see things at times. It did help the experience though. 3/
The people of Gotham actually feel like they're apart of this crime ridden city. The city it self has character. This is the best one of the best parts about this movie.
Now let's do the PLOT
This movie is taken place after 2 years of Bruce becoming Batman. 4/
Now let's do the PLOT
This movie is taken place after 2 years of Bruce becoming Batman. 4/
He's not fully the cape crusader we know and love yet, but he's working on it. He having a bit of an identity crisis.
The city is actually getting worse while he's been Batman. Crime and corruption is up, but he still goes out and fights. 5/
The city is actually getting worse while he's been Batman. Crime and corruption is up, but he still goes out and fights. 5/
The very first scene is a masterclass of suspense. It really throws you into the action. It's dark and moody. Like I said Matt really did the aesthetic perfectly.
The plot isn't really that convoluted. The Riddler is try to unmask Gotham for what it truly is 6/
The plot isn't really that convoluted. The Riddler is try to unmask Gotham for what it truly is 6/
He's trying to expose politicians, family men, the media, and even the Batman.
Of course Batman is trying to stop him, but he also feels like he has a point. Since Batman became Batman for the same reason.
This is when they do "We are the same" line. 7/
Of course Batman is trying to stop him, but he also feels like he has a point. Since Batman became Batman for the same reason.
This is when they do "We are the same" line. 7/
The movie is 3 hours long, the plot isn't really that great or original to garner that length.
So Matt extends it with long beautiful shots. The cinematography is spot on in this film.
The thing that they do to make it interesting is try to make Thomas Wayne a bad guy. 8/
So Matt extends it with long beautiful shots. The cinematography is spot on in this film.
The thing that they do to make it interesting is try to make Thomas Wayne a bad guy. 8/
They make him a politician and give him a Kennedy life. Now Thomas isn't fully corrupt, but he did ask to put the squeeze on a report.
The reporter was going to expose that the Martha Wayne was in out of mental institutions do to dark family secrets.
So Thomas panicked. 9/
The reporter was going to expose that the Martha Wayne was in out of mental institutions do to dark family secrets.
So Thomas panicked. 9/
And asked for help from Carmine Falcone. Thomas didn't know Falcone was going to kill him though.
Thomas was going to go to the police and confess, but he and his wife were killed by Falcone.
So this is the big secret and corruption from the Wayne family. 10/
Thomas was going to go to the police and confess, but he and his wife were killed by Falcone.
So this is the big secret and corruption from the Wayne family. 10/
I really don't like this plot line. Many of the newer Batmans have this deconstruction of Thomas's character.
In the older versions he was a great and honorable man. He always did what's right. He tried to help the city, but Gotham being Gotham ended up killing him. 11/
In the older versions he was a great and honorable man. He always did what's right. He tried to help the city, but Gotham being Gotham ended up killing him. 11/
This version makes sense for the character of the Batman. He fighting the fight that his father tried and failed at (saving Gotham).
Making him semi corruptible destroys that. They make a statement in the movie about the rich and powerful being evil.
12/
Making him semi corruptible destroys that. They make a statement in the movie about the rich and powerful being evil.
12/
I get it, but Thomas and the Wayne family weren't evil. If you played the Telltale series, they turn Thomas into a full fledged vilian.
I really hate this version of the character. At least the movie didn't go this far. 13/
I really hate this version of the character. At least the movie didn't go this far. 13/
Now the Characters. I'm only doing a few.
Batman/Bruce Wayne:
I was not fully sold on Robert Pattinson playing Batman.
He was to small for me. I also couldn't take him seriously as an action hero.
He's become a very talented actor. Twilight did not do him justice. 14/
Batman/Bruce Wayne:
I was not fully sold on Robert Pattinson playing Batman.
He was to small for me. I also couldn't take him seriously as an action hero.
He's become a very talented actor. Twilight did not do him justice. 14/
This movie leans more into the detective side of Batman.
Which is a nice change of pace. It's more of a psychological thriller. Which I think Pattinson can do well in.
But I'll be honest they didn't do much for him. This movie is 3 hours, but I feel like they didn't give....
Which is a nice change of pace. It's more of a psychological thriller. Which I think Pattinson can do well in.
But I'll be honest they didn't do much for him. This movie is 3 hours, but I feel like they didn't give....
him enough to work with. I don't know how the main attraction feels like an after thought, but that's my take away from his performance.
His Batman is alright. It's nothing spectacular.
I HATE his Bruce Wayne though. I didn't want to see emo teen Bruce for 3 hours. 14/
His Batman is alright. It's nothing spectacular.
I HATE his Bruce Wayne though. I didn't want to see emo teen Bruce for 3 hours. 14/
Look at him. He looks like he listen to "My Chemical Romance" on repeat, all day long.
This is not the billionaire playboy, who uses his money as a cover for crime fighting.
I understand this is year two Batman, and he's still learning, but I don't like this. 15/
This is not the billionaire playboy, who uses his money as a cover for crime fighting.
I understand this is year two Batman, and he's still learning, but I don't like this. 15/
Catwomen:
ZoΓ« Kravitz did an alright job with the role. She was actually pretty good.
Her best friend subplot was a waste of time, and I really didn't care about her best friend to begin with.
This version of Catwomen is more grounded which is fine. 16/
ZoΓ« Kravitz did an alright job with the role. She was actually pretty good.
Her best friend subplot was a waste of time, and I really didn't care about her best friend to begin with.
This version of Catwomen is more grounded which is fine. 16/
She's just your typical burglar. She is not sexy like other versions are. She's just a regular woman who works at a mob bar.
She gets involved when her roommate goes missing, and batman storms into this mob bar fully suited up. Instead of going as Bruce Wayne. 17/
She gets involved when her roommate goes missing, and batman storms into this mob bar fully suited up. Instead of going as Bruce Wayne. 17/
This Batman does so questionable stuff throughout the movie. They're trying to make him super smart, but at the same time they have to make him seem untrained.
Because he's still getting used to being Batman, but sometimes he just makes ridiculous decisions. 18/
Because he's still getting used to being Batman, but sometimes he just makes ridiculous decisions. 18/
We find out Catwomen is Falcone's daughter, and that's why she works at the bar, and steals his money.
The real draw is the relationship between Batman and Catwomen. They have so chemistry, but it's hinder because they don't give Pattinson anything to work with. 19/
The real draw is the relationship between Batman and Catwomen. They have so chemistry, but it's hinder because they don't give Pattinson anything to work with. 19/
I'm not gonna lie I was actually rooting for them. They seem like they actually liked each other. I give that to the actors.π 20/
Gordon:
Gordon in this like Alfred. He gives Batman the emotional support and drive to keep on going.
The reason I haven't bought up Alfred because he gets sidelined for the majority of the movie.
He gets blown up in one of Riddler's traps. He fine of course. 21/
Gordon in this like Alfred. He gives Batman the emotional support and drive to keep on going.
The reason I haven't bought up Alfred because he gets sidelined for the majority of the movie.
He gets blown up in one of Riddler's traps. He fine of course. 21/
Riddler:
I like Paul Dano as an actor. He always plays weirdos and creepy guys well.
This version of the Riddler is no different. He does alright in this movie.
They pretty much forget about him in the third half, until the movie remembers him again. 22/
I like Paul Dano as an actor. He always plays weirdos and creepy guys well.
This version of the Riddler is no different. He does alright in this movie.
They pretty much forget about him in the third half, until the movie remembers him again. 22/
His goal is simple, but the finally makes no sense. He wants to unmask Gotham, but at the end he just ends up wanting to kill everyone.
You can't unmask anything if there's no one alive for the unmasking, but whatever.π€·πΏββοΈ 23/
You can't unmask anything if there's no one alive for the unmasking, but whatever.π€·πΏββοΈ 23/
The Mayor:
She boring. She gets shot at the end, but ends up serving.
That's one thing about this movie that gets on my nerves. It puts people in positions to get killed or injured, but all they get is a scratch.
It's a waste of time. 24/
She boring. She gets shot at the end, but ends up serving.
That's one thing about this movie that gets on my nerves. It puts people in positions to get killed or injured, but all they get is a scratch.
It's a waste of time. 24/
If you don't want these characters to be dead or be permanently injured, stop putting them in those situations.
In one scene Batman literally stands there and takes a bomb to the face. I'm not kidding.
Does he have a scratch on him? Is he dead? Nope, just has concussion.25/
In one scene Batman literally stands there and takes a bomb to the face. I'm not kidding.
Does he have a scratch on him? Is he dead? Nope, just has concussion.25/
It's so ridiculous. They do this way too many times. I was like for some of these moments.
I get they're trying to make it intense, but this is not the way. 26/
I get they're trying to make it intense, but this is not the way. 26/
@KinelRyan made a comment about majority of the main characters who are black were purely good, and many of the white characters(other than Alfred and Batman) were bad.
It is true. I don't know if that was on purpose, but there's one line in the movie that annoys me. 27/
It is true. I don't know if that was on purpose, but there's one line in the movie that annoys me. 27/
It's when Catwomen is talking to Batman about how awful the city is. She says the term "White Privilege."π
This part is so random in the context of the movie. Especially in the Batman universe.
In Gotham everyone is a potential villain. Black, white, green. 28/
This part is so random in the context of the movie. Especially in the Batman universe.
In Gotham everyone is a potential villain. Black, white, green. 28/
It doesn't matter the skin color. I swear they put this in just to troll us. It comes out of nowhere.π 29/
Final thoughts:
This movie is long. If they cut a couple of shots shorter, this could have been better.
The movie is just OKAY. It's nothing to spectacular. It's not terrible either.
The Penguin played by Colin Farrel, is fantastic. He seems like he's having fun. 30/
This movie is long. If they cut a couple of shots shorter, this could have been better.
The movie is just OKAY. It's nothing to spectacular. It's not terrible either.
The Penguin played by Colin Farrel, is fantastic. He seems like he's having fun. 30/
My problem with the movie is the fact that it seems to hate Batman and what he stands for.
At the end of the movie it makes you feel like Batman would be doing more good as a philanthropist, than crime fighter.
That Gotham needs Bruce Wayne more than Batman. 31/
At the end of the movie it makes you feel like Batman would be doing more good as a philanthropist, than crime fighter.
That Gotham needs Bruce Wayne more than Batman. 31/
This is echoed in the scene at the funeral. The soon to be mayor talks to Bruce about him doing charity.
At the end Batman seems like a firefighter than an kickbut crime fighter.
I think that's what the movie is saying. 32/
At the end Batman seems like a firefighter than an kickbut crime fighter.
I think that's what the movie is saying. 32/
At the beginning of the movie Bruce states that since he's become Batman, things have gotten worse.
This is where the movie loses the plot. Because at the end if Gotham doesn't need Batman, or at the very least he's making it worse, why am I rooting for him to succeed? 33/
This is where the movie loses the plot. Because at the end if Gotham doesn't need Batman, or at the very least he's making it worse, why am I rooting for him to succeed? 33/
This leaves the viewer confused about our feelings toward the cape crusader.
"Crime won't end until money and charity are given" You donβt need anyone to fight criminals. All you need to do is give charity and be a firefighter.
Because that's how crime works. 34/
"Crime won't end until money and charity are given" You donβt need anyone to fight criminals. All you need to do is give charity and be a firefighter.
Because that's how crime works. 34/
This is the biggest flaw of the movie. We root for Batman because no one else will protect the innocent.
The politicians and police won't, but one billion with a lot of time on his hands will.
He doesn't have to, but he does because like his father, he wants to save Gotham.35/
The politicians and police won't, but one billion with a lot of time on his hands will.
He doesn't have to, but he does because like his father, he wants to save Gotham.35/
This is why it makes no sense to make Thomas Wayne corrupt. It ruins the basic motivation for Batman.
Gotham and it's people need Batman because he's the one who is willing to fight for it.
The movie does not grasp this concept. 36/
Gotham and it's people need Batman because he's the one who is willing to fight for it.
The movie does not grasp this concept. 36/
It leaves you thinking Gotham is better off with Bruce Wayne and his money, than Batman and his crime fighting skills.
It's totally doesn't understand the character it's adapting.
That's all from though. I'll give it a 6.5/10. βout Twitter peeps.π
It's totally doesn't understand the character it's adapting.
That's all from though. I'll give it a 6.5/10. βout Twitter peeps.π
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