The Batman (2022) Review

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Everyone wanted to see Ben Affleck shine as Batman after being impressed of his performance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But due to having a bad experience during the reshoots of 2017’s Justice League, he pulled out of having a solo adventure and concluding his tenure of the character in The Flash. As we anticipated for a new adventure of the iconic dark knight detective, a new iteration came along the way, which worth was the wait.

PLOT

2022’s The Batman follows billionaire Bruce Wayne who has been protecting Gotham City as the titular vigilante for the past two years. 20 years after his parents were murdered on Halloween night, a serial killer known as The Riddler, for leaving riddles behind, begins his murder spree by killing Mayor Don Mitchell Jr. (Rupert Penny Jones) and Commissioner Pete Savage (Alex Ferns). The dark knight and his partner, Lieutenant James Gordon, investigate and find a literal thumb drive that contained images of Savage being an unfaithful husband, shown with another woman named Annika (Hana Hrzic) at the Iceberg Lounge, a nightclub operated by mobster lieutenant Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin. Batman does question the Penguin if he knew the woman, but he pleads ignorance. However, a woman who works there as a waitress does, Selina Kyle, who happens to be Annika’s girlfriend. He does follow her to her apartment, only to follow her to Mitchell’s apartment, who was retrieving Annika’s passport which he kept from her. When they return to her apartment, Annika appears to be missing. Batman convinces Selina to search for answers at the Iceberg Lounge. She does find District Attorney Gil Colson (Peter Sarsgard), who drunkenly admits that Savage was on payroll of mob boss Carmine Falcone like him. She then cuts off communication with the bat when noticing she has some kind of relationship with Falcone himself. Bruce attends the funeral of Mitchell, in hopes to catch the Riddler. Instead, it goes awry when Colson is forced by the villain to literally crash the event, having a timed collar bomb on his neck. When Bruce returns to the scene as Batman, Riddler calls him via Colson’s phone and promises to spare him if he can answer three riddles in two minutes. Colson is unable to save his own life when being unable to admit who was the informant that the ended the operation of mobster Sal Maroni. Batman and Gordon suspect that it could be Penguin when they follow him to a drug deal. They discover that the operation never ended as many GCPD officers are involved. Selina inadvertently exposes them when stealing money. When Penguin flees, she finds Annika’s corpse and when he gets captured, it gets deduced that he was never the informant. Batman & Gordon find a new trail left behind by the Riddler, leading them to an abandoned orphanage that was once operated by Bruce’s parents. When Bruce deduces that the killer was an orphan at the same orphanage that has a vendetta towards his family, he realizes that he is the next victim. When he goes home to warn his butler Alfred Pennyworth, it is already too late as a bomb went off, resulting in him to be hospitalized. Afterwards, Riddler would then leak shocking evidence of his father Thomas: When he was running for mayor, he allegedly had Falcone kill a journalist that threatened to reveal a history of mental illness that his wife Martha went through. He visits Falcone, who confirms that it is true, but claims that Maroni hired the journalist, implying that maybe the latter is responsible for their murder. He then confronts Alfred of it, disappointed that his father wasn’t a good man. His butler corrects him by confirming he always was good because he was looking out for his wife and had no idea the journalist would be killed. He also shares that he wanted to turn Falcone over when he found out what happened before he died, implying that maybe he was responsible the whole time. When Batman sees Selina again, she admits that Falcone is her biological father, who has neglected her her whole life and is also responsible for the death of her mother. She does get information from Detective William Kenzie (Peter McDonald) that Falcone killed Annika because Mitchell told her that Falcone was the informant. She does try to kill him on her own, but Batman stops her from doing so. Once he and Gordon have him in custody after releasing the evidence to the media, he is quickly killed by the Riddler via sniper. However, he is found at a nearby cafe after this incident. Unmasked, he is forensics accountant Edward Nashton who is sent to Arkham State Hospital once incarcerated. Nashton gets an opportunity to talk to Batman in person for the first time, which gives him a chance to confess his motive: As a neglected orphan, he was envious of the sympathy Bruce had when his parents were killed, motivating him to kill him. Unaware that he is the vigilante, he admits to idolizing him and wanting to partner with him, which inspired him to target the corrupt. When the Bat turns him down, it angers him, admitting that there is still something planned. The dark knight searches his apartment again and discovers a map that reveals that he has planted car bombs around Gotham, that’ll destroy the breakwaters and flood the whole city. There is also a pre recorded video showing his own cultivated online following, that’ll kill mayor elect Belle Reál (Jayme Lawson) once she is cornered. Just when he discovers it all, the bombs go off and the flood begins. Everyone including Reál shelters at an indoor arena, which gives the perfect opportunity for Nashton’s followers to do the deed. Thankfully, she is only grazed due to Batman interfering. Selina helps him take down the cult and when it came to the last follower to incapacitate, Batman almost beats him to death, but Gordon stops him from doing something he wouldn’t come back from. He then sees a power line descending towards the streets, whereas the civilians are being trapped. He acts quickly by using his emblem to cut the cord, which electrocuted him but saves the people. Once he recovers from the fall, he leads the people to safety, lighting the way with a flare. Although Nashton is disappointed that he didn’t completely succeed, he is encouraged by another inmate that there is a chance of a comeback, which sparks a friendship between the two. The film ends with Batman and Selina parting ways as the latter tends to leave Gotham, but does consider coming back despite claiming that it is beyond saving.

THOUGHTS

For a literary character that has been adapted onscreen since the 60s, you would think audiences would grow fatigue of this franchise. But like Ian Fleming's James Bond franchise, every iteration brings new fresh air. This one remains as effective as past iterations because Director Matt Reeves captures the noir that has been missing this whole time. Greig Fraser’s cinematography makes every moment feel like a spectacle as it should be. It becomes impossible to look away from captivating moments like the Batmobile chase, both fights at the Iceberg Lounge and the Stadium fight. Add Michael Giacchino’s most epic score to date and you got a superhero epic unlike anything you’ve seen before. The blended visual and practical effects also help make Gotham feel like a real city. The craziest thing I felt about is that it felt the most realistic due to its bold message on how we must be cautious on how we spread our message(s). This lesson is incredibly explored through the dual opposites that are the hero and the (main) villain. It’s never to take up the mantle of an iconic hero, especially after the predecessors create big expectations. Nevertheless, Robert Pattinson handles it well in an approach of the titular hero that is much different from others. He’s not as humble as he thinks he is, as his emotional distance unintentionally makes him selfish. This obviously originates from how he never recovered from the loss of his parents. The grief that he chooses to carry makes him socially inept in the public eye, but his social skills gain strength as the dark knight. He says “I’m Vengeance” to the criminals he goes after because that is how fueled up he is. You still look up to him because he was doubting himself on if he was making a difference until he realized that he was. That taught me to always try no matter how unsure you are. However, taking down the Riddler helped him understand how lucky he was to have people that care for him and to not let hate consume him. I was pretty moved of the growth he created by the climax because now he understands that representing/embracing hope is stronger than fear. Seeing him light the way was his ‘true hero’ moment because the public took notice of his selflessness and understood how much he cares for the city. And I was even satisfied that this was the one that is firm with his ‘No Kill’ rule, whereas the prior adaptations don’t respect it. The Tim Burton films straight up ignored it as he killed without hesitation, whereas Christopher Nolan’s trilogy had him kill out of technicality. It’s important for this rule to be respected because it helps Batman remain better than the scum he confronts. So it was a relief to see Gordon stop him from killing one of Riddler’s followers, because it helped eliminate his secret desire to attempt to take a life. That was his wake up call to be better than he thinks he is. With crime still thriving, it’s safe to say that his epiphany will give him a much clear mind than before as he will continue to confront it. I even have to admit that he has the best Batmobile to date for being the most practical. The second you hear it’s engine revving up, you already know criminals are gonna be too stupid to run. While it was a treat to see Barry Keoghan’s frightening cameo of the Joker, the unseen inmate in Arkham, it does not overshadow the mark left behind by Paul Dano’s Riddler. This was a man whose ruthlessness originates from being completely abandoned by those who promised to help him have a chance of a better life. This would also spark his sadist pleasure to eliminate the corrupt. What made him scarier than expected wasn’t just his intelligence, but how he hid in plain sight which helped him get ahead of everybody. He looked up to the Batman off of how they had the same goal on cleansing the filth that defines the city, along with how he felt free wearing a mask. The fact that he succeeded in flooding Gotham proved how determined he was to get his message across. Had Réal died, the plan would’ve been complete and he would’ve been feared for eternity. Since the climax of his plan backfired, the fear will fade away, but he won’t be forgotten. Obviously, his disappointment will only rattle him to cause more damage than he already has if he ever escapes Arkham. And if he does maintain an alliance with Joker, then Gotham is definitely in for another ride of terror. While both characters are an incredible dynamic, not even they could overshadow a great supporting cast. While I still prefer Michelle Pfeiffer, but Zoë Kravitz is the new runner up when it comes to the argument on who is the best Catwoman. She stood out so well because she owns the aspect of how she is someone who is fierce enough to seek as much thrills as she pleases. This personal perspective of hers comes from the abandonment she faced in her life, which only makes her fearless when she decides to get even. She flirts with the Batman because she sees how thrill seeking he is and he falls for her because he relates to feeling lost in the chaotic world around them as they’re both orphans. Seeing them go their separate ways is bittersweet because we understand how they’re two people who want to be together, but won’t ever be. This will only lead to such deliciousness whenever they do see each other again. I also dug Jeffrey Wright for being on point of making Jim Gordon as level headed and steady as he is always known for. He gets along with Batman so well for being practical people purely wanting the best for Gotham City. He even becomes his greatest friend in the long haul for stopping him from committing stone cold murder because he knows he wouldn’t emotionally recover from it. He isn’t Commissioner yet, but when that position comes his way, there is no denial that he will earn it. Andy Serkis was a better Alfred than I expected for having a strong effect on being dapper and wise in comparison to Jeremy Irons (My preferable Alfred remains a tie between Michael Caine and Sean Pertwee). What I loved about him the most was how he was most loving towards Bruce, despite the emotional distance they had. He didn’t plan to raise a kid, but it wasn’t gonna stop him from trying, as he knew he needed guidance. He did the right thing not telling Bruce what Thomas did because it would’ve crumbled his morality and would’ve not grown to be the decent man we see him at this point. Now that he has, it’ll be good to see them in a healthier relationship from here on. Riddler may have pulled the biggest and villainous plot, but he wasn’t the only villain that Batman had to deal with. It’s always hard to imagine someone to play Carmine Falcone because it has to be somebody who can make a mobster as invincible as they feel. And we get just that with John Turturro’s performance. He cleverly played him as two faced as a crime lord would be: Coming off elegant when in reality is sadistic and manipulative. And like every monster, they are bound to be overpowered which is exactly what happened to him in the worst way possible. His death only paved the way for a new figure to take charge. Enter The Penguin who came to life thanks to Colin Farrell’s transformative performance as the iconic fictional mobster. It’s easy to say that he outperforms Danny DeVito’s take for portraying him as one who is slightly insecure, yet is still hungry for power thanks to being under Falcone’s wing. With the latter out of the picture, you already know that things are only gonna get worse before it gets better once Penguin takes the spot as the new crime lord. Plus, I thought it was hilarious that he knew Spanish better than Batman and Gordon. While this film is better than it should be, I admit that there were still multiple things that confuse me throughout. To get it out of the way, I don't like the connection between Catwoman & Falcone. I understand that we need a reason to root for Kyle, which would be having a personal relationship with a villain, but that is reusing the same plot thread from The Empire Strikes Back, which has been used by many movies, making the shock factor feel so minimal to it. Going into the rest of the story, how exactly did Riddler sneak into the mayor's home undetected? This is a popular figure that he's going after, so I'm kinda thrown off on who exactly turned off security systems to get to him. If the mayor never had any, then he was begging to be taken down. It is indicated he got in through the skylight and I could complain how that doesn’t have a security system, I get more confused on why anyone would want to have something like that open at night. I’m even tripped out of how Mitchell’s son only left one footprint behind when finding his dad’s body. Obliviously he didn’t bleed enough to make a puddle, but I’m sure he would’ve bled enough for two footprints because isn’t realIstic. Also, how did Riddler get in Colson’s car without setting off the alarms? Did he get the chance to make a copy of the keys or did he actually swipe and return them in a minimum amount of time? I really don’t want to think about small things like this. Plus, he was drawing attention big time for letting an unconscious Colson press on the honking horn for so long. Anyone from the Iceberg Lounge would’ve came out if they wanted to. I want to think that it's cool to see the Batcave connected to a train route, but how has no one found it on accident? I'm sure Bruce has his permits to keep it under wraps, but it's crazy how easy it looks to get in. I was also pretty scared for him when Colson blew up in front of him because I figured he would've been physically scarred as a result. But I'm thrown off of the fact that he didn't have a scratch. I don't want his identity to be revealed, but it doesn't make sense for him to not be scarred. Since I'm talking about the funeral scene, which is great in its own right, but I'm even more shook of how Riddler chose not to follow Bruce that day. Sure he intended to kill him at his home with the bomb, but he still could've done it that same day. Even before those chain of events play out, I'm irritated of Falcone bragging of Thomas saving his life in front of cops outside the funeral. Yes there are a bunch of corrupt cops, but it's not like they all are. He was playing with fire at the worst time possible. And how come none of the police followed Batman after he escaped from the precinct? Someone had to have noticed he went down after hitting the train. I’m more surprised of that than the fact of how he wasn’t taken to the hospital. And why did they even allow Gordon to continue investigating when they know he still trusts him? They should’ve suspended him when they had the chance if they wanted to cut ties with him. And the fact that they don’t investigate the Bat signal, the main meetup between both protagonists, is insane. Also, how come no one talks about Joker the way they talk about Maroni? I know they want him to be distant from the story in order for Riddler to shine, but Joker will always be Batman's greatest enemy and it doesn't make sense for him to not be acknowledged. They basically repeated the same issue I had with The Dark Knight Rises. And how did the cops not scout the car garage? I know this is an excuse for Batman to show off his intelligence as a detective, but even if the crime was upstairs, I do believe Gordon should've been on top of this already. That is more shocking than how Gordon didn’t go to a computer expert for the thumb drive before using his own laptop. Also, how come they didn’t continue examining the photos Riddler took? They would’ve deduced where he was if they scouted every building surrounding the Iceberg Lounge and examine where the pics were shot from. And exactly how long has Bruce avoided Wayne Enterprises? I know other people are in charge on his behalf, but it's pretty how he's been avoiding it for so long that he doesn't step foot in that in the building. Knowing that, it surprises me how it appeared to be the first time for Alfred to bring people over to Wayne Manor. I don't want to sound exaggerative, but why does Selina take a cab when she has a motorcycle? You could say she avoids it from being stolen, but she still takes the risk whenever she's Catwoman. I want to be upset of how she straight up ditches Annika to get the passport, since Gotham is the most dangerous city, but I’m livid that she left her phone. It doesn’t matter if she wasn’t planning to take too long, she should’ve had it on her at all times. Had she done that, there would’ve been a better chance of finding Annika sooner dead or alive. I love the Batmobile chase the most, but two things confuse me deeply. One, when did Bruce park it near the drug lab and who picked up Penguin when he got left behind? Bruce had no idea of the lab before and there is no way Penguin would walk or wobble all the way home. Also, shouldn't Penguin still be charged for attempted murder? Literally every cop including Gordon saw him pull out his gun before Riddler killed Falcone. If they were willing to apprehend Falcone in the first place, then he should've been behind bars as well. Even the second fight scene in the Iceberg Lounge is as the cool as the first one, but why would Bruce bother sneaking in before suiting up. I'm pretty sure if he didn't take off the costume, he'd still get to Selina in time. Also, how did not a single junkie take the projector at the abandoned orphanage? It’s not like Riddler had enough power to demand them not to. I was pretty surprised as everyone when Alfred got attacked, but it is indeed his fault for opening the package in the first place. The guy is a military veteran, so he should’ve thrown it much quicker than he did once he recognized Riddler’s writing. And lastly, how exactly would he figure out Riddler's plot without help from Officer Martinez (Gil Perez-Abraham)? Without him, he would've not figure out what a tucker is and would've not seen the map of how Gotham would fall. Try ignoring this and you're still in for something special. In short, The Batman is another great superhero movie for feeling the most realistic of its kind and handles its character depth differently yet effectively, once again recreating the needed fresh air. if you are a Batman fan and have enjoyed past films based on this iconic hero, see this one now.