The Disenchantment of Batman: Spoiler-free Review

I have never been a fan of Batman. I don’t think I truly ever understood his character, and frankly none of the past films have done a great job of characterizing him either. However, just 10 minutes into Matt Reeves’s The Batman (2022), I finally understood what Bruce Wayne had stood for all these years in Gotham as “vengeance.” Yet, The Batman is not a story about vengeance. Instead, it takes everything Bruce has known and stood for, and brings it toppling down. Finally, Bruce Wayne is humanized, and damn is it refreshing.

That does not mean this is a lighthearted film. Gotham is just as violent, and crime ridden as it always has been. DC films have usually been critiqued for being too dark – figuratively and literally. However through the seemingly non-stop rain and gloom of the city, the blacks and reds of the film come through beautifully. There were many times I found myself in awe of Greig Fraser’s cinematography and shot sequences. Batman being one with the shadows is personified throughout this film, and for once I don’t find myself wishing for more lighting.

What really makes this version of the Batman stand out is Robert Pattinson’s portrayal. Yea, yea, we all usually think of Edward (Twilight Saga) or Cedric (Harry Potter series) when thinking of Pattinson, however, he was the reason I decided to see this movie. I wanted to see what Pattinson really had to offer, given a tough role to please, and boy did he nail it. Maybe it is only because I am not entirely familiar with Bruce Wayne’s character, but Pattinson fits perfectly in this film noir style. He does not try to be both the broody Batman, and the charming Bruce, but instead leans into the intersection of the two. Bruce and Batman feel like the same character, and certain scenes parallel this perfectly. Alongside Zoë Kravitz, the Bat and the Cat have never been hotter. Their chemistry can be felt through the screen, and Kravitz effortlessly steals the spotlight in every shot she’s in. Also, Cat Woman’s story is not lost in the three hour film, instead being artfully written into the mystery. She is no one’s accessory here.

Now, one of my biggest qualms with Batman films before was how much more interesting his villains were instead of him. In The Batman, the Riddler challenges Batman in a way he hasn’t yet been. I think Paul Dano does a great job in this role and makes the Riddler a truly horrifying and interesting villain. Trying to stay spoiler-free here, so that is all I will say about him.

I found Michael Giacchino’s score to be extremely haunting, with a recurring gothic theme that comes to a head at the climax of the film. Trust me, you’ll know the moment. If you aren’t a fan of thrillers, the score might create some unexpected anxiety through some particularly tense scenes, though I think that is exactly what the score should elicit.

Overall the best part of Reeves’s script, co-written by Peter Craig, is that every character plays a role in unraveling the Riddler’s mystery. Bruce takes steps back at times to look at the bigger picture, and we get to be a part of his detective work. The action takes a back seat in this story, though there are some amusing and exciting action scenes, and instead we get to see a version of Batman that isn’t all punches and fancy gadgets.

Honestly, from the perspective of a film student, this is one of the best modern films I’ve seen. But that might not be true for everyone, I mean, the guy next to me in the theater did fall asleep. To each their own!

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If you do not know Bruce’s origin story, a quick recap might be needed, since this is not an origin story. Though, if you do not know his origin, I’d argue you sleep under a rock.