Brandon’s Movie Review For:
The Batman
In Theaters Now
Batman was my favorite superhero as a child with Michael Keaton’s adaptation being the GOAT, in my opinion. Batman Returns is ranked #1 just above Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises. I even enjoyed the Adam West version as a kid, understanding the campiness was it’s main appeal. Ultimately, the darkness of Batman’s character is what has always appealed to me. That, along with the ass-kicking and awesome gadgets and vehicles. When the trailer dropped for Matt Reeve’s take on the caped crusader with Robert Pattinson donning the cowl, you could probably hear my eyes roll as I wondered why we needed yet another version.
To my surprise, Pattinson gives justice to the role (pun intended) and despite the 3 hour runtime, I was thoroughly entertained at this fresh take on the franchise. In fact, I would suggest that Matt Reeve’s gives The Batman a nudge in the horror genre. With an eerie score provided by Michael Giacchino, sampling the melody of Ave Maria for the most part, creates a haunting backdrop. Cinematographer Greig Fraser (who provided the beautiful imagery of movies like Dune and Foxcatcher) created the darkest version of Gotham City.
The cast includes Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), an unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Oz (aka The Penguin), John Turturro as mob boss Carmine Falcone, the great Andy Serkis as butler Alfred and Paul Dano puts Jim Carrey’s and Frank Gorshin’s rendition of the Riddler to shame. Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer (The Riddler) leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.
Unlike previous versions of the caped crusader, we get a deeper look at the levels of corruption that led to the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents. Pattinson might have gotten a lot of skepticism leading into the release of The Batman, including my own, but I was not disappointed.
The only complaint I have is that everyone seemed to walk/talk/move incredibly slow. It’s almost like gravity was heavier and time moved slower. Fortunately, I was so captivated by the story, imagery, action and music, that the slow movement did not deter me.
Also, yes, Zoe Kravitz is gorgeous and the sexual chemistry between Batman and Catwoman is palpable. Their interactions are a sight to see for those with a fetish for leather. Huge THUMBS UP!!!
