Guess who’s back, back again? Batman’s back, tell a friend!
That’s right! Robert Pattinson’s The Batman opens this week, with the Twilight star the latest in a long line of Batman actors that includes Batfleck (aka Ben Affleck), Christian Bale and George Clooney.
Anyone who’s been following the Batman films over the years, or the extended DC Cinematic Universe, will know that the franchise has had some high highs, in films like The Dark Knight, as well as some… not-so-great moments that we don’t need to get into today.
Directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman’s trailer promised the most tortured, nihilistic depiction of Bruce Wayne (Pattinson) yet, going as far as to have him state directly: “I don’t care what happens to me”, in the trailer.
More crime thriller than all-out superhero film, The Batman focuses on a younger Bruce Wayne in the early years of his crime-fighting career and will make use of his detective skills, rather than his strength.
“It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films,” Reeves told The Hollywood Reporter.
“The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime.”
So how does the darkest version of the Dark Knight compare to the others?
According to early reviews coming out of the international premieres, it’s a triumph that’s left fans and critics alike in awe.
Calling it “a masterpiece,” Sheraz Farooqi of Cinema Debate said that “The Batman is a breath of fresh air” and “one of the best DC films of all time”.
Variety‘s Peter Debruge also felt the film was a success, writing: “this grounded, frequently brutal and nearly three-hour film-noir registers among the best of the genre, even if — or more aptly, because — what makes the film so great is its willingness to dismantle and interrogate the very concept of superheroes.”
Meanwhile, The Guardian‘s Peter Bradshaw, felt that the film’s two-hour, 56-minute runtime was “overlong”, but conceded that the film was still “tremendously designed, visually spectacular with great set pieces and juddering, sternum-shivering impacts coming at you out of the darkness”.
Many reviewers praised the film for being a true representation of Batman as he’s portrayed in the comic books.
“Never has the Dark Knight been portrayed in such a thoroughly authentic and exciting way,” wrote Josh Wilding on ComicBookMovie.com.
“The Batman is the closest thing to a comic book accurate version of the characters we’ve seen on the big screen thus far,” echoed David Gonzalez of Reel Talk, Inc.
Fans and reviewers alike have also been shouting their praises from the Twitter rooftops, with journalist Matt Ramos writing: “THE DARK KNIGHT IS BACK!”
THE DARK KNIGHT IS BACK! #TheBatman
— Matt Ramos (@therealsupes) February 28, 2022
Writer and director Ben Mekler called the film “a triumph”, adding that “it’s thrilling, cerebral, funny, heartbreaking”.
“Robert Pattinson finally delivers a Batman who really feels like The World’s Greatest Detective,” he continued, adding: “Best DC film since DARK KNIGHT”.
#TheBatman is a triumph – it’s thrilling, cerebral, funny, heartbreaking. Dragging around a fucking enormous magnifying glass in nearly every scene, Robert Pattinson finally delivers a Batman who really feels like The World’s Greatest Detective. Best DC film since DARK KNIGHT
— Ben Mekler (@benmekler) February 28, 2022
Twitter user Duane Miller said that “#TheBatman will go down as one of the best comic book films in a long time”, and praised the film’s script, performances, set and visuals as “phenomenal”.
#TheBatman will go down as one of the best comicbook films in a long time. The script, performances, set pieces, & visual storytelling was phenomenal. Robert Pattinson shines as an emotional brooding Batman next to Paul Dano's terrifying Riddler. Matt Reeves' modern masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/FBoQmjLzJs
— Duane Miller (@Cinemaniac94) February 28, 2022
Another fan wrote: “I’m just going to say this: for over a decade, The Dark Knight has been my favourite film of all time. As of 22/2/22, it’s no longer my favourite film of all time. Mic drop”.
I’m not going to do the typical “tweet reaction” for #TheBatman. I’m just going to say this: for over a decade The Dark Knight has been my favourite film of all time. As of 22/2/22, it’s no longer my favourite film of all time. Mic drop. pic.twitter.com/gr37CwPXzG
— Freddie Deighton (@TheREALFreddieD) February 28, 2022
The Batman will be showing in HOYTS cinemas from March 3rd, 2022.
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