The Batman

I was so hyped about The batman when it came out and i started watching it, the beginning part was amazing but then the movie had no lights so i had no clue what was going on, the pacing was way too slow and it was a 3 hour movie, and most of the movie Batman was at the club so we didnt really see his bruce wayne side and Bruce looked like an emo.

Approaching this review holistically as my favorite Batman is Kevin Conroy (sorry live action movies) - my credentials - an average fan, have read most of the Detective and Batman comics, watched most the DC animated shows and movies as well as live action films and played all the Arkham games and also the Telltale series.

To avoid spoilers, just commenting on the actual acting more than plot.

I didn't like the Batman voice but midway through it grew on me. Acting wise Mr Pattinson is impressive (but my favorite roles of his are as Neil, Cedric Diggory and Rev. Teagardin) - as Batman, remember this is Bats in year 2 and Mr Pattinson nails it as well. A fine actor (not better than Mr Keaton but that is childhood nostalgia maybe however just as batty as Mr Bale..Mr Affleck was awesome as well but scripting for him was below par).

Ms Kravitz was maybe born to play Selina (at least this gritty version). I honestly disliked Ms Kravitz in X-Men and Grindlewald but liked her in Big Little Lies. I was skeptical given her lack of martial arts but it is evident she gave her best during training and for me, her portrayal of Selina was perfect. Chemistry wise though, needed some work between Bats and Cats but nothing worth losing a star over.

Mr Dano, wow; Saw like sadist perhaps inspired by Mr Spacey a bit, a Riddler far from the kooky "riddle me this" we have come to know and enjoy but he gave in a performance no less than his stellar efforts with Daniel Day Lewis. I have become a fan of Mr Dano's acting.

Mr Serkis, just when I thought a re-imagining might go awry, there is Mr Serkis. He portrays Alfred so naturally, it's as if he is Alfred Pennyworth.

Mr Wright is a fair enough Gordon and without any fault of his, once you've seen him as Felix Leiter (as he was the best Leiter for me) it's hard to not compare his take on Gordon with Leiter. Also once you've seen Mr Oldman in and as anything...well Mr Oldman is my best Gordon (like Mr Simmons is my best JJJameson).

Mr Farrell was a believable budding Cobblepot and I hope he brings the same effort to the supposed spinoff (suffice to say I also had enjoyed his take on Bullseye..but InBruges is till my best for Mr Farrell).

Mr Turturro is limited but still impactful as was Mr Skarsgard.

Direction/Plot - I appreciate good work and Mr Reeves clearly put in an honest effort. I enjoyed his vision and never felt bored or distracted whilst watching his movie. He is not Mr Nolan or Mr Burton or Mr Timm/Mr Dini, but a league of his own and in this, he owned it. Thank you for not messing it up.

Story wise the movie is entertaining and well made - there is a threat, hero and allies must work to show their relevance and save the day - done quite effectively (not life changing but films rarely are, however storytelling is meaningful). Obviously production values are impressive and the cinematography is amazing. Set designs are useful while costumes are well thought out and used relevantly.

Overall - 10 out of 10 from me.

Vinaka from Fiji.

I just got out of The Batman

This movie really won't be for everyone!! Easily the darkest Batman movie yet. It is gritty, depressing and not a fun movie at all.

This isn't your usual comic book movie, it's a detective movie, with more in common with Se7en, than previous Batman movies. The first two thirds of the movie are amazing, at one point I turned to my son and said "This is a masterpiece" everything works and is brilliant, I was 100% enthralled, but boy does it drop the ball in the final act.

Of the cast Pattinson is great, Collin Farrell is ok, Zoe Kravitz was fine too, but she has zero chemistry with Pattinson (Keaton and Pfeiffer they are not), Paul Dano though, was incredible, especially in the scene in Arkham, whilst Geoffrey Wright is as great as he always is.

On the downside, It does have some pacing issues, and is really too long (though I'm not sure what I'd cut), and I really wasn't keen on the ending (I don't know if it is a comic book storyline they did), as I think the final act really lets the movie down!! It's here, in the final act, that you feel the movies run time!!

I was surprised there were only 36 other people in my screening.

Detective Batman at its peak! Great storyline. Just as dark a universe as we've come to expect from DC. The gloomy, gritty, dark tone of this film is exactly what I wanted. When you think the movie is over, there's more. Beautiful cinematography. Great score.

Yet another iteration of Batman. One that, intriguingly, hasn't quite decided what Gotham needs him to be.

This makes for a story where the titular character feels less central and more like a piece within a larger game of corruption/crime. While that might sound disappointing at first, it's actually a fresh enough shift that allows the movie to focus on building a playground-world around him (if a Trilogy really is coming). With greater attention on Gotham's criminal families, Catwoman and a uniquely-twisted Riddler feel quite relevant to this version.. even if it is basically creating its own canon from the get-go. Some may appreciate the new coat of paint, some won't.

While I enjoyed Batman being forced to do detective work through a more prepared opponent that misread him, he doesn't seem particularly smart (aside from being observant). It also feels longer than it needs to be, with pacing issues that dull some of the impact! Not to mention the lack of excitement and memorable "eye-candy"! The script feels too grounded and basic. There not much to be excited about on repeat watching. No toys, cool tricks or scenes.. just efficiency.

Subjectively, I find the casting of certain important characters (especially the lead) to be disappointing! Some strange changes (Thomas) that move this into a direction I wouldn't have taken, or an "unnecessary" scene at the end that disrupts the flow, that feels like rethreading what Nolan did.

As a start, this film is a competent entry.

But, is it good because of its approach to adapting the franchise.. or because of so many previous disappointments!? Moving forward, I would prefer if they give it a couple of years between this and future stories to have more impactful moments. I may seem negative, but I quite liked it! It is not perfect.. and I've seen too much Batman over the years (games and all), and I know what it could be.

Ideally, DC could produce multiple Batman narratives in parallel, each with distinct creative voices. If they can't build a "Cinematic Universe," they could at least support many strong standalone stories. If nothing else, fans could take all the best pieces of each attempt to create a Frankenstein-patchwork of memorable Batman moments. At this point, I guess that's the best we are going to get..