The Batman opens with a wide shot, scored by Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria, showing a man and his family being watched by a mysterious figure. We hear his almost frantic breathing as he slowly watches their moves. This alone not only introduces us to the character of the riddler but to this movie as a whole.
This movie feels different when compared to other superhero movies. There is a cinematic look to it, making it one of the most beautiful comic book movies of the year (so far). It also has a soundtrack that elevates the movie to make it feel so much darker with rock classics and original compositions. This all combines to create a different type of superhero movie, and a whole different interpretation of Batman as a character.
The cast is another highlight of the movie, with many of the actors giving spectacular performances, with Robert Pattinson and Paul Dano giving particularly striking performances as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Riddler respectively.
The cinematography also shines, with cinematographer Greig Fraser (who previously worked on Dune (2021)) showcasing a beautiful noir-like Gotham, full of vibrant, yet dark, shots that work to highlight the grittiness of this version of the city.
Overall, all of these features come together to create a fresh new take on the character, in a movie that escapes the traditional cliches of a superhero movie to create a modern noir/detective story starring one of the most intriguing, complicated takes on the caped crusader yet.
Final score: 9/10
EAC PRESS 