The Batman (2022) Review

I've been wanting this kind of Batman film my entire life. I grew up loving the character of Batman. I watched the awesome Batman: The Animated Series all the time and bought every action figure I could find. I watched all the films, both good and bad, over and over again because I love the characters and that world. Seeing this new film on the big screen was a cinematic experience I’ll never forget. It’s my new favorite Batman film because it feels like a film noir.

Film Noir has been my favorite film genre for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure exactly when, but I have always gravitated to the old black and white films since I was very young. To me, Batman is the type of superhero that can easily fit in the film noir genre. The animated series came close to that aesthetic, despite being a children's cartoon. The Dark Knight, which was my previous favorite Batman film, also came close to that aesthetic. For years, I wanted a full on, noir inspired Batman film, and The Batman (2022) delivers that in spades.

Robert Pattinson is an amazing Batman. He’s Batman 90% of the film, and I loved his performance. He’s a very scarred and flawed individual, but he has that little sense of hope in his eyes. I love the suit and his physical presence. I’ve seen complaints that he’s not a good Bruce Wayne because he acts the same as he does as Batman. I don’t see that as a bad thing. I think he’s struggling to figure out his true identity and sees himself only as Batman. It made his character way more interesting in my opinion. I can’t wait to see more of Pattinson's Batman.

Zoë Kravitz is my new favorite Selina Kyle/Catwoman. She’s fierce and a badass. I understood her character from the first time she was introduced. I really liked her simple costume. I thought she had amazing chemistry with Pattinson’s Batman, and I enjoyed every scene with them together. Her plot line is also very interesting. I want to see more of her in future installments.

Paul fucking Dano… let me just say that casting decision is genius. One of the best casting choices I’ve ever heard. He is PERFECT as the Riddler, and I mean perfect. He’s intelligent and fucking terryifying. I loved his look. His plan felt well thought out and fit well with the world he inhabited. The interrogation scene is top tier, and I loved every second of it. Paul Dano’s performance deserves to be listed as one of the best of the comic book villains on screen.

Jeffrey Wright as Gordon is awesome. I really enjoyed his calm, cool, and collective performance. I really liked his dynamic with Batman. I loved seeing them on screen together as they investigated this fucked up mystery. I can’t wait to see more of him.

I still can’t believe Colin Farrell plays the Penguin. He is UNRECOGNIZABLE. I know he’s wearing makeup, but even his voice sounds nothing like him. I always enjoyed the Penguin as a mobster, and it’s great that he is one in this world. I loved every scene he’s in, and like every other character in this film, I can’t wait to see more of him.

The city of Gotham is its own character. I really loved the fucked up, dark, and rainy city that’s full of crime and corruption. The production design is top notch. This film made Gotham feel like a real place that swallows up the poor and allows the corrupt to conquer, which is awesome. It’s a perfect noir city.

Matt Reeves flexes so hard. His direction is stellar. Every shot felt planned out, and they felt like they fit perfectly in a large puzzle. There are so many good shots in this film, it’s insane. The action scenes are fucking incredible. All the fight scenes are so intense, and that car chase is fucking phenomenal! The writing is also amazing. I really, really loved the story. The fucked up mystery that takes place had me at the edge of my seat. The resolution also felt earned. I really enjoyed the corruption aspect, and how even Bruce’s parents weren’t perfect saints. The writers really did the Riddler justice in this film. The story really suits him well. I loved that Batman is actually a detective solving a crime. I feel that a lot of the other Batman films have not fully portrayed his character in that way. This one really knocks that aspect out of the park. It’s a fantastic noir inspired story.

The music by Michael Giacchino is fucking awesome. It really fits this film well while elevating every scene into a whole other level. It was one of the best Batman scores I’ve ever heard.

This is the best looking Batman film ever made. The cinematography is stunning. This is quite literally a dark film. Even though most scenes take place at night in the rain, I could still see what was going on. There are so many magnificent looking shots in this film. It’s gorgeous.

During my first viewing, I kept thinking to myself, “Warner Bros actually let this happen?” It’s a 3 hour, film noir detective inspired, dark and rainy Batman film. Superhero films these days are the exact opposite of this film in every way. They definitely took a gamble with Reeves, and I’m so happy they did because it’s amazing. I hope Reeves is able to make more of these. I love this film and the world he created in every way.

The Batman is just simply perfect. It's everything I wanted in a Batman film and more. It's a dark, film noir inspired masterpiece; a flawless comic book adaptation. It will go down as an all time favorite for me.

10/10