Please be advised the following analysis will contain mild spoilers of The Batman.
Warner Bros’ ‘The Batman’ released on the 4th of March 2022, and has gone on to be the highest-grossing film in 2022 at over $700 million. Starring famous actors such as Robert Pattinson as ‘Batman’ and Zoë Kravitz as ‘Catwoman’, The Batman goes on to subvert the expectations of the filmmakers and movie-watchers alike, but how successful has the movie actually turned out to be?
The character of Batman was created in May 1939 by writer Bill Finger alongside artist Bob Kane, debuting in ‘Detective Comics no. 27’. Bruce Wayne, known as Batman, lost his parents to a violent criminal murder, subsequently vowing to avenge their deaths by bringing justice to each and every criminal, hardening his mind and body as he inherited the wealth of his father, Thomas Wayne. The character was quickly loved and an eponymous spin-off series released in 1940, starring his new sidekick ‘Robin’. A host of other characters were introduced, alongside a myriad of villains including the infamous ‘Joker’. In the fourth issue, the idea of ‘Gotham City’ was introduced: a dark, gritty and somewhat beguiling city enwrapped in mystery and despair as it perpetually leans between the grip of good and evil, Batman and his associates, and the many criminal masterminds that seem to never stop plaguing the city.
Batman has had many interpretations throughout the years, from a comical and whimsical crime-fighting superhero, to a nonchalant and tenacious antihero who must rid Gotham of the many villainous megalomaniacs who afflict the city. The character had progressed from the comics of the mid-20th-century to TV shows and radio broadcasts, ultimately culminating in his arrival on the big screen in 1966’s ‘Batman’. The character had a number of other films in the late 80s and early 90s, leading to burgeoning popularity. The Dark Knight Trilogy, three films released between 2005 and 2012, set the pace for how many fans would come to enjoy and expect Gotham and its various inhabitants to be portrayed, and featured some of Gotham’s most heinous villains, such as ‘Scarecrow’, ‘Bane’ and the Joker.
The Batman, releasing almost ten years after its predecessor, and after numerous delays due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, was heavily anticipated by many fans around the world. Expectations were high, and with a $200 million budget, and near 3-hour runtime, viewers were expecting to be amazed. Taking place in Batman’s third year of crimefighting, Gotham is victim to a series of violent murders under the elusive ‘Riddler’ a psychopathic and delusional serial killer. With the help of the Gotham City Police Department, and Selina Kyle, known as Catwoman, Batman attempts to bring justice to the Riddler whilst learning truths about his father and the people around him. The film features a noir-esque portrayal of Gotham City, and presents an atmosphere of grim trepidation, of which many Batman fans appreciated greatly. The music is written by composer Michael Giacchino, and appropriately features Nirvana’s ‘Something In The Way’.
Whilst most fans would agree that The Batman was all in all a commercial success, many have had their criticisms regarding the movie. Primarily, some fans were disappointed with the lack of fighting in the movie, something which they have come to expect from the various shows and films of Batman in the past, which has been replaced with a greater focus on detective work and the analysis of the enigmatic clues left behind by Gotham’s evil. Fans also were slow to accept the portrayal of the Riddler, who was uncharacteristically far too sadistic, instead of trying to bring down Gotham’s elite. Many fans felt that Robert Pattinson did not embody the character of Batman well as he was ‘too talkative’ or ‘not smart enough’, and preferred Christian Bale’s performances in prior movies.
All things being considered, however, The Batman is a great attempt at capturing the dark and harrowing life of those fighting crime, facing crime, and committing the crime in Gotham City. Whilst it has its fair share of issues, the movie is nonetheless an exceptional tribute to the character of Batman and an artistic and photographic masterpiece in itself.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Batman_(film)
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