The first reviews for The Batman are officially in, as critics share their first impressions of the Robert Pattinson film. Warner Bros. is bringing the Dark Knight back to cinemas, this time through filmmaker Matt Reeves' eyes, with Pattinson starring as the famous DC Comics vigilante. The Batman was initially set to be Ben Affleck's solo-movie in the DCEU, but it instead evolved into a reboot that focuses on Bruce Wayne's second year as Gotham City's protector. The DC picture was initially set to hit theaters in June 2021 before Warner Bros. had to push it back due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Batman's premise sees Pattinson's Batman taking on one of his most iconic baddies in the form of The Riddler, depicted as a Zodiac-type serial killer, played by Paul Dano. Just like the Caped Crusader himself, The Batman is also reinterpreting several iconic players from the DC mythology. While Riddler serves as the main antagonist, The Batman will also see the latest cinematic interpretations of Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell), a.k.a. The Penguin. Despite Batman facing multiple threats, he won't be completely alone as he is joined by famous allies such as Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz) and Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright,) as they have yet to become Catwoman and the GCPD Commissioner, respectively.
As The Batman arrives in theaters in multiple countries as of this week, the first set of critical reviews are rolling out, giving audience members early impressions from press members. Check out several spoiler-free samples of what reviewers are saying about Reeves' Batman reboot.
Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
"The Batman gets to the heart of the character while maintaining his humanity. The film is grounded as it explores the depth of corruption in Gotham, while exhibiting the vigilante's skills as an intelligent detective. Reeves and his team have crafted a Batman film that offers a different side to the hero audiences have come to know and love. With exhilarating action scenes, a layered story, and poignant, in-depth characterization, The Batman is a worthy addition to the live-action DC slate."
David Ehrlich, IndieWire
"While Reeves unfortunately retreats to the safety of franchise-building mode with the penultimate scene, “The Batman” succeeds in transforming the Bat-Signal into a beacon of hope rather than something to fear. Not just for the citizens of Gotham, but also for the multiplex audiences who will inevitably have to visit the city a few more times before Hollywood gives us somewhere else to go."
Ross Bonaime, Collider
"Reeves has made the best Batman film since The Dark Knight, with a captivating and rich world that reinvigorates characters we’ve already seen on screen over and over again. With The Batman, Reeves prioritizes the shadows of Gotham, setting up this city in a way we’ve never seen before onscreen, bringing life to the world around Batman. Instead of heroes and villains that live in black and white, Reeves has presented a city defined by the gray. The Batman doesn't redefine what we know about this character, but through Reeves' direction, we're shown a Batman story in a way we've never quite seen before."
Brandon Zachary, CBR
"What makes The Batman stand out the most might be the introspective approach to the title character. Past versions of Batman have used the character to comment on a changing world, tell a pop-art story of revenge, or explore epic stakes from a brutal perspective. None of these fully took the opportunity to investigate what it means to live in a world where Batman is a reasonable approach to conflict -- something The Batman delves into with gusto."
Kofi Outlaw, Comicbook.com
"As a reboot, The Batman is a very good re-introduction of the Batman movie franchise, but one that feels like a victim of circumstance. It seems like there was originally a clear deeper thematic point in mind – until the entire world took a chaotic downward spiral. The most we now get from The Batman is a final message of, "Hey, things are really messed up, but, uh, let's try to help one another, okay?" Given current circumstances around the world (at the time of writing this), maybe that's the only message a superhero movie can manage right now."
John Nugent, Empire
"Matt Reeves’ arrival in the Bat-verse is a gripping, beautifully shot, neo-noir take on an age-old character. Though not a totally radical refit of the Nolan/Snyder era, it establishes a Gotham City we would keenly want a return visit to."
Peter Debruge, Variety
"A movie like this will inspire countless debates: Does “The Batman” really need to be this dark? Can it hold a candle to Nolan’s trilogy? There’s room enough for both to exist, and space for sequels to build on this foundation, which assumes a certain familiarity with the character’s mythology. That’s the beauty of Batman, who transcends all the other heroes in the DC Comics stable: Like Dracula or Hamlet, this iconic antihero stands up to endless reinvention."
Todd Gilchrist, TheWrap
"So, yes, “The Batman” is absolutely too long, and it has more than enough self-seriousness to match. But Reeves takes an unusual risk in the era of endless mythologies and cinematic universes by telling a story that actually could be complete, even if it’s also obviously meant to be the beginning of a larger narrative."
In general, it seems that Reeves' reimagination of DC's Caped Crusader is sitting well with most critics. What is probably a surprise to some movie fans out there is the criticism of The Batman's length. While there have been plenty of superhero flicks, like Avengers: Endgame and Zack Snyder's Justice League, to exceed the 3-hour runtime, it's not always a guarantee to work for every comic book film that comes along. At the end of the day, it all comes down to individual taste, as there will definitely be audience members that enjoy the longer runs, especially when getting to witness the start of a new franchise.
A huge takeaway from the majority of the reviews is Pattinson's depiction of Batman, making it clear that Reeves accomplished what he set out to do by exploring Bruce in a new light. While past Batman iterations have leaned more into the anger of the hero, it appears the Pattinson-starring reboot does indeed focus heavily on the humanization of Bruce, which helps the new franchise stand out. Now that critics have shared their thoughts on The Batman, it will be intriguing to see what audience members think as the film opens in theaters later this week.
Source: Various (see links)
