The Batman (2022) Review

Warner Bros. has consistently had trouble with trying to make their own cinematic universe competitor to Marvel’s own. I think part of the problem lies in not giving one writer or a team of writers the reigns to the work, and instead relying on something being a hit so that it can tie into other films. I’m not a huge DC comics fan, but it’s frustrating that the studio doesn’t let a series happen for more than a film or two before rebooting it completely.

And so, here we are, with the third iteration of the modern film Batman–after Bale’s serious, action-oriented playbot interpretation and Affleck’s approach (which I will admit I have not seen, so I can’t make any good comment about it)–Robert Pattinson takes on a new approach to the character, diverting greatly from those who came before to explore a quieter but still focused and troubled version of the character. I don’t consider myself a major fan of any DC superheroes, so I was curious more than anything to see how the movie would turn out.

What really stands out to me about Pattinson’s Batman is just how much more reclusive he is, how very little he talks to people. In his alter ego, he is still quiet but takes on a more confident and capable attitude. Bruce, meanwhile, seems like the kind of guy you’d sooner expect to see lurking around in his own house wishing for people to leave him be than a man who wants constant parties when he’s not fighting crime. It brings an element to the character that is both unexpected and welcome. As opposed to the overly zealous, sarcastic and downright bombastic RDJ Tony Stark, who wants every moment of the use of his tech to be a whole presentation in of itself, this version of Batman lets the tech speak for itself. In the few instances where he uses his gadgets, none of them have the “Stark” quality that fans of the MCU are at this point used to in superhero movies.

The soundtrack is absolutely killer. Michael Giacchino did an excellent job with such a simple two-note theme. It’s immediately catchy and I just keep humming it. The use of “Something in the Way” by Nirvana is also done very well.

One major criticism I have is how little light is in this movie. Being a Batman film, it’s typical that a major focus would be on darkness. Batman fights during the nighttime, when crime spikes in Gotham. But this movie is just dark. I struggle to see things if I have the lights on–and yes, I’m the kind of person to watch movies with the lights on. With that said, it’s mostly a small gripe that is otherwise outweighed by a well-written movie.

I usually give ratings in conversation with other people, but in the case of a written review I will simply give my recommendation or my warning. If you’re a fan of Batman, or even superhero films in general, I think you’ll enjoy this movie. There’s just enough action to make it “Batman”, without so much that it becomes every other superhero movie in existence. A lot more focus is placed on the drama and mystery of the story; the action merely assists it. There’s little I can say that makes it bad, besides the darkness. I look forward to a sequel, and possibly tie-ins/shared universes. I’ll be pretty disappointed if Batman sees yet another reboot–I would very much like to see Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne interact with other superheroes instead of in his hero persona. The end of the movie also hints that we may soon see a new Joker. It’s hard to beat Heath Ledger’s performance but I would certainly like to see someone else try to make an effective act from that character.