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The BATMAN

TheBigBlackBat

23 April 2022

Release Date

04 March 2022

Budget

$200 Million

Box Office

$771 Million

Why is everyone going crazy about this film?

As a massive BATMAN fan I was obviously waiting for the release of this film with huge anticipation yet also with fear and apprehension too. I've followed all the leaks and watched all the pics appearing online and all I keep thinking is, do we really need another BATMAN film so soon.

I absolutely love the character of BATMAN and I'll literally watch anything that's related to the character... well, most things!

I've always been a Michael Keaton fan above all other actors that have played the character, all until that is until Ben Affleck took on the Cape and Cowl. From the first moment I saw the promotional shot of Ben wearing the BatSuit next to the BatMobile I was sold, so knowing that Ben had hung up his BatSuit I knew I was not looking forward to the next person that was going to be taking up the mantel, so you could say I was pretty jaded.

However after hearing that Robert Patterson was going to be that person, I thought... well, lets wait and see what he does before commenting. Many of my friends kept asking me what I thought of the new guy and every time I would reply.... i'll reserve my views until I see the film.

Too many actors are slated for taking on famous roles before they've even shot one minute of film... just look at how Michael Keaton was treated and look how that turned out!

Have to say I didn't like the first publicity shots of Rob in the BatSuit and I hated the cowl, but again I thought let's see what it looks like when it all comes together in the film.

The first trailer I thought was interesting and liked the 'I'm vengeance' scene. Loved Commissioner Gordon, although he's not the Commissioner just yet and I thought Catwoman was just perfect, but just didn't like the riddler and still couldn't take to the BatSuit.

So finally, after painfully waiting for the film to become available on iTunes as I didn't want to go to a cinema just yet I rented the film and sat back to immerse myself in the world of BATMAN and Gotham City.

Guess what... I fell asleep!

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I was so bored with this film and I have to say I have never ever fallen asleep before whilst watching a new release film, especially a BATMAN film.

From the beginning scenes I thought what is this all about, who is he looking at through the window. I just didn't get it, aren't films especially blockbusters supposed to start off with a bang or at least supposed to grab you and make you thing WOW, can't wait to see what happens next.... all I kept thinking was 'what's going on!

After two thirds of the film I fell asleep and my better half had given up and gone to bed.

The next day I thought 'how can I have fallen asleep watching a BATMAN film'? So that evening I watched it again... and I kid you not, unbelievably I fell asleep again! For the second time, YES, the second time I fell asleep whilst watching a BATAMN film.

I finally saw the whole film a few days later, but unlike most films I watch I couldn't just sit there and watch it, I'd kind of got one eye on it whilst making drinks or looking on my phone... I just found it so boring and totally uninspiring and to this day I've probably watched it once or twice since.

In my personal opinion there are some great parts to the film and there are some awesome parts but this film is just way too long and feels like it just goes on and on and ON! There seems to be no finality to any of the scenes they just seem to merge into the next scene.

It's weird as I can watch all 4 hours of Zack Snyder Justice League film, never getting board of it and I can not start watching it without watching it right to the and have to pause it if I go for a toilet break or make a drink!

The Riddler played by Paul Dano is well, quite frankly an abomination to what the original comics character was all about. I suppose portraying him like something out of a current horror movie is 'on point' for current media and to be honest I suppose any top major criminal in BATMAN's world would be a psychopath, but please, wearing what can only be described as a 'gimp' mask is, well quite frankly, just too awful.

The first time we get to see The BATMAN is how shall I put it, interesting to say the least. I do love the BATMAN theme that plays every time he appears and even though I say I liked the 'I'm vengeance' scene, as a BATMAN fan of old I just find it all wrong! I really like the 'FEAR' part, as BATMAN to me should always instil 'FEAR' to those that are committing crime. To anyone that is going about their everyday life, he's just a guy in a mask, trying to make the world a better place and if they are not doing anything wrong, why should they fear him.

The heavy loud footsteps of him slowly approaching the gang before the 'I'm vengeance' scene is just wrong. To my knowledge BATMAN has always struck out of no where, he's suddenly appeared from the shadows, again using the darkness to his advantage. Although I will say, in that costume he probably couldn't as it would be sooooooooo heavy he wouldn't be able to be stealth.

BATMAN has always worked in the shadows and used the shadows to his advantage, to hide in them and keep that air of mystique. In this film he's shown as working with all the police, not just Lieutenant Gordon. The rest of the Police may not be in agreement but he's included! What happened to Gordon bringing him in alone, before the Police, not unlike in the Nolan films where BATMAN actually states he needs to see the crime scene before the Police contaminates it, maybe we'll see that playout in the next one.

So much of this film breaks BATMAN lore just to try and make a semi interesting film.

Another scene stands out in my mind when he first goes to see the Penguin, knocking on the door to the club and saying "Do you know who I am, I want to see the Penguin!" Seriously, BATMAN, knocking on the front door of the club announcing himself... That is NOT how the BATAMN works, he'd more than likely crash in through a roof or something creating 'fear' or no, better still, he'd most likely find a window or something that was easy to break in through and quietly find his way to where he want's to be and then pounce on who he's looking for. Again working on the mystique of people thinking, how on earth did he get near me ket alone into the building with all the security around, but no we have the BATMAN knocking the front door announcing himself to everyone and everyone seeing him. What happened to "Nah, BATMAN don't exist, he's just a myth".... well that myth is now a reality and EVERYONE in Gotham City knows about him and what he looks like! Totally against the BATAMN lore!

I like that the film starts off with Bruce/Batman narrating like in an old 'detective' black and white movie and I've said before in one of my posts "Do WB know what they have?" that Warner Bros. should do something in this vein before, but I just think this is far from what Warner Bros. could have created.

The light humour in the film is fine and I don't think there should be anymore than light humour. Have to say, I loved the 'thumb drive' reference and I think Robert Patterson's facial expressions in these types of scenes are pretty awesome, especially having to do them behind a mask. Whilst mentioning the mask, I really don't like the new cowl, it's just so wrong... although in some scenes it don't look half bad... and I absolutely detest the collar he has around his neck. I get the idea behind it, to stop his neck from taking blows, but it just looks down right ugly.

Honestly I find the Bat Suit awful in every aspect. For a start, BATMAN is supposed to be able to fight using all kinds of martial arts.... can you imagine trying to kick and do all his acrobatics wearing those heavy boots and heavy armour! Just think about it for one second! Yes... I know this is supposed to be year two, but BATMAN has always been portrayed as wearing light clothing of some kind so that he can move with ease and react quickly in all situations. In reality wearing the chest armour he's shown to be wearing he wouldn't be able to move as quickly as he's shown to and since when can lead or steel or whatever it's supposed to be stop bullets from one machine gun, let alone two of them... think of a knight in armour and how restricted they are, they can't even get on their own horses without help.

I like the riddles worked in to the story, as they should be as it's the Riddler BATMAN is up against and showing BATMAN figuring them out, however the Spanish clue, “El rata alada” is just ridiculous and takes up way to much of the film. Although I suppose the different takes on what the translation can be is mildly interesting. Like the dreaded Martha scene in Batman v Superman, I think it could have been executed far better as they are actually looking for a rat whose name describes something with wings, rather than someone whose name means rat with wings.

Then there's the BatMobile! I found the chase pretty boring and lame and hated the angles used for filming, just so disjointed and uninspiring but as a first incarnation of the famous car I thought it was, well, just OK! Must say though I liked the introduction with the car in shadow and the roaring sound from it's engine, however... how he got the engine into the car so quickly leaves a lot to the imagination as I believe the last time we saw the car in the make shift batcave the engine was out of the car on the floor!

As you can tell I really wasn't impressed with this film, especially as I fell asleep both times I tried to watched it. But I do think there are some positives to the film. Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman is totally awesome and makes one HELL of a Catwoman. Far better than Ann Hathaway did. Colin Farrell's Penguin is unbelievable, still can't believe that's Colin Farrell. John Turturro as Carmine "The Roman" Falcone is pretty good although I'm soooooo bored of seeing this character in a BATMAN story. He's just so boring and uninspiring! Jeffrey Wright as Lt. James Gordon is great and I really enjoyed seeing him working alongside BATMAN. Can't wait to see how their relationship progresses in the second film. Andy Serkis as Alfred is passable although we don't get to see much of him. Personally I preferred Jeremy Irons who played Alfred alongside Benn Affleck.

Finally we come to Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne and The BATMAN. Going against all odds of not liking this film I have to say I'm absolutely all for Rob as The BATMAN. I can't say I was a fan of the whole 'emo' thing... Even in his younger depictions Bruce Wayne is always portrayed as a suave and sophisticated billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy. Hopefully we'll get that in the next instalment. I think how Rob acts in that cowl is just astounding, how he can portray every emotion through the eye holes of that mask is just incredible and a testament the caliber of his acting that most people seem to ignore.

I know it's not just Robert Patterson we have to thank for his portrayal of the character, it's also down to how he was directed but nearly every single shot of him in the BatSuit is a classic and I would be more than happy for him to become the definitive BATMAN within the world of DC. However I can't see that happening any day soon as we all know this is a different world to the rest of the DCEU. If Warner Bros. Discovery and at the end of the day it's them that own the IP and it's them that have the say of what can and can't be done with the character could somehow fold him into that world, I would be more than happy!

But, hey… it’s only my own personal opinion!

Published in the DC Movies articles

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