THE BATMAN: A Spoiler-Free Look At 5 Things That Worked And 2 Things That Didn't

THE BATMAN: A Spoiler-Free Look At 5 Things That Worked And 2 Things That Didn't

The Batman started screening last night, and we're now taking a closer look at Matt Reeves' DC Comics blockbuster to bring you a completely spoiler-free breakdown of what did and didn't work in the movie.

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Mar 02, 2022 12:03 PM EST
Filed Under: The Batman

From the moment that teaser trailer dropped during the first DC FanDome virtual event, it was clear Warner Bros. had something special in store for us with The Batman. Now, the movie has started rolling out in theaters across the globe, and if the reviews tell us anything, it's that Matt Reeves has delivered one of the best DC movies to date. 

This is a film that leaves us with lots to discuss, and we're kicking things off by taking a closer look at what does and doesn't work in The Batman. From actors who exceeded expectations to moments or characters that slightly missed the mark, this in-depth "review" covers everything you need to know.

We're keeping things spoiler-free in this breakdown, but if you're looking to go in without knowing anything, we'd suggest turning away now. However, while we do get into The Batman's good and bad points, no specifics are discussed here you won't have already read about or seen in the trailers!

For the rest of you, take a look through this feature by simply hitting the "Next" button below!
 

Did Work: Robert Pattinson Is The Best Batman

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Each time an actor has been cast as Batman, fans have brought up their previous roles as a way to "prove" they're simply not the right fit for Bruce Wayne. With Ben Affleck, it was Daredevil, and when it came to Robert Pattinson, it didn't take long before Twilight was being thrown around as an example of why he simply couldn't do the Caped Crusader justice on screen. 

Those people clearly haven't been paying attention to Pattinson's acting choices in recent years. Now we've seen The Batman, we can safely he not only exceeds expectations but establishes himself as the best big screen version of this iconic character.

As of right now, his Bruce Wayne isn't really that much different to Batman, but Pattinson has a commanding presence in the suit and the necessary intensity and intelligence to do the World's Greatest Detective justice. He feels like a force to be reckoned with throughout this movie, but in those quieter moments, the actor really excels and is undoubtedly our new favourite Batman.
 

Didn't Work: The Riddler Is Scary, But One-Note

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Given the grounded nature of Matt Reeves' take on Gotham City, we shouldn't really be surprised by the realistic Riddler who terrorises Batman's home in this movie. The opposite of his colourful and flamboyant comic book counterpart, The Batman's Edward Nashton is a terrifyingly violent serial killer who has no remorse for his actions and clearly relishes taunting the Dark Knight. 

Unfortunately, there's not much more to The Riddler than that. Paul Dano is very good and the villain himself certainly serves his purpose; however, a few snippets of backstory don't do much to make Nashton particularly interesting or exciting. If anything, basing him off real-life serial killers only serves to make him a little too familiar, and a murderer who believes they're doing the right thing by stamping out corruption by any means necessary, well, we've seen it before.

That's not to say The Riddler is in any way a detriment to this story, but he won't blow you away and is arguably at his best when he's testing Batman's mental acuity. It's when the mask comes off that Nashton mostly disappoints, though we're sure some of you might get more from his arc. 
 

Did Work: The Detective Story

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While we wouldn't necessarily say The Batman has a particularly jaw-dropping twist that turns everything on its head, this detective story does feature its fair share of surprises. As a result, it should definitely keep your attention throughout the movie's lengthy three-hour runtime, and when the truth does start to come out, let's just say you'll walk away satisfied with the experience.

Crucially, this much talked about detective story hits the mark and does Batman justice. We're not suggesting the hero is the World's Greatest Detective at this stage, but Bruce Wayne clearly has the necessary skills to be an asset to Jim Gordon as they root out corruption in their city. 

Moving forward, we'd like to see this concept of Batman investigating crimes become a recurring theme. It feels like a big shift from what we've seen in the past, albeit in the best way possible. 
 

Did Work: The Stellar Supporting Cast

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We could have filled this feature with slides dedicated to specific actors, but it's easier to just tell you that every actor surrounding Robert Pattinson in this movie lives up to his incredible work. Zoe Kravitz matches him beat-for-beat as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, while Colin Farrell's transformative performance as Oswald Cobblepot blew us away from start to finish. 

As noted, Paul Dano is a great pick for this interpretation of The Riddler, while Jeffrey Wright once again impresses as Jim Gordon. Andy Serkis, who has only a handful of scenes as Alfred Pennyworth, is similarly on form, and then there are the actors who really surprised us. 

John Turturro is utterly superb as Carmine Falcon (a character we've seen an awful lot of on screen by this point), and brings a surprising amount of gravitas to the role. Gil Perez-Abraham, meanwhile, plays a Gotham City cop who crosses paths with Batman a few times and is excellent in every scene, particularly as a character who provides an insight into how the Dark Knight is perceived.
 

Did Work: Michael Giacchino's Pulse-Pounding Score

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We really can't say enough good things about Michael Giacchino's incredible score for The Batman. The Caped Crusader's theme hits you in the chest and enhances his every action on screen; we'd go so far as to say the theme, and the score in general, is one of the best this genre has been graced with.

Whether it's during the movie's fight scenes or when Bruce is skulking through the streets of Gotham City, Giacchino and Batman appear to be the perfect match. This movie would have still been great with another composer, but we have to credit him for elevating this story to masterpiece-level.

Coming off the back of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Giacchino continues to blow us away with his work. Now, we can't wait to see what he does behind the camera as Werewolf by Night's director.
 

Didn't Work: An Expected, Explosive Ending

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On the one hand, it feels a little harsh to say this didn't work. As you'll be aware from watching The Batman's trailers, there is some explosive action here, and, in case it wasn't already obvious, that comes near the end of the story. In fact, once it's case closed for the World's Greatest Detective, we're left with an undeniably impressive action-packed finale that seems somewhat out of place.

Now, it's important to note that on a story level, it does serve what's come before. The massive brawl that ensues is a delight to behold, and the stakes feel suitably high for the superhero. It just pales in comparison to the detective story that helped separate The Batman from lesser comic book movies.

This final battle feels tacked on, likely after test audiences no doubt missed what has become a pretty standard formula in Marvel Studios movies: a big, explosive ending with debris dropping from the sky. We didn't hate it, but feel like there was a better way to wrap things up.
 

Did Work: Action!

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Look, just because we didn't necessarily love that final battle doesn't mean we couldn't appreciate it in terms of sheer badass action. Watching Batman kicking ass in this movie is never anything other than a delight, and the fight scenes are as brutal and unforgiving as you might expect. 

They're definitely at their best earlier in this adventure (particularly when we see Batman for the first time), but this raw and violent Dark Knight feels very real and suitably desperate as he looks to save his home. However, the standout sequence is arguably the one with the Batmobile roaring into action.

Chasing down The Penguin, Batman - and his car, for that matter - comes across like a complete beast, and we're even going to be bold enough to call this the best Batmobile sequence yet. In some way, we wish The Batman had earned an R-Rating, but even without loads of blood, the fights don't disappoint.
 

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DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 3/2/2022, 12:03 PM
Friday for me baby! Debating banging out of work Thursday just to consume some older batman content again
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/2/2022, 5:12 PM
@OldMan - I watched TDK immediately after stayed up till 2 am lol
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 3/2/2022, 8:22 PM
@McMurdo - love it
DalekCraigWasson
DalekCraigWasson - 3/2/2022, 12:03 PM
Definitely agree on the out of place Act 3. Felt very Batman Begins Act 3, which was the worst part of that film too. It also didn't help that before the Riddler only targeted
JoeInTheBox
JoeInTheBox - 3/2/2022, 12:15 PM
I think the Riddler worked. I just thought his master plan took too long to come into focus and felt like a studio note to make it more "explosive".

The action didn't work for me. Well choreographed to be sure, but shot and edited so flatly. I don't need Batman to be Captain American-level strong like he nearly was in BvS(in regards to slamming guys though floorboards), but Batman is a more dynamic and versatile fighter than depicted here. I can forgive the year 2 explanation(he's not as experienced, hasn't faced more capable opponents) but it felt more like it was due to the mobility limitations of the suit. Something Snyder was able to work around in Watchmen and BvS.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/2/2022, 12:25 PM
I have heard the Riddler is the least interesting character. I wasn’t all that interested in him anyway, as the article states, due to the whole “serial killer murdering the corrupt” schtick. But he seems effective at the least and that’s good.

Penguin seems to steal the show big time though. A friend told me you see why he’s worthy of a spin-off in his very limited time in the film.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 3/2/2022, 12:39 PM
@BlackBeltJones

Riddler isn’t in the movie much, he’s actually more of a driving force. Can’t argue with Josh’s critique of him either, but Dano was perfectly cast and he does crazy well. I found him very unsettling …especially towards the end.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/2/2022, 12:59 PM
@regularmovieguy - sounds like he's a little bit of a story device but if Dano can inject something into that with his performance, I am game.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/2/2022, 5:17 PM
@BlackBeltJones - I could not disagree more. He's interesting because he feels so REAL. we've seen him RECENTLY. And what he represents to Gotham, the world, and to the Bat is TERRIFYING.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/2/2022, 7:04 PM
@McMurdo - I’ll keep my eye on him tomorrow night for sure. I miss villians being villains and I hear he’s a little sympathetic but that’s no dealbreaker
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/2/2022, 7:25 PM
@BlackBeltJones - I did not even slightly sympathize he's basically the New Zealand far right Extremist but his hatred isn't being aimed at a religion or race. HES EVIL bro
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/2/2022, 10:43 PM
@McMurdo - gotcha gotcha.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 3/2/2022, 12:32 PM
Certain parts of social media has three Batfactions fighting it out tooth and nail, and that works for me.
BoW
BoW - 3/3/2022, 4:03 AM
@Reeds2Much - Batfleck, this one and which other?
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 3/3/2022, 10:23 AM
@BobbyW - Bale.
DTor91
DTor91 - 3/2/2022, 12:43 PM
Saw it last night, and without getting into it for spoiler reasons, this is my new favorite Batman film. Just hit all the right notes I was looking for and then some. Could it have lost about 30 mins? Sure. But honestly I was so drawn in that I would have still watched even if it was three hours longer. It’s evident throughout the entire time how much Reeves LOVES Batman and his world. The entire cast killed it too. Pattinson is a definitive Batman, totally nails the year 2 era, and his dynamic with both Catwoman and Gordon throughout was amazing. Kravitz is my favorite take on Catwoman by far, Wright was great as an already worn down but incorruptible Gordon and felt like he was doing his own thing rather than ape on any prior takes. Dano 100% delivers on this sick take of Riddler, Farrell steals every scene as Penguin. But Turturro, while always a great actor, seriously made every scene he was in feel so dirty as Falcone. In a lot of ways he came across scariest throughout.

There are times where Batman feels like a horror slasher. And if that’s the case, the Batmobile is a MONSTER. To say anything more gives too much away.

Ah this film…seeing it again on Sunday and cannot wait.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 3/2/2022, 12:49 PM
@DTor91 - sounds great to me. I always thought the batmobile should be just as intimidating as Batman himself when it’s chasing after you. I thought I read somewhere that Reeves was somewhat inspired by Christine for some elements of the batmobile.
DTor91
DTor91 - 3/2/2022, 2:44 PM
@OldMan - I can totally see that! It’s such a relentless feeling when you see the whole chase play out.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/2/2022, 5:31 PM
@OldMan - it gave me JAWS vibes dude
Chappers
Chappers - 3/2/2022, 12:43 PM
I haven't seen this yet, Tickets booked for Friday! but I don't want to see Afflecks name anywhere near the Best Batman conversation, drives me mad when I see it

Majority of his scenes were CGI and his dialogue was terrible.
Never got anywhere near enough time of him actually acting as Bruce, whenever people claim he's the best they just bring up the 30-second warehouse scene. a short, choregraphed fight scene which wasn't even you, doesn't make you the best Batman
Matrixyzx
Matrixyzx - 3/2/2022, 2:03 PM
@JakeyChappers - I think in another Universe Ben Fleck should play either Owlman or Hawk or even Thomas's Wane's version of Batman. Their problem is solved we can BOTH get our ways and embrace a new Batman all at the same time no one complains.
OmegaBlack13
OmegaBlack13 - 3/2/2022, 2:55 PM
@JakeyChappers - I'm no Snyder apologist but I think it's fair to put Affleck's name in the conversation. Not off the warehouse scene but for me it was the scene where he meets Clark and Lex. I hate the context that the scene happens in, but he was so good as uninterested playboy Bruce then switches it off and gets almost scary. I still wish we'd gotten a more traditional take but as a war-weary Batman with a broken spirit but still addicted to the suit, I thought Affleck was good. Then the bit in the Snyder Cut where he finally comes "back" and tells Alfred he's found his faith again could've been the start of something great, if not as complex as Pattinson.
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