DC reinvents itself with “The Batman”

I’m a big Marvel fan (Martin Scorsese can speak his piece, that doesn't mean we have to listen). I’ve lived my life thinking DC movies were far inferior to any Marvel movie, mostly because a lot of them are, and then “The Batman” came out. Say what you want about pointless remakes or useless adaptations (I hear you, I do), but “The Batman” somehow delivers something entirely new in a story so familiar.

I have to say, as much as I love Robert Pattinson (#TeamEdward), I too was a bit nervous when he publicly admitted he hadn’t worked out even a little during quarantine to prepare for this part. However, not only did Pattinson kill the role, he became one of my favorite Batman/Bruce Wayne combos to date. He presented a darker side to Wayne’s character that few other Batmen or actors who have played Batman have done, bringing an appealing brooding to the screen. We also get to see a more emotional side of Wayne, rather than the stone-cold, put-together playboy common in previous adaptations.

Director Matt Reeves and Cinematographer Greig Fraser stole the show though, making a film that was not only artistically pleasing and cinematically interesting, but one that, while slow in parts, kept your attention throughout. They didn’t play it safe when it came to engaging shots and that really shined through. I don’t want to leave out honorable mentions for sound design, production design and music composition either (this may or may not be a jab at the Oscars).

Although the ending felt slow and dragged out in parts in a movie that definitely didn’t need to be as long as it was, in my opinion, the film made up for it with one of the most epic introductions to a film I’ve experienced in a while. The audience is immediately hit with a sense of dread right out of a horror movie, and we get the first glance of what this new Batman is going to be bringing to the screen. It’s intense - a jump scare that never comes, as Reeves continues to drag the audience along.

So, whether you’re a superhero fan or not, I think “The Batman” is worth watching. Engrossing cinematography is something to look forward to, and it’s a fun new take on a story most of us know and love.