The Batman 2022

Despite Robert Pattinson being a little too quiet and emotionless as Bruce Wayne. It’s funny how much his Batman is alive. Though his Bruce Wayne does show the inner scars more of any other Bruce Wayne. It is a little too overdone where you could consider him emo Bruce Wayne.
After a few hundred more viewings, his Bruce will probably grow on me more. His Batman though definitely doesn’t need to grow on me however. He could possibly be the most bad ass.
Paul Dano and Colin Farrell are both equally ingenious as the Riddler and the Penguin. Though Dano is creepier and bone chilling at times. Farrell’s Penguin is like the mob boss we’ve been missing on film since DeNiro in the Untouchables.
While Zoe Kravitz is an excellent Catwoman as well. Who feels the more like the character jumped out of the comic pages. Than the Riddler I admit. Who’s look was changed a little too much. Though him being perfectly out of his mind does make up for that.
The 3 hour length goes so fast surprisingly since the story pulls in you. To learn more about the Riddler especially and who will his next target be. My only problem is that Batman/Bruce is mostly on a motorcycle throughout. Until he just suddenly has the Batmobile in one scene.
Other than that and Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne having to grow on me. The Batman was the most solid Batman film since the Dark Knight. It also might be the closest movie the Arkham video games. Which is a very good thing.

It's a cracker, no doubt about it!

Matt Reeves did a great job with 2022's 'The Batman'. It's difficult not to compare this to other Batman films, though that's DC/Warner Bros. fault for featuring him so much in recent times. I'll get this out the way early: I'd say 'Batman Begins'/'The Dark Knight' are superior, not by much, which is a similar case for the character performances too.

Robert Pattinson is a terrific Bruce Wayne, though Christian Bale still edges him out in my eyes. Zoë Kravitz is probably the best Catwoman I've seen, though the rest - from the Riddler to Penguin to Alfred - have been portrayed better; aside from Commissioner Gordon, with Jeffrey Wright being excellent. Paul Dano is the least enjoyable performer, for me, here, I found his showing to be a bit 'meh' - effective, but meh. Barry Keoghan makes a cameo, I won't say as who, but I don't hold high hopes for him in that role; though, apparently it won't be anything that happens anyway. For the best!

Anyway... the above sounds way too negative - as I did thoroughly and absolutely enjoy this film, hence the very positive rating. The pacing is very good, the cinematography is brilliant (Gotham looks fantastically bleak!), the story is engrossing and the dialogue is on point. The scenes with Pattinson/Kravitz and Pattinson/Wright are my favourite moments. It's a film that I'd consider as 'outstanding'.

It'll be cool to see what Reeves does with this trilogy (should it happen, of course).

For those people coming to this movie expecting another MCU or Nolan action fest you'll be disappointed. This movie is supposed to be a dark, raw, gritty representation of Batman where he's new and inexperienced and still finding his way. The source material such as the Long Halloween was exactly like this (there was event a 2 part animated movie last year).

You have to approach this movie more as an art house movie with a dark cinematic tone that walks you through the story. I mean there were also a lot of great action scenes woven in such as the car chase, the end fights and such to make it fairly strong on the action but that's not what THIS representation is supposed to be.

If you're an American with in inability to be away from your phone for 5 minutes or you have the attention span of a Gnat this isn't for you. If you want a Batman experienced and confident, this isn't for you. If you want Nolan style large, bright visuals.....this isn't for you.

If you want something raw, dark and gritty with a focus more on Batman coming to terms with things and batman learning to be "The greatest detective" then you might enjoy it.

For a lot of people saturated in the MCU blanket who can't enjoy a more drawn out noir film then skip this movie.

I was cautious about "The Batman", as it had the potential to be the best DC film in a long time or yet another pretentious flick. I'm happy to say it's the former, as "The Batman" went ahead and surpassed my expectations, squashing any doubts I might have had. Matt Reeves' arteur approach and understanding of the character's mythos blend together to create a crime thriller unburdened by the clichés of superhero cinema.

Robert Pattinson was an interesting choice to play the titular vigilante, one I had a feeling would go on to become the definitive live-action rendition, and so he did. His Batman flows smoothly between aggression and stoicism, with the former being more prevalent as we see a man completely absorbed by a futile crusade. A major theme is Batman's methodology in dealing with crime, and it's clear that the two years he has spent fighting it have done much damage both to himself and to Gotham. Bruce Wayne is hardly of any importance, this being a conscious choice. I should mention that the edgier portrayal of the billionaire might throw some people off a little, but I've yet to see someone go out of their way to complain about it. It seems that most of us revelled in the broken person that he is here, and we are likely to see his growth as the film series continues.

Gotham is another main character, the best realised version of the fictional city yet. A blend between the theatrics of Burton's and the grittiness of Nolan's movies, it's dripping in its own filth. Rain is a common companion, city lights haze amidst the shadows. Crime lurks everywhere, and so does Batman. A perfect parallel to him, the worst enemy of Gotham is its own people. Musically, "The Batman" utilises horror film cues, minimalistic melodies, and a few moodier licensed tracks. "Something in the Way", one of the best Nirvana songs, was prominently featured in trailers and the same is true for the film itself. I wasn't big on the overblown trailer rendition, but it's perfect as a backdrop to decadency of the city. Besides its tunes, "The Batman" has excellent sound design. One of my favourite moments was when the Batmobile showed up and the theatre bass went crazy.

"The Batman" is unique in that it is the first live-action film adaptation to put focus on our masked hero's title of World's Greatest Detective. The action remains at a smaller scale, the real thrills come from the mind games set forth by the incredible rendition of iconic villain the Riddler. A serial killer whose clues are all carefully planned out to put him at an advantage, it's enticing to see how the plot unravels. Each thread is carefully placed and plot conveniences are never an issue. The story took quite the risks, all while maintaining believability.

Plenty of subplots reside beside the main mystery and connect with it. "The Batman" is layered and rich, in my opinion justifying its lengthy runtime. Perhaps it could have cut down on some ten-twenty minutes, but it's not a major issue as each scene had its place and evoked interest. Zoe Kravits was great as Catwoman, perhaps the best we have seen on the screen, and her tale was gripping. Criminals like the Penguin and Falcone played a major part in the story and everyone around them brought details to Gotham's underworld. Andy Serkis played a great Alfred, while Jeffrey Wright was a fantastic Gordon.

I'll go as far as to say that "The Batman" is my second favourite Batman film. It does a great job at telling a proper Batman story, embracing the character's lore, while also adding many of its own strokes and being able to wrap up all of its themes in a satisfying manner. A must-watch for Batman fans and sceptics of superhero cinema. I cannot wait for the sequel, and am fully invested in what else Matt Reeves and co have planned.

“Fear is a tool. They think I’m hiding in the shadows but I am the shadows. I wish I could say that I’m making a difference but I don’t know. They might all roll together in a rush. Behind the mask. Sometimes in the morning, I have to push myself to remember everything that happened.”

Absolute cinema! Honestly, so incredible. The film-making from Matt Reeves is so excellent and well crafted, with such skill you forget you are watching a superhero movie. Dark, but with a slick style. The more I think about it, the more I love it. Just from the opening scene with the Riddler and Batman’s voice-over monologue while we see the ongoing crime in Gotham City, I knew we were all in for something spectacular.

The movie is three hours long, but I could watch a six-hour version of this.

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, but mostly Batman, is the perfect casting, and from day one of his castings, I knew he was going to bring it, and he did! He did some fantastic acting from his physicality and eyes that captured his thoughts and feelings. I liked his Batman voice, quiet and whispery. Not too forced like bale nor too advanced like Affleck. His Batman/Bruce Wayne, with no other way of describing it, is emo, but then again, Batman as a character is the definition of emo when you think about it. His long, messy, dark, and damp black hair hung over his face, giving his vision the equivalent of window blinders. His skin is as pale as a British introvert. He wears dark eyeliner under his Batman mask, and whenever he takes it off, the eyeliner smudges due to sweat and heat underneath the cowl. Whenever he is in the suit, he never breaks his detective’s eye, but when out of the suit, he cannot make eye contact with anyone. Before he appears, you hear his heavy footsteps on the rock-hard pavement, and then him slowly coming out of his darkness was just... goosebumps. The way he approaches criminals is no different from Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers.

There’s a thrilling car chase that ends with the vehicle flipped upside down and from the POV of the criminal, you see the black silhouette of what looks like a bat-man creation, with fire in the background from the aftermath of the chase, almost like IT came from hell, as it moves closer to the vehicle, and the way it moves its body is so unnatural. Of course, that scene is the Penguin and Batman car chase, with the POV from Penguin and the creation being Batman. It’s terrifying just reading that description with no context of the scene itself, and that’s why it’s so brilliant.

You get a lot of depth with this version, the unseen trauma. Pattinson is the most Batman that ever was and one of the best.

Also, his Batmobile is a killer!

Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman was another stand-out and the heart of the movie. I liked her characterization of a thick-skinned yet vulnerable and feminine. The scenes between her and Pattinson were the best part of the movie, as their chemistry was on point. Her character could’ve easily fit in a Brian De Palma movie.

Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon is so good in the role, and the dynamic duo between him and Pattinson brought some surprising comedic moments. While this Gordon isn’t quite the police commissioner, we see a different side to the character; the no-nonsense type that’s devoted.

Paul Dano as the Riddler was a mixture of creepiness but still maintains the sinister sense of humour of the troubled intellectual character. I also liked his costume, as it felt homemade and fit this type of movie. This version of the Riddler is inspired by the Zodiac killer, a real-life Riddler who sent out ciphers that were hard to crack. Fifty years after the case, and only last year that one of the ciphers was cracked. In the same vein as the Zodiac, he taunts the police and leaves none of his DNA at the crime scene. So, it makes this version of the character scary because it's something that could happen in real life. This version of Riddler is straight-up Jigsaw.

Andy Serkis isn't in the movie that much, but he delivers a solid portrayal of the trustworthy Alfred. The relationship between him and Bruce is "icy", a tragic withdrawn situation that I hope mends in the future. So icy that if these two ever crossed paths in a hallway, things would be awkward. However, there is a beautiful and moving scene, which takes place in a hospital, after Alfred stains injuries after a failed bomb attack from the Riddler, and during that scene where these two finally talk because, despite the rocky relationship, Bruce still cares for him. He thought that he mastered his fear, but at that moment, he feared that he lost him. A touching scene and Serkis was brilliant in it.

Colin Farrell as the Penguin is honestly one of the best transformations in movie history, and yes, of all time. I mean, it's been three months since the movie came out, and I still can’t believe that’s him. He is unrecognizable not only for the make-up but his voice as well. The make-up artist behind this work did an incredible job. Both Farrell and the make-up artist deserve high praise here.

John Turturro as Falcone, who rarely got shown in the marketing, is a surprise standout here and has not got enough credit. What a presence he brings to the movie, and I liked his take on the ruthless mobster.

Peter Saarsgard is another actor that isn’t getting talked about because he acts the hell out of the role of the corrupt Gil Colson. The scene with the bomb collar was intense, and Saarsgard was great in it. It felt like a scene from a “Saw” movie where the villain is in complete control. I mean, there's not a single weak actor in this movie.

I loved the score from Michael Giacchino; very epic, Gothic, but jampacked with emotion. There is some distinct character work with compelling themes from Batman, Riddler, and Catwoman, especially from the bat himself, whose score perfectly captures the tragedy and the heroism. His sounds commanding, yet unresolved, almost like Bruce Wayne’s trauma. Catwoman’s theme sounds like a classic noir film when the mysterious woman enters the detective’s office late at night. And the Riddler shares a couple of familiarity with Batman’s theme, in terms of suspense, build-up, and a grand feel to it. Although with an ominous and mysterious tone to it.

I liked how detailed the movie was, whether that’s characterization, acting, writing, directing, etc. I can tell that everyone who worked on this movie truly cared and put a lot of thought into every scene, and I love that so much. I bet on a re-watch there will be new things to pick up on.

The cinematography is the best part of the movie. No other superhero movie in recent times has looked this well-crafted, so captivating, with its incredible atmosphere, darkness, and lighting. Cinematographer Greg Frasier keeps outdoing himself.

Everything else from a technical standpoint is outstanding. The sound work is tremendous and adds to the immersion. The production design, costume, editing, and direction were all mwah!

I liked how dirty and grounded Gotham City looked, where everything is so cramped together, how it was always raining in this city, or how everything always looks so damp. This Gotham feels diseased, old yet new at the same time. Even the day scenes looked like a stormy evening. Despite that, that does not take away its strange beauty.

The movie is more character-driven than anything else, diving into the detective side. Sure, there is action, which is great, but it’s character moments that stuck with me the most. I must admit the third act made me teary-eyed. It was a beautiful scene that involved character growth. While the movie can be dark, brutal, and at times wickedly funny, on the other hand, there is also a sense of hope. Because despite the bleakness of this world, here you have a broken and flawed man who endured all the pain, trauma, and rage, and finally had the strength to put aside it and put himself out there for those who suffer.

So yeah, I liked the movie a lot.

Overall rating: HE IS VEGENECE!

This was satisfying movie.
Highlights:
1. The mood: love the change to previous Batman movies. Love the characters concepts and communication.
2. The visuals: love the camera work
3. The sounds / soundtrack: love the this, so fitting to the mood. There is one tune that always evoked in me Westworld :-)
4. Villains (actors and characters): Paul Dano, Jahn Turturro, Colin Farrell - awesome acting, awesomely written characters.

extra: the pacing combined with the moon and visuals was 90% right, only in the end I felt already tired (by it and of it), yet still would rate it as very positive.

Lows:
1. Cast: Robert Pattison. a) he just looks weird b) he looks frail, whole movie I could not associate him with Batmen especially one that takes so much punishment in the movie c) His character as it was written was awesome, but at the end the melodramatic (1 emotion only) diminishes character growth at the end.
2. Cast: Zoe Kravitz, while she had more opportunity for showcasing more of acting, she was not able to draw me to her character. Again the visual frailness was disconnecting for with the action on the screen.
3. Ending: The Riddlers final plot felt to me very weak and not dangerous (rising the stakes). As well as the character growth was very moot (which is kind of ok, taking into consideration the whole pacing, mood, and narrative, but it takes something away)

Most of the comments left before mine were made before the movie even was made or released.

WARNING: This movie is very, very dark for DC. It is true to the original Batman comic books and the more recent gothic ones. It is not for kids. If you are thinking about taking kids under 13, go see it first. I don't think most parents want their kids seeing this.

Next, comic book geeks, been one since I was 9, will really appreciate this. It's amazingly true to the Kane Batman while keeping with the newer darker comics. DC has stepped up its movie game here. I didn't think Patterson was a good choice, but I was converted after 20-25 minutes in. I was a little disappointed in the Halle Berry lookalike. They usually change up the look of the Catwoman with any new Batman and don't repeat a look, but realized why at a very specific point in the movie. She's really good, so it works.

It's very long. but fast moving and just fantastic cinematography. The script is really good also but all the campiness that really started with the 60's television show is gone. There's nothing funny about this. It's action, it's drama, it's crime, it's disturbing, it's gritty, and it's dark, very dark. And it still maintains the constant that Batman is anti gun. Very few versions even mention this anymore.

Which brings me to the messages in there, very quick references to current time, without beating the horse about it. I haven't seen any bad reviews, but today is only the second night. If you're anti woke, if you really don't think you're racist but are (still say racist stuff. have been accused before, etc), this movie may trigger you. Two couples got up and left after the one scene and it was just one line. They didn't make a ruckus thankfully, maybe they did out in the concession area. Don't know, don't care. If you still go see it, well, keep your Karens in your head. Everyone else paid to see it also and don't care about what you think of one scene.

Here’s my “Quick and Dirty Review” of “The Batman.” Wow. Great story, beautiful visuals, and some of the most haunting and melodic scoring I've heard in a long time. You know those folks that say "why can't they make good comic book movies? One's where you care about the good guys and hate the bad guys and it all seems to actually matter and it's not just some dumb exercise in grandstanding morons punching each other for two hours?" Show them this movie. It's haunting and thoughtful and moving. There's the absolute bare minimum of "modern day" tropes and groupthink -- instead, you get a vigilante detective trying to solve an escalating series of gruesome and public murders. Everyone is great in this: Kravitz, Paul Dano, Peter Sarsgaard, a completely unrecognizable Colin Ferrell and Turturro. Serkis as Alfred is haunted by his failure to protect Bruce Wayne's parents, while Jeffrey Wright's Lt. Gordon is apparently the only cop in town who's not on the payroll of some crime lord or syndicate. But my standout was Pattinson, formerly Mr. Shiny Vampire, who brings something new and vulnerable and a little unhinged to the Caped Crusader. Everything here feels fresh and new: a grungy but logical bat cave, a saucy and completely realistic batmobile, the way the Batman uses fear and his ability to be anywhere as tools in an attempt to keep a lid on the bubbling, simmering cesspool that is Gotham City. 9 out of 10, in my Top 5 for 2022.

There were portions of this film that I truly enjoyed and portions that I could've done w/ out. Since there was much more good than bad, I'll start w/ what I liked:

1. Although not a huge Batman fan, I have seen all the movies, including some of the animated films, and I really appreciated the gritty, noir quality this film had. It lent well to the dark atmosphere that was necessary for this film.
2. I really liked that Batman wasn't portrayed as some superhuman character, b/c he's not. He's a great detective, in the vein of a Sherlock Holmes, and he's been trained in various fighting disciplines, but he's still just a man. He's not like other members of the Justice League, for instance, and I prefer that he not be portrayed that way. In this film, it was shown that he was able to be injured, as many of the fight scenes were fairly realistic, albeit for what they were. I also appreciated that his attire wasn't laden w/ every gadget in the world that he'd require to navigate any situation. He was more of a relatable superhero in this film b/c of this.
3. I am thankful that we didn't get the umpteenth edition of a superhero origin story. Unless the superhero isn't widely known, there's really no reason for that, and for someone like Batman, it'd been done to death.
4. I'm especially appreciative of the fact that Robert Pattinson spent practically the entire movie in Batman's cowl and cape. Far too many superhero movies are made w/out making use of the superheroes. It's really a travesty of filmmaking, and for a superhero movie, where I want to see someone doing fantastic things, I don't need 105 minutes of would-be drama and 15 minutes of superhero action. That doesn't appeal to me.
5. Finally, I enjoyed the relationship between Batman and Detective Gordon. In this film, they worked together as a team. Jeffrey Wright was excellent as Detective Gordon, and the two of them had an interesting co-existence. I also appreciated the way Robert Pattinson played Bruce Wayne, close to the vest but w/ that intensely visible, yet restrained, rageful anger underneath the surface.

As for what I didn't care for:

1. I felt that while this wasn't an origin story, it was still designed as a way to setup characters for future use. I felt that this film would have been a much more potent vehicle had it been viewed by the writer as a stand-alone feature, since it was outside canon.
2. B/c of this reason, I felt that the film dragged a bit in the middle and toward the climax, which I felt was rather anticlimactic. It wasn't a huge deal, b/c it was still a fine film, but I did feel that everyone could've been better served by making the film more streamlined.

Full disclosure: I am generally not a fan of comic book movies. Sure, I've enjoyed some of them over the years for the bubblegum experience that they offer. That said, I really enjoyed this film. At different times it reminded me of the 60's tv show and all of the various movies over the last 30+ years, but at the same time it very much felt like a reimagining of the franchise. I think that it kept what worked (Batman as a crimefighter) and got rid of what didn't work (the cartoonish villains). I also like that the franchise seemed to be centered around Batman and not the backstory of the villains (of course, it was the focus on the Joker that allowed Heath Ledger to be a star in his final role). Instead of the villains being the freaks it showed Batman as being a freak, which is fitting because he was called a freak in earlier movies even though his character didn't seem to fit that description). The movie may have meandered a bit on the backside of the movie but I thought they did a great job setting themselves up for a nice reboot.

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As with his trademark nemesis, each Batman film must stand out from its predecessors. So what does Matt Reeves' version offer us, and is Robert Pattinson convincing as Bruce Wayne?
To say that, like many people, I was concerned about the choice of the main cast. White characters played by black actors, and a Pattinson who is well known from the Twilight saga, could perhaps doom the film to failure with audiences. Fortunately, in the first few minutes of the film, Reeves manages to take your mind off these thoughts.

The atmosphere is dark and depressing, what you would expect from a Gotham in Batman's early years. And indeed, that's what we can see: he's inexperienced, he needs a lot of outside help, and while you can see the fear he's managed to strike into the hearts of the bad guys, he hasn't yet made a real name for himself. A very interesting aspect of the character, and very well portrayed throughout the film.

Pattinson does very well in both roles (Batman and Wayne), and Zöe Kravitz and Jeffrey Wright are limited to supporting roles without overshadowing their co-star. Special mention must go to Paul Dano and an unrecognisable Colin Farrell. The former has managed to establish himself as one of the great villains of the Batman film sagas with a chilling role.

The three hours of film go by quickly, with a constant narrative that leaves no room for boredom and where we are not overwhelmed by constant action scenes. It's the detective Batman, not the fighter, and Reeves plays him accordingly.

An excellent Batman film, which I hope will maintain the same atmosphere and pace in future sequels.

When they said that this was a very different Batman movie from everything we had saw before, they really nailed it. It didn't felt like a Batman movie, but at the same time it felt like one of the most accurate one. This movie shows a more rough Batman, who is still learning and hasn't really figured it out yet. A true Batman Year Two. The gadgets are still somehow primitive and lack of all the shine that they got in any previous Bat movies (like a "techy-do-it-all gadget"). But it really makes more sense that at this point in his career it's still rough on the edges: The car, the "batarang" (more like a batknife), the flying suit, the cameras, even the graphook.

I know shit about cinema and photography and even that, i can say that it has beautiful shots and a really interesting photography, more that any of the previous. The fight scenes are really nicely done, really rough. It remained me to Batffleck's werehouse fight and even the Arkham games. I got a little dissapointed that there wasn't the classic white eyes (there was a rumor) or the "detective vision" (another rumor), but i guess that at least for this second one, it makes sense to not appear with the tech still in so early stage. I liked all the cast choices, and that nice hint in the end for the Joker, was a nice closing bow.

The plot remained me a lot to a series of quest in Arkham City i believe, where you are searching for a serial killer (i think it turns out to be Flamingo or Pyg, don't quite remember), but it gave the same vibe mixed with Seven: A big detective movie, where the detective happens to be The Batman.

I'm interested in see how or if, are they going to continue this, but i think they can build something quite nice around the character. A solid 8.5 for me.

"The Batman" is the latest installment in the long-running series of films based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight, the movie offers a fresh and intriguing take on the iconic character.

The movie tells the story of a young Bruce Wayne as he begins his journey to become the legendary crime-fighter known as Batman. The story is well-written, with a mix of mystery and intrigue that keeps the audience engaged throughout the film. Pattinson does a great job as the brooding and intense version of Batman, bringing a new layer of depth to the character that we haven't seen before. The supporting cast, including Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman and Paul Dano as the Riddler, also give strong performances.

The film is visually stunning, with incredible set design and special effects that transport the audience to the gritty streets of Gotham City. The action scenes are well choreographed and thrilling to watch. The score, composed by Michael Giacchino, is also a standout, adding to the overall atmosphere of the film.

One of the highlights of the film is how it explores the psychological and emotional side of Batman as he navigates his way through the corruption and crime that plagues Gotham City, it shows a more human side of the superhero making it more relatable.

However, the film isn't without its flaws. Some of the plot elements feel a bit convoluted and some of the subplots don't get as much attention as they could have. Also, the story is a little bit darker that some of the other Batman movies, this could be a pro or con depending on the preferences of the audience.

Overall, I would give "The Batman" an 8 out of 10. It's a fresh and exciting take on the iconic character that offers a new perspective on the hero's journey. It's a well-made film with a great cast and impressive visuals, although it has some narrative issues. Fans of the comics and the Batman character should definitely check it out.

"The Batman" might not be a great film overall, but it's definitely the comic character's most convincing adaptation so far. We came to the point where there have been so many Batmovies that the audience's perception of the character is completely different from its comic counterpart. Matt Reeves' Batman is still aware of the expectations of the average moviegoers, but at the same time managed to take the character back to its roots as the world's best detective, offering us a slow-burning crime thriller where the real threat is the mob that pulls the strings in the filthiest and rainiest Gotham so far. Gritty and realistic without feeling pretentious, moody and stylized without getting cheesy. The Battinson hits hard when the situation requires, but we can see that after all, he is an insecure and tormented man in a ridiculous suit, a slave of his traumas and vices. And the best part is that we get all of this just by watching him in action, no need for pretentious dialogues or the same origin story all over again. The Bruce Wayne/Batman dichotomy has been strangely cut out, but it might be material for the sequels.

While the overall presentation is flawless, the plot and writing still need improvement. Like in "Batman Begins", the last thirty minutes suddenly raise the stakes to deliver an action-packed climax, but end up feeling strangely anticlimactic. It also felt like while essential plot points were often rushed, a lot of time got wasted spelling out things that were already crystal clear. Supporting characters don't get much screen time, and when something happens to them, it's hard to get emotionally involved. Still, it might be the first time I can't wait for the sequels!

This film has some of the most beautiful cinematography, lighting direction, picture texture, bokeh, implementation of lens flair, and best framing I've ever seen. Absolute cinema.

Some of the dialogue and some of the more traditional scoring diverged from the film's best at times, but Pattinson in this film is definitely my favorite Batman, and Serkis, despite not being in it as much as the rest of the main cast carried his part with excellence, as usual. It's hard to compete with Michelle Pfeifer, but I did like Kravitz's Selina Kyle. And goddamn did she wear the hell of those outfits. Jeffrey Wright actually got to be more than "concerned, overly earnest NBC series guy", and Paul Dano knocked it out of the park IMO, and it's the kind of performance that could easily go awry. Turturro, if anything, has gotten even better with age, and Colin Farrell was unrecognizable, and not just from the prosthetics. Great performance, and I usually dislike yelling in films (though mainly older films, since they didn't really seem to know how to present it), but it was a necessary part of the performances, and even had me laughing a few times. The humor was subtle and situational and drawn directly from the performances.

I will definitely come back to this one. It's one of the most gorgeous films I've ever seen, to the point that I'm gushing.