With DC’s latest iteration of the Dark Knight, much anticipation has been built towards THE BATMAN. Directed by Matt Revees (Cloverfield, Planet Of The Apes films), the film stars Robert Pattinson in the titular role, alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffery Wright, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, and John Turturro. The official synopsis reads “Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.”

With Ben Affleck originally set to star and direct the film, THE BATMAN was to be part of the DC Extended Universe. Affleck’s departure from the project allowed director Matt Reeves to create his rendition of the famous superhero; Reeves wanted to explore Batman’s early years, eventually changing the setting into a separate continuity. This led to a recast of the character, ultimately deciding on actor Robert Pattinson. Despite mixed reception on the casting, audiences were keen to see what kind of story would unfold. Wanting to focus more on the investigative side of the character, Reeves described his take as an “almost-noir driven, detective version of Batman” (The Hollywood Reporter). This also included inspirations of the zodiac killer for the film’s antagonist, the Riddler.

Released on March 4, 2022, THE BATMAN became a critical and commercial success, with viewers lauding its direction, performances, cinematography, and action. This time around Gotham looks and feels as gothic as it can, only to have chaos added on by very impressionable takes on the Riddler, Catwoman, Lt. Gordon, the Penguin, and more. With a runtime of nearly three hours, the film introduces much to this new universe, all the while bringing to life a new, fresh take on Batman. With the movie planned to be part of a trilogy, fans of the caped crusader will certainly look forward to its future films. As for now, Matt Revees’ BATMAN has left its mark in the history of comic book movies.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

(Credit: IGN)