Matt Reeves’ The Batman has only just hit theaters but it’s already making waves at the box office. There’s a vocal audience of critics and fans who are quick to declare The Batman as the definitive cinematic take on the Dark Knight. Batman has received more movies than most comic book characters and he’s been creatively interpreted in many different ways.
Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder have all used the character to say unique things on the myth of Batman. These previous Batman movies all have contrasting priorities and their strengths lie in disparate areas. However, Matt Reeves’ fresh deconstruction of the Caped Crusader triumphs in ways that haven’t been achieved before by other Batman directors.
Warning: This list contains spoilers for The Batman.
10 It’s A Detective Story First
One of Batman’s most defining characteristics in his comic capers is that he bears the title of the world’s greatest detective. Batman’s cinematic offerings have excelled when it comes to the character’s more exaggerated comic book traits, but his skills as a detective have never been the priority until Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
A major way in which The Batman differentiates from its predecessors is that it functions as a gritty noir detective story first and a superhero narrative second. Batman’s impressive skills of deduction are one of the most satisfying aspects of The Batman.
9 He Presents Bruce As A Lost Child, Not A Playboy Billionaire
A crucial aspect of any superhero narrative is how well the actor embodies their crimefighting alter ego and the “everyday” version of the character that’s underneath the mask. Previous Batman movies have reduced Bruce Wayne to an affluent socialite who’s able to finance his antics as the Dark Knight but is fairly one-note beyond that.
Matt Reeves applies a genuinely unique take on Bruce Wayne’s character as Robert Pattinson channels a lost boy who feels perpetually terrified. Even as Bruce Wayne, Pattinson’s Batman persona breaks through the veneer, which is chilling.
8 His Understanding Of The Heavy Burden Of Vigilantism
Batman is such a compelling comic book character because his approach to heroics and vigilantism is something that’s deeply rooted in the real world. Batman doesn’t have superpowers at his disposal but this turns his story into one that’s more interested in the cost of vigilantism.
Matt Reeves’ The Batman presents a version of the character who’s unsure if his actions as Batman are helping more than they’re hurting. The Batman’s Riddler seems to be inspired by Batman’s approach to solving problems and he even equates their actions, which deeply terrifies Batman.
7 His Development Of Gotham City
All of the Batman movies have given Gotham City their distinct flavor, which manages to honor the comics and take creative liberties. Burton’s rendition of Gotham is undeniably beautiful in its gothic architecture and imagery, but the people that populate the iconic city seem quite thin.
Matt Reeves truly immerses the audience in Gotham’s criminal underworld and helps them understand how it’s become such a hotbed for corruption. The Batman reveals Gotham’s founders, political power players, and the hierarchy of its thriving mob, which all make it feel like a real place.
6 His Use Of The Batmobile
Batman’s Batmobile is guilty of often being one of the campier components of the superhero. It’s certainly difficult to take such an outlandish vehicle and accurately lean into its comic origins, but turning Batman’s means of transportation into a drab tank can be equally frustrating.
Most movies treat the Batmobile like extraneous flair, but The Batman is the first film to accentuate the pure terror of this behemoth. Matt Reeves drew inspiration from John Carpenter’s Christine to make sure that the Batmobile is physically intimidating and feels like an actual monster.
5 He Crafts A Villain That’s Truly Terrifying And Prescient
Batman has one of the most impressive rogues’ galleries of villains, so it can frustrate audiences when movies routinely turn to the same foes or attempt another take on the Joker. Admittedly, The Batman isn’t the first live-action attempt at the Riddler, but Matt Reeves approaches the antagonist as an analog to the Zodiac Killer.
Reeves’ direction and Paul Dano’s fearless performance culminate in one of the most harrowing superhero movie villains of all time. The Riddler’s tactics are deeply disturbing and his ability to inspire disillusioned masses through an online presence is eerily relevant.
4 The Cinematography And Visual Language Of The Batman
Greig Fraser is a prolific cinematographer who’s responsible for the look of iconic films such as Dune, Zero Dark Thirty, and Foxcatcher. Every Batman film has a unique visual style, which is often a highlight due to the visionaries that sign on to these pictures.
That being said, Fraser’s work on The Batman is on another level and it ties together all of the movie’s ideas into a dark, uncomfortable, and visually stunning experience. There are so many challenging examples of shot composition and lighting that elevate The Batman to a higher level.
3 The Weight Of The Waynes’ Death On Bruce
The tragic death of the Waynes has been featured so many times in Batman movies that it’s become a running joke among the fandom. Batman fans are likely aware of the character’s origins and they don’t need to see it play out another time.
The Batman doesn’t only forego the death of Bruce’s parents, but it presents him as a scared orphan who’s never recovered from this life-changing loss. So much of The Batman looks at the Waynes’ legacy, if they were truly good people, and how Bruce’s tenure as Batman would either make them proud or disgrace what’s left of their reputation.
2 Batman’s Relationship With Catwoman
Catwoman is such a popular Batman adversary that she’s even received a solo film. There’s a simplistic nature to Catwoman that makes the character approachable, but there’s also important history between her and Batman that makes her an even more advantageous addition.
There have been flashier takes on Catwoman, but Matt Reeves empowers Selina Kyle in an unprecedented way. She truly feels like an equal to Batman and she saves his life on more than one occasion. Furthermore, her mission to get revenge for the deaths of her friend and mother provides a crucial human factor that’s been absent in the past.
1 His Handling Of The Gotham City Police Department
There can be a tendency with Batman adaptations to portray Batman as the only competent crimefighter in the city and that the Gotham City Police Department is more of a joke than a dedicated safety net to be trusted.
Commissioner Gordon is frequently present, but more of a liaison between Batman and the law than anything else. Matt Reeves’ The Batman fleshes out the police force beyond Gordon and showcases their skills independently of Batman. They feel like real characters, not empty tropes, and it’s one of the reasons why a Gotham police-focused TV spin-off sounds exciting.
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