by Ben Schoenberg ‘24

Set up against a rainy background, a group of thugs follow a man out of the train to rob him. The criminals look up and see the iconic bat symbol in the night sky and glance into the darkness in fear of the Dark Knight. Out of the shadows in the train station, Batman walks out, impressively disarming and defeating the group of criminals. When one of them questions who he is, Batman responds with, “I am vengeance.”

Using beautiful cinematography, an atmospheric score, and a strong cast, director Matt Reeves proves Batman’s importance as a symbol of hope while creating an outstanding film filled to the brim with suspense and atmosphere. Released on March 4, the film stars Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader himself and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and Jim Gordan (Jeffrey Wright) as his closest allies. The story revolves around a series of notable murders tied to the serial killer the Riddler (Paul Dano) and the search for his identity before any more people are killed.

The film opens by showing a gritty, crime-infested Gotham that has learned to fear Batman in the two years he’s waged his war on crime. Not only does it establish Gotham’s relationship with Batman, but it also establishes the tone of the film overall. It presents the audience with a dark atmosphere and a younger more brutal Batman. During the course of the film, Batman must confront the question of whether vengeance is the right way to enact change in Gotham after experiencing the consequences of revenge firsthand. 

All of the unique visuals presented in The Batman are in no small part due to the film’s notable cinematographer Greg Fraser who creates a distinct style with blurred closeups and visually stunning shots of Gotham and the Dark Knight. The color palette of oranges, reds, blues, alongside the overall emphasis on darkness, makes the brighter colors pop, creating a good blend between gritty realism and comic book camp. 

Michael Giacchino’s score for the film perfectly captures the noir feel with the most iconic track being the haunting new Batman theme. Other standout compositions include “The Riddler” and “Catwoman,” which set the mood for their respective characters.

The emotionally grounded acting in The Batman immerses the audience in the story and its characters. Pattinson’s Batman is a man of few words, portraying the hero  as a more lonely, obsessed, and moody Batman that prefers being his vigilante persona over his actual identity as Bruce Wayne. This portrayal of the character blends well and complements Kravitz’s confidence she brings to Catwoman, creating charming and awkward chemistry between the two vigilantes. Colin Farrel stands out as the Penguin, providing most of the humor throughout the film due to the charisma he brings to the character. 

Nearly three hours in length, The Batman still is able to keep a consistent and energetic pace for most of the film. The only scene that comes to mind that interrupts the pacing of the film is the Batmobile and Penguin car chase scene. While it’s a well-shot scene that exemplifies the movie’s realistic and grounded sound design, it drags on for too long and doesn’t contribute to any major character or plot points. Overall small complaints such as these do not take away from the film’s excellence. The Batman accomplishes the task of creating a visually unique and grounded Batman story while also being a well-made film. 

Grade: A