The Batman (2022)

 3.5/4

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Kravitz, Colin Farrell, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Paul Dano

Rated PG-13 for Strong Violent and Disturbing Content, Drug Content, Strong Language, and Some Suggestive Material

Bob Kane's iconic Caped Crusader is not new to the movies.  He's been at home on the big and small screen since he debuted in a 1943 serial, four years after the character was introduced in "Detective Comics."  Bruce Wayne and his more famous secret identity have appeared in film and TV on a fairly consistent basis ever since, but it wasn't until 2005 when Christopher Nolan introduced his radical new vision of the character in "Batman Begins."  His vision of Batman was steeped in darkness and driven by psychological demons rather than the cliche of truth, justice and the All-American way.  Nolan's interpretation was a smash hit of almost legendary performance, and it has changed the way people saw the superhero ever since.

Everyone is going to compare Matt Reeves's film to Nolan's second, and strongest, outing with Batman: "The Dark Knight."  It makes sense.  The stories bear similarity with the titular hero's battle with a lunatic pushing Gotham City to its limits.  But whereas Nolan's film climaxed with the city on the brink of collapse, Reeves starts there and descends straight into hell.

This new iteration isn't an origin story.  Bruce Wayne (Pattinson) has been moonlighting as the masked crimefighter for quite some time, and while he's widely viewed as a vigilante, he has a cop on his side: Lt. James Gordon (Wright).  Soon a new threat is going to bring the mysterious crime fighter out into the open.  A sadistic serial killer calling himself the Riddler is brutally murdering top officials in the Gotham City government.  No one is safe, and Batman must follow the clues with Gordon and a cat burglar named Selina Kyle (Kravitz) who has her own agenda.  But the closer he gets, the more dangerous it becomes.  Soon it becomes clear that Wayne will not only have to try and stop a murderer who can strike anywhere at any time, but come to terms with the dark secrets in his past.

Typically, superhero movies are all about stunts, fight scenes and special effects.  Not here.  It does have some fight scenes and two extended action sequences, but "The Batman" owes a greater debt to film noir and thrillers like "Seven" than your typical blockbuster fare.  The change in approach is welcome; the "bigger is better" mentality has become tired and rote.  In its place we have a city on edge and atmosphere choked with fear.  This is not a happy movie.

"The Batman" is extremely violent.  The film starts with a brutal murder and never lets up.  The action scenes are very intense, but what really makes this film disturbing is the atmosphere.  Nearly every moment is filled with panic and terror.  The comparison to "Seven," strange as it sounds, is appropriate.  There are plenty of gruesome moments and the Riddler's video taped appearances bring the "Saw" franchise to mind.  This is the first superhero adventure that feels like a horror movie.  God knows how the film managed to skate by with a PG-13 because it's as hard an R as can be found.  Whatever hopes that new management and rebranding would give the film ratings board some legitimacy (if there ever were any) are dashed.  There is no excuse for the MPA's decision.  None.  It is absolutely not okay for children. Full stop.

If Reeves manages the difficult task of scaring the living hell out of his audience, he's less successful directing his actors.  Robert Pattinson, who is desperately trying to leave his "Twilight" days behind him, manages to turn in a solid performance.  He's one of the better Batmans to grace the screen, but he lacks the talent and menace of Christian Bale.  His co-stars don't fare as well.  Zoe Kravitz does a good impression of a block of wood while Jeffrey Wright sleepwalks his way through his part.  John Turturro, who is as underrated as they come, isn't on his game either.  He's no mob boss.  Only Andy Serkis is in top form; I wish he had more scenes.

So does "The Batman" manage the impossible and surpass "The Dark Knight?"  In a word, no.  It's certainly darker, more threatening and filled with despair, but the script isn't as smart or well-written.  And while Reeves includes a car chase, it's sloppy compared to the elegance of Nolan's iconic chase scene.  More damaging is the second hour of the film.  For reasons I won't reveal, the Riddler disappears from the screen as we delve into Bruce Wayne's past.  While some of this is necessary to the story, it takes too long and the film's singular villain loses a lot of his menace.  Shave about 20 minutes from this detour and the film would be leaner and meaner.

I applaud Reeves and his crew for what they accomplished.  What they have pulled off is extremely daring and difficult.  But I must be forthright: "The Batman" is harsh and unforgiving.  It is harsh and brutal, almost to the point of sadism.  It's so intense that I'm not sure if the filmmakers even realize just how violent this movie is.  But it does deliver what it promises and is tremendously effective on the terms it has set for itself.