Batman is on the move. He is trying to escape from the Gotham Police and nears a rooftop. The only option is to jump from the high rise. Here’s where something unprecedented happens. Batman gasps! He is unsure, terrified, and vulnerable. Still, he jumps. He opens a parachute, tries to navigate his landing, and fails miserably. He is hurt but ultimately manages to escape.  

This entire sequence summarises Batman’s psyche perfectly. The dark knight has donned the costume for just two years. It’s a learning curve for him. And we, the audience, are with him on this journey.

Work in progress

This Batman is naïve. He can be easily manipulated. The character’s mental health is in disarray. He is scarred by not only his parents’ death but also by what their legacy stands for amidst a crumbling Gotham.

In this movie, Batman walks side-by-side with detective Gordon while examining the crime scene. He knocks on a nightclub’s door for access and then walks through it amidst a dancing crowd. It’s a different version than that of a stealthy and secretive iteration that we are used to. And this rooted-in-reality depiction is justified because this movie is a detective noir film.

An exciting cast of characters

The Batman features interesting characters that don’t let the almost three-hour run-time feel like a burden. There’s the masterful mob boss, Carmine Falcone. The brooding detective Gordon. The experienced Alfred. The feisty Catwoman. And the puzzling Riddler. It’s a fantastic cast of actors that makes these characters believable.

Not for once does Robert Pattinson feel like a misfit in the Batsuit or as a young Bruce Wayne. His chemistry with Zoë Kravitz, who plays Selina Kyle/Catwoman, is striking. Paul Dano as Riddler fits the role well and does not go overboard on the crazy quotient.

Technically sound

The joke doing the rounds on social media is that The Batman is so dark that you need to carry a torch with you in the theatre to watch it. It’s funny because it’s true!

The scenes mostly unfold after sunset. To add to it, Gotham is Gothic. There’s darkness in the city, literal and metaphorical. And this is where the technical brilliance of the crew shines through. The background score adds to the charm, especially the haunting soundtrack, Something in the Way by Nirvana.

Be it set design, lighting, or cinematography; the movie’s technical crew operates at a superlative level to create a visually immersive movie. It’s not a spectacle like Avatar or CGI-heavy like the Marvel movies. Instead, it is a well-shot, slow-burn, psychological thriller. Something like David Fincher’s Seven, Zodiac, and Mindhunter.

The lingering close-ups and hovering camerawork transport you amidst all the drama. It feels as if you are present where the scene is unfolding. A pulsating car chase and a ten-second shot in the climax stand out for me. The chase is a classic hero-worthy scene where the saviour emerges from a ball of fire. And the one at the end is like a painting that portrays Batman as Gotham’s hope — he holds a burning torch while leading people to safety.

Political beats

The Batman’s politics is particularly on point as it reflects the problems faced by the real world. It highlights varied issues such as police corruption, class division, and social media cults. It speaks of the bane of the politician-mob nexus and the poisonous potential of such uncouth relationships.

The movie showcases misplaced youth, easily influenced social media users, and what happens when there’s power without responsibility. Gotham is like a world where the big fish eats the small fish; there’s no justice. At the movie’s beginning, Batman is vengeance. Towards the end, Batman is hope. In the next chapter, maybe, Batman is justice.

Is it needed?

At the core, The Batman felt like a fitting adaptation of an intense detective novel with a serial killer on the loose. If this detective didn’t wear a costume, this would have been a completely different movie. It could either be offered as a new Sherlock Holmes reboot or the birth of a new detective franchise featuring a novice sleuth.

So, is this movie needed? Maybe not. Because Nolan’s trilogy (2005 to 2012) is still fresh. So why reboot a franchise whose previous version is still relevant and exciting? Maybe the answer is to birth a new Batverse? This movie is not a part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). And from the last scene, there seem to be more movies in the pipeline.

Only time will tell

Personally, a new Batman franchise is a few years too soon. Yes, it is a good movie but is it good enough? Only time will tell. If it is remembered fondly after a decade like Nolan’s trilogy, then it serves the purpose.

Having said that, Matt Reeves’ The Batman was exciting enough to motivate me to come out of my two-year hibernation and watch a movie in a theatre. Maybe, that is why it is needed — to bring back people to the movies.

If you plan to watch The Batman in a theatre, go for it! The first half is a bit slow, but the second half flows. Do not forget to take all the necessary precautions; the villainous virus isn’t dead yet!

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