No. 19 (2022) THE BATMAN March 1st.

 

Film No. 19  (2022)  March 1st.  6:45 PM  EVENT CINEMAS,  VMax 1   Whitfords.

"Maybe we're not so different. Who are you under there? Can I see?" (Catwoman has one of a few intimate moments with The Batman).

Lets get something straight, immediately. I'm no Batman aficionado! I've seen three (BATMAN, BATMAN BEGINS & THE DARK KNIGHT) and enjoyed the original with Michael Keeton most. There you go, that may explain my review. THE BATMAN comes in as my 4th favourite, but it is by far the most brilliantly staged of all. So why then the convoluted storyline, the irrelevant scenes (every Penguin scene needs re-cut) and the 3 hour run time? My initial feelings of exhilaration eventually turned to exhaustion!

But what do I know? I feel like a fraud even commenting on how The Batman considering my lack of Batman acumen. . 

This version of Gotham is a down and out greasy city trapped in a crime-wave. It is lead by individuals so corrupt they'll stop at nothing to remain greedy and without conscience. Director Matt Reeves (LET ME IN) struck gold in the casting of Robert Pattinson as his hero. Pattinson gives THE BATMAN the vulnerable touch which separates our comic book original (1939) from this superhero with a conscience. His scenes with Zoe Kravitz (Catwoman) are tender and their chemistry works.

So why the negative rumblings in my opening paragraph? For me, really good films are all about script. So while the puzzles layered through the plot by major antagonist, The Riddler (Paul Dano) worked and were thought provoking, The Penguin (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) is not. It's as though The Penguin has to be a part of this script because there is a studio triggered contractual obligation. He has a series of monologues that seem irrelevant to the actual storyline. Maybe that's the point, The P is becoming irrelevant in Batman's heavy program of crime-fighting. I've missed the point? Well it won't be the first time. A re-cut without The P would have given this version a more palatable 150 minute run-time.

Anyway, THE BATMAN does his stuff. He does it well in the confines of a Gotham worth experiencing on the biggest screen available. Batman franchise lovers are devouring this version and that says much. Their attendance in numbers counts. Three hours may well be too short for THE BATMAN devotees!! 8GUMS.