The Batman - Matt Reeves Directing and Producing

Discussion in 'Movies and Television' started by Prime17, Apr 12, 2016.

  1. HunterGreen2005

    HunterGreen2005 In-Stock

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    Lol! My bad! :p 

    I'll the say The Batman score/intro. Can't remember the last time a movie song/beat got stuck in my head like this.
     
  2. User_93049

    User_93049 Well-Known Member

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    youtube music version for those who make playlists on YT
     
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  3. areaseven

    areaseven Live to Win

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    The Batman is clearly not as good as Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, but what Matt Reeves brings to the table is perhaps the darkest and most realistic take on the Caped Crusader. Reeves' depiction of Gotham City reeks of so much urban blight that it makes the Narrows in Batman Begins look like Beverly Hills. The cinematography is also nothing short of impressive, as the numerous tight shots and extensive use of darkness make the film feel very claustrophobic.

    Robert Pattinson's portrayal is clearly the most flawed of all the incarnations of Batman, but it's by design. He lacks the razor-sharp ninjutsu skills of Christian Bale and the majestic presence of Michael Keaton. Instead, he comes out of the darkness as a no-nonsense brawler who doesn't bother to avoid anyone hitting him from behind. He's also the most minimalist Batman, speaking very little and using nearly no gadgets at all. In contrast to the iconic bat cape, Pattinson uses a wingsuit and a parachute. His Batmobile is also completely devoid of gadgets, but it does its job in spades during the film's intense car chase. Perhaps the only real flaw in Pattinson's portrayal is as Bruce Wayne, as there isn't much to write home about.

    But the one who really carries the film is Jeffrey Wright as Lt. Gordon, the only good guy in Gotham Police. His positive attitude balances out Pattinson's brooding nature throughout the film. Zoe Kravitz does a great performance as the vengeance-fueled Selina Kyle. Andy Serkis is remarkable as Alfred, despite his limited screen time compared to previous incarnations.

    Paul Dano has always been a creepy actor since his performance in the 2012 film Prisoners, but his portrayal of the Riddler increases the creepiness level to 11. Just like the late Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, Dano is completely unpredictable and cryptic from beginning to end. Colin Farrell is almost unrecognizable as the Penguin, but he makes for a very convincing mobster. John Turturro delivers probably the best portrayal of crime lord Carmine Falcone.

    If there's anything to knock this film, it's the running time. While it's fine for those used to the Dark Knight Trilogy, new viewers might not have the patience to watch a three-hour film.

    Overall, The Batman is a great start to yet another big-screen reinvention of the Dark Knight.

    Rating: B+

    Batman Live-Action Films Ranked
    1. Batman Begins (2005)
    2. The Dark Knight (2008)
    3. Batman (1989)
    4. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
    5. The Batman (2022)
    6. Batman Returns (1992)
    7. Batman (1966)
    8. Batman Forever (1995)
    9. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
    10. Batman & Robin (1997)

    Batman Ranked
    1. Christian Bale (2005-2012)
    2. Michael Keaton (1989-1992)
    3. Robert Pattinson (2022-present)
    4. Adam West (1966-1968)
    5. Ben Affleck (2016-2020)
    6. Val Kilmer (1995)
    7. George Clooney (1997)
     
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  4. OldDirtyBot

    OldDirtyBot ODB

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    As much as I want to love it, I can only give it a like at best. I know what they were aiming for and kudos for them as I think it was accomplished. For me it either didn't go dark enough or it didn't go comicy enough. Best scene was easily when batmobile came to life, absolute goosebumps.

    And I know it wouldn't have fit but how incredible would it have been if it had been Joaquin at the end.
     
  5. TF Hot Rod

    TF Hot Rod Legacy TFA enjoyer

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    My current top 5 Batmen ranking
    1. Pattinson
    2. Affleck
    3. Bale
    4. Keaton
    5. Probably Adam West
    EDIT: The Riddler website keeps processing (it was at a 15% yesterday) so something is coming probably for the Gotham police show on HBO Max which is now apparently gonna have Arkham Asylum involved so ___ could show up in it.
    [​IMG]
    And also this translates to...
    [​IMG]
    Agreed, and also even when I was standing outside my theater I could hear to my right in another theater the engine going off soundly and I knew that was The Batmobile. Love that chase (along with BvS's as my favorite Batman chases). The score and cinematography of this movie were fantastic. Shout out to Greg Fraser
    If you about the track for the beginning of the movie theme for Batman then it's this track
     
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  6. User_93049

    User_93049 Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]this may be fake but Pattison's ability to bullshit for his interviews is amazing. someone cast him as Shadow for the third Sonic movie
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
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  7. TF Hot Rod

    TF Hot Rod Legacy TFA enjoyer

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    'The Batman' Box Office Opening Weekend Scores $128 Million - Variety
    "Holy ticket sales, Batman!

    Robert Pattinson’s pitch-black superhero adventure “The Batman” collected a mighty $128.5 million in its box office debut, marking the best opening weekend of 2022 by a landslide. But what is more impressive: it’s only the second pandemic-era movie to cross the $100 million mark in a single weekend, a feat first achieved by “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which launched last December to a historic $260 million."

    EDIT: 'The Batman' Opens to $120 Million Overseas, Nears $250 Million Globally - Variety
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
  8. bignick1693

    bignick1693 Maximal

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    Just finished watching it. I think it was very good but it didn’t do anything new. In ways it’s very similar to Nolan’s take but I find it to be more dark, gritty, & real in some ways. His contact lenses are the only thing that I found to be more comic book like.

    It’s more detective story over action movie so some might not like that. The cast as a whole was pretty good. I didn’t care for Bruce and Alfred’s relationship. That felt to repetitive with the whole you’re not my dad stuff.

    I really like this take on the Riddler. The Penguin really shinned too. Cat woman was a very basic Cat woman.

    I would like to see this Batman use more gadgets in future movies. The lack of a quick use glider cape kinda annoyed me at moments. Like if it was any other Batman in that situation they would have a way easier time.

    Overall it’s like a B.
     
  9. drmick

    drmick Well-Known Member

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    I thought it was really dull. Big opening weekend but I don't see this having Endgame or No Way Home long distance legs.
     
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  10. TF Hot Rod

    TF Hot Rod Legacy TFA enjoyer

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    It definitely won't since this movie isn't on the left of Endgame or NWH so I definitely wouldn't expect it but I think since it's Batman, doing good so far BO wise (it being the second-biggest opening in this pandemic era behind NWH) and the positive reviews it'll have legs just not Endgame or NWH level legs.
     
  11. Hotshotprime43

    Hotshotprime43 Well-Known Member

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    It was good but flawed. There is a lot good to the movie the things they got wrong are the things that are really gonna annoy me. Of course Robert Pattinson was way too skinny for the role. Very disappointed with that but I knew that going in so was trying to look past it. The worse part is it seems Bruce did not even witness his parents murder in this universe. So that really takes away the trauma of seeing it and he guilt that it was his fault. Since typically it goes let us go to the movies or in Begins case let us leave the opera early. So it is because of him they are where they are that results in the murder. This one is kind of vague and guess we will have to see where it goes but they way it came off to me is that element is taking away which is a very big deal. Also Andy Serkis did not do it for me as Alfred. Maybe it is because he did not get enough screen time or maybe i just see him now as Klaue in Black Panther in which he was awful in but his Alfred just did not work for me. I think that more of a personal problem for me though.

    The good was the batsuit. I think this is my all time favorite live action batsuit and something I would wanna put on, Batmobile and the chase with it was a lot of fun, Gotham looks amazing, Gordon and Batman relationship is the best dynamic in the movie and they work really well, good music, probably the most accurate Catwoman to the comics looking right out of year one, great Penguin, great Riddler. Batman had a great entrance in the movie at the subway station. There is a lot of good to this movie.
    The detective aspect of the movie was great and a good change of pace to work with.

    Being a big Batman fan I feel each version of him is always missing some type of aspect to the character that makes each version feel incomplete.

    West is a classic campy version which I love but not the complete serious package I want.

    Keaton had a good voice, detective skills, batsuit, and batmobile but lacked the physical aspects of Batman and his movies he was a secondary character to his villains.

    Kilmer is underrated and does a good job being the mentally scared version of Batman and in my opinion is written more like the comic book Bruce Wayne/Batman just in a goofy movie. He has a lot more focus on him in his movie then Keaton did. The riddles are easy but the movie tries to show him as smart. Once again Kilmer just not built enough but do like it more than most and will defend him.

    Clooney is the worse but I will say something nice about him... There is a good scene in Batman and Robin with and Alfred where he asks "Is it my way or the highway?" which I like because I like a stubborn Batman just the rest of the movie and him in is an awful kind of dad joke Batman that does not work for a main Batman movie.

    Bale is my favorite live action Batman because of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. He is the first actor of course that actually looks to be in physical shape for the role not needing fake muscles and his character in Begins is a great starting point for him showing his drive to become Batman and in TDK the struggles of keeping it going. In these first two movies he is almost perfect. My only flaw with him in these two is when Fox explains how he cured the fear gas Bruce was confused showing he is not a great chemist like other versions. But is still smart with detective work and technology. He is shown to have a strong driver to be Batman in these first two movies. Then TDKR kind of ruins the character with him quitting Batman twice in the same movie and strips him of his drive to be Batman that is so important to the character.

    Affleck is really good in his movies and has all the elements needed to be the best Batman but sadly is in awful movies that almost gets him right but just misses the mark. He just does not have a good theatrical movie as Batman in his resume or even a solo movie.

    Pattinson has the detective work and obsession of being Batman down. So really enjoy that aspect but of course like I said just needs to bulk up a bit. To go from Bale and Affleck back to a skinny Batman was a step in the wrong direction. Still he is tale so that helps when he is in the suit. I enjoyed the more reclusive Bruce Wayne that is more beat down on life that reminded me of Keaton being more isolated then the typical Bruce Wayne but felt this was done maybe better because it felt like that was the point while for Keaton it felt like because he was more of an after though for the Joker to be the focus. Still enjoyed that angle more than I thought. Also him maybe not seeing his parents murder strips a lot away from him but not sure if that is for sure yet.

    1. Bale The most well rounded for me and has two great movies
    2. Affleck Could have been the best but and does a great job in movies that do not work
    3. West Just works well for the camp. Not better then the rest but gives me a better campy Batman and is better for what he is then the rest are for what they are.
    4. Pattinson did really well and can grow more on me in time with some changes and seeing how he grows
    5. Kilmer feels like Batman to me and does really well with what he is given
    6. Keaton I do like and respect what Batman 89 did for the character but do feel like he is weaker then most will admit
    7. Clooney
     
  12. TF Hot Rod

    TF Hot Rod Legacy TFA enjoyer

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    Since theres no GCPD threat on here I'll drop this here since it's also related.

    Warner Bros. Reportedly Changes Plans for The Batman's Arkham Asylum ‘Horror’ Spin-off
    (Basically the GCPD show is now is now a Arkham Asylum show)

    Matt Reeves - “The GCDP thing, that story has story has kinda evolved. We’ve actually now [moved] more into the realm of exactly what would happen in the world of Arkham as it relates coming off of our movie, and some of the characters… almost leaning into the idea of… it’s like a horror movie or a haunted house that is Arkham. The idea, again the way that Gotham is a character in the movie, I really want Arkham to exist as a character. You go into this environment and encounter these characters in a way that feels really fresh. And so in our work on Gotham, that story started to evolve, and it started feeling [like], ‘Wait, we should really lean into this.' And then that’s kinda where that’s gone.”

    Love this, hoping since it's gonna involve Arkham we get to see more of Batman's rogues and establish some in this universe regardless if we see them in the films or not. I think we very well could see Riddler and
    The Joker
    show up since there in Arkham.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
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  13. Dr Kain

    Dr Kain Well-Known Member

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    Wow, this was actually really good. Colin Ferrel was freaking phenomenal as Penguin. I hate to say it, but this movie really highlighted a ton of the issues the Nolan movies had, even moreso than the ones I had beforehand.
     
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  14. bignick1693

    bignick1693 Maximal

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    It’s to long and slow for repeating views. Like it’s great but this isn’t one to watch again and again.
     
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  15. theestampede

    theestampede Wandering Artist

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    I loved almost every minute of this movie.

    There are things I could nitpick if I really thought about it and maybe it’s a bit too obvious with its Se7en and Zodiac references, but I don’t care. I loved those movies, loved this one, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.
     
  16. Dr Kain

    Dr Kain Well-Known Member

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    I also thought of Se7en and several other Neo Noirs I watch. I think that is what helped with it. And the beginning of the movie was freaking badass with everyone looking in the shadows and getting scared.

    I will say Pattinson was a fine Batman but his Bruce kind of sucked. Also, Alfred needed more screen time.
     
  17. dinobot1

    dinobot1 Well-Known Member

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    Everyone has mentioned Seven and Zodiac when it comes to what inspired The Batman, but I also saw a lot of High and Low. The Riddler’s resentment of Bruce Wayne pretty much comes straight from that movie. The kidnapper in that movie does what he does out of hatred for the decadent lifestyle that Toshiro Mifune unintentionally flaunts in his house on a hill. Similarly, the Riddler grows to despise Bruce Wayne as he gazes at Wayne Tower from his dilapidated orphanage. To paraphrase the riddler, no one is really an orphan when they have that much wealth.

    As far as aesthetics, the movie took a bit from Blade Runner with how Gotham City was visualized. The city is always raining at night, giving a hopeless feel to it. Gotham square was also appropriately dystopian with all of the TV monitors and anti-Drops billboards.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2022
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  18. Los

    Los Now you see me...

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    Saw it today and it was great. I know some prior Batman movies have taken things from the graphic novels but this movie is a graphic novel come to life. Probably the only Batman live-action to do it, right? I liked
    that the beginning narration and scene was the best on-screen adaptation of how powerful the bat signal is to a criminal.

    It is a long movie but I was not bored. Then again this is the Batman movie I wanted in the mid-90s. This is definitely Bruce and Bats at a very specific time. It was cool to see Pattinson’s Batman
    develop as a hero, instead of a vigilante, to both himself and Gotham. When Bats spoke it was important but Bruce just had trouble talking. It justifies the screen time for me.

    I will say that this Batman will challenge Keaton’s Batman in the eye-department!
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2022
  19. bellpeppers

    bellpeppers A Meat Popsicle

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    I can see myself watching this again.
     
  20. Haloid1177

    Haloid1177 Hey, That's Pretty Good

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    I thought this was a significant step up from the Nolan movies for several reasons.

    1. It had a Gotham City that felt like Gotham. The only Nolan film that had a Gotham that felt like something special was Begins, and they dropped it in TDK and TDKR and it was clearly just Chicago or Pittsburgh.
    2. It was a Batman movie, and the only one we really got out of that in the Nolan trilogy was Begins. TDK was a Joker/Dent movie, and TDKR was a Bruce Wayne movie. I can't express enough how nice it was to have a Batman movie where Batman is in it for almost the entire run time.
    3. It was both comic booky and also grounded. Nolan's film felt like any man in a costume in any generic city would have been the same way, versus this film gave us a Batman that felt both fantastical and real, and felt like he could only exist in a city like Gotham. People saying "it's grimdark" and I'm like, Penguin literally waddled at one point, the tech is goofy and ridiculous, URL, like come on. It wasn't in your face comic book like the MCU but way more than Nolan's stuff.

    It's my fave Batman movie to date, it captured what I wanted from a Batman movie and then some. I think the discourse around this movie is largely based on what people consider their Batman to be. If people grew up and attached themselves to the Nolan films, this is not for them. But for people that attached themselves to BTAS, this feels like a natural live action move from that. I cannot wait to see what they do next.
     
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