So, the official trailer for the new Batman movie is out. In case you haven’t watched it yet, I suggest you check it out right now. To say that it looks gritty and dark would be an understatement.
Directed by Matt Reeves, the movie’s cast includes Robert Pattinson, who is playing the role of the caped crusader for the very first time in his career, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon.
Batman fans all over the world – including yours truly – are eagerly looking forward to the film, as they want to find out how it measures up to the previous movies in the franchise – especially Nolan’s trilogy, which is considered the gold standard for Batman movies.
In my opinion, there are five reasons why we all should be excited about the new Batman movie.
It Portrays a Dark and Realistic Version of Gotham
We have seen Gotham City several times before on the screen, but the Gotham shown in the new Batman trailer looks quite different. It looks more realistic – similar to the crime-ridden cities you see in classic film noirs. It is a refreshing change of backdrop – one which has the potential to elevate the movie to a new level.
It Shows Batman as a Detective
Many fans – especially those who are not familiar with The Batman’s origin story as described in the comic books and graphic novels – are used to seeing The Batman as a larger-than-life figure. In the words of Lucius Fox, Batman is an incredibly wealthy and powerful man who also happens to be a vigilante who beats criminals to pulp with his bare hands.
Matt Reeves has taken a slightly different route in the new Batman movie by deciding to showcase the masked vigilante’s sleuthing skills. It makes total sense, since Batman is literally called the ‘World’s Greatest Detective’.
In the new movie, Batman will be working alongside the GCPD (Gotham City Police Department) to track down the Riddler. It is a side of the Batman that a lot of fans have not seen yet and it is definitely something to look forward to.
It Is Not a Part of the Extended DC Universe
Now, this might sound blasphemous to all the DC fans out there, but please hear me out. As a diehard fan of the Batman, I have never liked the idea of him sharing the screen with other superheroes – especially Superman and Wonder Woman.
Superman and Wonder Woman are literally superhuman, otherworldly entities that possess enormous power. The Batman, on the other hand, is human in every sense of the world. He didn’t inherit or acquire his powers. He was not made in a lab. He became a superhero through sheer force of will. That’s what makes him special.
However, when he is thrown into the mix with Superman and Wonder Woman, we are constantly being reminded of his mortality and his limitations. So, a Batman movie that is separated from the DC extended universe is just what we need to enjoy the Batman in all his glory.
It Has Realistic Action Sequences
Let’s face it. As great as Nolan is, he cannot film a great fight sequence even if his life depended on it. The fight sequences in his Batman trilogy were uniformly terrible. The fight choreography was incoherent to say the least, with the Batman throwing flailing arm punches and moving like an arthritic patient. Wasn’t he supposed to be a trained ninja or something?
If you don’t believe me, watch this fight between The Batman and Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. Remember – both of them are supposed to be trained martial artists with years of fighting experience. Yet the Batman doesn’t even have his guard up while attacking Bane. A beginner in a boxing gym could have done better!
Also, what happened to all the jiu-jitsu that the Batman learned under the tutelage of Ra’s al Ghul? Even if he is no match for Bane’s brute strength, why can’t he use some of his fabled ‘secret’ martial arts techniques? This is frankly my only gripe with Nolan’s Batman trilogy.
In contrast, the fight sequences in the new Batman movie look more realistic. Take a look at the scene in the trailer where the Batman pummels a thug. The camera is not shaking, there are no rapid cuts, and we can actually see the Batman use pure, unadulterated violence on someone. That’s what I want to watch in a Batman movie!
The Villain Looks Terrifying
In my opinion, the director could not have chosen a better actor to play the role of the Riddler than Paul Dano. I think anyone who watched his terrific performance in Prisoners would agree with me.
If you are an old school Batman fan, you might still remember Jim Carrey’s awful, over-the-top portrayal of the Riddler. That kind of performance is fine in a campy, horror-comedy movie. It does not, however, belong in a Batman movie.
In the new Batman movie, the Riddler appears extremely menacing, just like the Joker looked in The Dark Knight. In addition to that, there is the Penguin, who I hope will keep Batman busy when he is not chasing the Riddler. Simply put, the villains have the potential to make this movie a memorable one.
Robert Pattinson Is a Good Choice for the Batman
I know there are many, many Batman fans who think Robert Pattinson is not the right choice to play the Batman. You might feel that way if you only think of Pattinson as the Twilight vampire. However, Pattinson gave surprisingly good performances in The Rover, Cosmopolis, The Lost City of Z, and The Lighthouse and has proved that he has the acting chops to pull off any kind of role.
On the whole, the new Batman movie has lots in store for hardcore Batman fans as well as casual viewers. The only problem is that we have to wait a whole year to watch the movie, as it is only slated to be released in October 2021.
