Movie Review – The Batman
Mise En Scene(5/5) – Many well constructed images, the jump from the top of police headquarters among them.
Cinematography Score(9.5/10) – The sets were usually in low light but the images were always crisp. A few less headlight closeups would have been nice.
Sound Score(10/10) The soundtrack reinforced the mood of the story. Also some good use of low frequencies that amplified the sense of menace in the film.
Catwoman Score(5/5) Good performance by Kravitz. The first totally non-oppositional Catwoman we’ve had in the movies.
Film Noir/Horror/Thriller Score(9.5/10) The film had a good, dark look. The violence was creepy without being over-the-top gory. It did seem to rain a lot though.
Fight Scenes Score(4/5) This is a problem in a lot of films. A character like Batman hits you once and you’re out. Films want to prolong these fight scenes for the sake of movement but that’s not realistic.
World’s Darkest Detective Score(9.5/10) This is something the other movies were missing, a mystery to solve. Batman did seem to figure out the Riddler’s riddles too quickly though.
Riddler Score(10/20) Film making decisions have consequences. Spielberg’s decision to remake West Side Story invites comparison to the original. Any decision to make a Batman movie will invite comparisons to “The Dark Knight.” And any Batman villain will be compared to Heath Ledger’s Joker. In my opinion, Dano’s Riddler falls short. This isn’t much of a criticism since I think Ledger’s performance is one of the top 25 acting jobs of all time. Dano delivers a hyper-level of energy in his Arkham scene but Heath’s Joker was an archetypal menace. Where Riddler is after revenge, a pretty common motive, Joker wanted to watch the world burn, corruption for the sake of corruption. From the opening bank heist to the disappearing pencil to the burning mountain of money to the “Do You Want To Know How I Got These Scars” running gag to the exploding hospital to the reversed hostages-and-hostage-takers to the reversed Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent The Joker went to depths no villain(except Scottie Ferguson) had ever gone.
Gritty Darkness Score(6/10) So, yes, this film sounded and looked dark. But, again, one can’t help but be reminded that The Dark Knight was something more, a film that “was” dark even when it didn’t “look” dark. The Joker can blow up a hospital in the light of day but that’s still a dark moment.
Story Score(10/10) One thing I enjoyed about the story was the fact that Batman is still relatively new to his crime fighting role in Gotham City. He still doesn’t have the trust, or the complete cooperation, of the police.
Remake Score(2/5) I was initially perturbed at the 3rd reboot of Spider Man(Homecoming.) But they eventually justified that with No Way Home. Perhaps this reboot will eventually attain similar heights. But, for now, it remains(for me, at least) a good film which I can’t help but be reminded, isn’t a great film.
80.5/100