Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
That Hans Zimmer music is just so impactful too *chefskiss*
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The Batman - Review Thread
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arkhamguy123
Banned
Aw man so there's not a scene where Batman, Catwoman and Gordon used tik Tok to help stop a villain like they did electro? Lol. Couldn't believe my eyes at the corporate soullessness on display when I saw that. I only like the apartment fight, the last 10 minutes, and I guess it's cool they got Tobey and Andrew back even if they sucked out all the gravitas they had and could have and it's so soulless we don't get one shot of Tobey fully suited up that's not CGI.
Batman dunked on Spider-Man from the stratosphere. As per usual.
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trikster40
Member
It’s a WAY better movie than zodiac was, from directing to cinematography to acting. Borrowing some similarities doesn’t mean it’s the same movie.
I’m just not sure what else is even slated to come out this year, but Oscar noms tend to never be in the spotlight prior to release.
arkhamguy123
Banned
Fantastic film all around. Only Rises and TDK itself may be above it for me. It may be tied with those depending on the day.
Everything both objectively and subjectively was masterful. The craft, the storytelling, the action, the performances. It was like you took the Arkham games, my favorite comics, the animated tv show, the best parts of Snyder, Nolan, and Burton, put them in a blender and pulsed that shit for 30 seconds. Him and Alfred in the hospital, him revisiting his parents bed room that he had literally locked up and sealed off, the ending with him helping the lady, and GOD the flare scene. All moved me to emotion and gave me that lump in the throat.
The combat is also sublime, him throwing hands in the iceberg lounge and the scaffolding fight were some of the best batman action ever put to screen rivaled only by the warehouse scene and perhaps select moments from TDK and TDKR. It's got the best batmobile chase ever put to screen easily. And I was thoroughly creeped out by the riddler in the opening and during his capture. The new theme is also extremely badass even when he's just walking around it adds that secret sauce.
Man I'm over the moon about this one. In the age of garbage like MCU Spider-Man and fast and furious this is a god send. Old school filmmaking. Actual characters. A visual style thats interesting and unique. Non sanitized cursing and action. Even a great old fashioned romance. As a batman fan I couldn't be happier. If you're reading this and haven't seen it, go treat yourself to a Dolby or IMAX showing.
Everything both objectively and subjectively was masterful. The craft, the storytelling, the action, the performances. It was like you took the Arkham games, my favorite comics, the animated tv show, the best parts of Snyder, Nolan, and Burton, put them in a blender and pulsed that shit for 30 seconds. Him and Alfred in the hospital, him revisiting his parents bed room that he had literally locked up and sealed off, the ending with him helping the lady, and GOD the flare scene. All moved me to emotion and gave me that lump in the throat.
The combat is also sublime, him throwing hands in the iceberg lounge and the scaffolding fight were some of the best batman action ever put to screen rivaled only by the warehouse scene and perhaps select moments from TDK and TDKR. It's got the best batmobile chase ever put to screen easily. And I was thoroughly creeped out by the riddler in the opening and during his capture. The new theme is also extremely badass even when he's just walking around it adds that secret sauce.
Man I'm over the moon about this one. In the age of garbage like MCU Spider-Man and fast and furious this is a god send. Old school filmmaking. Actual characters. A visual style thats interesting and unique. Non sanitized cursing and action. Even a great old fashioned romance. As a batman fan I couldn't be happier. If you're reading this and haven't seen it, go treat yourself to a Dolby or IMAX showing.
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Ryuji Goda
Member
Just saw it. Loved it. That’s all.
Dr_Salt
Banned
I can't really see how you can say that the cinematography is better than Zodiac's when they are pretty much ripping off Fincher's cinematography style.
Also Zodiac director's cut blows this movie out of the water but to each their own I guess.
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
I agree with just about everything you said.
To me, it surpasses Nolan's Batman because Bruce isn't looking for a way out of being Batman. He has Bruce playing Batman... Not Batman playing Bruce. That's one of the things Snyder got right with Batfleck... Bruce is the mask.
This version is still evolving and I can't wait to see how he becomes the hero the city needs and deserves... The ending was a good start to the character's evolution...
Gordon was great... I like Simmons' just as much! Alfred was well cast and Serkis is believable as a former member of SAS. Kravitz embodies the sexiness and lethality of Selina Kyle and riddler was scary!
I like this better than TDK mostly because they made BATMAN the star... Not his villain!
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
Also.
Gotham was amazingly realized!
Gotham was amazingly realized!
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Crap movie. It's not even a superhero movie at all. It's more of a crime/thriller movie. But if you're looking for a hero movie more grounded (as opposed to Avenger movies with giant sci-battles and invincible characters), you'll like it's more realistic approach.
If you replaced Batman and Catwoman with two people in normal clothes, this movie could had been LA Confidential 2 but at night and without big fist fights.
Bale movies and the original are better. But this movie is better than those loud crazy Batman movies with Jim Carrey and Arnold.
I wont do spoilers, but the movie is way too long (3 full hours), and the Catwoman plot is boring and eats up a solid hour of the flick. You'll be bored to tears in the first half hour.
The good points are if you like dark gritty movies, you'll give this movie a big brownie pt because it's even darker and more depressing than the Bale movies.
It's a lot more grounded in terms of action and gear too. You don't get Batman jumping off rooftops and paragliding to sidewalks like it's nothing and his car (although turbocharged in the trailers), isn't some super tank with guns and rockets like an old Batman movie. He can also get smacked around in fist fights too when taking on too many enemies. So it seems more believable.
You've all seen the trailer with Batman's car getting into some kind of chase scene. Awesome scene. And the numerous story twists are fresh.
5/10
One liner spoiler
If you replaced Batman and Catwoman with two people in normal clothes, this movie could had been LA Confidential 2 but at night and without big fist fights.
Bale movies and the original are better. But this movie is better than those loud crazy Batman movies with Jim Carrey and Arnold.
I wont do spoilers, but the movie is way too long (3 full hours), and the Catwoman plot is boring and eats up a solid hour of the flick. You'll be bored to tears in the first half hour.
The good points are if you like dark gritty movies, you'll give this movie a big brownie pt because it's even darker and more depressing than the Bale movies.
It's a lot more grounded in terms of action and gear too. You don't get Batman jumping off rooftops and paragliding to sidewalks like it's nothing and his car (although turbocharged in the trailers), isn't some super tank with guns and rockets like an old Batman movie. He can also get smacked around in fist fights too when taking on too many enemies. So it seems more believable.
You've all seen the trailer with Batman's car getting into some kind of chase scene. Awesome scene. And the numerous story twists are fresh.
5/10
One liner spoiler
You'll cringe at the woke line. You'll know it when you hear it. Laughable.
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FunkMiller
Member
It’s one line. In an entire movie. That absolutely fits her character and is entirely accurate to the situation she’s talking about.
Jeez. I’m the first to call out woke shit when it’s crowbarred into something inappropriately just for ‘the message’ but in this case it’s not that at all.
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
The first sentence isn't what she said...
"Let's steal from these white privileged CEOs"... Fits with her character as someone who didn't come up rich or well off... She despises the rich and powerful ... CEOs fit that bill.
She also doesn't know WHO Batman is... So I'm not sure why you think she's saying 'bruce' unless you got that from a YouTube channel.
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
I need to see this movie again!
3liteDragon
Member
Second fav movie for me after TDK, Pattinson is THE Batman.
9.5/10
9.5/10
I know Reeves said the Joker scene wasn’t a setup for the sequel but I hope they bring him back in the second or third one.
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GeekyDad
Member
"Cringe" is the right word for me too, and not because of it being said, but because you could just sense it was thrown in there to please that particular audience. It just wasn't convincing to me.Though I disagree with some of your points, on the whole, yeah, I think you nailed it. Personally, I think the car chase with Penguin dragged on.
I do have to give props to Colin Farrell, though. I've always had trouble watching him perform onscreen, but man, this role was really impressive.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Ya. A totally weird woke point out of nowhere.
Though I disagree with some of your points, on the whole, yeah, I think you nailed it. Personally, I think the car chase with Penguin dragged on.
I do have to give props to Colin Farrell, though. I've always had trouble watching him perform onscreen, but man, this role was really impressive.
I thought the best parts of the film were scenes with the Penguin. His character just stood out from the rest. And Riddler scenes when
he's still on the loose as a terrorist kind of guy in his costume. A good take on it as opposed to every other Riddler variation in the past. But I found when he was captured, he became a babyfaced ranter who just kept yelling for too long. I thought they should had made him more grown up too than making him someone who resembled Wheels from Degrassi Junior High.
I did enjoy how grounded the movie is. Even his tech seemed more believable and not too over the top. His contact lens gadget is over the top in essence, but it's done in such a way that it's cool how it's still kind of hit and miss, and not perfect audio and video quality where he has to tune it to make it work best he can
I did enjoy how grounded the movie is. Even his tech seemed more believable and not too over the top. His contact lens gadget is over the top in essence, but it's done in such a way that it's cool how it's still kind of hit and miss, and not perfect audio and video quality where he has to tune it to make it work best he can
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godhandiscen
There are millions of whiny 5-year olds on Earth, and I AM THEIR KING.
I was making a mockery of her lines. According to the web, the exact line was "white privileged assholes".
Her dialogue was cringe as fuck. It looked like she was ready to join a BLM protest and buy some GME.
The Riddler streaming online and having your typical extremist incel followers was the cherry on top.
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ZehDon
Member
I thought it was a terrific film, but its not faultless. The Riddler plot was the hook for me, and its big reveal
wasn't really worth the build up and run time. I kept waiting for something to justify how much was borrowed from Zodiac and Seven, and it never really arrived. The journey to that conclusion was a great ride, though. The b plot with Catwoman had its moments, but it could've trimmed down and the movie would've flowed better in my opinion.
Apart from those complaints, I think it's a pretty good movie. I really liked the cinematography, the actions scenes were solid, Pattinson did a terrific job with the character, and there wasn't really any moments where I thought that the film went off the rails, unlike Batman V Superman or Josstice League (theatrical).
In contrast to other Batman movies, I'd put it next to Batman Begins: a hell of a first act. I don't think it's hit the highs of Nolan's The Dark Knight, mostly because The Dark Knight had a payoff for its set ups that was absolutely worth the run time and then some. Of course, Nolan himself couldn't get back to that height with Rises, so I won't knock Reeves for not getting there on his first outing. Here's to hoping we get another one.
that the politicians in Gotham are corrupt and on the Mob Boss' payroll, a Mob Boss who betrayed another Mob Boss
Apart from those complaints, I think it's a pretty good movie. I really liked the cinematography, the actions scenes were solid, Pattinson did a terrific job with the character, and there wasn't really any moments where I thought that the film went off the rails, unlike Batman V Superman or Josstice League (theatrical).
In contrast to other Batman movies, I'd put it next to Batman Begins: a hell of a first act. I don't think it's hit the highs of Nolan's The Dark Knight, mostly because The Dark Knight had a payoff for its set ups that was absolutely worth the run time and then some. Of course, Nolan himself couldn't get back to that height with Rises, so I won't knock Reeves for not getting there on his first outing. Here's to hoping we get another one.
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SafeOrAlone
Banned
Simply hearing a phrase triggers people now. Characters aren’t allowed to have a point of view. It has to be the film’s point of view.
macfoshizzle
Member
Saw it last night on Dolby. I have to say this is the best adaptation of batman from comic to live action movie. Just the noir look, dark, batman being a true detective.. Not perfect of course, but this is right next to Dark Knight. Also Catwoman was damn sexy!
Alcibiades
Member
About that "woke" line from Selina, it did kind of take me out of the movie, but it makes sense for the character and it's not really any overarching theme in any way.
The problem I think people have with the line is not really the movie's fault but more how pop culture, business/industry, education, etc... is inundated with "white man evil" which makes that line in the movie resonate in a certain way. If this movie had come out 10 years ago it wouldn't have been seen as an awkwardly forced moment. So yeah, it stands out because of the world we live in but it's a totally justified and understandable for a black character to feel that way.
Anyway the movie was great but for some reason it personally doesn't live up to what I consider the three "greats" - Batman, Batman Returns, and Mask of the Phantasm. I really want to watch it again in Dolby Cinema but the running time is a concern. Three hours is a lot to ask for.
The problem I think people have with the line is not really the movie's fault but more how pop culture, business/industry, education, etc... is inundated with "white man evil" which makes that line in the movie resonate in a certain way. If this movie had come out 10 years ago it wouldn't have been seen as an awkwardly forced moment. So yeah, it stands out because of the world we live in but it's a totally justified and understandable for a black character to feel that way.
Anyway the movie was great but for some reason it personally doesn't live up to what I consider the three "greats" - Batman, Batman Returns, and Mask of the Phantasm. I really want to watch it again in Dolby Cinema but the running time is a concern. Three hours is a lot to ask for.
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HoodWinked
Member
Saw it in IMAX the movie experience was really quite good, the car chase made you feel it in your chest but also wasn't deafening. Most of the time they just crank the volume until your ears bleed.
It's funny I thought this film felt a bit like Dune without even knowing Greig Fraser was the cinematographer for both films. The execution of the world building was really well realized, however that's kind of the problem I have with it. The thing that they're building to is kind of dull and uninteresting.
It's funny I thought this film felt a bit like Dune without even knowing Greig Fraser was the cinematographer for both films. The execution of the world building was really well realized, however that's kind of the problem I have with it. The thing that they're building to is kind of dull and uninteresting.
SJRB
Gold Member
It's a sign of the times we live in when Selena Kyle dunks on "privileged white CEO's" and you automatically think it's a woke comment on current real world affairs when in reality it's nothing more than an ironic statement considering she's saying it to Batman, who is himself a privileged white CEO.
Respected it more than I actually liked it. The first half(ish) was great, very atmospheric and driven by plot rather than endless CGI-drowned set-pieces. I've never read a Batman comic, but it was a welcome change to see him portrayed as the detective fans often call for him to be. Unfortunately as the movie progresses it gets more and more bogged down in a surfeit of characters and the plot becomes both increasingly convoluted and predictable. The movie starts out focused on the Riddler plot, then completely forgets about it for most of the middle act, then returns to it in the worst way possible, with a big plot development out of nowhere which marks the film falling back on a meaningless CGI set-piece existing only for shock value. From that point it becomes a de facto Marvel movie, sequel bait included. For a movie touted as gritty and dark, once it comes to the crunch it starts seriously pulling its punches.
The Batman - Catwoman relationship never quite pulls together - even though the cast does a very good job for the most part, with only Paul Dano's Discount-Joker version of the Riddler completely missing the mark - and the difference in their outlook (Batman believing in working to improve a corrupt system no matter the odds or the cost; Catwoman believing it better to accept the corruption and make it work for her) is only given serious examination in their final scene, even though it should have been the crux of their dynamic and the central theme of the film.
Ultimately, I love what the movie starts out trying to do, but once the effect of the atmospherics wear off and it actually has to start resolving its plot, its overstuffed nature and lack of conviction leads to it falling apart. It could do with losing about 45 minutes and its many superfluous characters: for one, as good as Colin Farrell was as Penguin, there's little reason for him to be there. I respect that for the first half of the film it went for a very different tone, visual identity and focus (plot rather than action) than most superhero blockbusters, but that only made it more disappointing that it completely lost track of itself and reverted to genre formula by the end.
It can't commit to Thomas Wayne being a genuine bad guy; the new mayor survives being shot, as does Alfred with the bomb; the entire police force is said to be corrupt, except when Falcone is arrested suddenly everyone's onside; flooding the city seems to have little discernible loss of life; Batman looks like he's sacrificing himself in the stadium, only to be immediately shown as surviving.
Ultimately, I love what the movie starts out trying to do, but once the effect of the atmospherics wear off and it actually has to start resolving its plot, its overstuffed nature and lack of conviction leads to it falling apart. It could do with losing about 45 minutes and its many superfluous characters: for one, as good as Colin Farrell was as Penguin, there's little reason for him to be there. I respect that for the first half of the film it went for a very different tone, visual identity and focus (plot rather than action) than most superhero blockbusters, but that only made it more disappointing that it completely lost track of itself and reverted to genre formula by the end.
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AV
We ain't outta here in ten minutes, we won't need no rocket to fly through space
Really enjoyed this, it's certainly not The Dark Knight but it's up there as one of the best Batman movies. For my money the closest they've come to the (good) comics. All performances on point, was worried they were gonna go a little too moody for a moment there but it worked just fine, very gloomy atmosphere. Perhaps a touch too long but certainly didn't drag for me.
Like TDK it shines in that it's a crime thriller with Batman in it. No retread of the same origin story we've seen a hundred times, no need for an epic overarching narrative, just a few days in the life of the bat, cemented by the ending.
I loved it and I hope he never, ever makes another one. Let's not franchise this one to death.
Like TDK it shines in that it's a crime thriller with Batman in it. No retread of the same origin story we've seen a hundred times, no need for an epic overarching narrative, just a few days in the life of the bat, cemented by the ending.
I loved it and I hope he never, ever makes another one. Let's not franchise this one to death.
ManaByte
Member
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TaylorSwiftFan
Member
I don’t recall that she was talking about CEOs. She was talking about those murdered.
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
DeepBreath87
Banned
The woke talk was annoying to me because I find people who talk that way insufferable and annoying. I enjoyed the Catwoman character and found her pretty cool, but hearing her drip lines I’d expect from a blue-haired Twitter warrior was cringy. I can look past it, but I noticed it and it took me out of the movie for a minute.
Obviously that is entirely up to personal taste, but then so is everything we will say about a movie.
Obviously that is entirely up to personal taste, but then so is everything we will say about a movie.
DeathScentance
Banned
Imaging having all these real world stories about Asians being beaten in a subway by POC and you start your movie with 6 white guys playing the knockout game and the innocent POC who doesn't want to do it. Set the tone of White Man Bad from the beginning and kinda ruined it for me. Luckily there were several audible laughs in the theater when she delivered the actual White Man Badline, so I didn't feel alone. What's a movie director going to do though? Try and make an accurate portrayal of what it's like living in a big city in the current year and you'll never work in Hollywood again.
Pagusas
Elden Member
everyone cringes at that "lets go fight white make billionaires" line, but I thought it was intentionally suppose to be stupid and funny, given Wayne is literally a white male billionaire.
ManaByte
Member
The movie was made long before COVID.
DeathScentance
Banned
Every single evil person in the film is white. Only redeemable people in the film are, in order... the POC in the subway, officer Martinez, who want's everything done by the book, commissioner Gordon, who's now a POC, Selina Kyle and the brave and stunning Mayor elect... prove me wrong.
DeepBreath87
Banned
Oh I get it. But they could’ve easily left out the “white” part and had the same effect. Bringing race into the discussion was entirely unnecessary and had nothing to do with the movie at all. I know people don’t agree, but I find that kind of casual racism against white people to be off putting. The race of the rich, corrupt people isn’t relevant. It certainly played no role in the movie.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Also this wokish part
There's only 5 minorities in the entire movie that really stand out:
1. Subway Asian guy who gets ruffed up
2. Black teenage thug who doesn't really wanna be a thug, but his white thugs pressure him
3. Mayor
4. Commissioner Gordon
5. Catwoman
All the minorities have a good heart. All the bad guys are White guys. Even the bouncers and tough guys at the mob club are all white.
1. Subway Asian guy who gets ruffed up
2. Black teenage thug who doesn't really wanna be a thug, but his white thugs pressure him
3. Mayor
4. Commissioner Gordon
5. Catwoman
All the minorities have a good heart. All the bad guys are White guys. Even the bouncers and tough guys at the mob club are all white.
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DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
Yes... Because all crime in the cities is done by non-white people. Does that mean all crime in small towns is done by white people? Because that's what you kinda inferred by the last sentence.
And you don't count Asians as POC? Interesting... Btw... The group of hooligans on the train are all mixed... Not all white plus a POC kid... They're a mixed bag of hooligans. So not sure how you didn't see that.
DeathScentance
Banned
You forgot officer Martinez, also beat you to it
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
Alfred, Thomas, Bruce... They'd like to have a word with you ...
Also, the people who are at the TOP in most large cities are white. Most people in organized crime are white.
But whatever.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Ya, I saw that. lol.You forgot officer Martinez, also beat you to it
Forgot about that cop. Make that 6. He reminded me of Sonny Bono. lol
DeathScentance
Banned
Show me where I said an Asian isn't a POC. I did notice there was a black dude in white face in the white gang. You got me.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
But out of that mob of thugs, he was the only one who wasnt into mobbing and cracking heads like the white faced thugs (literally painted white too).
DeathScentance
Banned
I'll give you Alfred, both Thomas and Bruce were demonized.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
I never said all the white people are bad in the movie. I said all the bad people in the movie are white.
DeepBreath87
Banned
I don’t remember Bruce being demonized. I thought people made a lot of unfounded assumptions about how great it was for him to grow up rich even though his parents were dead. But I took that more as them making bad assumptions than those things being true about Bruce.