The Batman (2022) Movie Review (POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD)

Hello again guys and welcome back for another round of movie reviews with Movie Nerd, a place where you can be nerdy about movies!

So guys, I am sorry about the lack of content for the past week but I was on vacation and I have decided to just take a break from everything and really clear my mind and just relax, not thinking about times that we are living, with the war and everything but now I am back and just in time, to review the most anticipated movie of the year or, probably, one of them and it's finally here. I just saw it a few hours ago and, let me tell you, I think this really is one of the best comic book movies I have ever seen ever!

Before I give you my take on the movie, here is a little synopsis for you guys, just in case you haven't seen the movie already:

• Set after two years of fighting crime, the film sees Batman uncover corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler (Dano), a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite.

If you haven't seen the movie, I put a potential spoiler alert in the title of this review but just to be on the safe side and not give you guys spoilers about the movie, which I don't think I will in this review.

What can I say about this movie? Was it worth the wait? Definitely yes! Was it worth the nearly 3 hours run time? Yes, it was definitely worth it! Is it the best comic book movies ever made, up until this point? I would say yes but I am not really sure. Some other critics are already calling it that but, in this case, you have to compare it with The Dark Knight, to stay in the realm of DC, which is considered the best comic book movie ever made. Does this one surpass it? I most definitely can say that they are at the same level.

Yes, the movie's runtime is extremely long to the point of exaggeration but, I can say that, apart from a few moments where that runtime is felt and, although, it's pacing is a bit uneven, starting very slow then shifting into a much more alert one and doing that a couple of times throughout the movie, it does compensate with a lot of action and interesting story telling to keep you invested, a very chilling detective story, I might add. It is the darkest, bleakest and the most depressing adaptation of a Batman live action storyline, a storyline that has similar elements to David Fincher's Seven and Zodiac.

The movie is dark, gritty, at times violent and it does not pull it's punches although, in some occasions, because the movie is PG-13 and not R rated, it does hold back with the violence and the punches, pun intended because there are a lot of punches being thrown in this movie by Batman, a Batman that is very recluse and not the playboy billionaire we were used to because of the portrayal of other actors that played the role before Pattinson, which does a very good job in portraying both Bruce Wayne and Batman.

This version of Batman is just in his year two of fighting crime and he is still trying to figure out what he is, a vigilante or a hero? I was really excited about the chance of seeing Batman using his detective abilities because we haven't really saw him using those abilities in other movies and it was really great to see him trying to make sense of Riddler's riddles and putting the clues together. The detective story that we were waiting for we finally got with this movie.

It has an amazing soundtrack, with the main theme by Giacchino being played very often throughout the movie, which I really enjoyed because, every time that theme was played, it matched with the scene perfectly. Some of you may find a gripe with the theme being played so often but, personally, I didn't mind. Apart from the excellent soundtrack, the sound effects are also amazingly good, especially with the sound that Batman's boots are making when he approaches someone or walking into a crime scene, it gives his presence a more menacing look and sound. Also, Matte Reeves made Batman, this version, like he was a dangerous creature of the night, using fear to make him more menacing and frightful.

It's not a origin story per se of Batman but more a origin story for the people alongside Batman like Selina Kyle, Jim Gordon, The Penguin and The Riddler. Amazing performances from all of the actors and a special shout out to the people from make up because, if you did not know that Collin Farell was playing the Penguin, you would have never known. An amazing job. Plus Paul Dano, with his performance as the Riddler, can give Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker a run for his money and, speaking of the Joker, he does have small appearance at the end of the movie. Did we really need another Joker? I don't think so, actually but hey, I don't really mind that much to be honest.

It has some great cinematography, some of the shots are very artistic and, accompanied by the beautiful soundtrack, it does lean into artsy movie territory rather than you're ordinary comic book movie. It also has some very creepy moments, especially when the Riddler makes his appearance. It's got tension, some amazing action sequences but not a hole lot of action sequences, great fighting, well choreographed, suspense, thrilling moments with a really good detective story to enjoy. The humor, which some of you may not find or observe, is also present but in a very very very small amount but enough for 1 or two little chuckles.

Overall, an amazing movie with a Batman that is very tortured by the past and by the present, which might annoy some people but Batman is not supposed to be all sunshine and rainbows, he is a tortured character, a depressed individual in a very corrupted city that he is trying to protect and save. He went through a trauma when he was just a kid, seeing his parents get killed in front of him, which we do not see here, a thing that I am glad because it was shown in every other Batman adaptation, can really mess you up. A dark, gritty, neo noir and very gripping Batman adventure that really captures the essence and soul of the character, both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Honestly, this is the Batman that we were waiting for! Amazing cinematography, great visual style, awesome action sequences, brilliant performances, a great story and I cannot wait for the sequel. Maybe less on the rain and a shorter runtime for the second movie :)). 8.5/10

OK guys, that was my review for this one. Next up, I am not quite sure but I do have some reviews on the pipeline for some movies that I have seen. Maybe do one of those before the next best thing comes. Maybe The Adam Project from Netflix that comes out next weekend, with Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffallo.

Until then, take care, stay safe, stay movie nerdy and keep on reviewing!