WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Batman, now playing in theaters.
In an age of modern CGI, competition for viewers and franchise-building, almost all superhero films have developed a common flaw: "bigger is better." The concept has always been around in film, but it has definitely become more prevalent in recent years. The MCU is a perfect example, where every movie feels like it ups the stakes a little bit more. From The Age of Ultron to Endgame to the coming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness -- they all had to be bigger and more bombastic than the last.
The question is: where does it end? Superhero movies aren't going away any time soon, but they have to find a way to be a bit more grounded. It can't always be this mega-overpowered superhero versus the undefeatable villain. In other words, writers have to start focusing on small-scale, character-defining actions, not just buff figures who fight baddies for the whole movie. Logan perfectly understood and incorporated this premise, and Matt Reeves' The Batman did the same thing. However, it took things to the next level by highlighting Bruce Wayne's flaws in a way that specifically connected him to the civilians around him.
The Batman did a lot of things differently from many films about the Caped Crusader. For one, it didn't portray or solve the murders of Thomas and Marth Wayne. The lack of closure surrounding their deaths was what made Robert Pattinson's Batman into a vengeful version of the classic hero. It made him flawed, and it made him brutal. As a result, he wasn't a self-righteous Batman who wanted to stop crime in Gotham. He was a flawed vigilante who needed to fix himself before he could save his city.
As the film began, it was clear that Batman's year-long crusade hadn't worked. Crime and drug use were rampant, and murder numbers were on the rise. Quite simply, Gotham was falling apart. The thing is, he didn't have any idea how to solve it until The Riddler made his move. Then, and only then, did Batman start to understand that he had to be more than a vengeful symbol -- he had to be something that people could find hope in.
That transition started at the very beginning of The Batman. The Riddler had just killed Mayor Mitchell when Batman found out that Mitchell's son had found him dead. That young boy (Archie Barnes) goes unnamed in the film and in the credits. However, he took on the role of an Everyman and appeared on a few noteworthy occasions. Bruce saw himself in the boy, and he was one of the reasons that Batman saw the need to help people rather than only fighting crime.
The boy's second appearance came at the mayor's funeral. Perspective Mayor Bella Reál had just finished telling Bruce that he should be doing more work for Gotham. While that seemed appalling, given his night job as the Batman, Bruce seemingly took the message to heart. When the car came crashing in, Bruce jumped into action and saved the boy's life. While it was a small, instinctual act, it represented the fact that Bruce was transitioning to more than just a vengeance-filled bringer of justice.
Batman solidified his transition in the film's climax. Interestingly enough, the climax wasn't a fight with The Riddler or the film's other surprise villain. It was when he plunged into the floodwaters and led numerous citizens -- including Mitchel's son and Mayor Bella Reál -- to safety. That character transition from vengeance to hero was the whole point of The Batman. Of course, there were big fights and lots of explosions, but it was really important to show that the citizens of Gotham were the catalyst for that change. As soon as Bruce embraced helping the citizens, he turned into a real hero, and that's what other superhero films need to take note of. It's not how big the fights are; it's how impactful the hero is to everyday people.
Starring Robert Pattinson as The Caped Crusader, The Batman is in theaters now.