There have been a few different cinematic versions of the Dark Knight over the years. Director Matt Reeves brought the latest caped crusader to the big screen in 2022's The Batman. The movie rebooted the character and explored his second year as a costumed vigilante while he tried to protect his corrupted city from a serial killer.
The movie has caused quite a few debates among fans. Some have declared it the best Batman yet, while others are pointing out a few of the film's problems. Taking a look at the best and worst things accomplished by the latest adaptation will help weigh in on the ongoing debate over The Batman. [Note: Spoilers for The Batman will follow].
10 Best: Bruce Wayne's Inner Monologue Provided Through His Journal
The Batman began inside the mind of Bruce Wayne as he detailed his thoughts about his mission, which was ultimately revealed as writings from his journal. The journal was labeled "The Gotham Project" and served as a sneak peek into the mind of the vigilante and the hopelessness he felt in his new role.
The inner monologue brought viewers into the character's mindset early and made the connection with the Dark Knight more personal than previous adaptations of Batman on the big screen. It also provided a small glimpse into Wayne's designs for the still-in-progress batsuit.
9 Worst: Fans Wanted More Of Alfred, Who Was Sidelined Early
Andy Serkis was the latest actor to portray Bruce Wayne's closest ally, Alfred Pennyworth. His take on the character was inspired by the modern Batman: Earth One continuity, which was also mined for Thomas and Martha Wayne's backstory, which ended up playing a large role in The Batman's overall mystery.
Serkis' performance as Alfred was a favorite part of the film. His injury in the movie, which ultimately took him out of the film, was upsetting for fans, who were hoping to see more from the new take on the character.
8 Best: Gotham City Was Fully Realized But Clearly Struggling
When adapting Batman to the big screen, it isn't just the character that's brought to life but also Gotham City. The Batman featured a fully realized Gotham City that looked like it was filled with crime and struggling from the corruption that threatened to bankrupt the city and its people.
While other versions of Gotham City in movies have been dark and gothic or bright and realistic, The Batman focused on showing Gotham City as a beautiful growing city that fell, leaving behind unfinished skyscrapers and unsafe alleyways that needed both Bruce Wayne and Batman to bring it back up.
7 Worst: Batman's Wingsuit Escape Didn't Quite Fit With His Usual Arsenal
One moment from The Batman that caused a bit of discussion among fans came when the vigilante was attempting to escape from police custody, which brought him to the roof of the GCPD building. He quickly transformed his cape and costume into a makeshift wingsuit that he used to soar down from the building, crashing to the ground below in a failed landing.
The design of the wingsuit didn't quite fit with the advanced level of his other tech, nor did it fit his usual bat theme. It could also have potentially resulted in his death instead of allowing him to escape, which made the use and design of the wingsuit serve as more of a cautionary tale than a viable escape plan.
6 Best: The Villains Were Well-Developed And Helped Drive The Story
While The Batman's main villain was the serial killer known as The Riddler, who organized his murders and clues with the intention of unmasking the truth behind Gotham City's corruption, there were a few other villains who appeared as well. However, they weren't included just to add more villains and were, for the most part, integral to the plot and helped drive the story.
Carmine Falcone and The Penguin were the main players in the mystery, while Catwoman showed Batman he wasn't alone in his fight. The movie also teased a few other villains without crowding the plot, teasing a bright future for The Batman franchise.
5 Best: Batman's Evolution From Vengeance To A Genuine Hero
Batman was struggling in his chosen role as protector of Gotham City in The Batman, as he wasn't sure he was even making a difference after a whole year of fighting crime. The running joke of The Batman saw the Dark Knight referred to as "Vengeance." this was due to his own claim to the title as well as it being what drove him following the death of his parents.
However, The Batman excelled in showing audiences how his vengeance wasn't helping. It was his ability to be a symbol of hope as a hero to Gotham City that would allow him to save more lives and bring about the changes he hoped to see in his city.
4 Worst: The Ending Battle With Riddler's Army Felt Anti-Climactic
One of the biggest complaints among fans of The Batman was how the final battle with Riddler's weaponized army of online trolls felt a little anti-climactic, given that Batman and The Riddler's final confrontation occurred much earlier. It didn't fit with the typical climactic battle scene between the hero and villain that fans are used to seeing on the big screen.
Of course, that exact point is why other fans felt it was a brilliant ending that helped separate the movie from other superhero films, while also refocusing on Batman's own evolution as a hero. Fans may have wanted to see more of a showdown between Batman and the Riddler, but it still worked overall.
3 Best: The Score And Music Added To The Film's Tone Perfectly
Michael Giacchino composed the music for 2022's The Batman, which served to elevate the movie and increase the tension where needed. Horror-like sounds permeated the film's darker moments, which made Riddler's murders or Batman's encounters with criminals even more fraught with tension than normal.
Also, the use of Nirvana's "Something in the Way" throughout the film – both in the original song as well as the slowed-down cues throughout the film – kept fans on the edge of their seats as much as the plot or action in the movie.
2 Worst: Batman And Catwoman's Motorbike Dance Was Cheesy
The Batman also focused on the developing relationship between Batman and Catwoman: two vigilantes with different goals who found themselves drawn to each other while investigating The Riddler's clues and Falcone's own criminal organization.
The finale of the movie saw them separate as Catwoman headed to Blüdhaven and Batman rededicated his efforts to Gotham City. Unfortunately, the pair carrying out a dance as one pulled ahead of the other and back was just a bit too cheesy for what had been a dramatic and action-packed movie up to that point.
1 Best: The New Costume And Batmobile Helped Make This Version Unique
One of the biggest differences about Robert Pattinson's version of the Dark Knight that appeared in The Batman is the costume, which featured a unique design that included a raised neck collar as well as a newly-designed bat symbol. The unique bat insignia that sat on Batman's chest was actually crafted out of the gun that killed his parents and served double duty as a Batarang.
His Batmobile was also a fresh take on the iconic car, as The Batman's supercharged Batmobile featured a simplified design that called back to classic versions of the car seen on the big screen (and even the Batman TV series) while remaining fresh.