This video essay analyzes The Batman (2022), starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves. The Batman feels a lot more personal than Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy due to Matt Reeves' storytelling decisions like shooting the Batman with a narrow shallow depth of field and ensuring the story thematically matches the cinematography. If you want to closely compare what feels different about The Batman vs Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, then watch this video essay to the end.
PATREON: / justanobservation
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Music used:
Schubert Ave Maria by Bradley Chapman
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
&
'Midvinter' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Adrift Among Infinite Stars' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:24 Visual Style
6:35 Humanising Bruce & Thematic Continuity
#thebatman #robertpattinson #mattreeves
When the opening and ending of the movie are literally delivered with the inner monologues of the main character, it really does give you some sense on how personal this take will be
Robert Patterson is obviously a younger more "renegade" Batman he rolls around on a motorbike dressed like a Gen-X slacker where Nolan's Batman was more mature and established
Makes it feel more like a comic book
@@Johnnysmithy24 Exactly. Comics have a lot of inner narration and this was a great way to show that. It felt like Batman: Year One in this regard where Bruce keeps a journal on his exploits.
Some of the best use of narration in a movie (imo)
@@marcusmcneal7453 I personally didn't like how grounded this version was, I understand that was the intention, but I was frankly disappointed by how weak batman was perceived.
“Corporate color palette” is the most apt descriptor of that visual style I’ve ever seen
A few great choices by Matt Reeves in no particular order. 1) The subtle but noticeable reaction both times as Bruce/ Batman encounters the mayor's son. A. wealthy young man with horrific first-hand knowledge of the death of a parent. 2) showing us the visceral fear and hesitation Batman encounters before jumping off the roof of police headquarters. A pretty understandable reaction. 3) taking us to the conclusion of that jump. Batman was right to be afraid, he gets hurt. Not too badly but enough that we see he is in serious pain. 4) stalling the Batmobile. Hey, stuff happens to Batman too. 5) the look on Batman's face as the catastrophic highway accident begins to unfold. You can see this chase isn't going the way he had envisioned. 6) taking Alfred's hand in the hospital. It's very subtle but several people have extended their hand to Batman throughout the movie. Alfred is the first one he's actually taken. Alfred isn't Bruce's father but now Bruce has had Alfred far longer than he had Thomas in his life. He was wrong to distance himself from Alfred and knows it now. In a way he has been fighting crime with the help of his dad. Just not his biological one. 7) the well-educated Batman doesn't speak Spanish and his wealthy upbringing doesn't allow him to recognize a common flooring tool. 8) his realizations that you can't punch crime away, he needs to be a symbol of both fear to the evil and hope to the good and that he is at least partially responsible for the Riddler. Batman's expression upon hearing henchmen also called himself "vengeance" was very well done.
erm actually to disagree with your number 7, when Alfred tells him the message means El Rata Alada, Bruce actually understands him and translates it into a rat with wings which means he atleast actually has a basic understanding of the language. 🤓
@@adrianisdahbomb1175 Because people, and especially police/detectives, always make the right decision and are incapable of stupid mistakes. Therefore, the Batman is bad writing.
its awful lol.
@@rajimus “it’s awful” is not valid criticism. If you’re going to criticize something, have a valid and in depth explanation that doesn’t revolve around “I dont like it and I unironically suck cock”
I don’t know why everyone says he stalls the Batmobile. He clearly WANTED the penguin to race him. He also wanted to give catwoman time to get away. He merely revs it because the background comic included for this film showed that he got good a driving and fixing up cars from street racing. He’s still young and angry and boisterous so he wants to really hunt down the penguin.
Let's also remember, that you need a solid actor to create the "intimacy" and "emotionally engaging" you speak of and Robert Pattinson did that. Props to Battinson!
My favourite Batman
@@benallen9796 Same, Nolan's version even seems a bit silly when comparing.
@@takemeseriouslyplx2124 The villains in the Nolan movies are cooler than Batman.
there was nothing believable about patisons batman. that parody badman did batman better than this trash
@@nomercyinc6783 Stating your reasons instead of simply hating
I am a big fan of the Nolan films. This one was also great. It was a really cool take on Batman. Robert Pattinson did an excellent job. You can really see the pain in his eyes throughout the film. Great job with your analysis as usual
It’s why I don’t think they’re comparable movies either. They’re completely different takes on the character.
It was a more real and crude story of a real vigilante with grieve and sorrow with thirst for vengeance.
I absolutely loved this movie. Not to say that the Dark Knight was not good BUT Pattinson killed this part. he was superb. he made you believe that he was a withdrawn brooding individual tat was torn up inside. I absolutely loved tha way he looked at people in the move either cops or whomever that asked him ridiculous questions - and all he had to do was make a little turn of his head or a stare with those great looking eyes in the cowl and that is all you would need to know that you do not want to mess with this guy. And remember words are not needed by the batman- just actions and silence and his facial or body movements. he made yo believe that he should not be toyed with. Just watch him specifically in any one of these scenes and he blows you away. I hope he realizes how wonderfully he played the role of this truly brooding and torn superhero. It was spectacular. Even at the end when he is riding away in his motorcycle- when he is looking into the mirror ar Seline driving away then turns his eyes ever so slightly to the front and glares ahead- with ferocity--- that is all it takes- he is truly the best Batman I have ever seen. Kudos to his acting chops- truly a masterpiece.
I feel that the batman took alot of inspiration from Nolan movies. But was a great movie, it was just too slow and at times too predictable. We never were discovering with batman, there wasn't any plot twists, we knew the villians and even his father story line didnt work. and the ending just could have been done much better. I wish batman caught the riddler.
@@montemag he has become under the radar one of the most accomplished actors and can see him morph into every role he plays
I’m a huge Batman movie fan, and have watched the Burton series when I was a child, and grew up into an adult with Nolan. I love them all to this day. But this Batman was the only one that made me care about the character. I realized how much the former films relied on the villains and not Bruce. This Bruce was so sad and emotionally stunted, and the movie captures it masterfully.
the batman begins is literally about bruce transforming into batman lol
Because your hero is only as good as his villain. Villains make the stories better because the conflict is better
Christian bale's batmat pouted lips.
Helen Im-Same. I loved The Dark Knight trilogy, though the 2 Tim Burton Batman movies were always my favourite Batman movies as I also grew up with those movies, & you're right, most of the movies usually put a lot of focus on the villains. Watching Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne, is the first time since seeing Michael Keaton as Batman, that I've felt like i really connected with the character emotionally during a live action Batman movie.
The riddler was terrible
My favorite moment of any Batman character on the small or big screen is when he is trying to escape and you see the initial fear when he looks off the side of the building. This 3-4 second gem humanizes Batman in a way no one else has. It draws the viewer in because we can relate to that fear he felt and we share that same feeling with him. He is not simply a machine that takes risks with no emotion, he is a man that has to face his fear to accomplish a goal. It is a tremendous part of the character's growth and you see later in the movie that he does not hesitate when face with a similar situation. Not to mention, his motivations in those different moments. He hesitates when the only motivation is his own self-preservation. At the end, he jumps confidently because the focus is saving others. Really nice detail and depth this version brought to the character.
He is a young, relatively inexperienced Batman. With experience he won’t be afraid to jump off rooftops or glide
"The Batman" is indeed a breath of fresh air in the super-hero movie landscape. I still like Nolan's trilogy, but Reeves' given me my favorite Batman - second only to TAS.
Nolan's Batman felt nothing like actual "Batman" as everyone remembers and associates him with mystery and darkness, except his Batman is more of smart and tactician strategic man. Reeves' take is my favorite because he kept the mystery and association with "fear" Batman presents to criminals, also he is most accurate to comics.
HOW IN THE FUCK can you hold TAS (the DEFINITIVE Batman) to this steaming pile of SHIT?!?!
@@shoegazzzzzeeee HAHAHAHAHAHA. Reeves Batman IS NOT "aCcUrAtE tO tHe cOmIcS".
@@vikingkirk762 lol he is
@@shoegazzzzzeeee Not even fucking close.
The close up shot and depth of field actually complements the talent of the actors and it is why we keep finding little details specially with Robert's eyes throughout the movie. How he seemed shocked and betrayed when he was being confronted from Gordon in GCPD after the bomb, the moment he said "You too?" his eyes and face just expressed that he felt betrayal. Also when he was riding the bike in the end and look through the mirror seeing Selina riding away from him, we see him daydream for a second, the life he could have before he blinked again and looked forward, more focused!
I love that scene. He expresses so much with no words.
Ikr??? Those two words! "You too?" The way he looked so disappointed. Bruhh I almost cried.
Another great moment without talking: When they found Catwoman friend in that corrupt cop car. How he was looking at Selina and then how shocked his eyes were when he realized Selina's friend corpse was RIGHT THERE. He looked like he was blaming himself for not being able to save her.
@@GeminiWriter88 so you liked and hated the movie for the same reason basically
Dude, well said!
I love the Nolan trilogy but I liked The Batman for its introduction to "Year Two" Batman, which is more faithful to the comics. In addition, Nolan's Batman was never really depicted as "The World's Greatest Detective" as Batman was originally presented as. I loved in the start of the movie that Gordon brought him to the crime scene so he could look around and give his opinion on what had occurred. Christian Bale's Batman also had a guy who had all his military-grade tech ready made for him, pretty much; all he had to do was paint it black and make a few minor modifications. The Batman's Bruce Wayne makes a midair miscalculation with his Bat-flight suit and crashes into the sidewalk-just like you'd expect Year Two Batman to do. He's still raw, angry, and trying to figure out how he's going to go about fighting crime. But, that's just my POV.
I was thinking at first Pattinson was like too gloomy and emo to be a bruce wayne and a batman Then I realized he was mourning and angry. And people, even with money, don't just be an efficient elite vigilante in a short span of time. I don't think people would even like a vigilante in real life, due to the blurred line between violence and justice.
Bale's tech guy you mention is Lucius Fox, he's from the comics too. He'll probably appear later on in the second or third film.
yeah battinson is depictected as the world's greatest detective and couldn't even consider that a rat with wings could be a bat (i mean the dude is literally dressed like a bat) and he figured it out cause penguin told him that it sounds like a bat, are you serious, i mean come on seriosusly, penguin is like the most boderline r e t a r d e d character in the movie, and batman "the world's greatest detective" couldn't figure out a riddle that even a penguin figured out ???
it was an ok film but it was a shit detective movie
@@jaiom4229 That's such a lie. It's not the greatest detective movie ever made but also it's not trying to be. The movie is called THE BATMAN after all...oh wait my bad...I thought you were expecting Se7en 2...🤦
I love how these films can coexist and one isn't all out better than the other. For example, in Batman Begins the dock scene where Batman first appears plays out like an Alien or Predator horror movie. Something moving fast in the shadows and picking people off one by one. But in The Batman you can HEAR him slowly approaching you. An unstoppable force that is coming for you and there's nothing you can do about it, like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. Both films adopt horror movie tropes and that's amazing to me.
Nolan also did a pretty deep take on the Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins - but he did it differently. As you said, Nolan's character was more stoic, and that was his way to deal with the emotions after the whole yourney through the film. Reeves Batman is more voulnareble, and willing to confront his emotions, to dig out the throuth, instead of hiding it. That is the main difference, and it shows also the change in society - we stopped perceiving emotions as a weakness (overcoming ot using fear, and grief like a tool in Nolan's trilogy). We generally see them as strenght, source of humanity, and wisdom instead. That's why I love both takes on Batman - it shows different perspectives.
Lol bales Batman is also vulnerable but you’re half right
Also hated how they treated Batman in the Nolan films. Bruce Wayne was the person and Batman was nothing but a mask. WRONG! BATMAN is the man, BRUCE WAYNE is the mask
@@spider-man500 In Begins it’s clearly evident that Batman is the real person, while Bruce has become nothing more than a hollow shell.
@@spider-man500 exactly. thats how it should be. I loved nolan triology but this as a part of it that i didnt like.
I've heard a lot that Nolan films tend to be emotionally distant and cold. Even though I vaguely agreed with that criticism, I never found it totally convincing. Your points about Nolan's shot selection, framing and color correction resonated a lot with me. His Dark Knight trilogy really have a pristine sheen to it which looks great in IMAX but maybe takes away from the movie's character. Batman Begins is probably the only one that actually tries to create a gothic atmosphere and leans into it's imperfections. It also happens to be the only movie where Bruce Wayne feels like the main character. The Dark Knight is a master class in narrative momentum but it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of meaningful character moments for Batman. They are still fantastic movies but I think I'm starting to realize that my taste in movies began to change with age.
It always bothered me how different gotham looked like in the sequels, it went from looking like a cool dystopian city to just New York with a different name
@@bensadfleck9972 I think it is a metaphor about batman's effect on gotham on batman begins gotham looks dirty and Gothic because at that time it was corrupt and it needed batman and in tdk batman has made it a better city so it looks better than it did in tdkr and after the dent act gotham looks like a great city in tdkr since there was no organised crime for years
People claim Kubrick is distant and cold too but perhaps ironic detachment adds to the dark humor?
Matt Reeves should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Christopher Nolan and Stanley Kubrick. Such directors are in a completely different league of filmmaking. Matt Reeves is a decent competent director, but that's about it.
I absolute love the Dark Knight even tho I do think it is quite overrated mainly due to the people saying that it is the best movie ever made. It's definitely one of the best superhero films for sure. I never saw TDK as a Batman film tbh. It has always been about Harvey Dent and Joker. I also think they made the right decision to not develop the Joker at all and instead made into this force of nature. I thought Harvey Dent's fall to Two Face was done in a way that is kinda okay even though there are things I like to question about him. But I completely dislike the ending to the film, it felt unsatisfying seeing Two Face just die so quickly and easily and Batman's sacrifice could've been very easily avoided. I saw the movie not long ago and I would probably give it another watch but for now, I think I prefer the Batman due to its focus on Batman and just how the movie makes you FEEL. "It really makes you FEEL like Batman" LMAO
You nailed the reasons why this film has had such a huge effect on me. It’s a weird thing but the more I see the film, the more I love it. That’s a rare phenomenon in this age of CBM’s.
What're CBM's?
@@mimah1015 Comic book movies?
@@potatosmasher1072 Oh okay. Thanks.
@@mimah1015 I added the question mark because I wasn’t sure, but you’re welcome lol
Agree 100%
There seems to be a ton of little details sprinkled throughout the movie that pay homage to all the Batmen that came before it. The one thing I can’t unsee now is Adam Wests mask in Pattinsons mask.
I also liked they used an Adam west style batphone as a phone in Wayne manor I noticed it instantly when it came on screen
Oh, absolutely. Best live action Batman in my lifetime. Hands down. His Bruce Wayne looks downright haunted. Yet, at the end, it gave us a glimpse of Batman’s heart. A light in the darkness. So good. They GET Batman in a way I don’t believe Nolan did.
great comment
For me, The Dark Knight is the best, but this is absolutely amazing.
@@thesurp72520 for everybody the dark knight is the best batman movie. They are just blind because of the hype now.
@@brupac5017 it's called having an opinion, get a grip.
@@brupac5017 TDK was never the best Batman movie, people online were citing Begins as being a better Batman story looooong before Reeves' Batman came out, while TDK was basically the Joker's film
I both liked and hated that this movie was so claustrophobic with its very close-angle shots. You’re like in the characters’ faces all the time, including in the car chase. *Hated* because it had me tense and anxious the whole movie, but *liked* because it had me invested and completely attentive - hooked. That was brilliant
me too got me so hooked, but i like the darker tone of the film more like Godfather vibes with the mafias as main antagonist
@GhastGhost13 Yeah maybe our attention spans is also just not the same anymore lmao
The rain also made the story interesting, it’s like it’s always “bad weather, bad news” in the city. The car chase was god damn gripping
@GhastGhost13 I had the same problem For a different reason, you really expect me to hold my pee for 3 hours? I had to go at What I think was probably not an important scene in the movie but it probably is
@GhastGhost13 Probably because IT'S BORING! 🙄 People need to stop listening to the kids calling this movie a 'masterpiece' ... It's barely mediocre.
Felt like Batman was gonna break his no killing rule in this film in some scenes Robert did the dark knight so good felt like every criminal he beat up was the man who killed his parents.
That’s not Batman’s rule it’s no killing with a gun cause he never stopped killing in the comics or on the movies except for Clooney he just won’t use the weapon that was used to take the life of his father originally Martha died from the shock the first retelling of the murder had her being shot Also there is to many to list of times he has killed in the comics
@@kevin10001 It is his rule not killing perioid.
@@shadowspidey7327 exactly. Batman doesn’t kill, people need to stop making dumb excuses for it.
@@majumder456 Right has to follow his own code.
@@majumder456his very first comic he hung someone from the bat plane it wasn't until the 80s that he stopped killing people 😂 hell even Michael Keatons version killed in the first one he didn't stop people from dying 😂 but after him into the 90s they stopped having him kill in the movies and comics
What really sticks out to me is that this movie *feels* so different, but is still most certainly a Batman film. The emphasis on Batman using his detective skills, more than his combat was very much appreciated, especially since there *is* fighting, but they don't overcook it. It's like the filmmakers knew that the audience knows that Batman is a badass fighter. So they tried to show a side of Batman that had only been touched on, but not necessarily explored, in previous films.
Probably the most in depth the Batman essay I’ve seen yet, great work
Having had some time to think about it, I'm pretty confident in saying Pattinson is my favorite Batman thus far. In fact, I'd say it's my favorite Batman film altogether. The Nolan films were great in their own right, fun action movies that made the caped crusader superhero fantasy accessible to anyone. But there's a certain artistry and reverence for the source material here that just feels more authentic, less compromising. It doesn't feel like I even need to see a prequel series of a sequel film. It just stands on its own as a visually engrossing and thoughtful take on Batman. I had really low expectations for this going in, especially when the lady at the counter warned us it was a 3 hour movie, but as soon as it started I felt a huge wave of relief. The way they humanized Bruce and took Batman back to his "world's greatest detective" roots made this movie feel so refreshing. And I can't lie, I actually want to go back to the theatres and see all 3 hours of it again. This video did an incredible job of breaking down the many technical and artistic reasons I haven't been able to stop thinking about this movie. Great work.
Why would the runtime of the movie lower your expectations?
@@DrMcMoist doesn't necessarily mean the movie will be bad but going into the theater for a 3 hour movie can be pretty daunting. I guess I was just worried it was going to be a slog (we were originally planning on seeing Sonic that night) but it turned out to be one of my favorite superhero movies ever.
@@kenny42069 Just out of interest, did you watch the new Planet of the Apes trilogy?
@@DrMcMoist I did not, is it any good?
@@kenny42069 Yeah it really is. I mean the first film is decent but Matt Reeves took over to direct the two sequels and they are really good. I went into The Batman fully expecting it to be a good movie because of them. I'd recommend you check them out.
This movie is my favorite beginning of a Batman franchise and easily my favorite Batman interpretation.This movie showcases how one deals with darkness in their lives which is shown through the three orphans of the Movie who grew up in darkness:Catwoman,Batman and Riddler and seek to exact vengeance in their own way.Unlike Bruce the other 2 lived differently and Bruce sees how different their lives were as opposed to him.Catwoman lived in darkness for so long that she was trying to get back at the one who was the source of it.Batman feels dull because in this movie unlike all the previous iterations,he actually is learning how to be a hero and symbol at a solid pace.If this was the seasoned comic version of Batman nothing in this movie wouldn’t be suspenseful at all.The biggest problem when adapting Batman is because he easily seems too capable in every situation he is in.This is why in all his movies he usually is a backseat player or reactive way too late.Pattinson in tandem with the cinematography tells so much with his facial expressions and movements,especially how it subtly tells his origin in the shots when Bruce looks at the kid.This Incredible sense of detail and distinct style not only give Gotham a distinct atmosphere but makes it feel like a character drenched in darkness as well.Imo this movie used its 3 hours perfectly, with a huge mystery story like this you need a lot of Time fleshing out the detective angle and unraveling a mystery.This movie was never trying to be a absolute continuation of the comic version of Batman,it’s an interpretation while following a noire story.This movie follows the ongoing narrative about Batman excellently. It’s about Moving past ones darkness into the light and Batman rediscovering his humanity and the good of the common man through mostly Gordon,and people who want to make a difference.Which leads to someone who is the antithesis,Riddler who lost his humanity and tries to plummet gotham into everlasting darkness.This gives batman/Bruce a palatable character arc which is something previous Batman movies failed to do.This arc makes Bruce feel real rather than writers defaulting to writing superficial ideas of darkness and glorification of violence.
honestly one of the best analysis of the batman ive seen yet, and ive been watching a lot of them. thank you.
You’re giving Reeves at lot of credit on shot direction and visual style. Greig Fraser played a huge role in both of those aspects and is a master at creating stunning images that truly act as a plot device and not just hanging his hat on a marquee visual style (I.e. Wes Anderson films).
I love Nolan's trilogy and those movies are easier to watch. Fast-paced, epic and with a lot of action but The Batman is more like a comic of Batman than the Nolan trilogy. The Batman IS Batman.
No he isn't. Reeves Batman isn't Batman. Reeves Batman is Alan Moore's Rorschach in a Batman Suit.
@@vittoriacolona Tell me you didn't understand Rorschach without telling me you didn't' understand Rorschach. Or you mean Zack Snyder's interpretation (wrong interpretation) of Rorschach?
Nah I lost interest halfway through. There is no Bruce Wayne in The Batman, he barely exist, so your argument goes out the window. Let's not forget the godawful opening scene that establishes Batman is widely feared in Gotham, so then when he shows up, goons have to ask who he is, so he can say that idiotic line, and we have an artificially stale moment after that Rambo action scene of a climax. Patterson carried that mess of a film real well.
Bunch of wanna be first year film students. Lol
@Moviepilotfan plus rorschach didn't created the opening monologue trope in every single noir film, hell even the sam raimi spiderman did that
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” - Oscar Wilde
This is an absolutely brilliant analysis. Will check out more of your content as I'm slowly getting more into film reviews and watching them for the art
very well explained..u really focused alot on making this video good and btw the batman was amazingly awesome
I loved the Nolan series but The Batman put me through so many emotions, what a great piece of cinema. Thank you for the breakdown on this, I love learning more about film making
I felt more attached with matt reeves batman then the Nolan's one. I never thought that DOF can do so much with our brain and physiology to make scenes extremely personal. And hats off to Pattinson for putting out exact amount of emotions on camera that make batman feel more human form of superhero. And really thanks for this awesome analysis. 👏
We only watched one movie from Matt Reeves and we connect with Reeves' Bruce more than Nolan's. Can't wait for the next movie. Hopefully overused Joker isn't in Reeves'trilogy
Facts
A very nice observation. This analyse of you makes me look and appreciate the movie on a deeper level. I thank you for that.
This is a fantastic video essay. Looking forward to reading more.
Great analysis as always! I love this movie so much, really respectful to the Batman universe and characters.
The quality and quantity of your video output is unreal. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Jake!
Really good analysis, I learnt a lot and will deffo look for this when watching again!
this was a wonderfully thoughtful breakdown. felt like a video id use teaching film students.
What an analysis brother, consistency and quality remain constant when it comes to your reviews; thank you for yet another great piece of artistry.
This video is just as well made as the movie, this really wraps up everything good about the movie, it's visuals, it's characters, and it's themes, and smoothly connects them all together.
Great analysis, please keep up the good work
I really appreciate your analysis here. It helps me in my own creative process. I’m a huge fan of this film and this helps me understand why. Thank you!
Because I very much enjoyed all your content and honestly learned a lot from it I trust your opinion. That means: I have to watch that movie now because of your first sentences in your video and watch the video afterwards. I really enjoy having found your channel! Great work!
Fantastic analysis that really captured the heart of this film masterpiece. Thanks for the great work!
What a great analysis you have made of this awesome movie.
Just discovered your channel minutes ago, and Wow, what an amazing analysis of The Batman|! Saw the movie 4 days ago and enjoyed it more than anything I've seen in a long time. Wasn't sure why, but your analysis gives us a lot to think about. I don't even know if your take on the reasons for the director's choices is right (like, did you read it in an interview with Reeves?), but everything you said makes so much sense and now that you've shined that light, I can see it for myself. Really, really love - and respect - any writer, director, artist who can pick up on a pattern or theme and really "see it" all the way through. Because you saw all this, your video is a great, great watch. Thank you!
really like this channel i found really in depth analysis videos that are great to watch keep it up man i appreciate the work
Another thing I realised when watching Nolan’s films was how I seemingly resonated better with the villains and anti-heroes rather than Batman/Bruce Wayne, with the exception of Batman Begins. Whilst I never fully sympathised with Joker, Bane or Harvey Dent (to an extent), I would be lying if I didn’t say that some of their actions were justified. I could never fully relate or sympathise with Bruce Wayne as well as I could with the villains. Pattinson engrossed me. His 2 monologues were moving and powerful, the cinematography does a great job at highlighting an intense gothic atmosphere with lots of emotion and most importantly the actual character of Batman in Reeves’ felt more organic. Nolan’s Batman seemed to have Batman always trying to be ‘better’ than the villain, I never remembered him empathising or understanding the justification of the villains. Pattison’s on the other hand acknowledges the disgust and filth of Gotham. He tells Gordon that the men killed by Riddler deserved it because they were just as bad, if not worse, than the criminals he is fighting. I found this to be much more relatable. He’s able to see Gotham for what it truly is which is why he’s always so angry and brooding (you can see it in his fighting style) compared to Bale’s which I never really felt was conveyed well especially when the cinematography felt so grand and bright.
Well said
You hit the nail on the head. I found myself connecting more with Pattinson's Batman than with Bale's. And I say this as someone who loves the Nolan films.
you did such a good job with this video keep up the great work !!
Nicely analyzed! 👏
I never loved the nolan movies as much as other people did. idk for me it was just always missing something about Batman, perhaps it's the ambience. perhaps it's the way christan bale portrays batman, maybe it's the lack of detective work beyond a few scenes. idk growing up watching the animated series, reading the comic and being a huge batman fan my entire life has always made me have certain expectations for my batman movies. Nolan as great of a director as he is, just missed the mark for me. tdk is really good becuase of Heath tbh. he's the person who really sells the movie for me. The Batman however scratched that batman itch I've had for awhile now it just made me feeling like I was watching a comic come to life. It felt like the batman I knew. The person who sold this movie for me was the character I came to see, batman. so congrats Robert Pattinson you're my favorite live action batman.
Yeah IMHO the Nolan movies don’t really encapsulate the character or world of the comics tbh.
I couldn't have put it better myself. This movie really captured the Batman character for me. Really enjoyed it.
Well said sir
Always thought the Nolan movies were overrated asf. You put it a lot nicer than I do lol
I blame Christian Bale's wooden acting to some extent, but the direction and writing aren't great either. Christopher Nolan wants soooooooo badly to be seen as an intellectual filmmaker, and in the process beats the viewer over the head with concepts that either aren't nearly as complex as he thinks they are, or are actively ludicrous. For instance, the idea that a city of millions of people have a bat punching a clown to fight for their "soul", metaphorical I know but it's just stupid. Not to mention the idea that the final nail in breaking the people would be finding out Harvey Dent did some bad shit. The people would break from finding out a politician wasn't a great person.....sure. Even worse is the suggestion that we should hide and ignore the failings of politicians for the good of the people, like seriously was this a lost script written by Richard Nixon??
Your analysis is always amazing. Nice experience watch it. Congrats!
I love the observations here, there are something i felt in the theater, only observed (like the depth of focus & POV approach) but didn't realized its effect on the film viewing experience.
WoW!!! this was a fantastic presentation!
Outstanding synopsis. Absolutely spot on.
Incredible incredible dissection sir. Very honorably earned a follower out of me and I'm sure many many more to come soon
Such a lovely film, and you gave excellent explanations for everything.
Very good explanation and highlights of Cinematography
I would like to imagine the matchup of Pattinson's more meticulous and collected portrayal of Batman against Heath Ledger's Joker. To me, Joker won in The Dark Knight, so I would like to really fantasize on the more detective side of Batman against a insane yet intelligent Joker, and see them trying to crack each other's plans. If only so, but unfortunately it's only a thought.
For this movie to be made, the nolan films had to be made. It’s a great breath of fresh air for Batman on the big screen! Both reeves and nolan share the top spot
Your observation about DoF is spot on. Well done.
Loved your analysis.
how has this channel not blown up yet
I wish everyone who doubts this could watch this video to understand that this is the purest representation of Batman to ever grace the big screen.
People only think about action and look at rob and and see twilight cause there haters
really great analysis of the foreground focus. even if you are not technically aware of what you are watching you physically feel the effect.
This has been an very educational thanks man👍🏽
I agree with the use of blurr effect in the movie. Similar effect was used in the movie Army of the Dead, but it was too much and became irritating very very quickly. In this case, it added to the drama and the mystery.
I thought nothing would ever top Nolan's trilogy....and then I watched this. Still blown away.
And nothing did
@@naheedmumtaz2304 shut your mouth muhammad
One of the best if not the best video essay I’ve seen about Matt reeves the Batman
Super analysis, great video!
The thing that I love about this film is the last person i'd cast as batman would be Robert Pattinson but he owns this role!
as a shitty batman. yeah he does
The last person? Never thought someone would put Adolf Hitler over Robert Pattinson when it comes to casting Batman.
@@alexvjuz882 i mean hes more menacing lol
@@SteCollects That is a fair point. Hitler was a great public speaker. I imagine he'd perform a decent playboy Bruce Wayne persona.
@@chazzanovatron Fuck no. He's the most Batman of all Batman's yet. Go cry in a corner Bale fanboy.
The fact that they compare this film to The Dark Knight and not Batman Begins speaks volumes about its quality as a cinematic work.
unlike Nolan, Matt Reeves actually knows his stuff. Batman has an actual arc, the acting is great, Gotham *ACTUALLY* looks like a bad place to live (No Nolan Chicago isn't Gotham!), the fight scenes are well shot and not shaky camerafied and we got the best Catwoman since Pfeffier and Batman and Catwoman actually have chemistry (Nolan can get bent for what he said about Zoe Kravitz!). Plus if I ever saw Pattinson's Batman, I'd be frigging terrified and asking for last rights. I never got that feeling with Bale's Batman, which hasn't aged well.
Spot on! Great breakdown and analysis. :^)
just subscribed to the channel cause i knew you'd make one on the batman! I love it
I love how I only realized that Batman was manipulated by Riddler when he himself realized it in the end.
Was not expecting Riddler to be a fan. Riddler finding out Batman isn’t on his side and his reaction to it was great. He freaked the fuck out. As the saying goes, don’t meet your hero’s lol
@@treytilley333 Plus, his narcissistic personality, paul dano did a great job
It really says a lot that most people compare this movie to the dark knight. A first installment compared to a second. The first bale movie isn’t even mentioned in the conversation usually.
Which is a shame, I think the only reason the dark knight is said to be the best of the Nolan batman films is heath's joker. Begins is a better batman movie. My opinion obviously
@@joshscillian3222 I agree. I actually think it’s the most detailed analysis of Bruce Wayne as a person ever on screen. It’s a shame it’s not mentioned more, it’s the perfect origin story in a superhero movie up there with Raimi’s Spider-Man
@@joshscillian3222 It also has some of my favorite Batman moments on any movie
@@joshscillian3222 Begins is a better Batman film, but TDK is just a better movie in general.
@@Johnnysmithy24I agree. I forget about how good it is too
Wonderful video and analysis! Just subbed to your channel after watching this!
Batman's vulnerability is shown in Batman Begins perfectly when he tried to stalk on the scarecrow and failed.
The Batman is a great movie but the batman begins is the most character driven superhero movie I have ever seen. Literally half of the movie was dedicated to Bruce's character transformation into Batman without any subplots and most importantly the orgin of his 'no kill rule'. The Batman maybe the 3rd best batman movie after TDR and Bataman Begins.
yeah but The Batman spends way more time. Its a 3 hour long shot entirely from bruce's perspective. There's not a single scene where Bruce/Batman isn't in it( joker-riddler scene being the only exception).
The Batman is definitely better than Begins. I think Begins falls flat with its less than stellar 3rd act, albeit that's still better than a majority of superhero movies. I'd put The Batman pretty close to TDK
The Batman: mask of the phatasm is the best movie
Both were great. Both were different, both felt different and that difference makes both legendary.
Great commentaries!!!!!
amazing video thannk you, gave me another great perspective on my favourite Batman film
I just finished watching the movie ngl I have to admit I didn’t think it was going to be interesting but this movie actually depicts who Batman is but out of nostalgia bias I have to go with the dark knight trilogy though this felt more darker and had me glued to what the riddler had in mind
I like how this filmed ended with how Batman films should end, Batman being feared by criminals and believed in by the people of Gotham
I read that Matt reeves painstakingly went over every shot and sometimes took up to 200+ takes to get details just right (eg. he made Zoe keep her mouth slightly open in one scene because the difference would convey a different emotion). It was definitely well worth the effort, as you pointed out here - I’m definitely going to rewatch this with all these narrative details in mind
I honestly can't stop thinking about this movie. Every choice is so entrancing and gives so much dimension to the characters.
Perfect analyzation. It’s why The Batman and TDK are equal for me. A movie finally from Batman’s perspective as the main focus for once and not just a plot device.
You’re absolutely fucking right, I totally forgot how I felt in theaters after Rachel dies and it was a complete shock and then the following scene with Alfred and Bruce steal his Batman suit and not feeling the emotional reverence from Bruce Wayne losing his childhood friend
Rewatch the Harvey Dent scene at the end. Specifically after Dent says ’then why was it me who lost everything?’.
Great analysis!!
The beginning 15 minutes really set the tone of the whole film. And I was hooked. I love love this movie with my whole heart.
What is so great is that in Reeve's The Batman, the camera takes it time. As opposed to Nolan's frantic camera work.
I hate how the action scenes were choreographed and shot in Nolan’s trilogy.
Matt Reeves is basically what Christopher Nolan would be like if he didn't forget how to convey human emotions.
We have only seen one movie from Matt Reeves yet his Bruce is better and more personal than Christian Bale's Bruce.
Gtfoh y’all are literally saying anything to praise this shitty movie.
@@lickenhuntsman5338 ikr
Bro even Reeves knows how knows how to convey Ape Emotions. Hahaha
Lol well bales Batman was just as personable, it’s the 3rd movie that was in shambles. What’s ur take on keatons Batman? He was pretty trash too
Great video and good analysis
Great work man. So accurate.
In my opinion, The Batman is a much more faithful adaptation than Nolan's version, though I find myself re watching Begins more than the sequels, and that's because Begins didn't shy away from its comic book roots, whereas the sequels were completely stripped from that. it felt more personal, like you say The Batman does. Still, I prefer The Batman over Begins because of what you described in your analysis. I was more engaged with the character this time around, and it felt more visceral than any other Batman before. I also happen to be a huge fan of Fincher and the noir aesthetic, so for me, it's just a no brainer.
I love Nolan's films, but I kinda think this one did right a lot of the same things Rises tried and failed to do, in my opinion. It showed a fight for the city, depicted a corrupt police force, and tackled why the Batman is The Batman, without resorting to cheaper elements like twist villains and rushed romantic betrayals. It took Batman to a low point, a grounded and deeply personal low point to do with his motivations and self-image rather than dropping him into a metaphorical manifestation of the well he fell into as a child with a broken back. It showed the grizzly nature of corruption and how it affects the citizens like Annika and Selena, rather than a court of cartoon villains being ridiculously evil and sob stories from seemingly well off characters like Ann Hathaway and Joseph-Gordon Levitt. In Rises, the corruption of Gotham was a fable that villains used to gaslight citizens into feeling sorry for themselves and blaming the system for how miserable they were before they pulled themselves together and made something of themselves. You never saw it, you only heard characters complain about how it affected them a long time ago in their distant pasts. The stakes for Bane vs. Batman over Gotham's corruption were imaginary. In The Batman, you see the corruption, you see street violence, you see drop heads, you see corpses, you see smear campaigns, you see cover ups, you hear horror stories that would make Joseph-Gordon's orphanage character go quiet. You see it all, and you feel the affect it has on the two lead protagonists. No epic slug fest with a physical superior, but instead an introspective challenge that just makes the character AND setting feel more authentic than ever before depicted. No hard feelings Rises fans, the themes are there in trademark Nolan broad strokes. I just prefer to see rather than hear, or I don't get invested.
Big fan of rises, but the GCPD in The Batman is a lot better.
@@sashimisushii637 Yeah I'm sorry but at some point it started to feel like cops had more screen time then the actual freaking superheroes in that movie. Like I get worldbuilding but come on, I don't think I need to see Sleepy Joe the GCPD officer for the 8th time.
@@sashimisushii637 Also the corruption plot point felt very shoehorned in like they needed to come up with an idea to show the city was still not good so they just came up with the most generic Mr. "I'm bad" characters they could find with little to no redeeming qualities
@@albertokorogu1258 wait, which batman are you talking abt
The Batman destroys Rises.
great video, you deserve more views
beautiful take, well spoken, you have more than earned a like from me!
Fantastic video. The Batman is my favorite film as of now. I saw it 6 times in the theater, and it's basically been on a constant loop at my house since the release on HBO Max. It feels like Matt Reeves crawled inside my head and made the exact Batman film I've always wanted to see. I almost can't believe it's real. The design of the cowl/suit, the cinematography, the story, the detective Batman, the cast, the use of anamorphic lenses, the score, literally EVERYTHING!! Plus, this film got me through one of the darkest times of my life. This film will forever be extremely special to me. It goes without saying that it's my absolute favorite Batman film. And it's not even close. I'd love to shake the hands of all the cast and crew.
After watching the movie 3 times, and going through the Nolan trilogy again, I am more invested and interested where the new movie series goes next.
I'd really like it to delve into the slightly less grounded - like a Man Bat?
@@benallen9796 It's funny becaue the film is so grounded and realistic and yet it can seem to include that character and Mr. Freeze for a sequel.
Great video. Thank you so much. 👍
Brilliant essay