Why The Batman Works - Video Essay

I've always been fascinated with Batman ever since I was a kid from the early 80s and 90s Batman movies cartoons and games so when there was word of another live screen adaptation of Batman I was excited whilst maintaining an air of realistic skepticism especially with the first initial leaks being kinda Rocky and Warner Bros track record of Batman in recent years which left me many others critical of this film but as it premiered on opening night I was stunned I was taken off guard by the surprisingly refreshing plot in innovating characterization of the film Robert Patterson being the clear standout whose show-stop and performance cemented himself as the definitive live stream Batman I can say that again in full confidence after two more rewatchable viewings in both the cinema and the comfort of my own home the Batman simply works it utilizes a source material effectively it is a classic graphic novel brought to cinematic light Justice was really brought to the character after so long every aspect about it simply Works being faithful to the comic books while being its own unique spin on the characters in the verse the distinguished from previous iterations to tropes and all Robert Patterson's Batman stance amongst the top of the hill the new golden standard Matt Reeves the director of this movie takes emphasis on the Intriguing and unexplored world of the Gotham City setting to New Hyde celebrate the story and characters using this reflective setting parallel to our own world-time Master's second year of the Batman's journey and growth as it begins to unravel the Deep seated secrets of this decrepit version of Gotham City followed with an eerily Twisted Game of Life and deathton master truth all being connected to where it all started to Where it All Began the synopsis alone peaking interest working to figure out what comes next a great example of why the Batman works this is without even laying eyes in the stunning and breathtaking World shot by Australian cinematographer Greg Frazier or to hear the beautifully memorable theme fitting scores composed by Michael gianachos I'm not gonna lie I said that wrong we move each all connected just like the plot hand in hand to make the Cinematic Masterpiece to a t engaging despite the Monstrous film length due to its excellent pacing every scene is used for utmost ability all having relevance and importance all playing a part to tell the bigger story with more Instagram moments of significance being present throughout there isn't a single scene you could take out of this entire movie of how causing total Mayhem to everything going on which speaks volumes to the film's quality in the story told this segues into the oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown this iconic quote by HB Lovecraft perfectly encapsulates one of if not the biggest working factor of this iteration of Batman fear it is a heavily emphasized component of the Batman intertwined with every aspect of the film incorporating many elements of horror with the textbook definition of horror being painful and intense fear dreidel Dismount this being immediately demonstrated by the anonymous bold title card and creepily graphic opening this alone differentiates itself from previous Batman movies the presence of fear is impactful and used masterfully a great moment highlighting this being displayed in the following scene where a chilling Batman monologue reveals himself amongst a packed crime rate engulfum at Peak Knight during the most fitting and dangerous night for Crime to run rampant Halloween night the Shadows are heavily emphasized to conceal himself yet be ever present showing how he dictates his moniker of instilling fear in the heart of all of his enemies on the Citywide scale as he recognizes he cannot be everywhere but is aware they don't know where he is Gotham underground criminals thinking he's hiding in the shadows he is the Shadows with the cocky facades and aggression Fading Into turning shoulders and trembling fear backing away in fear second guessing acts of crime with presence and Status alone being a masterly conveyed aspect of fear of the cinematography painting what they have come to be afraid of the Shadows being visually shown from the cold focusing shots of Darkness as he finally slowly emerges these iteration of Gotham goons are truly fearful of not as dominating appearance of physically imposing stature but the fear of uncertainty uncertainty of him being everywhere at Once Matt Reeves utilizes that single stroke of fear and paranoia of the darkness and shadows to second-guess themselves which is further accentuated with the opposite of the dark the light the simultaneous juxtaposing contrasting element of sudden light is shown to illustrate perpetuating fear of an example being shown early in the film of the bright Illuminating Beacon visual motif of the bad signal in a completely dark sky adding not only another method of instilling fear to the crooks but the visual later posing nature of Darkness and Light being reflective of Batman's morality and how he operates between both initially more so consumed to being in the dark as it is a more prominent aspect monologuing at the start of the film it is a warning to them fear is a tool which is later paralleled in the end of the film to a Beacon of Hope in the second monologue I have to become more people need hope to know someone's out there for them these two quotes beautifully painted in progression of visuals which later on become callbacks adhering to the color contrast of kalai and da of the depressing fearful monologue being at the start of the film and the hopeful light went along at the climax while Batman is looking up in broad daylight as one does for hope so simple yet so effective for callback shots for complementing this detail all the displayed depth and characterization shown visually at the start of the movie Jesus working not only showing the impossible task of being a one-man Army taking on a whole city of crime in a realistic setting but as well as the immaculate visual storytelling and characterization consistent throughout the entire film this example being only one of many visually demonstrated moments of cinematic Brilliance in this three hour long Masterpiece Batman's method of tackling widespread crime again not only visually brilliant and realistically effective but also it really similar to the effect of another conserved figure of justice and status and Light Yagami where he held influence with criminals and Death Note in a similar light with a paranoia of his presence being seemingly everywhere had criminal stumbling and taking a back seat which I thought was a strikingly called similarity both being very effective at the use of fear Fizz presence is also conveyed in graphic shines and implications being inherently unnerving and physically cringed being easily the darkest Batman's hell even with the Limited trading a PG a couple quick examples being the sick farm driver at all hearing Anika being strangled to death without unsettling screams ripping into your ears a ridless imagery of the orphanage and crew displays of his victims such as the mayor the D.A and the commissioner all much more Twisted than the last exploitation appears another prominent aspect in this film all having an effective in the character's motives the city-wide Panic certain Secrets may cause fear of losing a loved one the fear of War might happen if the truth would it be told and what it would do to the city of the route with wings or to find out about it and many many more so much so that even the gcpd and Gotham City officials won't intervene opting to turn a blind eye to what they're supposedly funny against even keeping Batman at a distance and rejecting and criticizing the Vigilantes and displayed from him initially as if something bigger and more frightening than he is is lurking around the corner in an unspoken yet understood silence that even Gotham's best did not want to cross its overall impact runs ramp throughout the entirety of the film even powerful figures like Batman and The Riddler and Gotham's worst are all dictated by fear some instances are more subtle than the more obvious moments Batman's haunting fear of losing somebody he cares about and reliving his past being an essential to his whole character it is shown from the very beginning to the climax that this is apparent the trigger of his fearing past is reawakened as he has confronted headlon of a young boy reminiscent of himself who had lost a parental figure and a father looking his fear dead in the eye Bruce coping by Dawning on the cow for vengeance as well as continuing his family's Legacy in his own words trading his vengeful delusions dictated by his own fears his two years in Gotham's barely putting a dent in the crime rate as he is oblivious due to his own hubris anger and deep closeted the fear of loss dragging him away from the path for what the traditional Batman has to be at first stating he never thought he'd feel feel like that again he'd 40 master of that when an Alfred side after a near-death experience by the hands of the Riddler showing his flawed open side fully driven by blinding rage due to the fear of where it began initially hindered by his Blanding Vengeance in his own words he had become a nocturnal animal shouting away the closest people in his life with disregard shown consistent dialogue in the case that fact of a highlight example being with Alfred telling him he is not his father in response to showing genuine concern ignoring Gordon's attempt to gain his trust and not instantly falling over cow woman which is further reinforced when he gets physically close to her the framing of the short teasing Embassy to be swiftly followed with immediate dismissal he even shutters away from the sunlight indicating his underlying depression where he isn't afraid of death by even keeping an appearance of still being away visually and narratively confronted of this Duality and appearance of a split-faced young man in this gang induction where he does not engage with him Bruce Wayne's only public appearance in the entire movie only due to being a pursuit of the Riddler he doesn't even attempt against his usual facade of a cocky Bruce Wayne Persona that we're all used to seeing even talking to Falconi in the same manner as if you were in costume remaining completely silent and focused on the mission as if his true self was the costume and in the same Scene It showed metaphorically and quite literally tackling his fear head-on in the form of a little boy who lost his father saving his life the only other time this has shown is when his fear is tested to the Max and becomes momentary reality in the near loss of Alfred pennyworth where his immovable raging forces met with his fearful match represented beautifully in his banging anger silence as he could do nothing to stop it once again put in the position of helplessness as if you're watching Crime Alley all over again the following truth misconstrued by The Riddler way questions his own purpose and can confronts of your Grove childhood fear it and calm my own Falcone a scene where he is shown in the defeated manner juxtaposed to how he conducted himself throughout the entire movie being in a state of a fried and child once more the dynamic is reminiscent of how Falcone described her childhood encounter even after what he is pressing into vulnerability once more which is thrown into what's been shown thus far both of the antagonists of the movie unknowingly achievement making Batman feel fear Batman unconsciously and blamelessly driven tortured and afraid of his worst fears of manifesting only truly overcomes it in climactic fashion slipping into a blind rage nearly Crossing Lines of his morals which he is shown to hold in high regard as heals moments from losing Selena Kyle who had now been established as someone close the self-realization to change coming moments after being pulled back from violently laying into a previously seen character as a riddler Insurgent uttering the phrase he is Vengeance a line associated with himself rocking him to the core which he had said earlier in the movie opting his Focus to save the drowning Gotham being cleansed taking the electrical shock emerging from the blue and red colored Waters which is symbolism to his initial color scheme being purely crimson red showing his change as he rises in an almost baptized way to lend his hand to the fearful citizens of Gotham even a doubtful figure of the Batman and the man lends her hand the symbolic visual motif of his fear and the child reminiscent of himself is first to lend his hand which is a metaphor pulling himself out of the deep Waters of his internal fear and ultimately becoming hope realizing that he needed to change still having fear as a main weapon but no longer a hindrance it once was addressing his initial greatest fear-filled floor and blind Vengeance for powerful words I'm starting to see now I have an effect here but not the one I intended Vengeance won't change the past mind or anyone else's I have to become more people need hope to know someone's out there for them on the other hand the Riddler conducts himself in a less hopeful light yet interestingly in a similar events this initial Batman he even convinces himself to be working for the same goal there is truth to this comparison both costume figures incorporate their Ambitions on the gotham-wide scale fueled by Vengeance opposing figures yet there are initially more parallels between the two more in line of two sides of the same coin both escared individuals being heavily influenced from a young age due to traumatic events as well as being instruments appear to their oppositions hiding in the shadows before they strike included in society on the surface level Bruce being the hair of the Thomas Wayne Fortune invasive Wayne Enterprises having status and impact on Gotham and Edward contributing by being an accountant yet both masked their perceived real selves in a secluded and complete isolation and secretive basis headed away from the world with personal connections to their goals orphaned with a minute distinction being uprings which shows will impact influence can have they are costume figures of vigilantism both fighting criminals just of different kinds he had the same scum both having those Crooks in a fearful state of Terror and panic both on the extreme end were dealing with Justice compared to Conventional methods it's undeniable this is further reinforced with identical shots of the two as if they are one in the same the movie even opens up with the Riddler undergoing his greater mission of binoculars hidden and revealed in the Dark Shadows of scenes of Batman being shown in the exact same way shot for shot another visual instance of an identical paralleling shot being of a motivated Bruce Wayne when he's trying to solve the bigger picture of the mystery from an aerial shot from the beginning to the Riddler's could have grown on the floorboards Paul Dano after reviewing the initial script researched real life serial kills is to emulate The Psychotic Tendencies to gain further insight to the mind of them it's had a more fearful layer and mistake to his menacing depiction of the riddled madman it is in the likeness of the method acting Heath Ledger underwent in this preparation of the Joker to fully hammy in every aspect of their performances Riddler's own personal fear is shown in his insecurity of being a nobody to be forgotten to not be seen as he and many others dreams were lost when the renewal fund the hopeful light was stolen at a young age setting up his Feud of the corruption of those running Gotham putting up a public fast and the wanes especially Bruce Wayne who he viewed was treated of too much empathy and focus on the spotlight for being orphaned unlike himself in the orphanage where there was no coverage of their promised funds and no acknowledgment of their existence at all why they suffered in poverty to the point of starvation of death becoming the norm essentially forgotten for his deep root of insecurity to be remembered is not only obvious in his clear-given inspiration to materialize a clearly premeditated plan of massive scale inspired by the Batman's tier notoriety and rise in popularity in Gotham but by as well as his costume something distinct to the eye think about him he is trapped in a cruel for giving City extremely scarred from his childhood and as menacing as he is the really looks like you're forgettable everyday looking xqc nobody Melvin which he copes with by his costume which again was inspired from the Batman's Fame and clear attention he was getting he not only ended up making a costume identity but assumed it as his own identity even when being interrogated he projects this onto the Batman stating that the master version of him is the real you Batman did not denitis being shown to not care about his real personal life at all up to this point in the film obviously later changing out near the finale but regardless we see where the connection and assumption to their likeness have derived from and may have even been why the Riddler orchestrated as planned of Batman's inclusion instrumental to not only his grand plan but the recognition of Organa unknowingly going hand in hand and generally viewing Batman's attempt to solve his riddles as their Twisted way of them working together even breaking down when Batman tells him otherwise the Riddler's Furrow being invisible his whole life prompted the initial goal to unravel the truth in extreme circumstances and to bring down the corrupt yet funnily enough at the heart of it all is just to be remembered and famous for what he did showing the hypocrisy he had for Bruce and displaying his narcissism he even pushes for his gear into doing his attire which he mentioned earlier he sees as his true self even standing out all the answers all along when being interrogated meaning he could have easily leaked the pressing facts if he really wanted to as well as his crime scenes being filled with over the top theatrics his own logo for people to Rally behind and leaving Clues when he could have remained Anonymous indicating his true goals at the end of the day was always to be seen you showed me all it takes is through in a little Focus violence you inspired me says it all car mode Falcone on the opposite end being an antagonist of notoriety having clear history of Gotham in this world predating the conception of both Bruce Wayne and Edward Ashton is also shown as a massive figure of fear with pure status alone his name were even indirectly referring to him has many of the characters visibly shook with the da preferring literal death over double crossing him it is to the point where even questioning his operations on the most minute details get you let's just say missing he has Gotham by the balls he's even considered to be mayor of Gotham City for the last 20 years accomplishing all of this with the exploitation of fear of dirty secrets of Gotham's supposed of course being accompanied to the general use of violence against Defiance hustling his way into Power this is made a point of contention in his best highlighting reveal of Thomas Wayne's past where having dirt on his up till now righteous character guaranteed Falconi power over him further advancing his grab of the city this is also the case of many of Gotham spiders and those in political power as the truthful tear the city apart later apparent in the film The Penguin plays his fin in this by not only being Carmine's right hand man showing his prominence in the underground crime and drug scene but shows his influence in Terror of those around or whoever masses of him or the drop dealings implementing fear of aggression and violence of his own fear of losing his position on compromising tour arrest showing best when he's totally giddy for thinking he is bested the Batman and the iconic Batmobile scene who is an obvious Catalyst to his future Ambitions of having it becoming more the single concept and prominence of fear throughout the entire duration carries this movie to A Whole New Height its longevity is in its intricacies and perfect ties to the movie as a whole you can really see how Fear Can mold a person For Better or Worse its overall inclusion here just works showing a true deeper understanding of Batman's characters helling struggles as well as his villains in this world not only being interconnected to the psycho Batman and how he realistically operates against the whole city but as well as the whole ensemble where fear is used in a variety of impactful ways to deploy emotional Journeys music sound design and conveying the underlying themes and character arcs this is something that Christopher Nolan has also implemented in the Dark Knight trilogy but in this iteration it does not feel rehashed and adds a lot more to the story stakes in real life commentary making this world feel very grounded and with a lot more substance this is apparent when criminals first see Batman in this costume mocking it laughing at the side of him which is unexpectedly refreshing to see and would be very realistic in this case seeing a costume man at night fighting crime the shadiness of the gcpd police force and Gotham's upstanding citizens High politicians is also scarily similar to real life Affairs as well as a depiction of mental illness which I will go more in depth about when discussing Batman and The Riddler separately this on top of real life consequences were Robert Patterson's Batman for instance is equipped with a practical wing suit instead of magically gliding with his cape and Maneuvers with the winds and takes legitimate repercussions and punishment from phase forward Rocky Collision other examples being this iteration taking the full blood of explosives close range gunshots and having his head snap back by punches showing a realistic side of the younger Morehead 4 charged Batman where he doesn't have an aura of invincibility yet this works for the audience with a sense of real Stakes to be had in Matt Reeves Ward being vividly Illustrated to us the film being shot practically little to no CGI AIDS in the establishment of feeling that this takes place in the real world and functions like it too this more realistic spin of the characters more in tune with classic Batman solo stories where he's confined by the rules of the world taken to the next step being elevated to another level by Matt Reeve's own Innovative input where Batman's intellect is on Full display in this pivotal instance showcasing Batman's full detective capability by having eye contacts that records everything he sees in his line of work locking all of his visual recording findings down in the journal which he can revise at any time which is not only realistic and works so effectively in character but is freaking genius and there's something subtle that nobody could have thought of in a million years had so much more depth to this Batman his gadgets are also a major point of realistic focus with clear attention to detail was shown in this arsenal of tools which he incorporates realistically in fighting against unfavorable odds all interestingly used in light of his comic counterpart but not too heavy on their Fantastical elements at a point he's flying over the city in a spacecraft or using a military tank to blow up his combatants but instead operating in an armored muscle car and has further practicality in a bulletproof plated suit a knife Place logo which he ends up using in the climax being a drawing Factor working or pulling the audience's version of the Batman where he utilizes his billions to not only fund his lifestyle but also to do so effectively when operating his Vengeance realism being a drawing aspect of the film especially to those not very fond of the more out there moments and they're very much needed in the addition to this franchise the writing of this film is simply masterful a clear vocal strong point when discussing what works you can really tell it was a clear unanimous vision from beginning to end when it came to the writing of this movie being more character-driven and story focused for many layers of what they wanted to achieve were as mentioned earlier each scene holds immense way and purpose indicating the script was in its height quality being shown as each scene unravels uplifting the overall writing and characters for the better and taking its own distinct and compelling as once done by Christopher Nolan with Heath Ledger's Joker taking a unique spin of the mad clown which turned out for the better as done again with the Riddler Batman and the rest of the Ensemble Shone the dialogue is fitting for this more filthy and crime driven world and feels natural and generally layered of certain lines having more than one meaning from the main cast in the background Ensemble and both monologues mesmerizingly told from Bruce's perspective each line being selective what it's told where each word added has relevance narrative and plot importance the dialogue is also generally thoughtful provoking especially with the riddles and how it Tyson of the plot you can really see the lack of stuffed input and decisions and controlling grab the studio had on the script and the film as a whole which worked in allowing Matt Reeves to tell his story and let the writers have their creative freedom to do as a pleasing construct in this masterpiece it is a leap in quality from Joss whedon's take but Jokes Aside you can feel the clear love for the character of Batman Matt Reeves and everyone working the script wanted to assure they were doing as much justice as they could for the character and the story to be told feeling like a true Batman Tale before in the wild LED four provoking lines or even mystery action in the morale battle all great Batman stories have they're built a fresh yet familiar world of memorable iconic performances and their narrative that is up there with one if not the best Batman stories another reason this movie works is because in almost every scene Batman is shown whereas other Batman movies with the title Batman has him barely in a compared to Bruce Wayne or the other characters I think this is very effective in giving the people what they want you can clearly tell that there is anticipation for a follow-up sequel especially with the Positive reception that specific deleted scene has gone in another working element is vulnerability this iteration of Batman takes on to give one you see him getting hit shot and taking the full blind force of it all as mentioned earlier where the added air of realism and Stakes enhances his cinematic experience expectations are instantly subverted for the better taken out from the first blow heat cops of the film showing his physical limitations and vulnerability in action as well as showing his emotional vulnerability must under seclusion and Trauma by the side of a child who lost a father the absolute unfazed composure broken and finding out Thomas Wayne's greatest mistake in a moment of weakness is told by the destroy hospitalized Alfred and the terror of losing somebody he cares about where he is face without fear head-on it's refreshing to see a flawed Batman with vulnerabilities instead of the diamonds more men of all the plans and the small interpretation we're so used to having seen on the big screen this version feels rough and rugged he's not as smooth in his execution best shown where he Dives and improvises and adapts on the spot where he doesn't have all the answers the movie taking place in Batman's second year definitely helps with this the riding fervo accentuates this factor with many moments seeing the vulnerability of each of the man casts both highs and lows an overlooked moment of this film is where Bruce being human has a moment of physical hesitancy leaning in for a kiss to be happy with Selena But ultimately rejects the temptation to endure for the greater journey ahead even looking back before heading forward to his new story at the end of the film we even see someone as composed and as dedicated as Batman could still fall under wants and desires but his strengths not given and his ideals are not only respectful but very admirable and in tune of his character flawed or not you can really feel the internal struggle our mankind us on the goes of Patterson's Batman being the key standout its strength was in the consistent quality the writing gives and that extra layer of death in this polished piece of art adding so much to its rewatch ability where you can fully intake what's going on and enjoy the deeper thematic messages and strong subtle character or dialogue moments longing the brilliant plot twists and turns in beforehand this works really well in immortalizing this version of the iconic Dark Knight as a new stand of what we should have been getting all along the Stokes have honestly never felt grander whilst having a feeling of confinement a hidden explosion in sight Thomas Wayne's renewal fund quite literally being the driving force for the plot even though it's mentioned so very briefly in the beginning of the film a masterful subtle gone over your head moment singular action-bearing such long-term consequences within the whole plot it genuinely feels like a Race Against Time with the unnerving mystery each word spoken each action made at all holding consequence and impact the Riddler quite literally being a byproduct of the city's greed the long overdue corruption backfires heavily on those who have played a part and have been paying a prize for the seduction of power and money all drowning in the destruction of Gotham City due to the massive floods caused by the said by AI product in the Riddler as well as their own lives where they were in a Perpetual state of absolute Terror and panic to take a quick moment a quick pause in the video can we actually talk about the fact that Riddler actually succeeded in his plan having the Truth Exposed City and Peril and having Gotham underwater of the fishes where casualties are surely absurdly hired you cannot tell me otherwise watching all of this orchestrator Mayhem in the safety of his cell although the assassination of the fling citizens was barely faulted his goal is to bring literal hell and cause it to go into a frenzy did come to fruition and holds a lot for future installments as a change caused by this event was apparent for both good and bad if that is not totally insane showings of high stakes and permanent consequences I don't know what is it is honestly the equivalent of joke had blown off both boats in the Dark Knight climax or had talio's bomb gone off and Rises and the movie was still to continue it's absolutely mind-blowing to me that the villain had a big win in the sense where he won the battle but lost the war still it is most definitely refreshing to see those elements have a major presence in how it's executed it really does take you out of the seat but to summarize he followed his game play into a t and essentially won even though it wasn't the war he still won the Batman truly makes Gotham City a character of its own it is easily the best rendition of Gotham City brought to life it's captured so well every little detail shines through with each glorious shot of the broken web decrepit Victorian like Gothic City shining through with personality it incorporates the Epic scale from the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy and the creative stylization of Tim Burton's 89 Batman with a final splash of realism and clear inspiration from the comic books garnish with Matt Reeves tasteful artistic and Clear Vision for this beautiful iconic World vast majority of the shots are filmed all over the world especially insights like Glasgow or the O2 Arena or for blender London Liverpool and Chicago all in one to build a comic accurate looking Gotham City and more where the effort to go to the extra mile instead of a green screen film in its entirety and practically constructing this world pays off in making her feel alive being shot in a variety of real world distinct location accentuates the real world filled this version of Gotham City clearly has and works on resonating with people visually automatically being connected to these were World sites establishing its own take on the Grim populated cold and dirty DC Comic City bursting with active life and having their own new yet familiar spin on the visibly recognizable Batman side examples presence of course being the gcpd building the Iceberg Lounge and Arkham Asylum which have a more distinct looking and apparent Focus that becomes the locations of importance that the audience recurs in a massive grounded World many of these locations are Revisited throughout the movie it truly feels as each place we visit throughout the film has history and has General visual distinctions that instantly become recognizable to the viewer when revisiting said locations which as the settings we visit our plot relevancy which is key to further establishing them effectively being gorgeous eye candy to get lost in a cinematographer Greg Frazier really brought his A-game to making this the best looking Batman film today and I can easily stand on that each shot feels like a painting I could frame these in my room if I wanted to it's that goddamn stunning illustrating and conveying so much in the engaging cinematography Gotham City essentially is a character it is consistently referred to as a place that isn't going to a change an opposition to the cape vigilance with entrepreneur morphic terms working and making a setting truly fitting for the Batman the opening monologue immediately presents the dirtiest wet dark and comic Acura Gotham today feeling very reminiscent of the Arkham games and design of not only looking to Papa playing the liveliness of the grand city as mentioned before really showing itself as its own character within the movie which is very rare in a typical superhero setting which works brilliantly and adding more to an overfilled player of things to enjoy about the working elements of the Batman all the characters have personal interconnecting history of this Gotham it being the focus of what needs to be saved and how it's broken and seems almost impossible to put a dents in against Crime always up for grabs no matter who's in power adding another Rich layer to thoroughly take in as the film goes on not only reminiscent of the Arkham game is in the look but the action too this ritual version treats us with the brutal satisfying fight choreography and engaging action each competitive scene feeling realistic violent and Visually pleasing to the eye mowing his way through the film fisticuffs guns and all taking on multiple thugs at once in such creative ways incorporating his full arsenal about technology and is just so damn cool to see each instance feeling tense as the Batmobile chasing being a peak moment of the entire movie feeling absolutely insane each time I see it and honestly is one of the best scenes out of any Batman film today that really nailed the action I can't stress that enough the action was that good and had me wishing there was more one of the main reasons I wholeheartedly believe this version of Batman works is due to the Innovative plot where for the first time in any Batman movie we are taking on the Noir detective Journey finally showcasing why Batman holds demonica of the world's greatest detective embracing that prevalent yet barely cinematic Focus aspect of his character fully utilizing it to its Advantage this is where the movie shines a building out but interest the riveting mystery of the plot surprisingly Works hand in hand and not only re-watchability but presenting an engaging story of the sea and a series of crazed orchestrated murder cases unraveling with shocking twists but also excels in unknowingly working with the characters where in this case Bladen underlying hidden corruption is a ploy medium to challenge the characters ideologies Lifestyles emotions and affects not only the whole cast but Gotham as a whole as well all brilliantly intertwined in the Thai confined way of satisfying a known payoffs from Grand your face closed little more intricate details to background lines of dialogue from supporting characters which become more clear on multiple viewings adding consistent interest throughout the run time it's honestly laid in every aspect and throws my new yet heavy details paid dividends in its overall quality in the how it will age over time Matt Reeves was definitely smart to take this story in this angle effectively using the source material to his Advantage will perfectly fitting characters to present a full provoking murder mystery with underlying themes and a deeper story told visually and narratively so much is hidden throughout the movie to the naked eye and it pays off in a rewarding sense of satisfaction to those who noticed a more beautiful instances of the layered story emotion and journey of character Arc shown right there all along there are many instances which I've touched upon in this video with a plethora of the significant deeper visual showings being present from start to finish with symbolism being just as prominent using the old film saying show don't tell to the fullest extent working and building death of each fantastically filmed shot instances being the young indecisive goons Blitz in a gang-affiliated face painting where his other face is completely plain reflective of the internal back full for Bruce and Batman the Batman using a flare as a visual Beacon of Hope as his character comes Full Circle The Riddler detained in the cell yet the camera showing it as the opposite with Batman trapped in this game of life and death holding all the cards as if he was the one detained the constant use of colors such as red black and blue having character significance Batman predominantly being in the film at night head down of his methods flawed and unknowingly holding himself back consumed being traumatic fear with his Arc being shown in daylight with his head up looking up in a hopeful layer as both the legitimate and symbolic Knight and savior the city needed and many many more I could do this all day it honestly reminds me of the well-known legendary Batman story The Killing Joke by the infamously Innovative comic book writer Alan Moore where there is a story within the story with what is being shown not what is being told there was simply too many specific moments to break down individually in this video of most of the working in tree coming from dissection of what's being narratively weaved to the eye being revealed on your own but it is most definitely a standout and very interesting inclusion of its prominence from start to finish effectively smart and engaging with the audience serving so much Justice to the character's core cast by adding another meaningful layer within its consistent Visual and symbolic depth to this already strong take of the Batman of dialogue alone we can see each aspect of the character's story formatic values and More in many new lights however when it comes to hearing the story unfold you can really hear this world breathing the speaker the sound design being handled greatly in the soundtrack perfectly complementary of this world and its characters and memorability with many moments of pure deep silence giving this film time to breathe and hear each little sound and contrast the loud encounter crumbling segments in the Iceberg Lounge club it's cleverly masked throughout the film and audibly orchestrated with perfectly chosen sounds where it fits or sounding pristine and clean I'd even argue the boots of Batman are its own character of the overwhelming presence and all each powerful step has in its audible Focus the popular Nirvana song something in a way not only perfectly capturing the vibe and character and total essence of Batman as well as the setting but also being memorable and stuck and mine in many others heads for days after watching the film The placement of each score being thematically on beat with his theme echoing throughout really adding moments of Terror and fear mystery Intrigue and epic scale The Sounds complement the character's actions and what's going on in the scene effectively where it would feel void without them not to say there weren't any sounds in previous Batman movies especially that one truck chasing in the Dark Knight that is forever goaded it is more so to the point that there is much more emphasis on this aspect and makes the world feel alive and achieves in the desired effect of presenting realistic and fitting sounds made by each step background noise the rules of an engine to be with the ticking bomb the opening of a Cellar Door in the Bank of adrenaline and all its quality in Howard's Place throughout the film helps Captivate the audience who may be more on the lazy side of paying attention and is pleasing to hear for those who are fully engaged in the film adding so much more to the movie the characters in The standout Caster online of what really works especially with the amount of focus that were juggled throughout this entire story it's pretty damn well as we are presented with an abundance of innovating takes of classic DC figures of some that we have seen before in the nolivar such as Carmine Falconi Alfred Jim Gordon and Catwoman all making a cinematic return having a more broken yet involved Alfred who has a ploy in helping Bruce throughout the movie both in solving the riddle-based murders and as an emotionally available moral compass Selena Carlos Cowan being a strong female lead but not cringy or overly sexualized nor being defined by as well as having a lot more to offer in comparison of actually being utilized in Duo based situations of Batman effective and utilizing her strengths such as appearance to her Advantage as even Batman makes a joke and remark about how many eyeballs she gets her away showcasing her interactions helped guide our protagonist in his journey and had excellent back and forth Banton her writing and character comes full circle in a satisfying emotional climax where she's contemptuous with herself and her decisions after a long internal struggle easily the best love interest to our jaded hero we've gotten on the big screen I really can't believe how I've gotten this far into the video without mentioning how badass this version of Jim Gordon is he really steals the show as the hard and badass who stands his ground of the angry younger Batman and plays off him so well he's also someone who's earned his trust and is always on site at every crime scene ready to throw down Carmine Falconi is given so much more to do in this iteration he is the one calling the shots of Gotham's corruption a rare bear drop usage and basically has told been the mayor for the last 20 years and validating the election as a all is also tied to both Bruce and Selena in the plot and to their childhood pass which is a neat addition which adds death to our characters especially when they interact with him Hermann beta route was a wonderful surprise if his death proving the point that someone will always feel the gap of corruption with the power struggle soon to commenced in the nearby future the penguin also makes the Cinematic reappearance in the scrittio world as an excellent antagonizing force of Colin Farrell's penguin being such a joy each time he is on screen in both the Epic action set scenes of the movie and finding comedy even having a witful instance where he catches the big brain detectives of Batman and Gordon wrong in their case when being interrogated looking hideously terrifying yet being a wonderful comic relief where he hears and two overbearing is placed in scenes full of tension poor dado owns his performance as the Riddler a wonderful reflective antagonist to our protagonist of him being how upbringing his and Trauma can affect the person which is also shown in Catwoman and Batman mentioned by The Dark Knight when he says Oscars can destroy us even after the physical wounds have healed but if we survive them they could transform us they can give us the power to endure and the strength to fight the Riddler is realistic in his Twisted ambition being someone understandable even though his intentions are not truly pure and that shows an excellent depiction of real world mental illness and the way he carries himself very much like a real-life serial killer with his insane narcissism adding a sense of real world recognizability and allows a typically goofy depicted character to be taken much more seriously even in the superhero fiction setting costumes and all he isn't one-dimensional it's more than black and white ultimately venturing into the coping mechanisms of riddles and puzzles which he mentions using as an escape during his childhood being another realistic feature in rough households and crippling fear of being isolated as a nobody fueling his crazed Vengeance as he's deemed that nobody gave him a chance and as shown in the final scenes of the film to be preparing a comeback his presence is captivating on screen he has a creepy Eerie feature to him whilst having the unassuming frail look or pull down his actual appearance making a psychotic drop into crazy Madness seemed that much more creepier showing to not judge a book by its cover which is reflective with a plot and is a perfect antithesis to Batman capable of outsmarting him having his long lasting impact in the city and second guessing his moral and purpose having vengeance shook which he did he had Vengeance shook speaking of Batman he really is as mentioned all the way from the beginning of the video the Batman Robert Patterson kills it he evokes so much emotion from just his eyes alone whilst confined in a mask throughout the entire movie most prominent in the Riddler interrogation scene where his emotional ranges on full display really showing how skillful of an actor Robert Patterson really is his inclusion being one of the best working elements of the film if not the best you can see clear signs of mental representation young men in their character through traumatization Temptation Vengeance fear and clear signs of depression reacting to light the same way as someone who stays inside of the lot he also lets his hair go longer and has a very tired face along with even forgetting his suit cuffs and negligence to Keeping Up Appearances these are realistic elements of someone who is depressed he even says he has become acquainted of a late sleeping pattern compared to a nocturnal animal this is also why he needs to force himself to remember in recordings and daily loggings of everything he sees when crime fighting as he does not rejuvenate in a healthy way these deep-rooted elements of his character becoming resonating factors with the audience of similar struggles this is also a Batman heavy focused film giving him much of the needed Spotlight compared to any of the other Batman films rarely taking the camera off him which pays in the long run in solidifying the Batman's quality he undergoes a compelling character Arc with a satisfying climax where we understand Batman's prerogative his internal struggles and Ambitions all of those mentioned characters being genuine highlights of the film and appeal of what really works in pushing this version amongst the best with all this working at this showing of Batman there is more to be desired on what will work next in these future installments an R rating will allow the darker moments of Gore to Prevail in elevating the Grim take of the Batman vs Greater Heights and would have done wonders for instance in this movie as well or extensive action scenes maintaining the excellent choreography plus more action scenes in general is just an obvious with how cool his array of Weaponry combat hand-to-hand skills and stealth are so it's a no-brainer especially with run times in the three-hour Mark where more could have been used sparingly will definitely benefit raves in a sequel all in all it's unanimous the Batman simply works [Music]

Channel: Charlie

Views: 67,816

Keywords: Why The Batman Works - Video Essay, Batman, The Batman, The Dark Knight, DC, Comics, Marvel, Matt Reeves, Comic Con, Anime, Ichigo, Spiderman, Spider-Man, Movies, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Joker, Goku, Vegeta, Naruto, Superhero, Essay, Movie Review, Black Adam, Sasuke, Avengers, Chainsaw Man, Makima, Zack Snyder, Restore The Synderverse, Rap, Taylor Swift, UFC, Conor Mcgregor, Boxing, Cartoons, Review, Breakdown, GTA 6, Games, Twitch, ASMR, Red Hood, Nightwing, Kang, Thanos, Riddler, Catwoman

Id: JJ2h1cK7nbk

Length: 36min 33sec (2193 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 28 2022