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The rest of the cast? Flipping sensational. You can't really top Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, but Zoe Kavitz is a purrfect Catwoman and Selina. More interesting than Anne Hathaway's, you really feel for her. She's so spunky and just fits the character so perfectly. Headstrong, sexy, and still a compassionate side. Paul Dano completely reinvents the Riddler in the best way possible. He goes up and down between subtle and over the top and strikes a gleefully great balance. Without the mask, I couldn't picture a more fitting looking Edward Nashton. With the mask, he is as terrifying as any Batman villain who has come before. Turturro is so good as Falcone, despite limited screen time. Colin Farrell's Penguin? Forget about it - he's just brilliant, my god. While I have my doubts DeVito's grotesque Penguin can be topped as my personal favorite interpretation of the character, Farrell's take is a marvelous reinvention. He still has a similar flair, but he's not big and respected yet, or quite as over the top. Jeffrey Wright is a slam dunk as Gordon, period. Andy Serkis was a very good new Alfred, though I can't say he supplants Michael Gough or Michael Caine for me. I can't think of anyone who didn't do a great job and convince me in their first few moments they fit.
How's the action? Insanely great. The fistfights are as well done as ever. Oh, yeah, something very important. Three words: the car chase... oh my lord, this seriously might be the best car chase I've ever seen in a movie. My heart was pounding. The fire and the crashing and the high speed all felt so real. And of course, the culmination of Batman coming towards Penguin in the car is simply a vintage moment, one that deserves to be iconic in Batman lore with that Giacchino theme blaring in the background. Giacchino gave me some Elfman vibes in the best way. I don't think that theme can be topped for me either, but I'll be damned if this new one wasn't amazing. His whole gothic, intense score is just marvelous.
I'll just ramble on about other stuff from here, forget structure! I loved Riddler's creepy cult that carried out his plan after his arrest. That's great scriptwriting for believable henchmen in this technology / livestreaming age. I liked how they handled Thomas Wayne a lot, being shown to be not perfect, but not a total villain as originally thought. He was imperfect but had a good heart. The movie is so careful in delivering the message: evil and corruption does lurk everywhere among the elite, but there are those who are better that can still fight the good fight. Hope. The movie is dark AF, but hope is a key element. My interest was held through the whole three hour run time, and honestly I just want several more movies like this as soon as possible. It will be a crime if Pattinson and Reeves get anything less than a trilogy, preferably more. I want to see the uncontested best rogues gallery adapted in this universe, this Gotham that had more personality than perhaps any before.
Matt Reeves clearly had a vision here, and he executed it brilliantly. I'm simply floored still thinking about how great this film was. I can't remember the last time I came out of the theater to a brand new movie thinking, "wow, that was a 10/10." Please, EVERYONE, Batman fans new and old - do yourself a favor and see this thing ASAP.
I agree with literally everything you wrote here, @FoxRox! We clearly saw the same movie. Now be a good boy and go see the film again; I promise that you'll love the film even more!
I’m just relieved we didn’t have to endure yet another origin story where we see Bruce’s parents eating lead with the pearls falling onto the pavement.
...or was that eating pearls with the lead falling to the pavement ? Hey ! THAT's how they could show it the next time, to make it FRESH !
With regard to your Bond comment, that is pretty much how Bond was introduced in 1962, right, though I'd say the Bond we meet in DR is already experienced as a double-0, and is not just in his second year or so. But he's established and experienced in the job. Whether we get a psych-intense Bond with a multi-picture story arc again, or a change in tone, either way, I don't see an origin again or a reference to how he's a new double-0. As I write this, it occurs to me that casting might affect it. If they select a significantly younger actor for the part, he might be quite closer to his origin than, say, was Connery's Bond in 1962, or any of the other loose-continuity/soft (very) re-boots of (arguably) Dalton in TLD (already on the job long enough to muse about getting relieved of duties, "they'd be doing him a favor" was it ?), Brosnan in GE (already well past the days of working with partner and calling out "last calls" when it was time to shoot their way out), or Craig in CR (close enough that he'd just recently gotten the nod to double-0). I mention this because I wonder if they might go QUITE young to try to sow the seeds of a new audience and bring in the (sorry, Judge) "yewths" though I think they belong in Young Bond (which could be fun !) moreso than in a "regular" Bond. The folks whose names I've seen tossed about - admittedly, by fans and not the producers - would tip over in a stiff wind and would lose their next pillow fight.
The scenes when the next Bond film is called "The James Bond".
I even like the serials, and of course, Adam West. If I get time I may catch the new film. I'm glad it's getting a positive reception. I'm intrigued that it's more of a detective story rather than an action film. Sounds very interesting.
I know, I’m lucky to be a fan of some great creations.
Pattinson is great in the cape and cowl but his Bruce Wayne left a bit to be desired, which was surprising. It wasn't as much a Bruce Wayne story as previous iterations so it didn't make much difference in the end, but I always liked the duality of the character so it was a shame that it wasn't present.
That being said, I'd watch it again in a heartbeat.
True, the story is. I just didn't feel like he fared as well outside of the suit as he did in it. It was surprising to me, as I would have assumed the reverse when he was announced. But still, a great film overall.
And John Turturro was great as Falcone.
Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the film @CraigMooreOHMSS :)
I was thinking about it in comparison to the Nolan trilogy, and feel that the Nolan films brought Batman into the real world, whereas this film brings real life into the world of Batman. If that makes sense.
The casting, sets, locations and the soundtrack (god that soundtrack!!!!), we’re all first class.
However, I was disappointed… I didn’t think that this film with this story warranted a three hour run time. I’d be enthralled with certain scenes (and captivated by the lead character), but there were long stretches where I was feeling the length. There were subplots that weren’t necessary… Without spoiling anything, Turturro’s Falcone didn’t need two different sub plots… if I edit out one of these subplots (a specific one), nothing changes in the film other than making it tighter. Which leads me to…
Selina Kyle…. Kravitz was lacking in my opinion. In fact, edit her out of the film and it doesn’t actually change anything again, other than tightening the story and the film’s run time.
In the end this was a very mixed bag for me and thankfully Pattinson was beyond great and, to me, was the glue that kept me watching.
Agreed. Awesome look to the city and I hope they keep consistency in their sequels (BB Gotham was quite a bit different by the time TDK was filmed)
This beat out begins as my favorite
I wish they peppered more of them throughout the film.
I guess the running time combined with the pace of the film will put some people off. I promised an endurance test. ;-)
I disagree about Zoë Kravitz. Both her acting, appearance and story really got to me.
Your wife too, @Risico007? Mine as well, that is to say, she didn't hate the film, it just left her completely cold.
I'd seen nothing to date that gave me a bad vibe until I saw this - that there are voiceovers, with The Batman/Bruce Wayne providing inner narration...ugh...why ? This film doesn't have enough already ? I still look forward to seeing it, but...less so. Oh, man, does this mean the next two films in what appears to be a trilogy will ALSO have voiceover ? To quote a character played by an actor who once had to do a voiceover in a film which didn't need it and he seemed quite certain it did not: "I've got a bad feeling about this..."
The Batman is a noir film and the voice over worked and I wished there was more.
@Since62 Don't be distracted. There's a bit at the start and a bit at the end and that's it, nothing to be worried about. There's less of it in this film than Sarah Connor's voiceover in T2.
Also, try not to think in terms of a "voiceover narration." Rather, think in comic book terms. Inner monologues are pretty common there.
The only alternative the film had to an inner monologue from Batman was to have another character spell out for us what the Batman is thinking, and that would not have befitted this movie. Please don't have your enthusiasm lessened before you've actually seen the film. Every choice made has clearly been thought through. The Bat's inner monologue makes sense, feels right and works for both an awesome opening and closing scene.
And since you're referencing Blade Runner, no, it's nothing like that at all.