On Mar. 4, 2021, the first solo Batman film in ten years was released, depicting the caped crusader better than any film prior through its character development, score, and thought-provoking story. There was heavy speculation about the success of the film by many due to its casting of “Twilight” actor Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, and the constant release date pushback. However, the film was praised by many critics and fans alike, even earning the AMC Artisan Film Seal with 2019’s “Joker” being the only other comic book movie on that list. According to AMC, “[a]ny movie with the AMC Artisan Films seal is an artist-driven film that advances the art of making movies.” Being included in this gallery proves that this movie should not be considered just another comic book film, but a piece of art that deserves thorough praise.

     In my personal opinion, the film achieves what no other Batman film has depicted properly: Batman’s detective skills. Unlike other depictions in cinema, “‘The Batman”’ introduces this side by using his antagonist, the Riddler, to create a murder mystery with several twists. The director of the film, Matt Reeves, stated at DC Fandome that there was heavy inspiration from movies of the mystery genre such as “Se7en”, “China Town”, “The French Connection”, and “Taxi Driver.” The noir style of the film resulted in enhancing the fantastic cinematography. The warm orange in the neon-lit Gotham city contrasting the cold brutality of the setting differentiates itself from “The Dark Knight” series of movies that had the tendency of using a monotonous hue of blue. Two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer, Greg Fraser, was able to achieve beauty out of the grounded filth creating a comic-accurate depiction of the world that surrounds Batman.

    Another reason that this is the perfect depiction of the Dark Knight is the portrayal of the man himself by Robert Pattinson. Many have complained that Pattinson does not fit the role. This take is objectively wrong in so many ways. When talking about his portrayal of Bruce Wayne with Entertainment Weekly, Pattinson brought up the fact that this is a young Bruce Wayne who is inexperienced in his second year of crime fighting. In the film, it is clear that he still suffers from the traumas of his past and hasn’t had the time to create the persona that Bruce Wayne usually puts on of the playboy philanthropist. Batman’s true mask is the one that he puts on for the public, the man named Bruce Wayne, which Pattinson’s depiction hasn’t mastered yet. This is why this film is so different from anything seen before in a Batman film because his origin story acts as a coming of age masterpiece.

     “‘The Batman”’ is a tale of mystery and suspense that leads to a very satisfying conclusion. Director Matt Reeves and Warner Bro. studios have already green-lit a sequel and are planning for a trilogy. I am excited to see the future that this world has to offer and I am certain that it will not fail expectations. With the exciting and flashy superhero movies that have been released in the past decade, ‘The Batman’ sets itself apart such as films like “Logan” and “Joker.” Although “‘The Dark Knight”’ has been deemed the best Batman movie by many, I believe that ‘The Batman’ is the most accurate depiction of the character and personally my favorite Batman film, which is why I give it a 9.5/10.