Film Review
The Batman
Warner Brothers has launched a reboot of Batman. I am an admirer of Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy and so I was skeptical of this new Batman film going in to the theater. Especially so, after the terrible films that featured Ben Affleck as Batman. This film did not disappoint.
There is something Christian about superhero films. In the gospel, Christ teaches us to do good works in secret and store up treasures in heaven. We should not practice our piety in front of men so we may receive the greater reward later.
Superheroes to an extent practice humility and self sacrifice. They have secret identities and so their heroism is never really known to the general public. The greatest example of a superhero denying himself is Peter Parker who is Spiderman. For Parker, being a superhero is a drag that interferes with his life but he does the right thing at the expense of his own personal life.
Much the same can be said about Bruce Wayne but not to the same extent as Parker. Bruce Wayne is a millionaire living in the corrupt Gotham city that is dominated by the mob and other criminals. Wayne could live a life of luxury but chooses to become Batman and to risk his life in order to protect the public. Like Spiderman, he is misunderstood and slandered by the media.
“The Batman” recycles much of the same formula as previous versions such as Nolan’s films and Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” film. At the same time it is its own film and while it resembles Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” it is not a rip off and it moves in a new direction. This time the villain is the Riddler who did not appear in any of Nolan’s films.
The new version of the Riddler is darker and more disturbing than Jim Carrey’s portrayal in the 1995 “Batman Forever” or Frank Gorshin’s Riddler from the 1960’s television series. As with the portrayal of the Joker by Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix, the Riddler is a a psychopath and any of the comedic characteristics from performances by Gorshin and Carrey are nonexistent here.
There are some similarities with Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” and “The Joker” by Todd Phillips that are too much alike at times. But these similarities are limited and the film stands on its own overall. Robert Pattinson is a great Batman and the film works largely because of his performance.
The supporting cast is great. There is the usual action that occurs in Batman films but there is also a horror-gothic atmosphere throughout the early parts of the film which is unique. This is a successful reboot of the Batman franchise and a major improvement over the terrible Justice league films that featured Batman.
As with Christopher Nolan’s films and Phillip’s “The Joker” this is not a film for children. It is however Christian in the sense that the hero is willing to make personal sacrifices to help others. And like these other films, “The Batman” takes the subject of evil very seriously.
The city of Gotham is a metaphor for the fallen world we live in. In this film and in the Nolan films Batman can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian Church offering light and hope in times of darkness and evil. The themes of faith, sacrifice, and redemption are strong in superhero films and Batman is no exception.
The film is too dark and violent for younger children but for older people this film is a tremendous experience. The struggle of good and evil is depicted very well. Villains in these movies can be viewed as representing the devil. Evil incarnate and Batman is a sort of exorcist with a calling to crush the evil one.
A terrific film and highly recommended. It is great to be back at the movies.