After initially being announced in 2014, Warner Brothers’ long-awaited solo Batman film finally hit the big screens. Due to the long production process, reports of reshoots, Covid pause, past superhero movie failures by Warner Brothers, and some pushback after the announcement that brooding Twilight superstar Robert Pattinson would be portraying Batman, there was much skepticism as audiences went to see yet another adaption of the iconic Caped Crusader. Fortunately for fans of the famed Dark Knight and movie fans alike, there is no skepticism anymore as the general consensus is that The Batman is one of the best adaptations of the character that we have ever seen.

One of the most refreshing things about The Batman, and one of the reasons it has been such a success, is it is directed by an actual fan of Batman. Matt Reeves, who is known for his directorial work in the Planet of the Apes franchise, constantly raved in every interview about how excited he was to get to make a movie about a character he’d always loved. In order to prepare for the film, Reeves, as well as some stars of The Batman, did extensive research reading Batman comics in order to truly understand the legendary character who is beloved by so many. This appreciation and understanding of the Caped Crusader, the other characters from his universe, and his home of Gotham City is evident in the movie and makes the characters and setting seem authentic.

Not only did Reeves use this knowledge of Batman to direct the movie, but he also wrote the script, and as such, was able to represent the famous comic book characters as they are in the comics. The standout performances, such as Matt Reeves’ brilliant scriptwriting and directing, were not just limited to behind-the-scenes though, as it would not be a shock to potentially see an Oscar nomination come the way of many of The Batman actors, especially Batman himself, Robert Pattinson.

Although Pattinson was not a very popular choice for the Dark Knight after his casting was first announced, he definitely swayed the opinions of the majority of fans with his brilliant performance. Scenes in the movie where Pattinson had to portray Brue Wayne were few and far between but in those moments Pattinson brought some very fresh originality to the legendary character.

In this Caped Crusader film, Bruce Wayne has not yet figured out how to balance his two personas as a vigilante and a billionaire playboy, and Pattinson does a great job displaying that struggle. Pattinson really shines when he is in the famous Bat-suit though, as his low Bat-voice and subtle mannerisms make him look like the true Batman. Aside from the amazing portrayal of Batman, some other great performances include the main villain, a grounded take on the Riddler played flawlessly by Paul Dano, Jefferey Wright’s Lieutenant James Gordon who acts almost like Batman’s sidekick in this film, Colin Farrel’s Penguin, and Zoe Kravit’s Catwoman.

Thanks to all these fantastic portrayals of some of the most famous characters in comic book history, and the fantastic directing and writing, Matt Reeve’s The Batman is poised to be remembered as one of the best live-action Batman interpretations we have ever seen. And, with a sequel on the way, Matt Reeve’s Batman universe may only be getting better.