The Batman spoiler-free review: Is The Batman good?

The Batman is here, but is it worth watching?

The wait is finally over: The Batman has arrived.

The most-anticipated DC Comics movie in a very long time, it was initially expected to be an offshoot of the already-established DCEU, starring Ben Affleck’s iteration of the Dark Knight (with the star also hoping to direct). However, it soon transformed into a completely standalone project, with Matt Reeves replacing Affleck behind the camera and Robert Pattinson doing the same in front of it.

After years of waiting and multiple delays, The Batman is finally upon us. But even its release hasn’t been enough to calm the fears of those devoted fans waiting for a film that spent a long time figuring out what it was going to be. And after a few misses that actually featured the Caped Crusader in them, it’s hard not to blame them.

So, does The Batman live up to the hype?

Is The Batman good?

Fans anxious about whether or not The Batman will be worth the immensely long wait needn’t worry themselves any longer, because not only is the film one of DC’s greatest accomplishments, it’s one of the best comic book movies ever made.

A detective drama at its heart (and a gritty one at that), the Matt Reeves film utilises the hero’s most downplayed nickname – the World’s Greatest Detective – in a way that none of his previous silver screen showdowns have. Robert Pattinson also spends more time under the cowl in a single movie than any of his previous counterparts, as the film casts away Bruce Wayne’s public persona to focus on his far more interesting personality: Batman. And with that, he and Gordon find themselves in a mystery that evokes comparisons to British crime thrillers and one that would make fans of legendary comic books like Batman: The Long Halloween proud.

Pattinson himself is nothing short of spectacular in the role, quashing those naysayers who refused to wait and see him in action by bringing to life to a very different Dark Knight, not only the detective within but the motivation behind his existence. He’s gripping, he’s compelling and he might just have it in him to be the best live-action version of the character we’ve ever seen.

He’s matched in his brilliance by Paul Dano, who gifts us with a Riddler so disturbing, it brings to mind the late, great Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight.

Meanwhile, Zoë Kravitz is undeniable in her approach as the captivating Catwoman and Jeffrey Wright brings a grounded calm to James Gordon that serves him well as the movie’s moral compass.

The Batman is dark; no doubt the darkest Batman movie yet, but it’s also thoroughly gripping and will have you asking far more questions than even the characters at the center of it. And in spite of that darkness, it will once again leave you very excited about the incredibly bright future of the franchise.

From Adam West’s larger-than-life jump from the television to Ben Affleck’s shared universe-building, this lifelong Batman fan has seen all the highs and lows of the Caped Crusader’s trips to the big screen, and I can say without any doubt that The Batman is one of his greatest hits yet.

The Batman is in theaters from Friday, March 4, 2022.

Are you going to see The Batman? What are you hoping to see from it? Let us know in the comments below!