Filmmaker reacts to The Batman (2022)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Hope you enjoy my filmmaker reaction to The Batman. :D
Full length reactions & Patreon only polls: / jamesvscinema
Original Movie: The Batman
(2022)
Ending Song: / charleycoin
Follow Me:
Instagram: / jamesadamsiii
Twitter: / jamesadamsiii
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.
It's finally hereeee!
-------
Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema
Be safe out there and enjoy the day!
Please watch Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. IMMEDIATELY DUDE! New classic
Really dug this reaction and commentary James, The Batman is definitely my favorite movie of 2022 so far and I'm glad you liked it as much as I Did, keep up on the great content man.
Great video
New Zealand film
Once Were Warriors
Alfred taught him how to fight on Gotham aswell
Seeing this in theaters was a hell of an experience! The rumble that shook the theater when the batmobile is first heard gave me chills!
Same with his monologue!!
It was an instant nut
Literally one of the coolest scenes.
What got me shaking was Gordon's scream!
This movie had so many chilling scenes it was great
I'd just like to take two minutes to say RIP to Neal Adams, the artist who propelled the Batman from camp into a dark, realistic style during the early 70s. Ra's Al Ghul (a creation of Adams') always called him 'the detective' and it was nice to see this film go down that detective route.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
RIP legend
Don’t forget Denny O’Neil. The pair, in my opinion, are Batman.
Really liked the stop-n-talk approach here, this is the kinda film that gets more impressive the more you pause and admire the filmmaking because everybody stepped up to the plate in that way:
- The way the first 20 minutes train you to look at the eyes, and almost every main actor (especially Pattinson) is forced to convey so much emotion through them.
- The way that this is the only live-action Batman film since Burton's original to thrive in shadows and darkness, using limited colours in the most powerful of ways.
- The crunch of the sound design, felt in the rain, capes, costumes, footsteps, and vehicles.
- The costuming, makeup, and hairstyling, exaggerating the features of our main characters to give them a believed sense of history and weight.
- The arch production design, making Gotham truly feel like a filthy, crammed place. Wayne Manor is crowded but also tonally feels distinct to the rest of Gotham, which also feels distinct to the Batcave.
- The stuntwork always deserves a shout in these kinda films.
- The fact that almost every scene takes place in rain and the focus never becomes unclear. - The constant use of POV and focus.
^Subpoint: When it does something unbelievable (ex. fly from a building, busy highway car chase), it's very grounded in perspective and stays close to the subject. It never feels glamourized or just action, but a natural extension of this world.
- The blaring, operatic score, easily some of Giacchino's best work; the seamless VFX and green-screening.
- The subtle humour. It's really something that it gets so self-serious that it becomes knowingly funny.
I think on a craft level alone, this is an accomplishment seldom seen. People say they don't make 'em like this anymore, and maybe in terms of writing, that's fair play, but in terms of craft, WB is proving that wrong this decade.
I love how Alfred's background is handled in this move, he mentioned to Bruce that he was "...relieving his days at The Circus..." when he was deciphering the first message. The Circus is another name for the MI6, the British foreign intelligence service, he was possibly a James Bond type of guy. Which was prertty neat.
Alfred has always been low-key bad ass. Whether it's him being ex-SAS or former MI6. It's been retconed back and forth, but my head cannon says it's both.
That’s something I wouldn’t mind seeing explored in the sequel… Bruce’s tutelage under Alfred.
@@kmiranda322 This took heavy inspiration from the Batman Earth One graphic novels. Even the parts about Bruce’s mother being an Arkham, the zodiac/jigsaw approach to riddler and being trained by Alfred.
Also even though I haven’t read it yet there is a prequel novel that was written for this movie that goes over unexplored aspects of this world.
@@ReaLibrofr he been bad ass even in the animated cartoon shows/movies 😂
Paul Dano is a menace in every movie he's in. This rendition of the Riddler was so incredible.
The dude can act!
You should see him in 12 Years a Slave!
This riddler was creepy Af and I love it
He's an amazing actor. I wish he'd been nominated for an Oscar for 'There Will Be Blood'.
He originally won my heart with his lil side role in the first half of looper, incredible how quickly he could draw you in and make you empathize with his character
When Alfred mentions his days in "the circus," the circus is actually code for MI6. Alfred's history from the comics and some adapted media usually involves him having been in the military and later working as a James Bond type of figure before he befriended Thomas Wayne.
I'm so glad I saw this 2x in the movie theatre. It was an amazing experience. First I went with my sister and then with my mom. We loved every single aspect of the movie. The acting, the cinematography, the sound design, the score, everything was phenomenal. Loved your commentary.
Appreciate you always! Saw it twice in theaters as well!
This went by pretty quick for a 3 hour movie. I like the tone of this movie. It stays consistent. I do like the Nolan films, but this one feels more like a complete Batman with his detective skills.
Agree!
Thank you for doing a commentary on this. When I went to see The Batman, I was completely prepared to be disappointed. What I experienced was one of the most rewarding, immersive and anxiety inducing cinematic experiences of my life. Also as a techno fan, I was so overjoyed to see the choice of including that music genre and scene as part of this world and it makes perfect sense, I was making a serious bass face during the club scenes, which were shot at Printworks in London, a venue renowned for its light shows. This is one of those very rare films where, as hard as I looked for one, I could not find a single weak link in the cast. The cinematography made me gasp in awe from its beauty and inventiveness. As a film snob and as a general audience member, I was in the palm of the film's hand from the first reveal of the riddler. As soon as the film ended, I wanted to stand up and applaud it, the last film that made me feel like that was Parasite. The Batman is, and I don't use this word lightly, a masterpiece.
The tone of this film was perfect...cast were great...and I loved the detective/horror Noir vibe. Cinematography and music were top notch :)
this is easily the best-shot Batman film to date. Greg Fraser is one of the best cinematographers out there right now
Greg Fraser also worked on the mando series.
@@haariskhan5026 dude's got quite the resume: Dune, Rogue One, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Batman.
@@ligmaballs8385 I know, I forgot. 😅
Not going to lie. I was worried that this new film was going to take itself way too seriously, and feel overstuffed.
But it did an excellent job balancing so many different elements in one film. Despite the length, I was still invested the entire time.
Not to mention that the visuals and score were beyond outstanding! 👏👏👏
That’s really good to hear man! The same thing could be said with his Planet of the Apes trilogy but I truly loved them!
It took itself way too seriously and felt overstuffed. Your initial thoughts were right on the money. A bloated, drag in the mud, self absorbed, whiney emo fest.
@@magicbrownie1357 It was the opposite of overstuffed and didn't take itself even remotely as seriously as the best Batman stories. You wrote one of the most ridiculous comments i've ever seen.
@@FuzzyDlop If you were right, I would agree with you. Alas, this is not the case.
@@magicbrownie1357 I would disagree, only because it was easy to follow and not overwhelming at all to be called bloated. I’m not sure how it was self-absorbed exactly, I’m afraid I didn’t get that. With regard to the emo angle I don’t agree either. Batman is a dude who lives in a cave and naturally doesn’t socialise much, only really comes out at night so he’s going to be pale, Batman is broody by nature and always has been - I mean it’s actually more like Batman than any other film lol and even when it came to him trying to push Alfred away by saying you’re not my father it was explained when Alfred wakes up in the hospital. He was trying to push Alfred away essentially because he didn’t wanna feel that fear again like he did with his parents, and Alfred was the only way he could have (and did eventually end up doing anyway) feeling that fear again. Factor into it it’s only year 2 of him being Batman and tbh it’s the most accurate live action Batman I’ve ever seen haha
I got hella chills when they focused on the dark streets when bruce was monologuing in the beginning after the dudes committed the crimes. Crazy how you can show fear in a persons face even when they have a mask on. 5:00
I’d be booking the OTHER WAY.
As a lover of all the Batmans, I really appreciated this one for taking the risk of not trying to be super epic or "out do" its predecessors. Sometimes, keeping it (somewhat) grounded, and going for vibes over style is good. The dichotomy of a vulnerable and broken Bruce vs the powerful and domineering Bats is pretty cool too.
Love this
"Just be a good person. You won't have some weirdo trying to kill you."
Words of wisdom my man
This movie honestly made me want to be a filmmaker, I'm 17 and I had no idea where I wanted to go, I had no plans for the future and seeing this film made me realise that I want to do this! I never had that feeling with a movie, but it's just so well made that it just inspires me, it makes me want to do the same, i want to be able to make something as well crafted as this movie is. I want to learn about all that stuff.
Waiting for it to come out was long but it kept me going through the pandemic and all the really bad shit happening in my life, so im very gratefull to Matt Reeves😂 This comment maybe got a lil personal but this movie is very personal to me, I love it so much and i am glad you loved it as well man!
Love ur vids!
Hahaha never apologize for being real homie! Inspiration is a powerful thing. Embrace that always!
So happy to read this! Films can inspire, heal and reinvigorate in countless ways, follow your instincts. I'd love to help with advice or the like if you need ☺
Be passionate about it!
If you're passionate about it, there's nothing you can't do in film!
Love that the scene of Batman walking from the Batmobile towards Penguin was shot the way it was -- symbolic of a bat hanging upside down :)
Can I say that this was the best Batman movie since LEGO Batman movie. I'm happy we got a Batman that still is learning on the job and his relationship with Gordon and Catwoman are some of my favorite iterations on screen. Despite the length I still had a great time watching it twice with friends.
I actually really liked that they let each of the scenes kind of marinate. There were plenty of action scenes, but they let a lot of the dialogue scenes kind of hang in the air, and just let the viewer pick up on what was unspoken as much as what was spoken. In a world of media catering to attention spans that cant make it through a 20 minute episode without checking their phones, I appreciated the slower paced scenes as much as the action.
I saw this in the cinema and i was in awe of just the cinematography of this film, it felt to me like a graphic novel come to life, plus the story, the acting, the music everything in this film is masterfully done and i'm soo excited to see the Sequel now and what they are going to come up with next
Plus the Batmobile reveal is epic, it feels like a monster rising from the shadows and in the cinema it was epically loud and shook the seats and I had a massive smile the whole time
Awesome reaction as all ways
Ay Chris!! Thanks for the love as always!
I love seeing a young Batman who’s still got that rage burning inside of him you feel his anger in all these fight scenes. He doesn’t pull any punches and I love it
Wow it came out 5 years ago that’s crazy feels like it was a couple months ago
This was shot well and it gives a very “comic book” vibe. It’s very dark and it has good vs evil dynamics. Batman is called the dark knight. I liked how he was a bit more pissed off in this film.
It's crazy this came out in 2017 it feels like I just watched it yesterday... Just playing, keep up the great work as always James! Absolutely love this channel.
😭😭😭
Ummm, this DIDN'T come out in 2017
@@nicks1063 The title James originally had, was "The Batman (2017)"
One of my favorite moments is when we first hear the Batmobile start up, and everyone immediately stops what they're doing while visibly wondering "what the fuck is *that*"
I like that in Nolan’s films, Batman just appears; just materializes out of thin air. In this one Batman wants you to hear him coming. He makes his presence felt.
I love Batman's villains because most of them could technically exist in real life.
Joker > psychopath in clown make-up who really likes to tell people how he got his scars.
Two-Face > guy gone crazy after losing half his face
Scarecrow > guy that uses psychedelic toxins to make people do crazy shit
Ra's al Ghul > terrorist leader
Bane > guy who trained his entire life to be the strongest in the world (I always imagine like Shaq as an MMA fighter instead of a basketball player)
Riddler > guy who leaves Zodiac-like riddles
Penguin > ugly, short guy - but tough - who wants revenge on the world for being bullied as a child
and so on . . . All perfectly possible.
I thought that the orphaned kid that Batman had a connection with could be a young Robin. The first scene of the movie showed him play fighting with a red cape. Could be an interesting adaptation of Robin’s story to fit this new style.
This entire movie is one big "Crazy Shot". The amount of just fucking pure distilled kino in this is astonishing. How Batman talking is edited into the footage, how every frame is quite literally a paiting. It's like a total opposite of Nolan's batman. Amazing addition to the line of Batman adaptations.
Love that both are so incredibly different in their own way.
@@JamesVSCinema Dark Knight trilogy is so cleanly shot it looks like a documentary next to this. Really cool to see how such similar stories about the same character can be so different.
I love how they kept the shot on the Penguin in his introduction letting us know that it the first time we are seeing him and getting a good look at him. We are Batman’s eyes.
A moment I love, when Gordon says "does this mean anything to you" he says it in a way that perfectly rhymes with the riddler card he was reading out loud. Am I the only one that caught that?
I didn’t catch that!
No...that was the point, it was even in the trailer lmao
No, I noticed that in the movie, kinda tickled me 😂
Wow! I don't think I noticed the music at the beginning when the guy in the drop head costume is staring into the shadows, the mouth of hell, more or less, waiting for the Batman to appear. I got goosebumps. The music is as terrifying as the moment.
2017? I think there's a mistake bro. I need to speak to the manager. 🙎♀️
Nah 2007
@@JamesVSCinema 😂😂
I think the scene where Batman is literally “holy shit, I have to jump” is the best.
if you notice the shot you liked with him leading out the people out of the water when its shown from above it , it looks like the people form his cape as they are walking, with the shot of the woman holding him they went from being scared of him to embracing him as their hope... like you said being reborn
Thanks for the post dude you made my night!
All that matters man 🙏🏽
the monologue at the beginning gave chills
perfect use of cinematography, acting, directing and music
Seeing the Batman in theaters was a one of a kind experience.
I love the moments of levity in this movie, yes it’s dark and brooding but the fact that Batman tries to grapple away and absolutely eats it is such a good moment in humanizing Bruce. Also full reveal of The Batmobile as like a Mad Max level Demon Machine that’s gonna be tearing shit up is such a good reveal
It is always fun watching a young Batman that is still learning. Still holding out hope that one day we get an older detective batman someday
I always saw the Penguin as the "Al Capone" of Gotham City. I felt like he views himself as a business man, even though he is into various illegal activities. I liked how this movie set him up as such. When done right, the Penguin can be very menacing, and I'm curious to see How Colin fleshes out this character in the HBO Max series, when it comes out. That being said, I still want to see the trick umbrellas.
That scene where the batmobile is powering up, ABSOLUTE CHILLS.
Mad Max Batman edition
@@JamesVSCinema 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Insane scene!!
Dude, there are details in this movie that you almost can't even process without doing a frame-by-frame of the shot.
Specifically, the scene at 22:38 - the car bursts through the door, everybody scatters, Bruce turns around, sprints directly at the boy from like, twelve feet away, he grabs him, does the roll, that's it. Look at the right side of the frame during that grab. Mitchell's Widow was three feet away trying to make the same dive, Bella Real saw Bruce going for it, and grabbed Widow-Mom before she accidentally jumped in front of the car or accidentally tackled Bruce Wayne before HE could save the boy.
A movie about Batman...
Where the most batshit part of the movie is how Matt Reeves manages to capture the entire train of thought in THREE CHARACTERS in the space of FOUR FRAMES. Four characters if you consider the swerve to the right, away from the child and presumably the body of Mayor Mitchell himself somewhere in there, being an intentional choice by Colson.
Chris Nolan was in the theater acting like the Penguin, "Holy God - what are you showing me, here? Ehh? Come on!"
The other big freeze-frame moment is later at the same scene - when Batman fails to save Colson and that bomb explodes right in his face... the flash of light that you see across THREE FRAMES isn't the flame of the blast, it's the reflection of it off of Batman's left hand as he protects his face from the blast.
ua-cam.com/video/q0PuGUsr7E8/v-deo.html
So if you've ever seen anybody ask, "Why doesn't this man have a beard of fried chicken for the rest of this movie?"
That's why.
I'm pretty sure that Falcone laughed at Bruce not because he lost and won at the same time, but more about Bruce neglecting his father's corruption and thereby somewhat supporting it. But that's an interessting take too.
I just finished my third year of College, dude.
This is the perfect time for a breather !
Congrats!
Ay my man!! Congrats bro!
I love this take on Batman! We are shown a character who is lost and doesn't even know exactly what he wants to do yet; he just feels compelled to do it. Although the film is titled "The Batman," he is not yet Batman. Michael Keaton pitched the iconic line "I'm Batman" - which every actor who has portrayed Batman since has used. In this film, he doesn't say it... he says, "I'm vengeance."
The story arch of the film is Bruce realizing that he has to be more than violence to effect meaningful change. The moment when he goes back to help the civilians to safety is the actual climax of the film. The civilians are initially afraid to move towards him, even though they are in danger if they stay put. Eventually, they take his hand and follow him to safety. That is the moment where he becomes a symbol of hope, rather than just a consequence. That is the moment where he becomes Batman.
I've heard some people say that Robert Pattinson wasn't a very good Bruce Wayne. Of course he wasn't! Because it was a moment in time where Bruce Wayne didn't even know how to be Bruce Wayne! He didn't yet know where his quest ended and he began. The movie was about Bruce finding himself as much as it was about Batman catching the villain.
That's my interpretation, anyways.
Having seen Pattison choose to take on his role in Rover, and choosing to do Cosmopolis when he definitely was swamped with easier and less interesting roles for presumably a lot more money after his vampire stint made me fairly confident he would be very interesting to watch. And he hasn't disappointed.
Dano is perfect for this style of movie, this vibe.
And as he proved in Killing of a Sacred Deer, Keoghan fits the part to a tee in this style as well.
From the writing to the cinematography to just about everything, this movie hits home for me.
Very interested to see more.
I wasn't sure about seeing in theaters because it was going to be on HBO in a few days anyways but I'm very glad I did. It was worth it for the chase scene alone.
Those club scenes too go hard. I drove out at 11pm and saw an RDX showing, it was dope.
The 3 hour commentary by Matt Reeves on ITunes really gave me a deeper understanding about many of the story decisions and shot choices and really enjoyed yours as well. Loved The Batman. Currently at my 15 th viewing of the film.
The prosthetic makeup for Colin Farrell as the Penguin is top tier. If someone didn't point it out, I would've never EVER recognized him.
Paul Dano did a phenomenal job playing the riddler he did absolute justice to the character.
Loved your reaction. I've been waiting for a Batman movie like this for 40 years. A real detective story.
Hahaha happy to hear!
Loved that finally got the detective Batman!
I love that Batman's walking feels just as powerful as Bane's, "Do you feel in charge?"
It's not as simple as beating up a bunch of dudes and then they're all afraid of you... it's about scaring the shit out of people with something that isn't all that scary on its own. A guy walking slowly with his footsteps echoing... a guy calmly resting his hand on your shoulder and comforting you, etc. That's COLD.
I wonder if there's another psychological element to the walking.... like, the shoes have very specifically made soles so that when somebody hears it, they're like, "Yooo chicken legs, licken chegs, slice and dice, we got someone with high heels walking toward us, boys, it's Christmas."
32:28
What you brought up reminded me of Niccolò Machiavelli and his perspective of fear and love:
"It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both."
"Men have less scruple in offending one who they love than one who they fear, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity when their self-interest intervenes; but fear preserves you because a dread of punishment _never_ wanes.”
Absolutely love this version of the character. Game changing superhero movie.
Also, when batman stepped out the car with the fire, the theme song with a ting of western element... Chef kiss
Where Batman flip Penguin's car, and then the music started... It reminds me of Arkham games.
Very good reaction!
I like the fact that at a couple of times his cape got in his way showing still hasn't mastered using it to his advantage.
I gotta say, I love your first time reactions but it's really cool to see you watch and talk about something you have already seen and really like.
That honestly makes me really happy to hear!
Mask of the Phantasm is still the real OP
This is by far my favorite live action Batman film. I love how he goes from just being a brooding pissed off rich boy who just wants to beat the crap out of people, and is using Gothams crime as an excuse, to realizing he has to be more, and growing into that. The Riddler, unintentionally, actually did a great job in helping with that I think. When he gives Batman that monologue after being captured, about how bad he and other orphans had it, I think it may have been the first time Bruce considered that many other kids had it WAY worse than him.
And yes, Zoe Kravitz is stunningly beautiful in this. I'm talking beautiful like a sunset, or a work of art. I'm am not worthy.
The only Batman film I like more is the Dark Knight Returns animation. Not sure if you're into animation at all, but if you are, I HIGHLY suggest it.
yo when that nirvana hit for the first time in the theater it was a viseral emotion. really loved the dark edgy vibe they went with for this version of the batman. great commentary my guy keep rockin
Loved your review! I never doubted Battinson, the movie for me had a perfect balance, slow scenes, fast scenes, detective scenes and action scenes. Overall the choice of actors, the sound design, filming, the photography were phenomenal! The fact that Robert Pattinson didn't force his Batman voice was perfect, sometimes less is more and he nailed it!
I can understand some people not loving this movie, but I fucking love this movie. Such good direction, cinematography, acting, and music.just Pattinson gives me my favorite Batman
The beginning monologue is the thesis statement of the movie
Collin being the penguin and transforming turned him into the character more than someone who is already at that weight would. That’s what actors do they use their wardrobe and prosthetics to become the character
The Batman (2017). 5 years already damn
Ive actually been to the venue where the club scenes were shot, it's called Printworks (specifically the Press Halls) in London UK. An amazing place, worth going there at least once in your life. Incredible lights and sound
My all time favourite Batman.
I’ve seen this film 6 times & I swear it gets better with each viewing.
The monologues at both the start & ending are absolutely perfect.
Learning that vengeance & your scars can destroy you & that you need to be hope… it’s such a great place to leave Batman at the end of a 1st film.
This movie was so great. Such a blast. I just want to point out 2 things that I noticed and I'm sure other noticed too. The eye acting in this movie is really good. Robert Pattinson as an example shows it well in the scene with a recently caught Riddler, just after Riddler says "[Bruce Wayne]'s the only one that got away"; here Pattinson says "Wait, what, he didn't know?" just by moving his eyes and gaining his composure just a little bit, you can see in earlier shots that he's almost starting give up and crumble because he thinks he's been made. Also, why is the movie called "The Batman" with an article. I'm sure that there is a comic book explanation to this but sticking with the movie alone, it's like we're watching a pre-Batman Batman. He's the caped crusader already but he identifies as Vengeance. "The Batman" as in "a man dressed as a bat" feels like Riddler had to write something on the envelopes. Anyway, maybe there's a detail I missed but yeah, I found these two things interesting.
As for that effect around 41 minutes in: I think it's used to focus on a particular situation. You know the world can be as large as it wants to be but when a person finds themselves in an inescapable position like Bruce is here hanging, and a person is very slowly reloading their gun, then that person's world will shrink, and I think that's what the effect is used for here, the only thing in focus are the shooter and Bruce; in these seconds, the rest of the world doesn't matter.
I love that you called 43:00 a baptism and Bruce being reborn. It's here that he stops being Vengeance and turns into Hope, leading the ones that need help into safety like a light (flare) in the dark.
Keep up the good work with these videos, James. I'm really enjoying them. This approach with the deep dives is something I really like. I think I've mentioned it in another comment that I love it when people approach their craft from a more nerdy perspective and I feel like this is what you are doing here. It's great.
THIS is what I've been waiting for!
Been waiting for this reaction and the batman is just sooo damn good
Hell yeah!
You could watch this film with the volume down. It's gotta be the most gorgeous looking superhero film ever made. Whoever the cinematographer was, he went *HAM.*
Mate the face you made when the batmobile came into it is so precious and relatable 😂😂 genuine excitement. I never thought that a batman film would be one of my favourite films ever ❤
I remember right before Gordon said it at Riddler’s place, leaning over to my friend and saying “he’s wearing gloves”
The monologue in the beginning personally reminds me of the monologue in the first episode of "Mr. Robot"
Funny thing
That scene where they interrogate The Penguin was also used in a shootout scene in Pennyworth. The show about Alfred before becoming Bruce's butler
Alfred taught him how to fence and a little bit of fighting. In the comics, batman has many mentors and professors that taught him different martial arts and academics.
Great analytical approach James, much needed and appreciated for a movie of this calibre.
Absolutely loved Matt Reeves take on the series. It had to be as different from the slick polished Nolan movies to stand out on its own. Reeves has almost created a new genre (hero/film noir), Watchmen being the closest in style I could think of. It very much had that dark comic book feel when it came to the cinematography and characters. Gotham felt enclosed and tight, making you feel like you are there with them. A lot of focus was put on the story and cinematography but whenever the action started it was all out. Batman's intensity when he fought was next level and the car chase was the best I've seen in years. I could talk for hours about this movie but I'll just mention the great casting (I doth my cap and will admit my reservations) and the score. Hope there is a lot more of Colin Farrell in any sequel. The score was possibly the standout for me, truly enhanced the movie along with the sound design in general. Easily one of my top 5 films of all time.
Happy to hear people are digging the approach!! This films requires the love 🙏🏽
That was a long UA-cam edit but well worth it. I didn't mind the pauses especially to take a moment to discuss some of the themes. I normally don't like too much first person narration but i did appreciate how it set the tone for Pattersons version of Batman. We've seen so many different Batmans I think it was important for the movies success to help the audience understand where we were going in this movie. Keep on doing what you're doing James!
The journaling dialogue (his monologuing) so reminded me of Rorschach in The Watchmen. Mind you, Rorschach was kinda modelled on Batman.
"They think I'm hiding in the shadows" at the 8min30 mark of the movie made this the best comic book Batman to me.
Love the little sound effect at 41:41 when batman jumps up at those henchmen, it's straight out of the Shining.
To their credit, they did come up with a lot of concept designs for Penguin first that were just Colin Farrell with different hairstyles and suits. Then they came to their senses and did this.
Man, so excited to see you react to this!! This movie is so, so damn good imo, it puts other super hero movies I used to love to shame. The story, writing, acting-the cinematography especially is pure genius.
Definitely up there with the big ones.
That deep bellow of "I'm vengeance" at the beginning was awesome. Best Batman film voice by far.
The start of movies is so so important to me, and that opening + monologue had me so hooked.
I LOVED that you paused to do a review of the movie bits.....it helps to see you absorb scenes without having to see you look at the camera and look away from what's happening while the movie is playing. You'll miss out on quick moments going on a monolog while the movie keeps going. So.....THANK YOU for pausing. 😁😁😁
James, you might enjoy watching this again with an eye to how much Riddler symbology is present in scenes that he shouldn't be in, whether it's green lights, objects with similar shapes to his mask, silhouettes in the shadows or weird reflections of him like on the aston-martin body as if he's lying in the adjacent car, watching his thumb drive joke play out. There's also very subtle behaviours portrayed by Batman/Bruce that show a much more callous, reckless and coldly cruel person. The long look into Selinas eyes is a little manipulative then doesn't answer her question when she asks can people see these lenses. He keys up the shot of the mayors son just after he lashes out at alfred with "you're not my father" which makes alfred feel guilty and starts decyphering riddlers puzzle, he subtly manipulates Alfred several times with that father figure thing, He says or does something that on the surface appears compassionate and then seconds later subtly undermines it (and i mean really subtly in a couple of places). Did he stall the batmobile or did he give Penguin a head start that lead to a massive explosion on the freeway (the engine stays on, you see him in the driving seat and he doesn't fumble for the ignition or gears in a panic as if he had stalled it). His final "redemptive" sequence of leading the survivors to safety is also a very odd choice of lighting...take away the music and it's a very ominous and hellish series of visuals, and the mayor flinches away from batman when he reaches for her, so he shifts his stance to reach for the kid. There's a constant thread of characters pointing out Batman is breaking the law, he's crazy or has completely missed the point, and there's a little irony to a high up police officer being told he's not corrupt, but he's endorsing a vigilante who is constantly breaking the law. Bruce ignores Bella Real (the real war) as Bruce when she reaches out to him, she recoils from batman later on.
Given how much Matt Reeves studied David Fincher's films, and how consistently all of these little things happen throughout the film...I don't think it's accidental...it stuck me that the movie has a surface narrative of batman year 2 struggling to find his place as batman with a charitable view of Batman as a damaged man in a damaged world becoming a hero, with a secondary narrative entirely from Riddlers perspective, with subtle digs at Batmans character and motivations, and that Riddler really does know that batman is bruce wayne, his goal was to expose the lie of vigilante justice with an end goal of turning people against batman, the rat with wings...this backfires and Batman continues to lead people on the wrong path, just with a slight PR change. The movie starts with Riddler, goes straight to a shot of the bat signal igniting with GREEN light, and then that symbolic linking happens over and over and over through the sequences that should be Bruces perspective. lastly, the Riddler is the ONLY character to call batman "The Batman".
Wow 2017 already? Feels like only a couple of months ago :/
What?
@@isaiahtowers1865 I'm assuming he accidentally put 2017 in the title opposed to 2022 and then edited it
@@slobonmyfilmsnob ahhh that would make a lot of sense lol
Legitimately JUST finished watching it for the 3rd time. I really enjoy this movie. I want more of this world as soon as possible lol
Thankfully they green lit a sequel
@@JamesVSCinema which means it's at LEAST 3 years away! :(
Still best news all week.
The monologue at the beginning reminded me of the way Rorschach's monologue was delivered in Snyder's Watchmen movie.
Absolutely! Great call.
Riddler’s theme in this movie is this dark, creepy version of Ave Maria that he sings in Arkham, which I think is super cool because of the layers it holds together, it was the song he sang in his orphan choir when Thomas Wayne announced the Gotham Renewal Fund, so there’s a plot connection there, but like Ave Maria also has these religious connotations in its lyrics that really relate to his story.
This is my favourite depiction of Riddler in media, like if ever there was a good story for the Riddler to be the main villain of, it’s a murder mystery, like it really fits his gimmick as a villain, and in the movie he tells Batman that the riddles, violence and mystery on his end (all the classic Riddler stuff) was scare tactics, expressly like Batman, he is a full on Batman fan, but not in like a silly Incredibles Syndrome type way where he’s just this massive cuck desperate for his idol’s approval, but genuinely Batman inspired him to take action against the people responsible for his miserable upbringing and Gotham’s violence and poverty. It’s the wrong kind of action, but that’s the juicy part, it becomes a lesson for Batman, he gets to see someone take his philosophy, his exact ethos and just tweak it just the tiniest little bit and it’s enough to make Batman totally reevaluate his whole superhero schtick because he knows all he’s done is make things worse these past two years… And now the whole damn city has drowned.
This movie took everything great about Riddler, made it work in this movie and just fundamentally have him be a great antagonist as far as like basic narrative theory is concerned. We’ve come a long way since Jim Carrey in a green leotard on crack.
Awesome reaction bro !! Especially the details of every scene, it's refreshing to see again from your film prospective. 🎥
this film is just an absolute masterpiece on every theme its portraying on every level im so happy you loved it i cant wait for the SEQUEL !!
"I've seen this twice." *laughs awkwardly*
Me *laughs awkwardly* "I've seen it six times."
Hahaha I’d hope so judging by the name
@@JamesVSCinema The Batman is definitely the best movie I've seen since 2019
Great video, man!
Much love from Finland!!
Thanks bro!
Circus = Service, meaning secret service. You’ll find some Brits and even Aussies use rhyming words in place for what they really mean such as Apples and pears = stairs. It’s origins are as 19th century East London slang
Best Batman yet! The four dark father films of DC (Snyder JL, Watchmen, Joker, the Batman)