The Batman is a film as dark and gritty as the city its characters reside in. It is unlike any other Batman film, as it explores the caped crusader’s detective side, which offers a new lens for us to view this iconic character in, and it works marvelously. There isn’t as much action as one would expect in a superhero film, but The Batman is phenomenal nonetheless and highly worth a watch.

The Batman’s story is surprisingly one of its strongest aspects. It already starts off fairly interesting, but as the film progresses, it becomes deeply engrossing. The noir elements are very well-done here, and each reveal had me on the edge of my seat. Despite the film’s long length, there is never a dull moment. A lot of this is due to the story being incredibly dense . The fact that it was paced as well as it was is quite an achievement. The way this story tackled corruption isn’t terribly groundbreaking, but is done excellently nonetheless. The way all of the characters are introduced, woven into the story, and developed also deserves praise. There are so many different elements and layers to this story that I am positive this already great story would be even better on a rewatch, having the context of the entire film with me. The film is fairly grounded in reality throughout, and I personally think this even extends to the ending. The climax seems to be bothering some as “too outlandish,” but personally, I thought it was a natural escalation of the events that had occurred prior.

The characters in The Batman are all generally well-written and made even better thanks to the talented actors playing them. Robert Pattinson plays a more reserved Batman who’s long abandoned the Bruce Wayne side of him. We don’t get a lot of emotions from him, but we see him develop subtly, and his relationships with other characters reveal a lot about his personality. His arc in this film is great, and Pattinson excels in bringing it to life. The other characters are mostly static, but have solid writing and are enjoyable regardless. Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman is a delight whenever she’s onscreen and has wonderful chemistry with the title character. Their dynamic was a blast to see, and although she doesn’t get as strong or satisfying development as Batman, she still feels fully realized. Paul Dano as the Riddler is pitch-perfect: he fully captures the unhinged insanity of this character and is genuinely terrifying. Despite his limited screentime, you get a solid grasp of who he is, and he is a spectacular villain. Jeffrey Wright’s Commissioner Gordon, Colin Farrell’s Penguin, and Andy Serkis’s Alfred are all fantastic as well. The ensemble of this film is just wonderful.

The Batman has a great story and cast of characters, but it may shine the most as a technical achievement. It’s so intricately crafted, and you can tell everyone involved was passionate about this film. Michael Giacchino’s score is mesmerizing and the best Batman score yet. It’s haunting, beautiful, and works perfectly in the context of the movie. Greig Fraser’s cinematography has no right to be as amazing as it is. There are so many shots in The Batman that have still stuck with me. The sound is well-crafted, and you can feel every bit of it in the theater. The visual effects are seamless, and you almost never feel like CGI or greenscreens are being relied on. The makeup on Penguin is also ridiculously great.

The direction by Matt Reeves brings all of these stunning elements together to create a masterful film that just does not disappoint. It’s so unique, and the clear passion put into this film by everyone involved left me beaming from ear to ear by the end. The film slows down occasionally, but it never bothered me. I love The Batman, and I cannot recommend it enough.

9.5/10