The Batman (2022)

An absorbing, visually arresting epic crime saga that justifies its nearly three-hour length with a moodier, more mythic portrait than Nolan's trilogy, strong performances and noirish detective elements.

The film is a grim but gripping brooding noir detective story that folds superhero elements into an intricately plotted tale of institutional corruption. It singles out Robert Pattinson's magnetic, intense performance as a sorrowful Batman for particular praise.

The critic finds this a brilliant, wacky yet woke Batman reboot that trusts audiences and delivers an epic for our times with superb performances, especially from Pattinson as a spoilt, emotionally damaged Bruce Wayne and Dano as the intense Riddler. She singles out the homage-filled set pieces and the way it recontextualizes the character amid Gotham's corruption.

The critic hails it as an outstanding return to form and a gripping, grimy detective story that delivers exactly the fresh start needed, centering a convincing Pattinson Batman in a realistic, noirish Gotham. She singles out the brutal fight scenes, atmospheric cinematography, and faithful detective focus for praise while noting the long runtime and busy final act as minor drawbacks.

Reeves delivers a grounded, brutal, nearly three-hour film noir that ranks among the best of the genre by dismantling superhero tropes while incorporating noir, horror and strong performances from Pattinson and others.

The critic calls it a gripping, beautifully shot neo-noir take that makes the character feel new through evolution, with an excellent Gotham, strong Pattinson performance, and chilling Dano as Riddler. She singles out the Fincher-esque detective plot and visual craft as standing out amid the runtime.

The critic praises the film as sinister and disturbing, a noirish mystery with an impressive, terse Pattinson as Batman and strong supporting turns, plus thrilling action sequences. She singles out the compelling early mystery and atmosphere but notes it loses punch in the over-extended second half with padding and a tepid conclusion.

The review praises Robert Pattinson as a captivating grunge Batman in a darkly splendid, fully imaginative reworking of the Detective Comics era, lifted by muscular performances. It notes the film may not top The Dark Knight but delivers a leisurely, noir-infused take.

The Batman is sad, scary, and even a little sexy, a dark procedural that sustains tension through its long runtime without becoming boring. It singles out the austere, immersive production design, cinematography, and long-take action sequences for praise.

Reeves recalibrates the character for a new audience in a noirish thriller that succeeds in spreading its wings in fun ways; it is too long but a neatly self-contained blockbuster with a strong Pattinson turn.

A gorgeous-looking film with striking style, photography and score that creates a strong myth around its lead but struggles as an overlong and underwhelming mystery that doesn't fully justify its length or ambitions.

The critic finds the pervasive darkness and three-hour length a slog through familiar crime and corruption territory but notes glimmers of humanism and looks forward to the next chapter after a mixed experience.

The film is a muted early-career superhero story with a narrow emotional register, impressive in its detective focus and Pattinson's haunted performance but feeling like an extended introduction rather than a fully realized tale.

The film is a baseline artistic achievement that is sit-through-able for much of its runtime with clever direction but ultimately lacks complex mental life or substance beyond Pattinson's performance.

The critic finds Matt Reeves’ film spectacular and well-cast but notes that an intriguing saga of corruption devolves into a tiresome third act. A classy turn from Pattinson is highlighted amid complaints about the overlong runtime and feeble non-ending.

The critic calls it a magnificent achievement and true noir crime epic with a richly realized Gotham, broken Bruce Wayne, and standout performances from Pattinson and Kravitz. Some issues are noted with a tacked-on final act of spectacle and certain characters getting lost.

The critic calls it a tremendous, sprawling epic that mixes mystery, noir, horror and romance, and wonders if it may be the best Batman movie yet. They single out its innovative feel despite clear influences like Se7en and Zodiac.

The film is a dark, gripping detective mystery that treats Batman like a classic noir sleuth. Reeves crafts an atmospheric, compelling three-hour ride with strong performances and standout action sequences.

The critic calls it the best Batman film since The Dark Knight for its focus on Gotham's corruption and shadows as a living, breathing city, with strong performances from the entire cast (especially Pattinson, Kravitz, and Farrell), gorgeous cinematography, and a powerful score. They note it occasionally falls back on expected superhero tropes in the third act.

The critic praises the film for finally realizing Batman on screen as the world's greatest detective in a hard-boiled procedural mystery with Fincher-esque elements, making it feel fresh and immersive despite its length and PG-13 constraints. They highlight the obsessive detective work, grungy atmosphere, and faithfulness to the character's core as its biggest strengths.

Pattinson brings complex humanity to an even darker Knight in Reeves' somber, Seven-inspired take. The lengthy film delivers philosophical nuance and impressive action while risking a self-contained story over franchise setup.