The Batman

And suddenly Batman becomes a Rorschach test for directors. 

Where James Bond is almost always James Bond and Spider-Man remains Spider-Man we now live in a world where each new director is allowed to reinterpret and reintroduce Batman to the masses. 

Director Matt Reeves gives us Batman Year Two. With a caped crusader who really is The World’s Greatest Detective and pretty handy in a brawl. 

The previous bat outings over the last two decades each had their moments but I had serious issues along the way. Nolan’s Batman was ‘realistic’ in a way that eliminated a lot of the fun comic-book action from the movies. I thought it was good and I even give high marks to the third one (the one everyone else seemed to dismiss) but there was not nearly enough Batman in any of those movies. 

Snyder’s Batman was just The Punisher in a bat suit and extended his streak of seriously misunderstanding nearly every comic book character he ever touched. 

Reeves Batman is Batman, he has a code against killing and guns. He puts fear in the hearts of criminals. He risks his life to save others. 

But I have qualms here too.

Reeves and Robert Pattinson envision a Bruce Wayne that is a reclusive mopey Kurt Cobainesque rockstar. That is certainly one way to go. And it’s not a take I have ever seen before. 

But Bruce Wayne is barely in it. Alfred gets sidelined too. 

But Paul Dano is puzzle perfect as The Riddler. John Turturro is a solid mob boss. And Colin Farrell’s Penguin is money all day. 

Zoe Kravitz and Jeffery Wright do what they can as Batman’s sidekicks. 

However, this thing is just too long. As the mechanics of the plot and the relationships get drilled out I just kept grabbing my hand rests and praying for another bit of Bat action. 

Every time we got one they were amazing. The battles in a train station and a stadium stood out and a batmobile chase was one of the best things I saw at the movies last year. 

Can we add a Robin next time? The Dark Knight needs some color and to, ever so slightly, crack a smile.