Spoilers The Batman (2022) - Review and Discussion Thread

[Spaceman Spiff]

For me part, one of the reasons I've always enjoyed Batman: TAS is that that show effectively balanced the Joker being a highly psychotic (and very dangerous) villain with also having a fun and humorous side, albeit in a twisted way. Probably the most famous example I can think of is the mock funeral for Sid/Batman in "The Man Who Killed Batman." Done properly, the blending of evil and humor is very creepy. It's a tough balance.

For sure. I remember seeing Mask of the Phantasm in the movie theater (I lucked out and found a local release at the time) and while watching, thinking it was good, if kind of slow. Then the Joker came along and made it a lot more enjoyable. Now it's considered a classic.

 

[Unicron]

I think perhaps that's also the reason Harley Quinn became one of the most popular additions in TAS, as she had a chemistry with the Joker that fit unusually well (along with her relationship with Poison Ivy) and was part of the dark humor, so to speak.

 

[JD]

Rather they did another villain. Joker is just overplayed to me

I don't know, you kind of have to do the Joker if you're doing Batman, you really can't have one without the other. So I'd rather see them do him early, and get him out of the way.

I agree that it should have been cut.

It's just too much for the first movie of Pattinson's era. Imagine after this scene we go The Riddler interrogation? People won't be focused on that. They'll just be thinking "Hey. When are we going back to the Joker?"

They risk playing their winning card too early.

That actually is a good point, having the Joker in just one small scene like this would distract from the other villains, because he's all anybody's going to care about.

 

[urbandefault]

I hope in the next one the villains are King Tut and Shame.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I don't know, you kind of have to do the Joker if you're doing Batman, you really can't have one without the other. So I'd rather see them do him early, and get him out of the way.

Hard disagree and I say that as a huge fan of The Dark Knight.

Batman's rogue gallery is extensive enough that there's no reason a run of films can't create engaging stories without the Joker appearing once.

 

[publiusr]

I'm getting a strong Michael Mann "Manhunter" vibe from that scene.

This was a movie of moments—a distillation of everything the filmmakers brought from their fandom. They were wise to dump the scene though.

Here, this seems an older Joker. That’s different. CBR noticed he kept the paper clips in that file….

There can be no crossover with Superman here…unless he’s Nunzio…which is actually my favorite “superhero” film.

No…this Batman universe could be the same one we saw in the movie VANISHING POINT. If you must have the supernatural—then PHANTASM. The muscle cars played a role there too.

I might incorporate the puzzlebox comic. I remember another comic where Joker and Catwoman decorate Christmas trees.

I might splice that with that Incredible Hulk episode where you never saw the Hull much…maybe do that with Batman. Joker is already Joker but the scarring happened with his takedown. Part two is where he skins his own face and brings his war to an almost ruined Gotham.

I some respects, this was an origin film without being one. The cold open and getting right to business fooled us.

 

[ichab]

So this new version of the Joker didn't fall into a vat of chemicals....he's born with the disfigurement...

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/barry-keoghan-joker-scars-backstory-explained-1235214938/

 

[ichab]

 

[JD]

I'm still not sure what to make of this Arkham series, it sees weird to do one in a universe where Batman is so new and probably hasn't faced off against most of his Rogues Gallery yet. I guess we'll probably get Riddler & Joker, but it would be a lot more fun if this was in a universe, like the Titans universe, or Arrowverse with a Batman who's been around for a long time and faced all of his villains, who are now thrown into Arkham together.

 

[ichab]

Hard disagree and I say that as a huge fan of The Dark Knight.

Batman's rogue gallery is extensive enough that there's no reason a run of films can't create engaging stories without the Joker appearing once.

Exactly. The joker is a good villain, but there is also penguin, the riddler, two-face, mr. freeze, hush, the court of owls, calendar man, holiday, soloman grundy. scarecrow, poison ivy, clayface, black mask, ras and talia al gul etc etc. etc. All of them have a personal connection of some kind with Batman that, if explored properly, would make many of them as iconic with the public as the joker. The Joker has been done enough. If I don't see him for the next ten years I won't miss him. Let's explore new territory.

 

[ichab]

I'm still not sure what to make of this Arkham series, it sees weird to do one in a universe where Batman is so new and probably hasn't faced off against most of his Rogues Gallery yet. I guess we'll probably get Riddler & Joker, but it would be a lot more fun if this was in a universe, like the Titans universe, or Arrowverse with a Batman who's been around for a long time and faced all of his villains, who are now thrown into Arkham together.

To each his own. I'm looking forward to seeing fresh takes on these villains since I haven't seen many of them on screen, or my last memories of some was in the horrible Schumaker films.

 

[Starkers]

Finally saw this yesterday. Really enjoyed it. Yes it's too long, and dark, but sooo good.

I thought Pattinson was excellent as Batman, note perfect, a great voice. I can't figure out if I liked him less as Bruce or it's just that we saw far less of him as Bruce? Don't get me wrong, I liked him as Bruce, I just liked him more as Bats.

Anyway, some particular things I liked:

Kravitz as Catwoman (I had completely forgotten she was already CW in Lego Batman!)

The soundtrack.

The Batmobile.

Gotham. This felt very much like the Gotham from the TV show 'Gotham'. In fact the whole film had a Gotham vibe.

The suit, especially the mask which, bear with me, kinda reminded me of West's!

Dano, Turturro and Farrell were great villains.

I liked Wright as Gordon but wish he'd had a bit more agency. I couldn't quite engage with Serkis as Alfred, not sure why.

Anyhoo, I sincerely hope we'll get to see more of Pattinson's Batman.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Watching that Joker scene makes me glad I haven't checked this out in the theater as I definitely think I'll want subtitles (good job WB not adding those and at least my hearing mostly works, screw you if yours doesn't).

 

[ichab]

Watching that Joker scene makes me glad I haven't checked this out in the theater as I definitely think I'll want subtitles (good job WB not adding those and at least my hearing mostly works, screw you if yours doesn't).

He does seem to slur a bit and the subtitles aren't always accurate. I had to rewatch it just to make everything out. Thankfully the movie itself doesn't have that problem.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I hope in the next one the villains are King Tut and Shame.

Bookworm.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Didn't Nic Cage recently say he'd like to play Egghead in the sequel?

*checks internet*

Yep.

 

[thribs]

I just wish they showed him as Red Hood first

 

[Caretaker]

I saw this film, finally, and... "Eh".

Lots of good and interesting elements, but the film was overly stuffed and it felt like The Return of the King with too many endings. I would have ended it with the seawall bombs as a cliffhanger for the sequel. As it stands, they threw in the kitchen sink for good measure which makes it feel like the film goes off the rails.

 

[ichab]

It’ll stay there until Sonic

Looks like the end at the top came with Sandra Bullock in The Lost City.

While industry Nostradamuses had pegged the screwball jungle comedy, about a bestselling female author, a dopey, muscle-head of a cover model, and a fabled city containing a legendary treasure, as opening in the low-to-mid 20s, The Lost City turned out to be an even more pleasant surprise. Not just for critics, who gave the PG-13-rated film a 76% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but also for ticket-buyers who handed the movie a ‘B+’ CinemaScore grade. Interestingly, The Lost City also managed to tap into a couple of demographics that have largely steered clear of theaters during the pandemic: adults and women (56% of the film’s audience was female and 47% were 35 and over). Modestly budgeted at $68 million, The Lost City bowed to a $7,288 per-screen average in 4,253 theaters. Overseas, where the film will not get a full roll-out until April 15, it took in an additional $3.7 million, bringing its first-week cumulative global box to $34.7 million. For Bullock, The Lost City represents the actress’ first theatrical appearance since 2018’s Ocean's Eight; Tatum however has been riding high for weeks thanks to the feel-good Dog, which has taken in $57.9 million domestically in its first six weeks and finished in seventh place this weekend. The Lost City is Paramount’s third No. 1 debut of 2022, following on the heels of Scream and Jackass Forever.

Down but hardly out in second place was The Batman with $20.5 million. In its fourth week of release, Warner Bros.’ latest Dark Knight chapter dropped off -44.2% from the prior frame, earning a $5,167 per-screen average at 3,967 locations. The PG-13-rated superhero spectacular, which features Robert Pattinson beneath the cape and cowl, has managed to rack up just under $332 million in North America to date, making it only the second film to zip past the $300-million milestone since the pandemic began after Spider-Man: No Way Home. A month into its run, The Batman continued to clean up abroad as well, pulling in $340.9 million internationally so far. The film’s four-week global cume now stands at $672.9 million.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

A great April Fool joke was played yesterday:

The Bat-Mite