Created way back in May of 1939 by Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire industrialist visionary by day and vigilante at night, more popularly known as the Batman. Throughout Batman's history, there have been numerous iterations of the character, many of which re-appropriate him from his Great Depression era origins and into the modern day.
With the recent adaptation directed by Matt Reeves, I was enticed by the film's premise and how it offers something new by exploring the early struggles of the character and engaging with the audience by immersing them in every frame as they watch.
The Batman (2022) depicts a fresh look into the beginnings of the titular caped crusader as he struggles to make sense of his personal life, all the while fulfilling his self-sworn duties as an overseeing vigilante. The plot revolves around a young Bruce Wayne uncovering a rabbit hole of mysteries and revelations that are far deeper than what he expects in the early stages of his career as Batman.
The film has a lot to say about trying times and its release amidst the pandemic provides us an opportunity not to just revel in the idea of a superhero but to also find meaning in our struggles and breakthroughs.
Everything about the movie encapsulates how the lives we live are interconnected with the raw emotions and subsequent actions of others. Unlike many of the previous adaptations of the character, this particular Bruce Wayne is able to relate with younger audiences as he is introduced to us as the product of numerous personal struggles we, too, may have faced in our youth.
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| GIF from Tenor |
Although one would regard the film as just another American superhero film, it actually entails a story of perseverance and hope amid uncertainties. With a generous three-hour runtime, the film effectively establishes and fleshes out the many characters that Bruce encounters throughout the story, and the setting it all takes place in.
I genuinely admire the direction the film went for on expanding the unexplored parts of Batman as a character. In this film, he is more vulnerable, angrier, and more human, offering an avenue through which the viewers can identify with the narrative.
From its themes to its distinct musical score and awe-inducing cinematography, the film had me begging for more. The whole objective of the film was not to just center on Bruce and his affairs with other characters such as Carmine Falcone, Catwoman, and The Riddler, it also expounds on the realization of one's potential and being able to see beyond anger as a solution for tough situations.
I end this review with one of my key takeaways from this magnificent film: may we always strive to be more, look beyond the uncertainties, and continue hoping.
