El Nathan Manu

*MINOR SPOILERS* My God, how I waited for this movie. Ever since I just happened to come across a Batman-themed Vimeo, then a teaser trailer in August, I’ve been hooked, needing this movie like I needed air to breathe. Of course I’m greatly exaggerating, but the hype of this movie could only have been rivaled by Avenger’s Endgame. I missed to Tuesday and Thursday previews, but saw it opening night. Friday. This film captivates you from the beginning. It’s distinct style. How The Riddler, an impatient man child is patiently waiting to kill his target while his theme plays. Ave Maria—his favorite song—in a minor key. As the Riddler leaves these sadistic and cruel clues. As the Batman hurried to solve his clues, only to learn this case is bigger than he thought it was. This movie is stylistically magical, and is one the most visually breathtaking movies I’ve ever seen. Grieg Fraiser makes every shot a painting and I’ve never seen a cinematographer so committed to his work. On that note, Matt Reeves directs the scenes with such style and elegance, his visceral storytelling, throwing so much information at you in one conversation. The actors are so committed to playing their roles. The editing is incredible. Michael Giacchinno’s (forgive me if I’ve misspelled) score was listening to on a daily basis, and now the movie has released and it sounds even better paired with a screen. I’ve never seen a team of such dedicated people. That being said, this movie is not as perfect as people say. This perfect movie has glaring problems. First off, the Bat and the Cat. I don’t understand the point of relationship, and it feels very forced. Like they had to be together for the sake of both characters existing on screen. And I really wanted to see more of Paul Dano. But I agree, his absence at the end was more powerful. In a story like this, there will be plot holes, and the more we watch this movie, the more likely we’ll find them. But the one thing I adore about this movie is the choice to leave Bruce Wayne almost absent from the entire movie. As Riddler says, the mask is his true face. Bruce Wayne is the shadows, the shadows don’t happen to be Bruce Wayne. His growth and development is something I’ve missed from Batman movies, as directors recently have only portrayed him as a symbol of fear, but not as a symbol of hope. I’ve began to forget this crucial part of Batman’s character. In one of the Justice League DCAU shows, I remember seeing Batman, sit on a swing next to a child, who was afraid she would die, and he held her hand as she went through it. That. Is. Batman. Batman is not always some vigilante who is forever scarred by his parents death. He is eventually someone who has the incredible empathy that so that no one will experience his pain again. At first his fear was selfish. Now, it’s contagious. The Batman who in beginning was a symbol of fear, to even the people he saves. Now he’s a symbol of hope, remaining a beacon for the citizens, their watchful protector. Their Dark Knight.