In 2019, director Martin Scorsese publicly criticized the Marvel series of movies as not worthy of being called movies. Not only did Marvel not take this sentence seriously, but instead stepped up to build its own multiverse, with so many superheroes Can’t remember the name.
Unexpectedly, another DC that produced superheroes really took it to heart.
In the same year, the born “Joker” not only won various awards in the United States, but also won the Venice Golden Lion Award in one fell swoop, becoming the first superhero series derivative film to win the highest award in the three major European film festivals.
The great success of “Joker” made DC make up its mind to make a clean break with Marvel, which is still flying around in the sky.
However, this year Marvel and DC have launched “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Batman”.
Fans originally thought that the two were going to fight on stage, but it can be seen from the poster that they are running to different tracks this time: one side is still the same family of three generations of Spider-Man; Depressed “Batman” new appearance.
If it is said that what Nolan created in the Dark Knight series before is still a “tough guy version” of Batman with both wit and courage, this new version of Batman shows the director’s determination to fly close to the ground in this new series from the appearance. ——Bruce Wayne, who had won at the starting line, had to be dragged back into the crowd.
In the first scene at the beginning of the movie, Batman seemed to be very preoccupied. Not only did he not bring heavy weapons such as flying cars and gun barrels, but even his steps seemed a little stagnant, so that he almost tied with a few gangsters in the subway.
When Spider-Man was still entangled in the predicament of “the stronger the ability, the greater the responsibility”, Batman has quietly tore off the label of a superhero, not only began to weaken himself in terms of combat effectiveness, but also gradually in the spiritual world. To the confusion and confusion of ordinary people.
The story of “The Batman” is not new. There was a murder in Gotham City. The serial killer “Riddler” used various bizarre methods to kill a number of dignitaries and issued a challenge to Batman. Had to grieve with his old friend, Sheriff Gordon, and walk through the poor streets of Gotham City again.
What is different is that this time the director has injected a rich black temperament into the film. In the dark and rainy night and the dilapidated streets, Batman is more like Detective Matthew written by Lawrence Block, while being played around by the murderer. , while also struggling with their own psychological problems.
Bruce Wayne, the rich second generation who took off his Batman outfit, was also not happy.
His father’s political background and wealthy life brought him not only a sense of superiority, but an innate sense of shame.
In the cat-and-mouse game with “Riddler”, he lost time and time again, almost discrediting the status of a superhero.
Because he gradually realized that even if the murderer is brought to justice, there is no way to completely eliminate evil for Gotham City.
And Batman cares more about the latter, obviously.
So far, the film throws out a circular dilemma.
Corrupt politicians in Gotham City use lies to fuel evil, and the social realities of evil give birth to “Riddler”, which in turn uses lynching to punish corrupt politicians.
This solid criminal loop makes Batman sleepless and impossible to crack.
In the second half of the film, “Riddler” raised his arms on the Internet, summoned countless believers, and launched a physical attack on the corrupt authoritarian system.
This passage is almost completely copied from “Joker”, the difference is that it is replaced by Batman’s perspective, and the position has changed from moderate sympathy to decisive opposition.
DC hurriedly cut off with Marvel, trying to get rid of the embarrassing situation of being ridiculed by the academic group.
But just relying on a “Joker” can’t establish a new and strong world view, so when the film enters the second half, when it is necessary to clarify the point of view and stitch the plot, the director has almost nothing to do except copy the successful case. Had no choice but to move out of that old and boring rhetoric to save the field.
At the end, after the politicians have been nearly purged, the black woman takes over the mayor’s responsibilities and stands with the people while making a moving statement.
The inspired Batman also swept away his decadent emotions, held up the torch and led the crowd through the flood and started the journey of rebuilding their homeland, just like the prophet Moses who separated the Red Sea.
However, such an expression is not to say that it is too naive as an output of opinion, and it is not even satisfactory as the ending of a movie.
We neither saw Batman’s character arc, nor the cognitive conflict created by his and Bruce Wayne’s identity differences, nor did we see how “Riddler”‘s conspiracy was successful and how it was resolved.
All the contradictions that have accumulated in the first half of the film eventually wind up in a muddled mess.
It can be said that although DC has bravely jumped out of the comfort zone of superhero movies, it has fallen into an unfamiliar field that is more difficult to control.
The movie has its ups and downs, but as an audience, this “depressed” Batman with handsome eyebrows but disheveled hair and black eyes is hard to forget.
Its actor, Robert Pattinson, was eager to get rid of the idol label after filming the “Twilight” series.
In recent years, he has performed well in several well-received low-cost literary films, such as the embarrassed robber in “Good Time” and the manic administrator in “The Lighthouse”.
Perhaps it is the melancholy temperament and the courage to not be afraid of ruining the shape that allows Pattinson to obtain the role of a new generation of Batman, but showing malaise and decadence is only a shallow attempt to shape the character after all.
What kind of new interpretation and interpretation of Batman Bruce Wayne, the idol of several generations, needs to be left to the main creators of the “The Batman” series. The real problem to be solved.
Related Post: Someone put a live bat into the theater during the screening of “The Batman” in a Texas theater recently.
