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The Batman

What I liked: This Batman is different than any other Batman, it feels very different from the very first shots all the way through to the end. I still like other Batmans better, but I do applaud the film makers in making something completely different and presenting new version of very well known characters. This Batman fully embraces the gothic aesthetic. It doesn't just nod to it, it embodies it. Bruce Wayne, as far as I can tell lives in a gothic cathedral as does the mayor and the orphanage. Many of the buildings in Gotham have flying buttresses. This Batman is all about the dramatic spectacle. He poses a lot, which is kind of cool because it makes him look just like panels from a comic book, it's also a little absurdly funny. The Riddler did an excellent job of being manically homicidal. He was creepy and unnerving and much sneakier than Batman. The fights were all interesting, especially the hallway one, and I liked the contrast between Batman and Catwoman's styles. I liked that they focused much more on Batman as a detective. He walks around and finds clues and thinks about things. I liked his contact lenses but also think that they are probably very uncomfortable and strongly discourage anyone sharing contact lenses ever. The Batmobile was cool. It wasn't flying, building jumping thank cool but I would gladly drive that Batmobile. I liked that Batman was still figuring things out, he failed. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He missed clues. But he kept trying and he tried differently when his original plan backfired and ultimately, I think that is what made this Batman heroic. 

What I didn't: This Batman is the least sneaky Batman in the history of Batman. He is intimidating and scary so he has that on lockdown but stealth not so much. He walks very slowly with very, very loud footsteps. And he knocks. The noses. Every single person has a weird nose. People have broken noses. Penguin has a crooked nose. Batman and Riddler have noses on their masks that look like they were added as an afterthought. Catwoman's mask only has a nose, in case you are wondering, no, it is not at all effective in protecting her identity. Bruce Wayne had all the charisma of a mildewy washcloth and a hairstyle to match. The Riddler's plan didn't make much sense. It was internally consistent all the way up to the climax but then took a hard left into very crazy. Given that his is actually insane, I guess that isn't too surprising but still. Also I'm unclear on why Catwoman even tried working with Batman, they have very different approaches and goals and meeting him on the rooftop seemed more of a plot necessity than like it made sense. The bigger question is why did she fall in love with Batman? Clearly a bad choice and no support for it at all. How did they get the motorcycles off the balcony? Finally, Why? Why was there a voiceover? No one wants that. 

Who should watch this? People who wished that, in addition to being a serial killer, Heath Ledger's Joker sent greeting cards and live streamed riddles. Manufacturers of body armor and adrenaline injections. People who want the pace of an old time detective movie but with a substantially higher body count. 

Would I watch it again? I'll probably stick to my favorite Batman. 

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