Matt Reeves has given us a masterpiece in the form of The Batman. 2022 could very well be the year where DC starts to outshine Marvel in the theaters. Because with directors like Matt Reeves at the helm, DC has sorted out its vision problem. The guy has masterfully crafted a Batman movie so perfectly flawless it looks like the movie jumped straight out of a comic book. Here’s why we think Matt Reeves could very well be the best Batman director to date.
Batman Is A Detective First, Superhero Later
The Batman tries to reveal one vital aspect of the caped crusader from the comics. No other Batman movie before the Reeves film ever tried to do that. And that is staying true to Batman’s promise of being the “World’s Greatest Detective.” A trait seldom explored in the comics, Batman is one of the finest detectives of pop culture. His powers of deduction could put Sherlock Holmes to shame. to show Batman as a detective first, superhero later in a suspense noir thriller takes guts. Matt Reeves was never intending to make a regular Batman movie. And deliver, he did.
Matt Reeves Understands Bruce Wayne
The Batman expands on the Batman mythos, showing us the duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman in a way we never thought was cinematically possible. Bruce Wayne is just as important to the story arc as Batman. No longer is Bruce a rich boy brat who shows himself as skimming through life with his daddy’s money. He is shown as lost and wayward. Even he does not know at times where he is headed because of the ambiguity of the Wayne legacy. This presents a way for Matt Reeves to really show us a flawed but perfect Batman by showcasing the Bruce Wayne alter ego as just as flawed. No other Batman director other than Matt Reeves has gone there.
The Wayne Legacy & Its Impact On Gotham
Even though they left the world a long time ago, Thomas and Martha Wayne have been very much a part of the DC Universe. Their actions had long lasting impacts on Gotham City. Martha Wayne’s familial history is explored in the movie. Thomas Wayne and his attempts at ‘cleaning’ Gotham and ridding it of its criminal element is also worth mentioning. The Batman looks past the death of Bruce’s parents. The movie also explores how Bruce’s parents guide him as well as the city’s events years after their passing.
Matt Reeves Gets The Visual Symphony Of Gotham Right
Tim Burton came the closest to giving us the most comic book accurate Gotham City. His version of Gotham in the 1989 movie was dark, gritty, and violent at its core. But the gothic underworld of Batman’s playground is replaced with a darker and grittier modern day setting. Gotham is still afraid of the lights and sticks to the shadow. And in the shadows, Matt reeves shows us Gotham has blossomed into a nocturnal paradise that revels in the pleasures of the flesh. It’s a battlefield but has its own unique charm, not restricted to just being goth for the sake of it. Gotham has embraced the dark, courtesy of Matt Reeves.
The Riddler Comes Really Close To Ledger’s Joker
While it would be blasphemous to say that Heath Ledger’s Joker has been usurped by Paul dano’s Riddler, Dano did do a good job. His Riddler is not one of your run off the mill bad guys. Reeves helps bring out the most out of Dano. The screenplay and script obviously helped the actor flesh out the character even more. Sinister in his own way, Matt Reeves’ Riddler was one of the few villains who genuinely got under our skin. The only Batman villain who has done that in a live action movie is Heath Ledger’s Joker.
