The Batman Review, Bruce Wayne's Maturity Proser From Ordinary Humans To Superheroes

The Batman (Photo: Warner Bros.)

JAKARTA - Everyone goes through a process of maturation and self-discovery. Bruce Wayne is no exception in the film The Batman. The Batman takes us back to a time when Bruce Wayne was just two years into action wearing a Batman mask and cape and patrolling Gotham City.

Bruce Wayne aka Robert Pattinson's Batman is a new chapter in the Batman story that has been played by a series of actors such as Adam West, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck.

A petty criminal that he faces everyday. "I'm vengeance," Batman introduced himself to the gang of troublemakers before they fell apart. His name here is not well known. His mysterious figure even made many police suspicious, except for James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright).

When the mask is removed, Bruce Wayne is a loner who is reluctant to hang out. Far from the playboy impression described by Bruce Wayne in the previous version, Bruce in this film often shuts himself down due to the tragedy that befell his family. His concentration is focused as he operates as Batman, preying on criminals doing their own thing in the gloomy city of Gotham.

There is a mystery that awaits Batman through a series of murders committed by a figure named Riddler (Paul Dano). The death of the mayor of Gotham made a big statement, especially at the scene tucked in an envelope containing a "love letter" to Batman containing a mysterious puzzle. As the name implies, Riddler leaves questions that he specifically leaves for Batman. Like a snowball, one clue rolls into another puzzle, leading Batman to investigate a bigger case and uncover what the Riddler wants from him.

Quoted from ANTARA, detective stories are another side that is highlighted from "The Batman". So it is appropriate that Riddler (Paul Dano) was chosen as the antagonist. Paul Dano succeeded in bringing a character who was secretly dangerous even though his original appearance was far from fierce. Just like Batman, Riddler is also born from trauma and past wounds, but he chose a different path.

At nearly three hours long, there's lots of clues to solve to prevent more damage, as well as lots of characters to emerge, as well as stories to digest. James Gordon is not only a partner, he is also trying to protect Batman from other cops who don't trust Batman. They don't fully trust each other yet, but can't help but help each other because it's hard to trust the environment around them.

“We saw the beginning of the kind of partnership that formed when they realized a criminal had left a clue. It helps push the detective narrative deeper into the heart of the film and brings us to the heart of who Batman and Gordon are: the detective," said Pattinson.

Clues from the mayor's house point to a nightclub run by Penguin -Colin Farrell is truly jaw-dropping thanks to prosthetic makeup that takes three hours - Batman meets Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz) whose status is unknown at first, friend or foe. As Riddler's guesswork begins to point directly at the Wayne family, Batman is increasingly desperate to find answers. The name of the villain Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) comes to the surface. Together with Gordon and Catwoman, who have their own agenda, Batman tries to uncover the facts as well as find answers to the tragedy that befell his family.

It's hard to be optimistic living in Gotham. This sad nuance is helped by visuals that are far from flashy colors. Most scenes at night are dark and often accompanied by rain. But this darkness also makes the light from the weapons fired at Batman in one scene become one of the most captivating moments, especially when watched on the big screen.

What was shown by Pattinson managed to break their doubts when they found out that the role of Batman fell to him. Pattinson managed to give a new breath to Batman who was highlighted from the other side. Director Reeves wanted to create a character that resonated with the rock-and-roll star, a mix of Kurt Cobain and Howard Hughes.

Bruce no longer reflects the members of the Wayne family who are rich in wealth, Reeves said Bruce in this film is like a rock star, the difference is that he doesn't play at night, but is obsessed with being Batman. The rich but unhappy Bruce gives off a gloomy feel, he has no family or friends, nor does he try to socialize with other people. His spirit only burns when wearing a Batman mask and cape. The intensity is successfully realized by Robert Pattinson here.

Bruce Wayne has a unique bond with Alfred (Andy Serkis) who serves as a butler and father figure for the orphaned Bruce. The interaction between Bruce and Alfred gives a peek at the human side of Batman.

As Selina Kyle and the forerunner of Catwoman, Zoë Kravitz portrays a character who at first glance looks weak but actually cannot be underestimated. The chemistry of “the bat and the cat” is felt in the first meeting full of slick action choreography, but on the other hand it feels very “flirty”. Lively like a cat, Selina with a collection of wigs as a disguise can enter places that not just anyone can come.

Although not yet transformed into Catwoman, Selina's tough life due to a bitter past has come into contact with cats. For example, the cute details on the knit hat that ends like cat ears by costume designer Jaqueline Durran, and the stray cats that live in her apartment. The continuation of the story between Batman and Catwoman is interesting to look forward to after knowing what Selina thinks about Bruce and Batman. The presence of Selina gives a little color to Batman's life, although their relationship according to Zo can be better described as "cat and mouse".

Director Reeves tried to make the world look realistic.

There are no alien invasions or other extraterrestrials here. It feels like everything that happens really exists in our world. Batman's high-tech gear also strives to look sophisticated but still plausible, something that technology and of course the Wayne family's funds seem to be capable of.

The fierce Batsuit and Batmobile are intentionally made as designed by one person, namely Batman himself. Robert Pattinson's version of the batsuit is made practical, equipped with various weapons and armor, to the bat logo that also functions as a knife. His costume was also not smooth, visible marks of fights and bullet scratches on his mask. One more, black makeup around Bruce's eyes which is visible when Batman takes off his mask.

Action-packed scenes are shot from a stable camera point of view, not wobbling, because Reeves positions the camera almost like a neutral observer so viewers won't be dizzy or confused by shots that are too wobbly. In terms of sound and music, composer Michael Giacchino created an atmosphere where the audience could see the point of view of the characters in the film.

Like a phase of life, Robert Pattinson's version of Batman is practically like a teenager who is growing up and is struggling to find his identity. The image of Cedric Diggory the idol of Hupplepuff in "Harry Potter" and Edward Cullen the vampire with glowing skin in the movie "Twilight" which made Pattinson's name skyrocket to vanish when he saw his action as Bruce Wayne and Batman here.

It's interesting to see Batman is still in the "training" phase here. At first glance, there is still a sense of panic when the situation is critical, as well as emotions that have not been fully organized, prone to crossing boundaries. This rudimentary version of Batman is a fresh start for Batman, providing room for growth that can be explored in later films.