However, while Pattinson’s Batman may seem at first to be a familiar depiction of the bitter, vengeful Dark Knight who fans know and love, there’s much more going on with him beneath the surface. The Batman is a film that has a lot to say about its title character’s most popular characterization, and not all of it is good. But despite that — or perhaps because of it — Pattinson’s Batman manages to arguably be the most compelling and heroic depiction of Bruce Wayne ever put to film.
RELATED: The Batman’s Sequel Should Adapt One Of The Animated Series’ Best Episodes
Bruce’s first scene in the film opens with him narrating about how Batman has become a symbol of fear for the criminals of Gotham, striking terror into their hearts. It’s even gotten to the point that even the thought that he might be lurking in the shadows is enough to deter them. And when Batman finally shows up in the flesh to confront a group of clown-themed crooks, it soon becomes clear exactly why he’s so frightening. Batman comes off as more akin to a horror villain than a superhero, brutally demolishing the criminals until they’re forced to flee in fear. However, the citizen who Batman saved is just as terrified as the criminals, begging the Dark Knight not to hurt him. Right away, the film establishes that Batman’s fearsome reputation has unintended consequences.
Even so, it’s clear that Bruce still has compassion for others underneath his cold facade. One important moment features him giving a look of concern to the son of the recently murdered mayor of Gotham — though it’s never stated outright, it’s clear that Bruce can’t help but be reminded of the loss of his own parents. Even at his bleakest, Batman isn’t just fighting for vengeance, but to save others from the same suffering he endured as a child.
But despite these brief glimpses of humanity, Batman still has trouble empathizing with others at certain points. This proves to be a point of contention between him and Catwoman — Bruce is single-mindedly focused on solving the case at hand, while Selina is more concerned with finding her missing roommate Annika. Batman berates Catwoman for not keeping the bigger picture in mind, while she condemns his callous attitude. Later on, he behaves insensitively when Selina discusses her ties to Carmine Falcone, assuming she just wants to exploit him for selfish reasons. He still sees her as a mere criminal, never considering that she might be acting out of desperation. As Selina herself points out, Batman always sees the worst in people.
At the climax of the film, Batman learns that Riddler was inspired by him to begin his reign of terror over Gotham. It was the Dark Knight’s own example that Riddler followed when he decided to become a symbol of fear himself, exacting his bloody, ruthless revenge on the city that abandoned him. Batman initially dismisses this claim as the rambling of a lunatic. However, once he defeats one of Riddler’s followers in the film’s final battle, the gunman introduces himself with the same line Batman used at the start of the film: “I am vengeance.” It’s only then that Bruce realizes that his status as a symbol of fear has done more harm than good — while he does intimidate criminals, he frightens the innocent just as much. And even worse, his influence has proven to bring out the worst in otherwise decent people. The message is clear: if Batman wants to make a positive difference, he needs to change his vengeful ways.
The Batman is unique among live-action Batman films in that its grand finale focuses on the Caped Crusader saving lives instead of stopping any villains. Following his epiphany, Batman descends to selflessly rescue the people trapped underneath debris in a flooding building. At first, everyone is too scared of Batman to follow him. But then, a hand reaches out to him — the mayor’s son, the same boy who looked past the Dark Knight’s facade and saw the scared, lonely orphan hidden beneath. Following the child’s example, the rest of the crowd follows Batman to safety as he leads them with a burning flare in hand. Batman has quite literally stepped out of the darkness and into the light, transforming from a symbol of fear to a beacon of hope.
The following montage features Batman aiding the disaster relief effort in the flooded Gotham, saving civilians in broad daylight. He’s no longer a silent guardian, watching from the shadows and preying upon criminals. Instead, he’s finally become a true hero, helping people directly instead of just fighting criminals. As Bruce himself narrates, “Vengeance won’t change the past… I have to become more. People need hope, to know someone’s out there for them.” After years of only caring about revenge, Bruce finally understands that Gotham can’t be saved through fear — only hope can change things for the better.
Despite being the darkest Batman movie yet in many ways, The Batman serves as a decisive rejection of Bruce’s popular image as a grim vigilante. One of the major themes of Batman Begins was that Batman’s ability to inspire fear is his ultimate weapon. But here, it’s his fatal flaw. Not only does Batman’s terrifying persona frighten the people he wants to save, it also directly led to the rise of the Riddler. To many fans, Batman’s edgy, dour characterization is what makes him great — the darker, the better. But to director Matt Reeves, Bruce’s cynical worldview and obsession with vengeance hold him back from becoming a true hero. After all, heroism isn’t just about beating up bad guys. A hero is someone who helps those in need, brings out the best in them. And frankly, that’s something that no previous big-screen Batman has accomplished.
While some other Batman movies seem to revel in their gritty, violent tone, The Batman instead highlights Bruce Wayne’s compassion and selflessness as his greatest strengths. And in doing so, it tells the story of a Batman who can do more than just intimidate criminals. It’s only by choosing hope over fear, rejecting his anti-hero side to become a true superhero, that Bruce can make a difference. Not only is it a great way to keep things fresh, it’s also a welcome change of pace in a series that can sometimes be too dark for its own good. The Batman is a perfect reminder of what makes a real hero — and it proves that Bruce Wayne can be so much more than a Dark Knight.
MORE: This Underrated Batman Cartoon Is A Fresh Take On The Classic Comics
