You can't pause a movie on the big screen, but don't you wish you could sometimes? To
get a better look at Batman's first big moment? Or to see all the details in
the Riddler's hideout? Keep watching for more pause-worthy "The Batman" moments.
The opening sequence to "The Batman" will easily be one of the most talked about scenes, just
because of the foreboding tone it sets. It's akin to the swelling dread one feels as Michael Myers
stalks his prey in a "Halloween" movie. The victim here is Gotham's mayor, who sits unsuspecting in
the privacy of his luxurious abode. As the mayor views the public reaction to his own campaign
being broadcast on television, he's entirely unaware of the danger that lurks in the shadows.
Hauntingly, the figure of the Riddler is seen lying in wait not even five feet away from his
intended victim. Paul Dano's acting skill is on full display here — he can make your skin
crawl with just the movement of his eyes. There's a lot to savor in this sequence,
particularly for viewers who have an appreciation for horror themes and a creepy atmosphere.
The arrival of a film's title character is often cause for a grand entrance,
especially for a character as popular as Batman. After the film moves on from its
horrifying introduction of the Riddler, Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne speaks to the audience via
a sullen voiceover that underscores the bleak and depressing outlook of a city
riddled with crime. While he's unsure whether he's actually doing any good, there's one thing he is
certain of: Criminals feel uneasy when the Bat Signal shines in the sky, and for good reason.
"When that light hits the sky, it's not just a call. It's a warning."
On a subway, a gang that looks to be inspired by the Joker, based on their face paint,
targets an unlucky soul and begins assaulting the poor man. Quickly, the sounds of footsteps can be
heard from within the dark tunnel opposite the attackers. The gang stops and looks on,
waiting to see what emerges from the dark. As Batman steps out into the light, he provides
a demonstration of his fear-inducing tactics by brutalizing the gang's apparent leader in front of
them. Some stay and fight, while others flee. It's a visceral display of Batman's rage, and the scene
earns its place as a crowd-pleasing starting point for Batman's journey.
Long before "The Batman" arrived in theaters, audiences knew for quite some time that the
Penguin was going to have a role in the film. Given that the story takes place early in Batman's
crime fighting career, the Penguin isn't quite yet the crime lord comics readers know him to be.
He operates the Iceberg Lounge under the mob-backed supervision of Carmine Falcone.
Colin Farrell absolutely disappears into the Penguin beneath prosthetics and make-up work.
Despite his altered appearance, he manages to nail the mannerisms of an egomaniacal
crook vying for power. All the fun begins when the Dark Knight heads to the Iceberg
and questions the Penguin regarding his possible associations with the recently deceased mayor.
Seeing the Penguin and knowing that Colin Farrell is buried beneath that grungy exterior and slimy
attitude is quite impressive. Viewers might find themselves scanning the character for any
identifiable aspect of the Farrell they remember, but they'll be hard-pressed to find anything.
Despite his own penchant for crime and corruption,
the Penguin positions himself as one of the film's more interesting characters,
even though he has little to do with the burgeoning threat of the Riddler.
Throughout the film, the Riddler taunts the residents of Gotham with each kill. Of course,
he believes that he's doing the city a service by rooting out corruption. He also wants to get
Batman's attention, hoping that the vigilante will side with him in his crusade to punish the wicked.
"I think I'm his last target."
The news regularly shows recorded threats that the Riddler has posted
in an effort to gain clout and attention throughout his campaign.
When the police finally detain the Riddler, they investigate his apartment,
which is littered with newspaper clippings and details of Gotham's past and present.
The Riddler's cluttered abode contains secrets and details that many fans will certainly want
to pause and scour for clues to a larger world beyond Gotham City. When the Riddler discusses
the affluent Wayne and Arkham families, eagle-eyed fans can see a clipping referencing Edward Elliot,
another famous Gotham City aristocrat. Those who remember the Elliot family from
the "Batman" comics will recognize this as a nod to Tommy Elliot,
Bruce's former childhood friend, who grows up to become the villainous Hush.
A Batman movie just wouldn't be an epic Dark Knight tale without
a thrilling Batmobile sequence. "The Batman" doesn't disappoint.
Batman unveils his monster machine with a thunderous rumble. As the Dark Knight pursues
the Penguin in an effort to learn whether he's an informant in a case the Riddler keeps referencing,
he has to deal with the dangerous criminal's collateral damage. The Penguin enters
the freeway driving the wrong direction, dodging cars and causing massive pile-ups.
At one point, the Penguin causes a collision that includes a truck carrying liquid fuel.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he believes the Batman was either forced to stop his pursuit
or taken out in the explosion of the truck's trailer. He hollers for joy…
"I got you! Ha ha ha! I got you!"
…but his excitement is short-lived, as the Batmobile comes careening out
of the flames much to the Penguin's horror. Hot-rod enthusiasts who love
cars with some serious muscle and fans of the Batmobile will definitely want to
admire the stunt work and thrilling visuals on display during this harrowing sequence.
The relationship between Batman and Catwoman has long been one of the most entertainingly complex
in comics. Although it has yet to be fully explored on the big screen, audiences have
had several opportunities to see the Bat and the Cat in action. Michelle Pfeiffer's [FY-fur] take
on the role in 1992's "Batman Returns," is unforgettable, and Anne Hathaway put her
own spin on the character when Selina Kyle fought side by side with the Caped Crusader in "The Dark
Knight Rises." "The Batman," however, gives us what might be the most comics-accurate portrayal
of Catwoman yet, with Zoë [ZOH-ee] Kravitz donning the leather bodysuit and cat-burglar mask.
When Batman follows Selina to find out how she's involved in the case at hand,
he discovers her breaking into a safe, commenting on her uncanny ability to crack them so easily.
Startled, she turns around and starts fighting him. The sequence fits neatly
into the narrative while doubling as thrilling fan service for everyone in the audience who's
been looking forward to seeing these characters come together onscreen again.
If viewers look closely, they can even see that Selina is sporting some wickedly long fingernails,
prime for catlike scratch attacks. Thankfully, the clash is brief.
Just as they have so many times before, Batman and Catwoman quickly form an alliance.
As many viewers will no doubt suspect, the Riddler's capture isn't the end,
but it does set up his endgame. Despite his arrest, he has power in the form of a group
of radical followers he's amassed. They detonate bombs he's planted on Gotham's reservoir walls,
causing a devastating amount of water to pour into the city. When Batman finally comes to
realize the Riddler's terrible plot, fiery explosions can be seen erupting throughout
the city in a scene reminiscent of Bane's assault on Gotham in "The Dark Knight Rises."
The results are horrifying, as residents of Gotham clamor to reach higher ground and
water sweeps through the streets. The moment adds some serious tension when
audiences sit back and realize that the Riddler may have won.
It's not often that the bad guy walks away as the victor, but this villain managed to bring
widespread destruction to Gotham. The film's resolution settles on Batman understanding that
he has to do whatever he can to help Gotham's innocents in the face of unrepentant evil.
With the Riddler locked up tight at Arkham, he can no longer do any harm directly.
But he's covered himself by rallying extremists to his cause through his
online presence. With Gotham City flooding and descending into mass panic and chaos,
the group seeks to assassinate a mayoral candidate and kill as many as they can at a political rally.
The group positions themselves high up on a rafter where they rain down a hail of bullets upon the
innocents below. Batman, once again, makes a grand entrance by demolishing the top of the
building with explosives and dropping onto the rafter before engaging the Riddler's disciples.
The Dark Knight pummels and defeats bad guy after bad guy in a thrilling combat sequence.
Still early in his career, Batman isn't quite the near-perfect crimefighter we
know he'll one day become after accruing years of experience on the job. He's attacked from
a blind spot and nearly falls off the rafters. Surveying his surroundings,
he employs the use of smoke to distract his enemies while he takes each down one by one.
"The Batman" establishes Batman and Catwoman's relationship
well. Both have aided each other and even saved each other's lives.
Their paths are interconnected, and Selina senses that when she kisses the Dark Knight.
She pleads with him to skip town with her before realizing he's too fixated on helping build a
better Gotham City. While she doesn't believe the city will ever change, Batman has hope.
As the two set off on their own paths, they speed away on their respective motorcycles.
Despite this scene coming at the tail end of the film, it's the first moment
viewers can admire the Batcycle in all of its simplicity and beauty. While bleak themes of
corruption and darkness pervade "The Batman," seeing the Caped Crusader and Catwoman racing
down the road together side by side offers a glimmer of hope and optimism for the future.
Even though they ultimately go their separate ways, it's hard to believe
Selina Kyle is out of Batman's life for good after all they've been through together.
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