The Batman - The scoop and digest

Before project was abandoned, Ben Affleck apparently wanted Joe Manganiello to portray villain Deathstroke.

Anyway, here's what Matt Reeves conjured up.

Robert Pattinson - Bruce Wayne/Batman

Zoë Kravitz - Selina Kyle/Catwoman

Paul Dano - Edward Nashton/Riddler

Jeffrey Wright - James Gordon

John Turturro - Carmine Falcone

Peter Sarsgaard - Gil Colston

Andy Serkis - Alfred Pennyworth

Colin Farrell - Oswald 'Oz' Cobblepot/Penguin

Summary

Over the past two years, the cesspit that is Gotham City has transformed Bruce Wayne into a nocturnal animal, the Batman.

After sadistic serial killer the Riddler murders Mayor Don Mitchell Jr. on 31 October 2021, Batman agrees to lend GCPD a broody helping hand.

Procedural investigation unmasks hidden corruption and disturbing revelations.

El Rata Alada

Apart from Saw and obviously Seven (1995), those who know their shit will note the influence of Chinatown, Taxi Driver, Klute, Blade Runner and The French Connection.

Elements are lifted from comics Hush and Zero Year, and Batman's personality is based directly on Darwyn Cooke's Ego.

In order to save Selina, Bats injects himself with a green substance, seemingly making him more powerful.  Venom has the same effect on Bane.

Acclaimed cinematographer Greig Fraser covers Gotham in a rain-drenched blanket of melancholy.

Humourless screenplay never slices cheese and Michael Giacchino's minimalist score is brilliant.

Batmobile sequence was fucking awesome and close-quarters combat ooze style.

Performances are spot on, especially from Kravitz and Wright.  Shame Serkis didn't get more screen time though.

Farrell is unrecognisable underneath prosthetics and Dano glows with savage, maniacal delight.

Opening scene is very Dirty Harry and like Andrew Robinson's psychotic Scorpio, Riddler was heavily influenced by the Zodiac Killer.

Okay guys, No More Lies, because although good - reboot wasn't perfect.

Bats visiting Riddler at Arkham is strikingly similar to Christian Bale chewing the fat with Joker in The Dark Knight.

Setting and circumstances are obviously different, but principle remains.

I expected murders to be more fucked up and the identity of Barry Keoghan's Joker (officially credited as Unseen Arkham Prisoner) needed to be more ambiguous.

Finally, plot is way too similar to The Long Halloween, as amongst other things; Riddler is basically Alberto Falcone, the Holiday killer.

And no, 'inspiration' is not an acceptable excuse.