Today I am Re-Watching The Batman Trilogy

Batman Begins

Bruce Wayne, having witnessed the murder of his wealthy parents, begins a journey across Asia where he is trained by a dangerous ninja leader. Returning to Gotham City, he finds that the city and his father’s company are in the hands of organized crime, so he creates a new persona—the Batman—to intervene.

In 2005, a new trilogy of the beloved hero begins, directed by Christopher Nolan, one that would go on to redefine the character.

Batman Begins presents a more grounded and darker side of the masked hero, something I really enjoyed.

Well-balanced action scenes full of suspense and the kind of spectacle you want from a superhero film, a multi-layered portrayal of Batman, an amazing cast with incredible on-screen chemistry (a prime example being Freeman with Caine), and Christian Bale—perfect for this new version of Batman. The only weak spot for me was the presence of Katie Holmes 🤷‍♂️. Everyone else I mentioned, along with Gary Oldman and Liam Neeson, gives their absolute best.

I’m a Nolan fan, so once again he completely convinces me here, doing a great job not only with the direction but also with the film’s finale.

The effects are fine, though not spectacular—but that’s something Nolan deliberately chose not to focus on.

The Dark Knight

In collaboration with Police Lieutenant Jim Gordon and the dynamic District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has managed to curb the activity of Gotham City’s criminal gangs. However, a new and dangerous villain appears—the Joker—whose moves no one can predict.

In 2008, the second installment of Nolan’s trilogy was released, and for many it is considered the best of the three. Rightly so, in my opinion.

This is largely thanks to the character of the Joker, portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. His performance as the Joker is outstanding, with many regarding it as one of the best in the history of cinema. A restrained madness that inspires awe, culminating in the magnificent sequence of unleashing chaos upon the city.

Nolan once again does an excellent job directing, giving the audience a modern comic-book adventure filled with suspense, tension, and adrenaline at its peak.

At 2.5 hours long, there are a few slower moments, but the overall result is captivating. The characters are well developed, the action unfolds against a realistic backdrop—which I personally enjoy—and the script is layered, bold, ominous, and uncompromising.

A grand and lavish production that truly deserves your attention.

The Dark Knight Rises

The appearance of Bane, a terrorist who spreads chaos in Gotham City, forces the long-retired Batman to take action once again.

In 2012, Nolan’s trilogy about the Dark Knight comes to a close, this time with Bane as the villain.

Tom Hardy is excellent and unrecognizable as Bane—managing to be terrifying and menacing both physically and through his performance.

Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, along with the rest of the cast, also deliver very strong performances.

At times I noticed pacing issues, which, however, didn’t overshadow the overall result. The film also proved to be more ambitious than it could ultimately sustain—it has both shortcomings and excesses in certain places.

Despite the intense violence, the movie shows very little blood. This is understandable to an extent, given its PG-13 rating, but at the same time it makes things feel unrealistic, something that might bother some viewers.

I also don’t consider the soundtrack among the best, but even with several negatives in its quiver—especially compared to its two predecessors—Nolan has built a world so dark and grim that these issues fade into the background. The film has its big, impressive set-pieces, which reward the viewer (the airplane hijacking, the stadium collapse, the trapping of Gotham’s police officers underground).

I also liked how Nolan “plays” with two fundamental aspects of society: security and economic instability. I found that excellent.