Runaway

And in Se7en it rained constantly, sometimes it's just to set the mood and Batman is still the Dark Knight. It's not like it was a movie about Booster Gold.

Draven

I dunno, let's try it? It might be more challenging for a Batman writer to do something besides "Batman fights the Riddler, Joker and Two-Face with a cool car". Like I said when I saw it, this was fine. It has gotten less fine in my head ever since - I can't think of anything besides the Batmobile that I'm looking forward to seeing again at home. It's certainly not one I'll be throwing in for a fun rewatch. But a Batman story where he loses his fortune or has to truly go on the run from the law without any of his support systems while everyone hunts him after his identity is exposed? We might get an all new kind of story. Even something like an expanded version of Knightmare would at least be DIFFERENT.

I haven't read Batman books lately but that seems like Batman's identity being exposed that could have a nice arc in the comics before somehow getting resolved. Don't see why it's so crazy to think a movie could do it too. I look at something like Logan for an example - that was a much smaller story, not having Wolverine fight gigantic robots. And different than the typical X-Men teamup.

Toddarino

As much as DC has bungled its extended movie universe, the one aspect I do like is that they keep secret identities secret. For the most part anyway.
I get way more enjoyment out of the MCU, but it’s hard to keep a secret identity when you’re telling all your friends and ripping your mask off every chance you get.

IBJoel

Yet Logan still ends with a big ol' fight.

I'd actually like to see further Batman stories double down on topics The Batman touched on: White privilege, economic and gender inequality, police brutality, etc. I share your frustration for "X fights Y yet again." If you haven't read "The World's Greatest Superheroes," you might dig that comic. It has Superman tackling world hunger, Shazam visiting kids in the hospice ward, etc. You might dig it. It's my favorite comic, but it's essentially unfilmable because audiences have been so brainwashed into what superheroes are "supposed to be" that they refuse to accept things that deviate from effects-driven popcorn blockbusters.

Although regarding the secret identity thing, I find exposed identities typically more unbelievable in general. Tony Stark admits he's Iron Man and sooner or later, someone is taking a shot at him and not missing. Same for any of them short of like, Thor or Vision. Even then, it'd be easy to target their loved ones. Some comics it works, because the superheroes are superheroes fulltime and date amongst themselves. Usually those stories portray them as alienated and sometimes even corrupt.

Why So Blu?

Bane also discovered Batman's identity -- not only in the films but in the comic. It was fine in the TDKR, but in the comic, Bane might as well have been Sherlock Holmes in how he discovered who Batman really was.

Runaway

I get the notion to try something different, but when Zack Snyder tried something different with Superman he got a lot of hate for it. So playing it safe, seems to be the way to go, that's the MCU business model. The Batman at least opens the door for development. Batman is unexperienced and Bruce Wayne isn't the skilled fighting machine like the one in the Snyderverse. Reeves version can be developed and a future where Batman is on the run is a possible development.

With the Penguin series and the Arkahm series in development they are already widening the world and while the Riddler is a famous villain, the Riddler in the movie was a brilliant serial killer and not a weird show off. The Penguin is a small light in the underworld and will be developed in to a villain. So there is a chance for a mix up.

Hokeyboy

Generally people love to complain about things being formulaic but they fucking despite it when someone tries to color outside the lines.

Josh-da-man

I think secret identities have always been more of a DC Comics thing than a Marvel Comics thing.

A few, like Peter Parker, keep the secret identity thing (though that's kind of on-and-off), I'm not really sure what the status of most Marvel characters identities are. I think that most of the prominent ones like the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, and the X-Men don't keep secret identities like Superman or Batman, though I don't know what their current statuses are.

Toddarino

Currently I’m not sure either. I think for characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil & Black Panther, keeping their identities secret is just as important as it is for Batman.

Hokeyboy

You can only change so much with a character until the character is fundamentally altered. Batman's primary reason to exist is to "strike fear into the hearts of criminals". That's as central to the character as "with great power comes great responsibility" to Spider-Man, or for Superman to show humanity the best in THEM through his actions.

If Batman is known as Bruce Wayne, he's no longer this feared supernatural force who preys on those who would harm the innocent. He's just some dickbag rich guy playing vigilante. Maybe an interesting Elseworlds story, but a fairly dopey premise for the core character.

DaveyJoe

Batman doesn't fight the Riddler in this movie. Those villains have been used twice in Batman movies over the span of 33 years. Spiderman recycled villains on a much shorter timeline with No Way Home.

Are we all in agreement that the script was written for Hush but the studio made them change it to The Riddler because he's a more recognizable, and thus profitable, villain?

Throwing Copper

Hard to believe this will be on HBO Max just two weeks from today.

Kurt D

I'm believing it, as I did not see in the theater and am looking forward to it!

candyrocket786

Nice... I'll watch it at the gym when I'm doing my cardio.

IBJoel

that's a long cardio session!

dex14

WB put out a press release regarding the HBO channel / HBO Max premiere:
https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us...s-and-starring

RichC2

Kinda crazy to me that they'd push it through to streaming while it's still pulling over $6.5m on a weekend in theaters. But I guess they gotta build on that hype.

Mike86

I only saw it once in the theater so I’m looking forward to watching it again on HBO Max. I’ll buy the 4K disc when it’s out too.

Kurt D

It's dumping snow here today, which (somewhat counterintuitively) got me thinking about movies where it rains constantly, so much so that the rain becomes a character in the movie. It's one of the reasons I like the '98 Godzilla. But anyway, I wish The Batman were on Max today ...

Josh-da-man

Holy shit, Batman! This going to be on HBO in two weeks?

I remember when the window for HBO was about a year from the theatrical release.

dex14

WB is working with a 45-day theatrical window now.

bchbdaddy

Is there a date for 4k/blu?

dex14

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/65...24-2022-a.html

Josh-da-man

I'm sort of at the point where one day runs into the next, but it feels like this only opened a couple of weeks ago, even though it was over a month ago.

It's also weird to see things hit cable before they get a DVD/Blu release. For decades, the pattern was -- generally -- theatrical release, six months later it came out on VHS/DVD, and then six months after that it hit pay cable.

But it's understandable that these windows have shrunk when you factor in our shortening attention spans, the pandemic, streaming, and easy piracy.

mike7162

I just got home from watching this and boy is my bladder tired! Enjoyed the film - the look, the performances and direction.