Sophia Week 1- Why The Batman is the Best Superhero Movie to Come Out in 2022

 It seems that nowadays, every movie that comes out is another superhero movie. In this last year alone, five superhero movies have been released (with more to come), and this isn't including the eight tv shows that premiered or released a new season! With the amount of superhero media coming out, its quality has been deteriorating. Many of these shows and movies have disappointed me, and unwilling to keep up with new content. Movies like Morbius and Multiverse of Madness have left me disappointed and with low hopes for future content. My feelings and ideas are reflected by reviews left on these movies, expressing confusion and disinterest. Comparing this to the passionate responses that classic superhero movies like Iron Man or The Dark Knight had, shows just how disinterested audiences are. Viewers are searching for content that provides fresh takes on their favorite characters. The Batman is the best superhero movie to come out in 2022 because of its new take on the character. 

The biggest factor in Batman feeling new is his relatability. It sounds kind of crazy to call a rich orphan who dresses up as a bat to fight crime relatable, but at the end of the day, that is what this movie achieved. Batman is no longer saving the world (as he has in the last few movies), making him feel down to earth. While aliens and gods are fun, their immense power can sometimes take away from their relatability. Batman is different from the rest of his hero counterparts because he is human. He has no power to fall back on and fails multiple times throughout the movie. Instead of raw skill and power, Batman uses his intellect and detective skills to figure out what the Riddler is planning. Through his detective work, Batman faces his city head-on, not shying away from the dirtier parts of Gotham. The Riddler and Batman are parallel characters, reflecting what they could have been. They both claim their purpose is vengeance, to fix the world that wronged them. Batman realizes that for him to actually help people, he needs to shift his focus from fighting bad guys to helping citizens. This shift is an important one because it brings Batman down from his pedestal as we see him leading a group of people to safety amid a flood and holding a woman’s hand as she is lifted into a helicopter to have her injuries treated. Batman’s shift in ideology makes him seem human and far easier to relate to. 

Although this movie is incredibly effective in its message, there are still points it falls short on. One notable part is his scenes with Catwoman, who he has little chemistry with and has little effect on the plot. Ultimately, Catwoman could be cut out and it would still be the same movie. There were definitely scenes that dragged on too long, specifically towards the middle of the movie. Despite its flaws, The Batman communicated its message to the audience effectively, made him more relatable, and added a new detective feel to the movie.