Welcome to the first reactions from our Ripe Banana film critics. A few critics saw an advance screening of The Batman and shared their thoughts below. Do you plan on checking out the film? Let us know if you are!
What is the Banana Meter scale, you ask?
When a film hits above 85% or higher from our critics, it means it hit Bonafide Bananas status.
When a film hits between 55-84% or higher from our critics, it means it hit Ripe status.
When the film hits under 55%, it means it hit Sour Status.
Our Critics First Reactions to The Batman
Here is what our Ripe Banana Critics are saying about the film:
Don Shanahan
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
For those who order their comic book coffee black, “The Batman” commits to a dark and brutal vision of the iconic character that is willing to push both boundaries and redundancies.
Michael Thomas
Banana Meter Rating: 88%
The Batman is a fantastic comic book movie that keeps the focus on its main character. Matt Reeves’ Film-Noir tale is the perfect counter-programming to the bubbly, fast-paced action movies we’ve seen since the superhero explosion of the 2010s.
Ricky Valero
Banana Meter Rating: 88%
Matt Reeves’s writing, paired with it being a technical masterpiece and Pattinson/Dano performances, might make The Batman the best Batman movie to date.
Matt Neglia
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
Matt Reeves has made THE definitive Batman film.
Aaron L. White
Banana Meter Rating: 82%
Dark, gritty, and moody, this is a bleak story that provides the Dark Knight an opportunity to showcase his great detective skills more so than maybe ever before. The action is exciting and feels like the choreographers must have played the excellent series of Arkham games. Cinematography, score, and Zoe Kravitz are all aces, while Pattinson shines as the Bat and bores as endlessly depressed Bruce. It’s probably too long and I’m not sold on the direction they want to take it next, but this is a solidly entertaining new live-action Caped Crusader entry nonetheless.
Brian Eggert
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
The Batman has elements of traditional superhero films, of course, but it occupies the territory of a serial killer procedural and crime saga about institutional corruption. Reeves seems to have modeled Gotham City on the nameless sprawl in David Fincher’s Se7en (1995), complete with a relentless downpour, a series of grim murders, and more officials on the take than in a Sidney Lumet film.
Brian Skutle
Banana Meter Rating: 93%
Matt Reeves borrows from both the comics, and prior cinematic versions of the Caped Crusader, to give us a unique perspective on one of comic book’s most popular superheroes. The film dives fully into the idea of Batman as a detective, and gives him one of the most insular, but epic, worlds to inhabit since “The Godfather.”
Connor Petrey
Banana Meter Rating: 95%
3 hours soars by as the city of Gotham absorbs you into its chaos. A phenomenal turn as the caped crusader along with excellent performances all around – Collin Farrell is unrecognizable as Penguin. The Batman is an experience I’ll happily have again.
Jed Wagman
Banana Meter Rating: 83%
Matt Reeves has crafted an epic, entertaining and seriously dark Batman film that’s sure to go down as a classic in comic book movie history. The Batman is a gripping portrayal of the caped crusader as we’ve never seen him before. It’s dark, brutal and dials up the violence to a whole new level making it an excellend addition to the DC canon.
Jonathan Fujii
Banana Meter Rating: 84%
Deliciously dark and gritty. Everything I associate with Batman put on screen with breathtaking technical crafts and skills by Matt Reeves and his team.
Juan Mojica
Banana Meter Rating: 95%
The Batman is the most ambitious DC Film to date. Matt Reeves masterfully blends a dark, thrilling, psychological action film with elements of neo noir. This is one of the strongest outings for the Batman character.
Don Shanahan
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
For those who order their comic book coffee black, “The Batman” commits to a dark and brutal vision of the iconic character that is willing to push both boundaries and redundancies.
Scott Davis
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
While it’s final act feels bloated and disjointed, Matt Reeves’ precise, thrilling and unique take on the Batman lure is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Ensemble electrifying with Dano stealing the show and Pattinson superb as The Dark Knight.
MN Miller
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
Matt Reeves’ The Batman is a brutal, uncompromising vision that leaves its indelible mark in comic book film history.
Louisa Moore
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
Ominous, moody, and violent, it’s challenging to sit with this level of darkness for so long. But what an unforgettable take on one of the DCEU’s most popular characters.
Edward Douglas
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
An epic piece of film mastery that transcends its comic book origins.
Darren Hackett
Banana Meter Rating: 97%
Matt Reeves manages to take 80+ years of comicbook and live action history and paint a new take on the Batman legend and manages to cram this all into 3 hours that in all honesty does not feel like it. Pattinson makes for a great Detective Batman and his onscreen chemistry with Kravitz Catwoman is there for all to see
Andrew Korpan
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
A stellar Batman adaptation where true crime meets vengence. Never has Gotham and its citizens felt so grounded and like characters of their own. Cannot wait to see the continuation of Battinson.
Renato Vieira
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
A thrillingly crafted perfect marriage between the comic book mythos and the cinematic storytelling of a neo-noir epic by Matt Reeves.
We Talk Film
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
The Batman is grim, gritty, groundbreaking, and gorgeous. It’s less ‘all-out action’ movie and more slow burn detective noir thriller, but the third act delivers some impressive set pieces which should satisfy and thrill traditional superhero fans.
Dom Fisher
Banana Meter Rating: 93%
Enter into to the darkest, grittiest, and most authentic Gotham City you have ever witnessed on screen. Full of crime, corruption, and a fear-inducing caped crusader. With Pattinson at the helm, this is the Batman that we’ve been waiting for.
Joe Movie Man
Banana Meter Rating: 95%
A superhero noir that bursts out of the gate with a brooding style and moody tone it justifies with a complex plot that’s part pulpy mob flick and part hard-boiled detective yarn. Less origin story for Bruce Wayne and more of an interesting look at how Gotham’s best and darkest first crossed paths, The Batman is a huge achievement for all involved in front of and behind the camera
Elliot Lines
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
What Matt Reeves has brought in The Batman is a “horror” like version of this world, showcasing his own spin on these characters who make the films 3 hour run time fly by in an instant.”
Griffin Schiller
Banana Meter Rating: 90%
Angry, hard-boiled, soaked in angst, The Batman finally marks the arrival of “The World’s Greatest Detective.” A gripping & brilliant unraveling of fear and addiction Matt Reeves flexes his extensive knowledge of film history to craft a noir love letter and a perfect Batman movie!
David Baldwin
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
I loved The Batman. It’s not perfect, but it is an exhilarating and intoxicating picture that takes bold risks. It’s thrilling, it’s scary, it’s daring, and it is the movie about the world’s greatest detective fans have all been waiting for. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
Ryan Terry
Banana Meter Rating: 70%
Emo Batman: the detective. Matt Reeves’ highly anticipated adaptation of the caped crusader is sure to elicit quite the polarized opinions amongst fans. Some will undoubtedly enjoy the gritty, realistic expression of Batman in an attempt at crafting a neo-noir detective story, while others will find it to be poorly paced, overly emo, and joyless.
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