Here's Why 'The Batman' Opening Scene is One of the Best in Movie History
According to Metacritic, Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' got generally favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has reached 85% of critical approval and 88% of audience score. It is a surprising result for DCEU after a bunch of unsuccessful films.
First of all, fans and critics praise a new take on the Batman character and the film's first scenes. Some critics think that the opening scene of Reeves's epic has to be one of the best in Batman's, if not movie history. The establishing sequence and all of its elements – cinematography, soundtrack, sound design, dialogue, combat, setting, – create the very particular tone of the film and are crucial in creating a satisfying finale.
After the two perfectly shot scenes with The Riddler (Paul Dano) and a fight in the rain we see Pattinson's character writing something in his diary while still wearing dark, Gothic eye make-up, and hear the beautiful Nirvana classic 'Something in the Way'. According to his own words, Matt Reeves took inspiration from the legendary Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, to create his vision of a new Batman. After his death in 1994 Cobain left his multiple diaries, and through his life he suffered from severe depression, trying to cope with increasing popularity. All these details can be found in Pattinson's Batman.
In hindsight, exactly these sides of the character make Batman's arc look so powerful by the final scenes of the film. So even if you didn't enjoy 'The Batman' as a whole, the greatness of its opening is undeniable. It's a masterclass in camera work, sound design, music, dialogue, and, of course, an absolutely new approach to the character who has existed for over 80 years.