Matt Reeves' The Batman is coming soon, introducing us to Robert Pattinson's take on the Dark Knight. But with so many Batman films before it, what does The Batman need to do with it's story, structure, and adaptation of the DC comics characters for it to stand on it's own?

Looking for more Batman and Gotham goodness while you wait for the new Batman to release in theaters? Check out my Joker fan film, "The Last Laugh," right here:    • "The Last Laugh" - A Joker Fan Film (...  

Video Chapters:
00:00 - How Will THE BATMAN Stand Out from the Rest?
00:23 - What Batmen should this one be compared against?
00:39 - Batman's theme, setting, and tone
04:14 - Choosing a genre for "The Batman"
05:31 - Emotional life of Bruce Wayne - a fresh take
07:21 - Riddler, Paul Dano...secret villain in the wings?

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We've had a lot of different Batmen over the years. Fortunately, I don't think we need to, nor is it fair to, judge the Matt Reeves Batman against every iteration that's come before. But, I do think it's important it stands on its own, and I think it can differentiate itself in three main arenas. Let's tackle the first one.

When it comes to themes, tone, and setting, Christopher Nolan changed the game for Batman. So, when it comes to these elements, that's the yardstick by which Matt Reeves is going to be measured. The Nolan trilogy was focused on Bruce Wayne's growth and trauma, and the impact of fear on people and their choices. Christopher Nolan made a small, but particularly notable change to Batman's origin to really drive this home: His parents' death was partially Bruce's fault. At least, he had reason to believe so. His fear during the opera led to their early emergence into the alley, and that, in turn, led to their deaths.

So, his quest to embrace and weaponize fear is also an attempt to make up for his own mistakes and cover up his trauma. Nolan's Gotham City was built with a very strong post...