Batman Needs Villains - Movies with Mikey

Everyone loves a good villain and there's no shortage of them in Matt Reeves' 2022 film, The Batman. Mikey discusses The Riddler, Catwoman and The Penguin and the co-dependent relationships Batman has with them in this episode of Movies with Mikey.
0:00 Intro
2:17 Part One: The Riddler
8:56 Please Support
11:13 Part Two: Catwoman
15:19 Part Three: The Penguin
20:25 Part Four: Something in the Way
27:38 Credits
Hello! We are Mikey and Teara and we run Filmjoy. We love to watch TV and movies and talk about why they’re art. We occasionally play some games too.
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Social Media ►linktr.ee/filmjoy
Music:
Opening Titles:
Set it Free by Allrounda Beats ► www.allroundabeats.com/beat-s...
Music sampled from Open Up Your Love by The Whispers

[@obelix703]

One of my favorite moments of this movie is when it’s revealed that neither Batman nor Gordon know ANY Spanish, and get mocked mercilessly (and rightly) by the Penguin. It really underscores your points about Bruce having glaring blind spots in his world view.

[@oneannoyingwhiteguy]

Batman gets outsmarted in this movie because he doesn't know what at tool for installing carpeting is. Which both makes sense and also beautifully showcases how Batman isn't the all-knowing mastermind hes often portrayed as. Its a very human and realistic flaw.

[@nicholsonfile]

Remember when he walked into gunfire multiple times? I liked that!

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

Highlighting he's a billionaire....he has blindspots that ordinary ppl wouldnt....

[@Lyanraw]

He could have just gone to where the photos at the start were taken from and be in the riddlers living room

[@seanbruce630]

To be honest, I didn't know what that tool was for either, and I'm not a billionaire.😂

[@LBVidiot]

Not a genius… yet. To me, this is where he gets the impetus to make the bat computer.

[@ladambell]

I had the exact same thought you did about this ending - I realized that I’ve NEVER seen a Batman movie where he’s actually shown helping people on-screen, so it felt revelatory and fresh. It makes me genuinely excited about what they could do with this version of the character.

[@ScaryMason]

“Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb.”

[@aurifulgore]

I seriously teared up at that part myself... I always talked about how that was missing. Sure, Batman can save the city, the region, a group of people, but we so rarely actually see him saving the faceless populace with his own hands. Love or hate BVS, at least we saw him saving some people in Metropolis. Both of these scenes hit what Batman in B:TAS and JL/JLU Batman could do so well.

[@zemox2534]

​@@aurifulgore Except Batman doesn't fucking kill in TAS! Do not compare that masterpiece to anything directed by Zack!

[@dukrous]

This is the whole movie for me...someone finally told a story where The Batman realizes vengeance isn't healthy for Gotham. The Riddler is where The Batman is headed and Gotham will pay for that childish outlook. So he decides that he needs to ignore vengeance and be the hero Gotham needs.

[@nicholsonfile]

In the narration doesn't he say he wants to be a symbol of hope? Like, you know, Superman. Excited to see Batman as an inspirational, hopeful social justice paladin in the sequel

[@WiSims]

To add to Mikey, there's a story the engineer/producer of 'Nevermind' tells about recording "Something in the Way". To summarize it, they kept trying to record the track but Kurt didn't like it, Kurt picked up a random guitar, laid down on the couch in the control room, and said I want it to sound like this. After Kurt played a few moments the engineer/producer scrambled and set up a couple mics. They use that take in the final recording. The out of tune guitar, Kurt lying down barely audible, unaware and unintended as a "this is the one" take.

[@magpieMOB]

Huh. Bonus Batman points for "recording an unaware subject"?

[@WiSims]

@@magpieMOB lol he is the night he is lurking in the shadows of the recording studio

[@lotraussie]

"If we're being honest, Riddler's a streamer on Kick" That actually got me laughing out loud

[@KSchawacker]

Biggest revelation of the video. Noticing Mikey's award from Gearbox on his mantle and doing a bit of googling. This man was a WAY bigger part of my childhood than I ever realized! Working on Boarderlands and Brothers in Arms to name a couple of big ones! My dude! Thanks for the memories! I'm buying a shirt from catawampus asap.

[@ShadaOfAllThings]

"Hot Emo Noir Batman? I thought you'd never ask" Honestly couldn't have put it better myself. Like, god damn

[@MarioBarrio42]

Mikey plus Batman is always a good combo.

[@xdecatron2985]

A real dynamic duo

[@robesdebah4811]

Fuck this shit. Came for subtext. All I got was bare text. Exhibit: fuck you it's a three hour movie, what is left to explain. #nomystery #fuckdetectives #maybefuckgamedevs

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

I know right? I've been waiting for this one and it didn't disappoint.

[@trentathawat6714]

I has a sad there was no "BUT DID YOU KNOOOOOOOOW?!!!" - but another exceptional vid!

[@DetectiveOlivaw]

Mikey really dials in to why, when I really sat down and thought about it, The Batman is my favorite Batman movie. It’s got things on its mind about its characters and its world and our world that I haven’t really seen another superhero movie grapple with successfully, and that carries so much weight when your movie is about a place as much as it is a person!

[@RoundHouseDictator]

Movies are okay sure but movies with Mikey is more what I'm looking for

[@russofthefrozennorth]

I don't always agree with Mikey, and that's probably the beauty of long-form content like this, but damn I love every video that gets put out.

[@richteffekt]

Damn you edited out this gem: "Noir is about the crimes you already got away with." - from the Nebula cut. Not an insignificant insight and amazing one liner at the same time. Just goes to show what's in my man's bag. (And ofc that I'm a super fan; as qed'd by saying "thanks for the Catawampus-shirts, I'm already wearing the hell out of them").

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

I love how this movie felt relavent and current, whilst also being timeless. Beautiful work.

[@sivosivo9019]

I have so many feelings about this version of batman its nuts. something about Bruces realization that he was adding just as much poison to Gotham as the any of his villains... that violence is a sickness, revenge is a sickness, and that vengeance won't save anyone.. that shit makes me wanna chew glass. in a positive way

[@joshuawoodson6620]

I found myself, just yesterday, wondering when a new Movies with Mikey would drop. Couldn't click on this fast enough.

[@egyptianking55]

Wake up babes, new Movies with Mikey dropped!

[@KraakenTowers]

The overall trajectory of Batman movies have been getting darker and darker, which is a problem of its own, but I think making this movie the whipping boy of that problem is a bit unfair. It's like saying that buffalo wings and Chicken Tikka Masala taste the same because they're both spicy. I think this movie being a "noir" movie is kind at the heart of that. It uses that (thematic) darkness in a way that Batman has been sort of missing, and pointedly ends in the (literal) daylight to demonstrate why it was dark to begin with. I personally grapple a lot with Paul Dano in this movie, because he's a great pycho killer who really doesn't embody anything about the Riddler. But when he isn't on screen it's both the only movie to really get the BatCat relationship right (as much as I'll go to bat for The Dark Knight Rises) and the only movie that's actually *about* Batman as a character, rather than being about Bruce Wayne, or the Joker. I hope The Brave and the Bold doesn't take away from Matt Reeves' ability to build Batman up and out of the noir elements and into something that more closely resembles the end of this film.

[@WillowtheRose9]

New movies with Mikey vid is an IMMEDIATE click every time! Also, the new Batman was great! Didn’t think R Patt had it in him!

[@gateauxq4604]

Robert Pattinson was great in all his movies aside from Twilight. That series really was a cage for all the actors involved. Im glad they’re free finally.

[@hugopinai2005]

This and Patrick H. Willems have been my favorite youtube channels for years and it would make me incredibly sad to see it go away or even just reduce the amount of videos you guys are able to produce. Movies with Mikey has given me a lot of joy over the years, everyone involved is filled with empathy and kindness and I try to live my life (and watch movies) in the same way. I'm a student and I can't justify patreon subscriptions, but I bought a No one knows what they're doing pin today (2 to 4 weeks shipping to Italy haha). Trying to support every way I can, I love you guys.

[@nope5657]

Willems is a goober who thinks he's smarter than he is.

[@yourstruly5738]

Patrick H Willems is the most underrated KZbinr imo. The videos are so high quality and entertaining even if you don't care much about the subject matter

[@nope5657]

@@yourstruly5738 they're bloated and unfunny and take too much time to say very little.

[@JohnEvans-xg2bp]

The scene where Bruce destroys "Vengeance" and becomes Batman is almost biblical. He is literally born again, cut from a cord, baptized from death into life, from fear into hope, slavery into freedom, one light in a dark world. He literally follows a true Christian understanding of loving others: immediately stop what you are doing, repent, be transformed, and then embodying Christ by loving, serving, and meeting others where they are. It's almost as if he's Moses, leading the Children of Israel through the red sea, starting with the stand in for his inner child.

[@thatcarlchick7655]

"I've been talking about Batman for a while now." In fact, you could say you've been talking about Batman... Forever.

[@TMmodify]

loved that video, I just wish that you talked about the carpet tucker for like even 5 seconds because it is SUCH an important aspect of the movie's message in my opinion : A person who's only ever known material privilege just isn't fit to larp as a detective on the proletariat's ground. He has never seen a carpet tucker nor ever had to learn what it was for and that keeps him from ever getting the last piece of the puzzle

[@hollandscottthomas]

Yeah, and the Riddler had assumed he would know what it was as well!

[@Axel-ye8tt]

Most people don’t use a carpet ticker so that’s a lame trick

[@CharacterDesignForge]

Algorithm helping comment ahead of the watch, excited for this!

[@noakai]

Those ending scenes where Batman is the light in the darkness and trying to get people to trust him help and then when he's helping people as the dawn slowly breaks were truly masterful.

[@alfighter27]

Absolute club banger. Last line got me so good

[@BoyBlunder66]

I honestly love the fact that Batman is a genuinely flawed character in this movie. He makes mistakes, a lot of them, and it takes time for him to learn from them, but by the end of the movie, we finally see him start to grow into what he needs to be.

[@darkecofreak23]

If I could afford it, I would pay Mikey and Teara to just do videos like this for as long as they wanted.

[@florallychaotic]

This movie was my hyperfixation for about four months after it came out and this video may single handedly send me back into that

[@bigmilk13_]

Ok I've written FilmJoy across my forehead, this is gunna be one hell of a conversation starter

[@A-G-A-G]

The dual arcs and characters of catwoman and Batman do more than anything to illustrate the main theme well

[@themorrislessgroup]

God I hope this channel gets a big amplification somehow. You guys do such awesome work and deserve another million followers

[@xliquidflames]

I have alwaya loved the style of this channel. The voice of the writing, the voice and style of the narration, the style of the motion graphics and editing. It is just all so cool. And you do it all while getting me to think about movies in new ways, with new perspective. Nicely done, as per usual. You all do such a great job. I don't understand the shackles they have on Paul Danno. There is a big hoop around his neck that looks like it is big enough to just slip off over his head. That hoops is apparently chained to his hands. But what good does that do if he can just take the hoop off? I don't get it.

[@hollandscottthomas]

It looks like it would be easy to take off, but the chains that connect it to the other parts of his body that are also shackled are too short, so it's actually restricting his movement.

[@adso5728]

Thank you for the video!

[@GCdevine1]

Welcome back. Love your stuff

[@iheargoodtoo]

Stellar work as always, Mikey!

[@Marzkep]

Thank you for this video, you’re always a gem.

[@Anon282828]

you make me want to re-watch it, thank you!

[@TheRedVelvetScare]

Loved the breakdown here, stellar work as always!

[@Kobiwan_]

Awesome as always Mikey and gang, Thankyou.

[@ADarrell]

Excellent as usual. And stylistically becoming more subtly profound. Thanks.

[@thewhitefalls]

I really love your work Mikey.

[@DainLaguna]

Absolutely fantastic stuff. You’ve outdone yourself sir.

[@clairebroderick4495]

Brilliant as always.

[@daddyb1100]

You always find a way to gut punch me with your outros. Very happy to see you back!

[@canorth]

Aaand heres one of my top five channels posting again. Good to see it.

[@snoochiebuchie8214]

My favorite reviewer bringing god tier content. Thanks yo

[@JC-ex3gp]

God I always love your intro music Stop the track and rewind that! Oh and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be another one of my favorite Mikey essay loved the movie thought it was a good study of light and shadows.

[@samlloyd5811]

GODDAMMIT that intro drop hits EVERY time, best intro on KZbin. iI must have crack in it. Love the content as always

[@mark2graves-movies689]

Another thoughtful piece of art, Mikey ❤

[@martinholden2281]

Excellent analysis, as always, Mikey. Take care, be well, rock on.

[@RecklessFables]

I'm always amazed how Mikey's films hold my attention so much better than pretty much everything else

[@mightyd42]

I love that I recognize several of my favorite KZbinrs in your Patreon credits. Talent recognizing talent.

[@sivosivo9019]

gosh I had to pause at the intro song cause it made me giddy.. its been a hot min since I was able to just sit and inhale a mikey episode. the theme song has me grinning. this channel gives me so much joy and excitement

[@MrMann0123]

Brilliant, thank you

[@roberthelm87]

the MCR was all i needed, Thank You

[@zainredding3476]

That was great thanx.

[@Rreinholdt]

Thank you guys 🙏 you are the beesus kneesus!

[@samuelmccay4092]

The space jam 2 episode has some HEAT, recommended bigly

[@ShubhamBhendarkar]

Loved the video mickey

[@Draliseth]

Glad to see you in my feed again! I'm bad about checking my subs and the algorithm is garbage. Thanks for the wonderful videos and hope you're well, Mikey.

[@PramitChatterjee1993]

amazing stuff! amazing!

[@TheJillers]

Well guess i have to watch this movie now! (Kinda one ny favorite things about your channel, that movies i didnt know about or went "eh i dont need to see that" become really interesting)

[@jessportersolo]

Great video as always Mikey. I was pleasantly surprised at how invested I was in the romance between Bruce & Selina too and how much damn chemistry they have. You're right, it's the first time it's ever really felt like an onscreen Batman is genuinely crushin on someone

[@sidneyraz]

so good to see this

[@aMilling]

I know Nolan made some good movie, but to me The Batman is the best batman movie ever. People said it was slow and boring. But to me it's like blade runner, it's an experience, an atmosphere that you get to live in and be a part of for the movies duration. That's hard to beat.

[@fendelphi]

The Nolan Batman movies are great action movies with great characters, writing and tension. They were more dark and gritty than what we expected super hero movies to be at the time(and to some extend, that is still true), but they were still very much super hero movies. The Batman is a thriller/crime noir action movie. It feels closer to something like Unbreakable/Split, and yes, Blade Runner, than your typical super hero movie. And I like it for that.

[@ScarletxCupcakes]

Good villains are the key to a great Batman

[@titaniumteddybear]

Particularly good video today, Mikey.

[@neon-noir]

I wish I had more money, as soon as I do I can't wait to support this channel monetarily. Movies with Mikey is important and we HAVE to keep it going. This channel is special and necessary.

[@jasonsmith9074]

Randomly decided to rewatch this three-hour movie tonight and then almost immediately discovered a new MwM video was posted about the movie I just finished rewatching. Crazy.

[@FroggyNight]

Oooooh a new MWM video for my Friday night? That’s what’s uuuuuup.

[@JaRyCu]

First, we need more Movies with Mikey. I know these videos can't be the easiest thing to put out, but this channel has long been my absolute favorite channel on KZbin. (I even bought the "Nobody Knows What They're Doing" shirt and kept the box it came it because Mikey signed it.) Second, I saw this for my birthday last year. I'm a huge MCU fan, but I grew up a DC fan with the 1980s Superman and 80s-90s era Batman movies in my childhood and teen years, and I adored The Dark Night trilogy from a decade or 2 back. I remember going into this almost praying "please don't suck please don't suck please don't suck." When it ended, I just sat there, stunned. It felt amoral... sacreligious... just plain wrong... but I think I liked it more than The Dark Knight. I even talked with friends that week about how it was better than TDK. The music, the imagery, every single thing about this movie was perfection to me...

[@charlesfarley28]

Movies With Mikey, as ever, remains in the highest order of academic film analysis among not merely the ocean of competition on the behemoth struggling to support its own weight that is KZbin, but indeed all media. We don't deserve you.

[@dillondorsey1429]

Once the flare lit up and we got that iconic scene my jaw dropped on the floor I was so impressed

[@ohladysamantha]

you said so many of my own thoughts and more. batman helping someone... chills.

[@Axel-ye8tt]

That’d every movie

[@skeezixcodejedi]

Still one of the best channels on the internets.

[@srwapo]

RE: Batman helping people. I recently read a comic where the sun was being eaten and the Earth was freezing. All the heroes were doing what they could to help. Batman got Superman (who is getting very weak because no sun) to help him... find the stolen Mona Lisa. Good. Work. 👍

[@Mikol_Billy]

Just scrolling through my feed queuing up KZbin videos for my Friday night and I see a brand new movies with Mikey about the Batman????? You kidding me??? PLAY NOW

[@Michael-eq8th]

Most youtube shows have condensed their intros, title transitions and the like. Not Movies with Mikey. FilmJoy is slinging the same fire they have for years.

[@tobisonbrown]

Gangster shit. Great video Mikey. Finally became a patron after all these years. Sorry it took so long.

[@aglimmerofhope5321]

Thanks, man. ✌️🙂

[@felipea1399]

Hey! The Batman Returns romance was also quite great In fact, I prefer the Batman Returns romance somewhat

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

The triumphant return of the prodigal FilmTube son!

[@noreehix5714]

Haven't seen the movie but im leaving a like because i love your content.

[@b-roaskie7233]

Absolutely stellar vid as always. I'm so glad other people were as enamored with Colin Farrell as I was!

[@ravencorvus7903]

You always manage to articulate what I felt seeing a movie but I couldn't connect the dots on haha

[@udbhavseth799]

you're the best film critic i know!

[@thainesmith]

That shot at the end with the flare is basically a Caspar David Friedrich painting.

[@insertwittytitlehere]

Just reminded me how hard the movie hit when it came out, great vid as always.

[@pikeyMcBarkin]

Love your work. Thank you.

[@NateDogg2888]

Still GOAT theme song, glad to see ya again, Mikey

[@spaniyell]

Wow, that actually made me want to watch the film!

[@povertymidas]

This video has entered my mandatory watch recommendations list along with your John Wick video

[@suto5704]

I'm so hyped for The Penguin show

[@FreelancerLA]

Love this!

[@brendad.754]

Wooohoo Paul Dano shoutout!!

[@alanhouston5874]

Great video I wish they would let various cinematic takes on Batman exist concurrently like they do with the comics Sadly, having a guaranteed IP means the studio try and get the most broadly appealing mix rather than allow directors to explore an idea fully with the character

[@josephteller9715]

For some reason I never got notice on Nebula that this had dropped over there.... will go watch the long version there (been a subscriber there for a long time). I check the site weekly (usually thats all it takes to get notice on everyone I watch there).

[@sweeneykilpatrick261]

I have written FILMJOY on my forehead. Now what.

[@IanFay]

I really need to rewatch this movie.