The Batman Comes Under Criticism for Insensitive Scene
03/08/2022 06:58 pm EST
I'm Hoping For A Batman
Some viewers saw Batman's intervening as the sort of fantasy wish-fulfillment the character is based in: A shadowy guardian angel in the night.
That's The Choice?
Here's a prime sampling of the divide in opinion here: some see the Asian man's scene in The Batman as representation – others question why that particular depiction would be what is ostensibly the only Asian character role in the whole film.
This Wasn't Made In A Bubble
This viewer correctly points out that The Batman was made in the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increase in Asian hate crimes it inspired. Did this subtext of this scene not resonate with those changing times?
It Was Heroic
Some viewers simply view a scene of Batman saving a Gotham citizen from being horribly murdered as being classic heroism.
Real Life With Benefits
Others are going so far as to argue that Matt Reeves is in fact speaking to real-life struggles of the Asian community by depicting the threat they're under – within the more comforting framework of superhero fantasy.
It Definitely Stood Out
Others came away from The Batman feeling like there was more subtext to that sequence – that the race of the man on the train was a big (if unspoken) factor in the gang's choice to target him. At the same time, it being the ONLY Asian presence in the movie made it awkwardly distinguishable.
Total Cringe
Even fans who understand why Matt Reeves and co. may not have altered the scene still feel the cringe of it all.
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