The wait is over, as the complete soundtrack for The Batman is finally released. Michael Giacchino's epic new Batman score is now widely available on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube, and it's already one of the Caped Crusader's finest soundtracks.
The first detail of note is its whopping length. The Batman soundtrack alone is an hour and 56 minutes, making this the longest Batman soundtrack by far, as film scores usually range from 46 to 75 minutes long. This only proves that Giacchino's Batman music will play a pivotal role across the three-hour film, and that's a relief, as there's no licensed material that'll serve the mood better than this haunting score.
Listening to this soundtrack is a cinematic event in itself. The ideas and motifs introduced in each of the three singles are expanded on throughout the album. The Batman-oriented tracks are bold and brash, while the Riddler pieces are cold and creepy, and Catwoman's songs are elegant and mysterious. This marks the most layered and interesting Batman soundtrack since the days of Danny Elfman's work for the Tim Burton films, and Shirley Walker's themes for Batman: The Animated Series.
The titles in the track listening also offer some clues towards what to expect in the film. For instance, the second track is titled "Mayoral Ducting," suggesting that the Riddler's killing of Mayor Don Mitchell will happen early in the movie. Likewise the eighth and ninth tracks are "Funeral and Far Between" and "Collar ID," which surely refer to the previously-released funeral scene from The Batman. There's also some references to Halloween through the track listing, suggesting that both The Batman will be something of a holiday film, and that the classic comic Batman: The Long Halloween will serve as a chief inspiration.
Frankly it's a relief The Batman has a soundtrack worth listening to. Because too many blockbusters lately couldn't care less about the music. It's hard to remember a single track throughout the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, because they treat their soundtracks as background noise. This approach misses the mark, as filmmaking is an audiovisual art form. Without great music, we're only left with half of the equation. Thankfully Batman films have always understood this, and Giacchino's work already stands among the best examples in the franchise.
The only questions left are how this soundtrack will play out in the film itself. Within the context of the scenes, these great songs are sure to play even better. It's just another reason to be excited for The Batman's release very soon.
The Batman will release in theaters on March 4th, 2022.
Source: WaterTower Music