A movie made for an artist, by an artist.
This is more than a revival of a beloved character, this proves to be an ample study on morality and on what it means to be a hero. Batman not only begins, but reinterprets the nature of the heroic in the superhero genre.
By focusing on moods, expressionist poets seek to denounce a reality that they feel is oppressive. We know this is due in part to the horrors of war. But the stakes are higher. Expressionist poetry is a cry in search of lost individuality right in the heart of society.
Expressionism marks a turning point in the reflection on art. Through it, the transition is made from figurative to abstract, in an attempt to abandon the contingencies of the external world, to reflect on a human condition not disguised by the environment.
The movie brings into question the meaning of what it is to be a patriot. It may not be the most poetic entry into the war genre, but 'Anthropoid' is nevertheless relevant. It plays with our sensibility not through visuals but through plausibility.
This essay is meant to reveal some of the arguments for the depth and meaning of Kubrick's last film. I will talk about the use of music, color, and the underlying symbolism present in the form of dreams and desires. There will be spoilers ahead.