When DC’s new Batman was announced, many
understandably might have been hesitant to give it a chance, as
there have been a plethora of Batman films and interpretations
of the character that have been a mainstay in pop culture
for the past 60 years. It might have been difficult for some
to get excited over yet another Batman movie, but with a
cast as stellar as this and with DC movies taking a slow but
steady return to form, “The Batman” is a crime drama worth
your while, for superhero and non-superhero fans alike.
Previous Batman flicks that are often punched with action and
otherworldly visual effects, The Dark Knight trilogy being a
notable example, “The Batman” instead takes a real “Batman”
approach as an enthralling detective murder mystery.
Justly long, “The Batman” ends up following a trail of clues
continuously sent to him sent by a cruel murderer, and he
attempts to unmask that killer in order to save the corrupt
metropolis as best as he can. With his companion Catwoman,

fiercely played by Zoë Kravitz, he’s the investigative crime-
fighter of the shady city. Fights, violence, and Bruce Wayne

wallowing in sadness ensues.
The dreary Nirvana needle drop at the very beginning
of the movie sets the tone wonderfully for what is in store,
foreshadowing the complex and depressing character arch
of Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Pattinson’s Batman is emo,
clouded, and is at times heart-wrenching to even watch. He
marches tediously and dimly through the smudge of Gotham
City, those scenes gently adding up to its almost 3-hour
runtime. Batman here is vulnerable yet violent, so in that
sense, Robert Pattinson was perfectly cast and did a great job
playing a moody brooding detective that is probably my favorite
rendition of Batman yet.
Alongside Pattinson, Paul Dano did an incredibly engaging
job as The Riddler. He was over-the-top terrifying but
simultaneously humorous, acting as a crazed Batman fanboy.
The typical Dano cadence was there, and it worked wonders
in this movie. His dynamic with Pattinson was tense, goofy,

and all-around great. Kravitz was bold and exciting
to watch, although the romance brewed with Batman
didn’t hit all the marks. Batman had better chemistry
with almost every other character, which honestly, I
didn’t mind. Colin Farrell as The Penguin was solid as
well. Every performance was faithful to the character
and aided a unique, refreshing telling of a storied
superhero.
You really get lost in the grimy streets and world
building, helped by the pounding earworm score by
Michael Giacchino. The score feels instantly classic
the first time you hear the main theme blare. “The
Batman” also had splendid cinematography, with
endless beautiful shots in the grimy rain. Overall, the
dark, murder mystery vibe of the movie is what makes
it so addicting to watch, and the fact that Bruce Wayne
was doing actual detective work makes the Batman a
great superhero movie for people who aren’t exactly
superhero geeks. Even with the detective mystery
outer shelling, the action is still packed in underneath,
with a grandiose car chase scene, bike rides, and a neat
Batman flying sequence.
“The Batman” is both simple and complicated, but
confident in what it is trying to say because it has such
rich storytelling to back it up. The film is the perfect
opposition to the current often repetitive superhero
movie landscape, as it feels inspired and already iconic
the more you think about it. Even with a long runtime,
and maybe some pacing issues here and there, I want
to see more of the depressing Pattinson Batman world
with hopefully, more sequels. “The Batman is what The
Joker (2019) tried desperately to achieve a”nd should
have been, and is even better than expected in how raw
and compelling it is. You can feel when a superhero
movie hits every check and is an instant classic, and
“The Batman” did just that. It is easily a must-see.