Movie Review of The Batman starring Robert Pattinson

Considering Batman calls himself “Vengeance” in this movie, it certainly does hit vengeance. There is also justice, as all superhero movies should have. And in this one, we see some redemption.

This Batman movie is quite different than the previous ones. First, it has narration. They went for a film noir tone in this version. Bruce Wayne is portrayed very differently. Not at all the flamboyant playboy by day and Batman by night. Instead, he’s brooding, self-destructive, and anti-social. I didn’t particularly care for Robert Pattinson’s portrayal. He came across more as a spoiled teenager not getting his way than a vengeful crime fighter. However, the focus on vengeance is true to the story, at least in the beginning.

Another aspect I liked is that this is not an origin story. We join the story about two years into the Batman’s existence. The Joker is already in Arkham. The ending sets up the next movie to involve the Joker, so we’ll see. In this movie we’re introduced to Selina Kyle, never officially called Catwoman, but she does have a lot of cats. We meet The Riddler. A very different version of The Riddler, especially if you’ve watched Gotham. Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin (played by Colin Farrell – though you’d never recognize him), is a henchman for Carmine Falcone. He’s called Oz, Oswald, and The Penguin. Very different from other Penguins, like Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito or Robin Lord Taylor. The Riddler and Catwoman are the two we get an origin story for.

The story starts after a big Gotham police bust of the top mob boss (Marone) who is dealing a drug called “drops”. People that take it are drop heads. Shortly after this historic bust, top officials start to die and clues are left at the scenes, cards with riddles left to The Batman, implying a deep conspiracy and corruption within Gotham politics. The underlying mystery is good. The interplay between Batman and Selena Kyle is well done. The ending is reminiscent of The Dark Knight Rises. All I’ll say is that it is a dark ending, but with a hopeful epilogue.

Since I mentioned The Dark Knight Rises, this movie lacks the intensity of that one. Remember that constant music that kept you on the edge of your seat? And, of course, the action and the thought that surely Batman will win the day somehow? That’s missing from The Batman. It’s slower moving, until the last quarter of the movie. Kept me watching, though, but didn’t have that boiling gut, intense involvement that The Dark Knight Rises produced. Also didn’t have any over the top good acting seen in The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger).

I’m still on the fence as to whether I liked this version. Robert Pattinson ranks behind Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and Christian Bale (in that order). The movie itself isn’t as good as any of the Christian Bale movies nor the two Michael Keaton’s, and certainly not as good as Batman Vs. Superman. Let’s sum it up by saying, it’s worth the watch, but didn’t blow me away. I’d prefer a return to more Justice League movies or another Batman with Ben Affleck.

It’s PG-13. Some language. The violence isn’t over the top. And no on-screen sex. Actually, just a kiss or two and nothing even more suggestive than that.