The Batman movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Batman

This dramatic and dark superhero movie is currently available in theaters exclusively

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours 56 minutes (This is a LONG movie and the longest Batman movie ever!)

IN A NUTSHELL:

Warner Brothers presents a new kind of Batman. Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis. Cue the Riddler!

THINGS I LIKED:

Robert Pattinson first caught the world’s attention in the Twilight movie franchise. I thought he was just a pretty-boy actor, but he stunned me with his powerful performance in THE LIGHTHOUSE and I knew we had an actor who wasn’t just blooming but one who could win an Academy Award someday. Batman has large shoes to fill and Robert Pattinson is more than capable. This is the first time we see Bruce Wayne’s black eye makeup after he removes his mask. There’s an incredible sadness and pain to his performance that successfully helps him come to terms with his role as The Batman in Gotham City. Robert seems to have gotten his low, gravely voice inspiration from Christian Bale, but director/writer Matt Reeves actually based this darker version of the popular superhero after Kurt Cobain who had achieved wealth and fame but preferred being a recluse. That’s the Batman we get in this gritty, psychological thriller. Rumor has it that Matt Reeves was listening to Nirvana when he wrote the first act of the movie. Out of the MANY actors to play Batman, who do YOU think does it the best? Comment down below!
The film has the same dark, brooding feeling that THE DARK KNIGHT evoked, only even darker.
The talented cast also includes the beautiful and sexy Zoe Kravitz, the incredible chameleon Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, and Barry Keoghan.
Speaking of Colin Farrell, wow! I never would have guessed it was him in this role! Nicely done! The Penguin doesn’t look or sound at all like Colin Farrell. Kudos to the makeup team that did his prosthetics and fat suit.
Fun fact: Zoe Kravitz actually voices the character of Catwoman in The Lego Batman Movie in 2017!
There are many elements of this movie that qualify it as horror. For example, the batmobile feels like a scary animal attacking its prey. Matt Reeves also based his version of the Riddler on the horrific Zodiac Killer from the 1960s.
There is a lot of terrific tension and suspense.
Whether you wanted another superhero movie or not, this is definitely a solid addition to the Batman filmography.
There are some riddles and reveals that keep things interesting. People who love looking at clues and crime scenes will be intrigued.
Creepy soundtrack.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Everyone speaks quietly, so when this film goes to streaming and Video on Demand, I highly recommend putting on the captions so you can read what people are saying.
The movie felt more like a detective movie than a real superhero movie. Some Batman fans may not enjoy this spin on the classic superhero flick.
There are a lot of minor plot lines that get messy.
When my 4 sons were young, they loved watching the older Batman movies because there was a lot of action, cool tech, and zany villains. I’m not convinced they would have liked this one. It’s simply too dark and creepy for little kids.
I’m glad I saw this movie because I was curious how Robert Pattinson would fare in this legendary role, but it’s not a film I’ll probably ever watch again. It’s simply too long and now I know the answer to the mystery of the bat, the cat, and the rat. There just isn’t any scene I’m dying to see again.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Lots of violence
Murder and dead bodies
Torture
Blood
You see a shirtless man.
Quite a few characters are complete psychos.

THEMES:

Fear
Power
Crime
Making a difference
Sacrifice for others
Legacy and family
Emotional scars

INTERESTING LINES:

“They think I’m hiding in the shadows. I am the shadows.” – The Batman (Robert Pattinson)
“The hell are you supposed to be?” – bad guy “I’m vengeance.” – The Batman (Robert Pattinson)
“What does a liar do when he’s dead? He lies still.” – riddle on a card
“Vengeance won’t change the past.” – The Batman (Robert Pattinson)