Dunna nunna, nunna, nunna, nunna, dunna nunna, nunna Batman! This is the classic intro we have all come to love. First hitting the big screen in 1966, this caped crusader has captured the interest of many and stuck fear into many more. Originally played by Lewis G. Wilson, the original Batman film was a comedic and pleasant film that greatly entertained. This Batman however, goes even further than the dark knight exploring the moral question of whether or not what the Batman is just in his action or if he is simply a freak like the rest of Gotham’s underworld. Its a problem that has always been posed to Batman in the comic book versions of his character but was never addressed until now.  

From the opening fight scene, it becomes clear that this version of the Batman, played by Robert Pattinson, is nothing like the softer PG origins of the past. Rather than the dark knight, this film mirrors reality more which is what makes it so sinister. What I liked about this film especially was that the film doesn’t waste time rerunning information about  Batman’s past like in previous films. Instead, it jumps right into the nitty gritty of the worst Gotham has to offer, which is a pleasant surprise and makes the story more interesting. In The Batman, The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, has a plan to expose Gotham’s darkest secrets, and Batman is tasked with stopping him before it’s too late.

At first, I found it odd that Batman would be facing off against the Riddler, a lesser known DC villain rather than someone like the Joker. But after seeing how much of a darker turn this film takes with the two characters it becomes more clear on what the film is trying to say. The Riddler in this film takes on a much more sinister approach to his riddles, rather than just comical gimmicks. That along with their scale, make this Riddler seem more fitting to the villain role than in previous films. Speaking of villains, the penguin played by Colin Farell was also a surprising choice to see in this film, and even stranger was that casting choice. All in all though Farell does a good job at portraying his character albeit he does put his own more serious spin on him as well. As Batman works hard at solving his complex riddles throughout Gotham and brutally beating up his goons along the way, we see a much darker side to Batman than portrayed in any prior film. This Batman stretches his morals much further, and rather than the effortless playboy aesthetics we’ve seen this character take on before, we are served a more manic and gloomy version of Bruce Wayne. These characteristics come alive during each of the solving scenes where the Riddler torments Batman, even teasing his knowledge of his true identity as Bruce Wayne. And after about an hour of buildup to the central showdown at the tower, the action scenes that follow make it all worth watching again. 

The film has plenty of other aspects that viewers can enjoy. Actor Zoe Kravitz gives an outstanding performance in her role as Catwoman. Her acting really balanced the romantic elements with the mystery that combined to make a really solid performance overall. She has now officially taken my number two spot in my favorite portrayals of Catwoman, right behind Michelle Pffeifer for obvious reasons. The only main drag that I would have on this film is the slightly long buildup between the major action sequences, but other than that the film’s main story flows pretty cohesively.  Plotline aside, the visuals in this film are also very on brand with the darker aesthetic that they are going for. This is aided especially by the Riddler’s use of murder schemes more synonymous with a serial killer documentary than a superhero film. However, I’m not complaining, I thoroughly enjoyed watching in suspense at some of the outright demented things the Riddler puts Batman through.

Overall, I think The Batman will definitely go down in history  as one of the best Batman films ever made, and it’s definitely a top three pick in my book. The depth that this film does to portray the complexities of those characters rather than just show the difficulty of the situation makes the film all the more memorable. And it’s a definite departure from the romantic, teen vampire drama that we know Pattinson from.  I would rate this film a four out of five batarangs for its dark theme and excellent visuals.