The Batman Movie Review

“The Batman” is a film-noir style of detective story that features the person who fights crime in a suit dressed like a bat. The dark heart of the corrupt city is bringing terror and misery into the streets. This Batman is out to take down as many criminals as he can, and his status as a vigilante is growing.

In Gotham City, the level of crime is out of control, and the police are helpless. A new vigilante prowls at night to stop some of the criminals. He is called the ‘Batman’. Only nobody knows that his true identity is Bruce Wayne (played by Robert Pattinson). Wayne is orphaned child of wealthy parents who helped build up the City. Wayne has a fortune and does not seek fame. He instead prefers to remain a recluse. Only his butler Alfred Pennyworth (played by Andy Serkis) knows his secret. The Batman has a key ally in the police department, a man named Lt. James Gordon (played by Jeffrey Wright). The Batman fights for vengeance, due to his parents being murdered by a criminal.

The mayor is up for reelection. But he is brutally murdered, and there are cryptic clues left at the crime scene. One of these clues is addressed to the Batman. Lt. Gordon gets the Batman to inspect the scene for information. The Police Commissioner and the District Attorney Gil Colson (played by Peter Sarsgaard) are not happy with that. After all, they just made a huge drug bust of a major crime kingpin. New details are out to the press about some shady dealings with the mayor.

There is a nightclub run by an underworld figure named Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (played by Colin Farrell). He is second-in-command to the mob boss Carmine Falcone (played by John Turturro).  The now deceased mayor has photos with him and the Penguin, and a mysterious woman. The mystery lady is the roommate of Selina Kyle (played by Zoë Kravitz). Selina loves cats, and she happens to be an exceptional thief, a cat-burglar. She goes by the name Catwoman. Batman meets Selina when he is at the club to investigate the mayor’s murder and the missing mystery lady.

Catwoman and Batman are forced to team up get further into the details of corruption and deception. Soon, the Police Commissioner is killed, by the same serial killer who had murdered the mayor. This disturbing killer becomes know as the Riddler. He again involves Batman in a new clue left at the scene. Later the D.A. Colson is missing, and he is forced to ‘interrupt’ the mayor’s funeral. That is because the Riddler has planted a remote-triggered bomb on his neck. Before you can see Bruce Wayne change into his outfit – there is one more death and a new clue for Batman.

Batman finds out that the next target Riddler will try to kill is Bruce Wayne. Batman and Lt. Gordon find out a drug deal that is going on involving the Penguin on behalf of the crime boss Falcone. Selina also finds out about the deal, and she shows up as Catwoman. There are lots of shots fired and bodies being slammed down. Catwoman is able to get away with much of the money, and Penguin leads the Batman on a wild highway chase.

The Riddler is found out to be a guy named Edward Nashton (played by Paul Dano). He is pursued and captured. Many people online have followed his twisted online posts and messages. The police finally feel that they are going to be safe. But they do not know that even when put into Arkham Asylum, the Riddler still retains power over Gotham City. He might be locked up, but he still has many cards up his sleeve. The Riddler wants to resolve the crime and corruption in the City in the worst way possible.

“The Batman” is down-and-very-dirty detective story that happens to involve a superhero. The unvarnished underside of Gotham City is on display as a filthy city full of grime and crime. This is a full ‘three hour tour’ of a world full of dark and despicable characters. There is one lone defender out to make a difference. He is someone willing to fight against the underworld of criminals and the highest levels of corruption.

Robert Pattinson plays a very good Batman, he is stoic and powerful, afraid of nothing. When he plays Bruce Wayne, let’s just say that animated character Jim Hawkins (from “Treasure Planet”) called and wants his hair style back. Zoë Kravitz is also great as Selina/Catwoman. Jeffrey Wright does fine work, but is not challenged in his role as Lt. Gordon. Colin Farrell has an unrecognizable face as the Penguin. He is very creepy.

This movie leans a lot more into “Seven”, “Zodiac”, “Saw”, and “Blade Runner” more than it does any DC Extended Universe type movie. It breaks a mold of prior Batman movies. This is stand-alone project much in the same way that “Joker” was a few years ago. It is from the DC Comics, but it doesn’t pay much attention to what came before it.

“The Batman” does a good job in showing the early days of the Caped Crusader as a vigilante knocking off small-time crooks. He is ready to graduate to high-level corruption and crime fighting.