Movie Review: “I’m Vengeance” The Batman is here! (SPOILER FREE)

After months of delay due to the pandemic and other production challenges, Robert Pattison starred movie “The Batman” is finally here. As a huge DC Comic fan, I had to watch this on opening weekend.

Finally, we get a Batman movie that focuses on Bruce Waynes’/Batmans’ noir and detective roots. From the beginning, this movie skips the traditional playboy entrepreneur Bruce Wayne we all are used to seeing in previous movies and does the total opposite by focusing on the main objective, catching the Riddler. Robert Pattinsons rendition of Bruce Wayne is far opposite of what we are used to seeing. He is cold, focused, logical, and his emotions are often reflected by the trauma he suffered after witnessing his parents being murdered in cold blood as a child.

As Batman (Played by Robert Pattinson), the character is going on his 2^nd year as being Gothams’ vigilante. In his 2^nd year, while he is sharp to solving the Riddles in place for him almost immediately, there are moments when his emotions cloud his judgement and at times get in the way of using logic in critical situations. This is also the most I have seen any actor who has played the Dark Knight be in the suit for such a long time throughout the movie. It feels as though you see 90% Batman and 10% Bruce Wayne. A different approach, but one that works here.

James Gordon (Played by Jeffrey Wright) is heavily involved in this movie. He works directly alongside The Batman in trying to capture the Riddler throughout the duration of the movie. He is trusted by Batman and vice versa, and despite only knowing each other for 2 years, they both have a good working chemistry throughout the movie. There was never a time where you felt like Batman was treating Gordon like a bench warmer.

The Riddler (played by Paul Dano), being the main villain of the movie, is played in a much different light in comparison to previous renditions before Dano (such as Jim Carreys’ rendition). This Riddler is not cartoony, rather he is Zodiac Killer/Jigsaw Inspired by being blunt and detailed in his murders for Batman to solve and put together all the pieces to. While Dano plays a darker rendition of The Riddler there are moments in the movie where you can’t help but think that he drew some inspiration from Heath Ledgers rendition of Joker in regard to his method acting and tonality of his character.

Catwoman/Selena Kyle (Played by Zoë Kravitz), plays as Batmans’ counterpart and co-pilot. She works alongside with Batman but still has objectives and purposes of her own. She has a good amount of screentime in the movie where all her scenes play an important role and do not deviate away from the plot. Kravitz rendition of Catwoman strays away from the immature jewelry looting/backstabbing anti-hero we are used to seeing and instead brings her character to a more fulfilling purpose overall. There are also moments of the movie where the romantic tension between her and Batman were present, but it was never a strong focus point, rather just an acknowledgment here and there.

The Penguin (Played by Collin Farrell) plays as the supporting villain in the movie. While he is not the main focus of the movie, his scenes tie up part of the plots together when it came to Batman trying to figure out the Riddlers’ puzzles and riddles along with figuring out who are the ones pulling the corrupted strings in Gotham. This rendition of Penguin is more mobster oriented, and less self-pity compared to previous versions played before Farrell.

Alfred Pennyworth (Played by Andy Serkis) has brief screen time in this movie. In this movie in particular, his relationship with Bruce Wayne is rather cold and blunt, instead of a “Father and Son” type of Bond. Bruce treats Alfred poorly throughout the movie and does not apologize for any of his actions or words directed at him. This was something I was not a fan of seeing, as Alfred raised Bruce after the murder of his parents. A lack of Empathy is present throughout their interactions.

While this movie is about 3 hours long, there was never a time where I felt like a sequence was dragging out. It was a perfect balance of detective-oriented sequences and action-packed sequences. I enjoyed this movie for the fact that we finally get to see a rookie/accident prone rendition of Batman, and a Bruce Wayne character that is a clear reflection of his past traumas. Pattinsons’ portrayal of both personas is a perfect mix of logic, emotion, anger, trauma, problem solving, and critical thinking.