Walking into The Batman, we were skeptical. Robert Pattinson has long since passed his Twilight years. But in some way, we were still holding onto that sparkling vampire as if that’s the only thing he’ll ever be. And it was only when we were reminded of how Heath Ledger knocked it out of the park as the Joker, that we realized we were being unfair to Pattinson. So we gave him a chance, we let go of the past, and we’re glad that we did. Because Pattinson killed it.
Seriously, he nailed it from start to finish. And we have no problem calling him our Batman. That’s not to say that there is something wrong with the previous Batman’s. They were great and will continue to be special to those who love them. But for us, Pattinson is the future and has cemented himself as the dark knight of Gotham, set to change his home for the better. And after The Batman, we’ll never doubt this actor or his ability to embody a character as well-loved as this one.
In many ways, Pattinson redefined how we look at Bruce Wayne aka the Batman. We’ve always loved this character and his duality, but Pattinson managed to breathe new life into Batman without losing what is key to this hero. He also managed to make us go, “Am I into Robert Pattinson? Because we already loved Batman, but this is new…” The answer is yes and you’ll know why when you see it in the astounding runtime of 2 hours and 56 minutes, which passed by lightning-fast for us.
This version of Batman was particularly strong for other reasons as well. There was the relationship between Bruce and Alfred that pulled at our heartstrings in a manner it has never done so before. There was also the fact that Pattinson wasn’t perfectly coifed after taking off his Batsuit. The same thing goes for the makeup that didn’t just magically disappear when he took off his cowl. He was messy and that made him feel real and easier to connect with in comparison to previous tailored versions of him.
Then there’s the goddess known as Zoë Kravitz. As you already know, she plays Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. And like Pattinson, she nailed it. Her character’s motivations are grounded in love and doing what’s right by those we care for when their lives are snatched away. Kravitz makes this character burn even brighter when her way of surviving clashes with Batman’s. She doesn’t let that stop her or her journey. Nothing will. And we admire her for that strength and her ability to shape her world based on her actions and hers alone.
Together, Batman and Catwoman have stolen our hearts. And we don’t want them back. In fact, the adoption papers are signed and they are our new mom and dad. Their relationship in The Batman proves two things. One, they have changed each other to the point of no matter where they are, they will always be connected. And two, that The Batman is more than a tale of vengeance. The Batman is a love story between two lonely people who want to be seen, heard, and cared for while doing their absolute best.
Now, there will be some bothered by the above statement that The Batman is a love story. And our response is, “Have you been paying attention?” The Batman and Catwoman, and the relationship they have, ARE the heart of the movies, shows, and comics. And they are absolutely the reason why you should go and watch The Batman. Because this movie doesn’t hold back when it comes to being unapologetically all about that Bat and Cat life. And we love The Batman because of it.
There were other things about The Batman as a whole that we absolutely loved. There was the original motion picture soundtrack by Michael Giacchino that fit as perfectly as Danny Elfman’s did for 1989’s Batman. There was the casting of Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Paul Dano as The Riddler, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. And then we had astounding cinematography by Greig Fraser, who painted a Gotham that felt different while keeping to the city we’ve grown up with as longtime fans of Batman.
But the most surprising thing about The Batman, and that we can’t stop thinking about even ages after watching it, is its ability to make us cry. Yes, you read that right. The Batman made us cry. There was a part of The Batman that made this writer connect with this dark crusader in a way we’ve never done so before. A moment that made us realize that we all carry scars from the pain we’ve experienced. And it’s what we do with that pain, the way that we transform it, that shapes who we become and how we change this world around us and for us.
Ultimately, The Batman is a triumph where we see the Bat find love, hope, and a sense of understanding that he is not alone in this world. There are others who can help him, guide him, and be shaped by him and his actions. So, we welcome Robert Pattinson with open arms and await what he does next in this big and wondrous world full of found family, new love, and villains who don’t give up even when they’re locked up tight in Arkham.
The Batman hits theaters on March 4, 2022.
