Robert Pattinson dons a scrappy version of the cowl in this darkest yet take on the Gotham City crime fighter. In a lot of ways, this is more like a murder mystery, but the serial killer is an early incarnation of The Riddler (a creepy Paul Dano). Sure, Batman gets to whip out some cool gadgets and kick ass, but this iteration is more about his early inner conflicts and finding his footing in the superhero world. Pattinson is suitably sulky and gloomy (much like his fame-making role in the Twilight series). His romantic connection with Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) has some intense sparks, but it’s really about all the dark criminal elements of the city and when I say dark, almost none of the film is shot in daylight. Director Matt Reeves has created some visually arresting moments, but most of the fights are a blur without much clear action. Surprisingly, at almost 3 hours it never lags, partially because Reeves has managed to keep the interactions compelling. This is a worthy and interesting new take on the legend. NOTE: There’s a short, dumb bit at the end, so no need to stay, but take a blacklight and check out the hidden message at the top of the poster. 
(3.5 / 5)
