Film review: The Batman starring Robert Pattinson
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- Published on Monday, 28 February 2022 17:08
- Last Updated on 28 February 2022
- Monica Costa
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On Friday the 4th of March, the most hotly anticipated superhero and action-packed comic book film of the year, The Batman, will hit our screens.

The story
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes Matt Reeves’ The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne.Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

(L-R) Andy Serkis, Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano and Jeffrey Wright attend “The Batman” special screening at BFI IMAX Waterloo on February 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
The trailer
The verdict

The Batmobile is Batman’s awe-inspiring signature vehicle. Combining brute force with high-speed ferocity, this staggering feat of engineering provides The Batman with the on-road muscle to chase down his fiercest foes. Also in his vehicular arsenal is the Batcycle, The Batman’s sleekest mode of transport, perfect for allowing the hero to race through Gotham’s streets at breakneck speeds.
To create the latest Batmobile model, the director and designer watched the evolution of the vehicle, from its early days in the original comics, through the mid-century models of the TV series to the pumped-up sports cars on steroids of the films of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
If we look closely at our protagonist, Bruce, we can immediately figure that he is single-minded in his mission and his construction of the car is all about function: if it’s useful, he keeps it; if it’s extra, he throws it out. The producers loved the idea of him using parts of a classic American muscle car as the foundation, and then adding the custom frame, amped-up engine, the armour, and so on. Bruce has built this Batsuit for function but also to instil fear, and to deliver that same level of signature look in the car.
The Batman Batmobile is matte black all over, with a design that tips its hat to the original Batmobile from the 1960s TV show via red lighting and wings at the rear. A solid steel bumper is attached to a steel frame that runs through the whole car, enabling it to crash through anything in its path, and the massive engine that powers the car is exposed when the car powers up.
The best thing about the project was that everything we see the car do is done in real time. There are no computer-generated graphics; what you see on screen is all down to the skill of the stunt team.


“Once the pieces were glued on, we would start painting it, airbrushing different tones and colours to match the skin tone as closely as possible,” said Marino in a recent interview. “Then stubble would be added next, then the eyebrows and the wig pieces. I couldn’t have asked for a better person than Colin to be in the makeup, because his personality is so unique and he did some really interesting things with his face, and added a sort of limp, and it really made The Penguin come alive.”
For the score, Reeves reunited with composer Michael Giacchino. He told Robert Pattison that before shooting the scenes, he wanted to see him looking in the mirror, Batsuit on, and he want him to put the makeup on. That music helped him to become Batman, and so they listened to that music all the time.
Matt has created a film in which the vengeance side of this hero drives him. Destruction and rage factor heavily into his journey and he has to come to terms with that and understand that he has to become a symbol of hope. It’s in that symbol of hope that Batman represents that’s most needed today.
Robert Pattinson also sees this different, exciting spin to the story and finds the emotional pay-off an interesting reversal. “In previous films, Batman thinks the symbol of Batman and what he’s achieved will inspire the city to have a more optimistic outlook and create a brighter future,” said the actor.
“In Matt’s story, Batman is committed to the darkness and nihilism; he doesn’t think that Gotham City is capable of healing itself, but is rather on a downward spiral, and that he’s just fighting a hopeless battle that will end in defeat. I always liked the idea of Batman allowing himself to hope a little bit at the end, which is probably the most painful thing that he has to do, because he has closed himself off from feeling anything. So, it’s actually Gotham that opens him up to the possibility of hope.”
London Mums’ rating: 7/10

London Mums’ editor Monica Costa attending the first UK screening of The Batman with British actor Matthew Brenher
Certificate: The Batman is rated PG-13 by the MPA for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material. London Mums agree with this certificate. Viewing is not recommended for younger children.

Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
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