Batman can be represented in one word: vengeance. This is something that has been a part of the character from his inception, but Pattinson takes it to a new level. Repeated gruesome bludgeoning and anger becoming not an emotion, but a personality are a common theme in this film. Batman’s signature catchphrase “I’m Batman” became “I’m Vengeance.” He’s not here to serve the city, but to quench the fire burning his soul.

“The Batman” is a special type of movie: it has an incredible plot, but that’s not the best part. There are a couple of elements that truly take this film to the next level. First is the music. Music is probably the most important aspect in setting the tone. “The Batman” has a sound that makes you jump, keeping you on edge for the entirety of the movie. It makes one get anxious about something happening, but a twist is always around the corner. The music was almost old-fashioned, similar to that of an early “James Bond” movie, but with a modern twist.

The lighting is another factor. In past Batman films, sometimes it is too dark to even see what was happening, but this was changed. Lighting is used as a way to slowly reveal secrets to the viewer, but still keeping some of the dark style of filming as to stay on theme.

The final large component for me was the cinematography. During points of the film, you didn’t see the people who were fighting, only darkness, gunfire and then dead silence. Then the camera will slowly move in, light begins to come back into the screen and then they reveal the man who embodies darkness: Batman.

“The Batman” had many incredible scenes, but the car chase really stood out. This type of scene has become a staple of all Batman movies, and this scene definitely lived up to the legacy of its predecessors. Until this action sequence, the movie is more of a gritty slow-burn and while there were some dramatic moments, there was nothing invigorating about it. Then, just when the viewer thinks the movie will never speed up, you hear the growl of a car and you feel your seat beginning to shake. And when the beast discards its veil of darkness, you see the car in all of its magnificent glory and then, like a switch, the movie jumps into hyper speed leaving you to be the lucky viewer who managed to snag a seat. 

This is not a film designed to be watched on your phone during a car ride. This is meant to be an experience, only to be viewed in a theatre with a large screen and big booming speakers that rattle your brain and make you jump out of your seat. Viewing a masterpiece of this caliber at home doesn’t do it justice, it cannot truly be experienced in all of its glory outside of a theatre. 

Many people (including me) use the term “movie” and “film” interchangeably, but there is a difference. A movie is shallow; it creates a plot and resolves it…pretty simple. A film on the other hand creates something different altogether: a feeling. A good film must not only create a feeling, but a feeling so primal and human that it makes the plot (no matter how good) a secondary characteristic. The only thing that matters is the experience. A good film is like a drug, you keep wanting more of it because the feeling is consuming, all encompassing and addictive. “The Batman” can only be described in three words: A good film.