Reaching $134 million in global gross sales within a week, Robert Pattinson’s “The Batman” is an instant box-office hit and a gift to Warner Brothers Studios amidst their pandemic slump. 

Christian Bale’s “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) is most well-known to the public, so Pattinson wanted to differentiate from the already established persona. In contrast to the social butterfly and casanova image Bale illustrated, Pattinson plays an introverted and socially withdrawn Batman. 

“I believe there are pros and cons to both characters,” Hannah Kim (12), superhero movie fanatic, said. “My favorite superhero is Iron Man, and my favorite aspect of him is his ability to maintain his humor and a ‘normal’ side of him while fighting antagonists. Although I was disappointed that the movie lacked comedy, I believe Pattinson’s Batman is perfect for keeping up that unique, dark ambiance Batman movies have.” 

Critics often bring up the romance that is interwoven throughout this movie. The relationship between Catwoman played by Joe Kravitz and Batman is not conveyed smoothly, surprising the audience when they share an intimate kiss near the end of the movie. For the majority of the film, the protagonists preserve a mutual comradeship, which was not enough for the audience to catch on to the protagonists’ growing romantic feelings for each other. 

Meanwhile, others argue that to fully immerse the film in the gloomy theme of Gotham City, romance should not have been involved. Many viewers agree that keeping Catwoman as a coworker would have more effectively portrayed Batman’s ambition to seek justice against criminals and cleanse the contaminating Gotham City. 

“I feel like the love story was an unnecessary factor,” Jihoon Lee (11), a student who watched “The Batman” twice, said. “I did not sense any of them catching feelings throughout the movie, which is why their sudden romance ruined the mood even more. Especially for Batman, someone who only interacts and opens himself up to his butler Alfred, to get caught up in the moment was out of his established character. 

There are those who commend this movie as one of the best ones so far. “The Batman ” is the first stand-alone Batman film since Christian Bale’s Batman, pleasantly surprising DC fans with a blockbuster film amidst the pandemic. 

Several reviews also praise the incredibly dark cinematography, which adds another layer to the somber mood of Gotham City. Especially since fans of Batman prefer a somber atmosphere, the movie’s gloominess suits the taste of the targeted audience. Omitting all humorous aspects of the character reiterates the pain and suffering Batman endures while carrying the safety of the entire city on his back. 

“I loved the new Batman film,” Samuel Hong (11), avid fan of movies, said. “It portrayed Batman more realistically without any special gadgets. The directors relied on more action rather than special effects, and even the special effects used were more down-to-earth. For example, Pattinson would run away from the fire as opposed to Bale who would zipline his way out of everything.”

He added, “The element of realism makes this movie enjoyable, and I would recommend it.”