After years of waiting for the newest film adaptation of one of the most popular DC characters, fans were able to see “The Batman” in theaters March 4. The film has a fresh take on Batman following “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and takes a different approach from straight action to a mystery thriller movie. The film, with its almost three-hour runtime, is able to keep you on your toes throughout most of the movie with twists and turns.

The film takes place in Gotham, a depressing city with corruption and crime running rampant. Batman (Robert Pattinson) takes on his first real villain, Riddler (Paul Dano), a serial killer. In the first 10 minutes, the movie does well in setting up a new Batman and the mystery that will follow throughout the film. With supporting characters like Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell) bringing even more strings to the mystery, the film sets the audience up for a long roller coaster.

Since Marvel movies usually set up formulaic plots with big action sequences, “The Batman” was a nice change of pace. While Batman searches for clues about the identity of one of the most realistic killers in a comic book movie, you get a view of the world and the state of Gotham. Along with that, the film dives into the psyche of Batman and his transformation from a symbol of vengeance to a symbol of hope.

During the movie we get standout performances from Pattinson and Dano with both showing off strengths in their own ways. Pattinson is able to showcase the impact being Batman has on his secret identity Bruce Wayne while Dano is able to bring out how psychotic the Riddler is in his ideals, from mental tics to the horrendous actions he commits. 

Overall, the movie has its flaws like any film does, but they are immensely overshadowed by the impressive performances and grand mystery. The movie immerses you in a world that feels ripped straight from a comic book. If you have any love for superheroes or crime thrillers, I recommend you check out “The Batman” in theaters as soon as possible.