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David McK (3816 KP) rated The Batman (2022) in Movies

Apr 3, 2022 (Updated Dec 20, 2025)  
The Batman (2022)
The Batman (2022)
2022 | Action, Adventure, Crime
"I am vengeance!"
Batman.

First debuting in DC Comics, 1939, and now one of the most popular superheroes of all, amongst the 'holy trinity' of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman

It's often forgotten and/or overlooked in his numerous movies to date that those initials (DC) actually stand for Detective Comics, with Batman - on the pages - sometimes also known as The Worlds Greatest Detective.

This is the first of his movies that I can think of where that aspect of his character is portrayed - sure, there hints of it in 1989s Batman, but only hints. Here it's full force, front and centre, with Batman - only his second year as a Vigilante - working alongside Jim Gordon and a proto-Catwoman to track down and apprehend the serial killer known only as The Riddler, who is leaving clues behind at all his kills.

A very different portrayal of that character than Jim Carrey's version in 'Batman Forever'.

This is also a very long film - nearly 3 hours - that, I felt, is in danger of outstaying it's welcome, with very little in the way of superheroics. More of a police whodunnit with costumed characters, maybe. There's also a perfect 'cutting-off' point at just after the third act, with - I guess? - a studio mandate for the fourth act tacked on, which is probably more along the lines of what to expect from a Batman movie.

As for Robert Pattinson as The Caped Crusader? I kept expecting him to sparkle. Unfair, I know (to type cast him as the vampire from Twilight), but I do think he may have swung too far in the other direction when portraying Bruce Wayne; here very much an emo goth kid rather than the swaggering heir to the fortune he is oft shown as. In fact, there's very little of Bruce on display: he spends most of his time, in costume, as Batman. This was a conscious decision, or so I have heard, to show how Bruce is in danger of losing himself to that persona. I'm also struggling to think of a single key 'stand-out' moment in line with 'Batman Begins' rescuing Rachel or 'The Dark Knight' "he's the Hero we need ..." bit: the Penguin car chase, perhaps?

So, yeah, a very different cinematic take on The Dark Knight, indeed.
  
Dream a Little Dream (To Love a Psycho #1)
Dream a Little Dream (To Love a Psycho #1)
C.F. White | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
There is no HEA here, not yet. There is no romance, not yet.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the first book in the To Love A Psycho trilogy. There is no HEA here, not yet. There is no romance, not yet.

But what is here, is setting the stage for what is to come, and I bloody loved it!

It's dark and deadly. Very little smex, but the steam is building, oh yes!

Aaron is the child of serial killers, Kenny the psychologist who helped bring their capture. Jack, the police constable who finds Aaron. While this is mostly about Kenny and Aaron, it is important to mention Jack. Given as Jack played a huge part in Kenny's life before, and the fact that Aaron knows Jack, from that very early meeting and again, when he comes back into his life.

What I think (cos Lord knows if I can word it correctly!) I liked most about this book, was that both men are somewhat . . .not damaged or unhinged but those words keept jumping from my book brain and I dont think they are right, but that sort of thing. They are both haunted by their past, and Kenny especially surprised me. He fights Aaron all the way, but knows he can't keep away. Even taking to him to his therapy is something Kenny HAS to do for Aaron.

Given what's said here about Jack and Kenny's relationship, I can see why Kenny needs to look out for Aaron, he has no one else, but Kenny is hard wired that way: to care for someone, in any way he can. I think deep down, Kenny knows this, even if he psycoanalyses himself to the very max, I don't think he's actually seeing that in himself.

I did not see it all playing out the way it did, and I love being surprised. I can't wait to see what White does to this pair in the next book, but I am promised an eventual HEA, they are just gonna have to work so darn hard at it, it might break me!

4 stars, but only because it is a cliff hanger, and I KNEW that going in, but I can't quite stretch, not yet!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere