The Batman swoops into movie theaters March 4

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a fresh, new take on an over 80-year-old comic book superhero with The Batman. This time out, viewers are plunged into a dark world with only flashes of backstory during an almost three-hour flick.

Billionaire Bruce Wayne sets out as the caper crusader to catch a crazy killer from his past rogue's gallery named the Riddler. Forget the 1960s television version of the villain as well as Jim Carrey's take in Batman Forever. Paul Dano creates a sadistic monster that will stick in the brain of the audience long after the masking tape is removed.

After so many portrayals in cinema over the years, actor Robert Pattinson had some big boots to fill and he does well from the jump. Just when you think things in Gotham can't get any darker, here comes The Batman! In terms of tone and style, this project falls somewhere between 2019's Joker and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight big screen series. This Batman focuses on mental health and trauma of the past instead of over-the-top theatrics and camp that has plagued the hero over the years.

To compete with the hitmaking Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Comics could have gone with the lighter fare of their early work or dived deeper into the darker territory of the material to shock fans. The iconic company chose the latter with this endeavor.

The Batman is not a typical superhero movie and fans have had to learn patience after some theater release delays and an extremely long running time. It is worth the wait thanks to co-writers Matt Reeves and Peter Craig. The storyline could have easily crashed and burned with too many subplots and characters, but instead, it soars.

The casting is no stunt this time out and some of the actors are unrecognizable such as Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot also known as the Penguin. Zoe Kravitz was born to play the cat burglar Selina Kyle. While there's not much for the LGBT community other than Pattinson's strong jawline and upside-down sexy pout, this kitty cat seems to have some bisexual tendencies with her "friend."

This movie was originally planned for release in June of 2021 but seems more fitting for an October debut for scares and even kicks off on Halloween at the beginning of the tale. Hopefully, The Batman lasts in theaters for many months to come and is worth every minute of time for both longtime and new fans.

The Batman is finally played for the damaged goods that he is with the storyline he deserves and that alone is worth the trip to see him on the big screen.