There probably isn’t a comic-book character in movie history that’s been reinvented more than Batman. The camp Adam West version of the 1960s TV show, via the Hollywood heroics of Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney, to the more intense incarnation played by Christian Bale for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Most recently, it’s been Ben Affleck — whose square jaw worked well under the Gotham City crime-fighter’s mask, even if Zack Snyder’s messy films (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League) left the character in the lurch.
Now it’s the turn of Robert Pattinson. The British actor has been on a fascinating arthouse detour since his last blockbuster series, the Twilight vampire chronicles. Films such as High Life for Claire Denis and Good Time for the Safdie Brothers have shown what a fine actor he is.
In Matt Reeves’s The Batman, he nails the character: the physicality, the brooding introspection, the rage, that all turned millionaire orphan Bruce Wayne into Gotham’s costume-wearing crusader. Here, Reeves fashions him like an anonymous antihero, recording his thoughts in a journal.
“The city’s eating itself — maybe it’s beyond saving,” he voiceovers, as a story that spans just a few days cranks into gear on Halloween. Set 20 years on from when Wayne’s parents were murdered, Reeves dispenses with the done-to-death origin story that’s plagued Batman films in the past, though constructs a narrative that winds around Wayne’s own family history in a highly satisfying way.
In a city where the rain rarely stops tumbling, the obvious predecessor is David Fincher’s Se7en, where a morally righteous serial killer looks for vengeance on the sins of the world.
Here, Batman is dragged into a murder case when the body of Gotham’s mayor is discovered bludgeoned to death. As will become revealed, it’s The Riddler (Paul Dano) who killed him — but don’t expect the cartoonish incarnation from the West TV show, when Frank Gorshin wore a suit emblazoned with question marks. Dano’s character does have his own distinct costume, however, a mask with creepy S&M overtones that goes hand-in-hand with his very unhinged performance. His Riddler seems intent on punishing the corrupt officials of Gotham — repeating the mantra “No more lies.”
Leaving Batman handwritten envelopes with greetings cards full of ciphers, it draws him — along with police department staple Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — into a story that slithers into the Gotham underworld. The mayor’s murder leads them into the path of Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz), who works at The Iceberg Lounge, a nightclub/mob hangout run by The Penguin (Colin Farrell) and his ruthless boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). There, you’ll find District Attorney Gil Colson (Peter Sarsgaard) high on drugs or narcotics officers on the take.
Kyle, of course, is better known in Batman lore as Catwoman — and while Kravitz’s agile, athletic take on the character carries some of the traits associated with this slinky cat burglar, like so many in this film, Reeves has put a hugely fresh spin on her. While you won’t find her licking Batman’s face, as Michelle Pfeiffer did with Keaton in Batman Returns, she does at least own cats.
“I have a thing about strays,” she tells Batman, hinting that she and him — two loners in the city — are not so different.
No doubt, the best reinterpretation of a familiar character is Farrell, entirely unrecognisable under prosthetics as he gives off the East Coast gangster vibe to The Penguin (no top hat, no cigar, though in a very sly nod to the character, in one scene, he finds his wrists and ankles bound and is left to waddle off screen — like the creature he’s named after). He also takes centre stage in the best action scene — a vividly filmed car chase, filled with tension, that finally sees the emergence of the Batmobile.
Curiously, The Batman leaves little room for alter ego Bruce Wayne, although the few scenes he has are shared with his faithful butler Alfred (Andy Serkis). Reeves is clearly drawing from Frank Miller’s 1987 graphic novel Batman: Year One, on some level — the rookie vigilante who is arguably every bit as terrifying to the Gotham public as the criminals.
“They think I’m hiding in the shadows — but I am the shadows,” he mumbles, in one of dozens of lines that feel ripped out of a 1940s film noir.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Superbly scripted by Reeves (Cloverfield) and Peter Craig, even if you have no interest in Batman, the film works as a satisfying murder-mystery, playing on the original idea from the comics of the character as the “World’s Greatest Detective”. Evocatively scored by composer Michael Giacchino — who is having a hell of a year after Spider-Man: No Way Home — this is a Batman film that puts an indelible stamp on the character.
The result is a triumph: one of the darkest and most compelling comic-book movies of the modern era.
The Batman is in UAE cinemas from March 3
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
The%20specs
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The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
Results
2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)
2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5