Just saw the movie, absolutely loved it. I really liked the Batman Begins trilogy, but in some ways this is the better Batman.
1) In an era of fast nonstop cuts, I give the movie props for actually taking time to breathe with the scenes. I actually feel like Batman is moving through this city instead of just zipping around everywhere (cut cut cut action action action).
2) Loved Catwoman, she is probably the most realistic version of the character to date. You could actually believe this is a real person. Sexy, badass yet vulnerable, clearly independent while equally clearly into Bats, yeah just nailed it.
3) Pattinson impressed me. The physical acting was awesome, but man there are a couple of amazing acting moments. There is a moment early in the movie where he sees a kid whose dad just dies. You can actually see the tear forming in one of his eyes through the mask, just a bit. But...perfect portrayal of a Batman looking in that kid's eyes and instantly replying his own trauma in his head. Overall, he's not my favorite Batman but I really like his Bruce Wayne, awkward, ethereal, someone who is clearly out of touch with things and lives in his own reality. Then the scene towards the end when a mook says "I'm vengeance" and you can just see Batman's world is rocked. He realizes what he has inspired, what he has truly done, and the disgust is just visceral.
4) Got to give props to the Riddler.....he actually succeeded in his master plan...for the most part. Though he may not yet get the fame he so desired, he ultimately flushed the city and Falcone. Also I really appreciate that the super smart Riddler actually figured out Batman's identity, but realizes that unmasking him serves no point...because Batman is actually part of the solution, just like "he is"
5) I appreciated the "invincible armor" of Batman. Though its unrealistic from a tech standpoint, its much more realistic in explaining how Batman can actually stand up to these hordes of goons with guns. Simply put....he's nigh indestructible to most handguns and rifles, and seems like he can take a small bomb alright as well. So Batman can be slow and methodical, he doesn't have to be an ultra fast ninja that somehow dodges bullets....he just takes them off his invincible armor and never stops. The scenes where you see a guy shoot him, and he just keeps moving forward...I mean its terrifying and awesome!
6) Hehe one of my few gripes with the movie....the cowl's nose just looked weird. Its basically this one patch of leather folder on his nose and stitched in, and it just looked weird to me
Probably my favorite scene in the whole movie is near the end when Batman is out there with the firefighters and medics, just helping people after the crisis. In that one scene we get a huge character shift for him, having just seen what his "Vengeance" focused narrative has done to the city, he realizes that the biggest thing he can do, is not inspire fear in the shadows, but inspire hope in the light. Batman is at that moment, just a guy, just like all the other people there....and in doing so, his symbol grows more to the people of Gotham than in the last two years prior.