“The Batman” (** out of four) was a hollow return to Gotham City as Batman (Robert Pattinson) continues his crime-fighting vigilance but soon finds himself up against the triple threat of The Penguin (Colin Farrell unrecognizable under a mountain of latex), The Riddler (Paul Dano), and Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) all while uncovering ties to his own family legacy that question his own path in life. Director Matt Reeves works in an operatic mood and style that harks back to Christopher Nolan (and also shows influences of “Chinatown” and “Blade Runner”) but film is heavy and slow-going and long at nearly three hours without much reward. Film covers the usual Batman themes of vengeancy, betrayal, and secrecy…….but you still may wish it were more “fun” and entertaining. Pattinson is definitely impressive as the Dark Knight but Dano and Farrell are over-the-top and annoying.