The Dark Knight Bale's rendition; what should stay and what should go?

[7Hells]

I loved Bale's rendition of Batman and Wayne but I know there are some mixed feelings(even mine) on things like his voice and such.

What would you like to see stay in his performance?
What could he improve on?
What do you feel he should get rid of?
What should he add?
After seeing his performance do you trust him with taking liberties in the role as much as you trust Nolan if you liked BB?

What I loved most about his performance was the very comic frown he used as batman. When I first saw him do that I was instantly taken back to comic images of Batman still shots. Also the way he used his top and bottom teeth in the interrogation scenes was a huge flashback for me as well. Try doing it while you talk, its tougher than it looks, which is what drew me to believe he had to make a conscious choice to add both of these traits to his Batman.

His Batman voice was an extreme contrast to his Wayne voice.
When I first heard it I was instantly excited but when I heard it again and again I questioned it a bit. Is it over the top? Overall I like it, Batmans voice needs to be deeper, darker and more menacing than Waynes.
But did he take it too far?

The way he moved, more than likely, has a lot to do with direction and cinematography. What did everyone feel about his slow ascent to the windows and rooftops. Some were fast but the scene I'm speaking of is when he first meets Scarecrow. I know we got the flying on rooftops feel but did we get the "scrambling" feel? Is it important enough to us to discuss as fans?

Also in question, for me, is how he used his cape. Is it his fault for not having that wrapped in darkness look so many fans love? I assume it was mostly the costume and direction. But should he have suggested and fought for it as an actor that is known for in depth research of his roles?

Should his Wayne and Batman show more contrast? Or are we hoping to see him "get lost in that monster" of his?

I just want an open discussion, I dont want to turn this into a whine OR a praise Bale thread.
Not that it really matters what I want after I post this.


P.S. This is my first thread so cut me some slack if I did anything wrong! I did a search and didnt see anything close enough to what I was looking for.

 

[JokerNick]

voice wasn't over the top... that way no one could recogonize his voice

 

[7Hells]

voice wasn't over the top... that way no one could recogonize his voice

AH! I hadnt thought of it in that way!

 

[SHF]

I'll post something just cause it doesnt look like there much interest on this thread 7Hells. But i presume most people are like me right now and they are just to lazy to go through stuff they did like or want changing.

But yeh the voice is ok but just slightly forced, slightly!

Lighting needs to be right evrytime when it comes to Batman I hated the way they lit it during the scene where batman explains the situation and tells gordon to drive his tumbler.

 

[BatMatt]

I dont feel the voice is forced, Bale is just speaking out of his throat. I think it's a pretty badass sound, very animalistic, like a growl. I like it a lot

 

[DA Harvey Dent]

I thought his performance was fine. However, in the sequel I would like to see Wayne/Batman less in control and more psychologically "unhinged" - I don't mean go completely wacko, but I would like to see the effects the Batman persona has on Bruce Wayne. No one can become their worst fear and remain mentally stable for long.

 

[Batty Belfry]

I dont feel the voice is forced, Bale is just speaking out of his throat. I think it's a pretty badass sound, very animalistic, like a growl. I like it a lot

Yes! The interrogation scenes, first with Flass then Crane had me sitting in my seat going $&*! Yeah! This was the predatorial and slightly unhinged Batman I always wanted up on the screen. I think Bale understands the character insanely well. I don't think he should change anything.

 

[Mee]

Yes! The interrogation scenes, first with Flass then Crane had me sitting in my seat going $&*! Yeah! This was the predatorial and slightly unhinged Batman I always wanted up on the screen. I think Bale understands the character insanely well. I don't think he should change anything.

^Smart man.

 

[DV8]

I like the voice too . . . if anyone remembers the sneak preview that was shown w/ Smallville, the growl had an added sound effect which gave it more of a 'boom' . . . . I think that worked really well . . . but eventually, it seems that Nolan toned the effect down, because it sounded too unrealistic . . . I wish they'd bring that back, but after they cut it out of the first one, it's likely gone for good . . .

 

[Batty Belfry]

^Smart man.

Why thank you Sir!

 

[7Hells]

I like the voice too . . . if anyone remembers the sneak preview that was shown w/ Smallville, the growl had an added sound effect which gave it more of a 'boom' . . . . I think that worked really well . . . but eventually, it seems that Nolan toned the effect down, because it sounded too unrealistic .

Or maybe he felt Bale didnt need it.
I didnt see the sneak preview though
Is it online anywhere for download?

 

[FaT_tONle]

I don't like his Wayne... his Batman is great...

 

[7Hells]

Lighting needs to be right evrytime when it comes to Batman I hated the way they lit it during the scene where batman explains the situation and tells gordon to drive his tumbler.

Man thats specific! I'm going to have to watch that scene again.
I hadnt even thought about the lighting.
Do you mean that scene specifically or the look of the whole movie?

I remember it having a bit of a brownish gold undertone. Kind of earthy like copper. Maybe more of a blue hue would help instead. I remember the comics seemed to have that implied for the most part. Especially when showing the bat suit.

 

[7Hells]

I don't like his Wayne... his Batman is great...

What didnt you like about his Wayne?

 

[DV8]

Or maybe he felt Bale didnt need it.

Well, I don't think Bale needed it perse, either . . . it was a cool effect, though . . . it made Batman sound almost supernatural in a way . . . which is both good and bad . . . and apparently, not good enough to keep

 

[The Fallen]

Bale's Batman is the best Batman portrayed on film ever. The 'Batman voice' was inconsistant at times, but other than that it was perfecto IMO. Now where's my flying Delorian so I can skip forward to 2008 and see this mofo of a sqeuel....

 

[SHF]

Man thats specific! I'm going to have to watch that scene again.
I hadnt even thought about the lighting.
Do you mean that scene specifically or the look of the whole movie?

I remember it having a bit of a brownish gold undertone. Kind of earthy like copper. Maybe more of a blue hue would help instead. I remember the comics seemed to have that implied for the most part. Especially when showing the bat suit.

I mean that scene specifically, c'mon suprised no one else *****ed about it. I know we cant always expect perfection. But that was the one scene that always bugs me when watching BB. Lighting on Batman just wasnt good because the suit appeared really different, the cowl looked huge and there was just no shadows on him.

I actually looked up for an explanation and apparently they filmed that kinda last minute but I still think thats no excuse. Batman just does'nt look BADASS in that 1 scene. Hope you can find the scene 7Hells to take a look at, it towards the end when Batman lets Gordon drive the tumbler.

Im sure other fans would agree with me on this!!!

Oh and have you noticed how ever since Bale mentioned "BATMAN IS THE BADASS" people use the word BADASS when there something cool about Bale or Batman now !!

I love that BALE's BATMAN is now considered by fans as BADASS!!!

 

[7Hells]

I'm scared... I actually know what movie you guys are referencing...

 

[Batty Belfry]

The only scene I thought was kinda strange was where Batman tosses the little boy the periscope. No matter how many times I watch it I think of the old commercial where Mean Joe Greene toss the kid the towel...LOL

 

[7Hells]

I mean that scene specifically, c'mon suprised no one else *****ed about it. I know we cant always expect perfection. But that was the one scene that always bugs me when watching BB. Lighting on Batman just wasnt good because the suit appeared really different, the cowl looked huge and there was just no shadows on him.

I watched the scene again and I see what youre talking about.
Looks like they only had a few minutes to shoot it and didnt bother with lighting.
You are hard core SHF, I would have never noticed that

 

[StorminNorman]

I don't like his Wayne... his Batman is great...

Bale's Wayne was the best part of the entire movie IMO.

 

[Boom]

Hated the voice. That was pretty much it.

Also the one-liners, but obviously that's not Bale's problem.

 

[CConn]

Nothing really needs to be changed, IMO. Obviously, the character will have to grow somewhat, but I really don't think of that as a change but rather an...evolution of the portrayal of the character.

I thought his performance was fine. However, in the sequel I would like to see Wayne/Batman less in control and more psychologically "unhinged" - I don't mean go completely wacko, but I would like to see the effects the Batman persona has on Bruce Wayne. No one can become their worst fear and remain mentally stable for long.

Yeah, but it's really easy to go too far with it. They did that in the comics, and Batman was screwed up for quite a few years. Personally, I much prefer the near-completely sane O'Neil/BTAS interpretation.

Hated the voice. That was pretty much it.

Also the one-liners, but obviously that's not Bale's problem.

There was like four one-liners in the movie. You really let that bother you too much.

 

[Boom]

There was like four one-liners in the movie. You really let that bother you too much.

That doesn't change the fact that I don't like them, and would much rather see them gone.

 

[CConn]

That doesn't change the fact that I don't like them, and would much rather see them gone.

But it does change the fact that you let them bother you, and thusly enjoyed the film less because of it. Which - to be a tad presumptuous - is quite a shame.