Batman's Cowl Face

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I cant believe this thread is going as strong as it is!

 

[TruerToTheCore]

No one is arguing about who is more attractive, they're talking about age and haircuts. And seriously, if feel the need to add "no offense" that should tell you something about what you're saying.

eh. It's not "homosexual" or something. Please people get it, when I was young there was just Adam West as Batman (didn't see the show until I was 10 or something , and at that point I read Batman comics for a few times) so in my mind I have a kind of "vision" how Bruce Wayne should look. And Bale and Keaton don't fit, Kilmer and Clooney are acceptable but far away from that vision and West is the "best" in that category. But your first "meeting" with the Batman character was probably a movie. So your vision comes from there. But I like my comics more than Batman movies (although Batman Beigins and probably TDK are better than the recent Batman comics, but inferior to my old 70s/80s TREASURES).

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

eh. It's not "homosexual" or something. Please people get it, when I was young there was just Adam West as Batman (didn't see the show until I was 10 or something , and at that point I read Batman comics for a few times) so in my mind I have a kind of "vision" how Bruce Wayne should look. And Bale and Keaton don't fit, Kilmer and Clooney are acceptable but far away from that vision and West is the "best" in that category. But your first "meeting" with the Batman character was probably a movie. So your vision comes from there. But I like my comics more than Batman movies (although Batman Beigins and probably TDK are better than the recent Batman comics, but inferior to my old 70s/80s TREASURES).

Clooney and Kilmer... HAHAHA.

But your first "meeting" with the Batman character was probably a movie.

Mine came from Adam West, then the comics, then Michael Keaton. I still think Christian Bale is the best Bruce Wayne..

 

[Spoonman]

Clooney and Kilmer... HAHAHA.




Mine came from Adam West, then the comics, then Michael Keaton. I still think Christian Bale is the best Bruce Wayne..

Whats so funny about Clooney and Kilmer as physical representations of Batman? dont get me wrong because Keaton still is my favourite Batman performance wise but I think Kilmer is FAR a better physical match for Wayne/Batman than Keaton ever was and other than personal preference it would be delusional to think otherwise if you are strictly going for comic book acuracy or some approach to it (hence Kilmer, Bale and even Clooney surpasing Keaton in that regard)..

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

Kilmer was better than Keaton physically, Bale is better than all three of them physically and look wise as Bruce Wayne.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

Kilmer was better than Keaton physically, Bale is better than all three of them physically and look wise as Bruce Wayne.

No. Bale's look is far too "unique" to fit the comic Bruce Wayne.

 

[Leto Atrides]

Whats so funny about Clooney and Kilmer as physical representations of Batman? dont get me wrong because Keaton still is my favourite Batman performance wise but I think Kilmer is FAR a better physical match for Wayne/Batman than Keaton ever was and other than personal preference it would be delusional to think otherwise if you are strictly going for comic book acuracy or some approach to it (hence Kilmer, Bale and even Clooney surpasing Keaton in that regard)..

Keaton didn't look like Bruce Wayne out of costume really, I'll agree, but as far the literal question at hand, Keaton still looked at the very least equally good in the cowl as the others.

 

[Spoonman]

Keaton didn't look like Bruce Wayne out of costume really, I'll agree, but as far the literal question at hand, Keaton still looked at the very least equally good in the cowl as the others.

I completly agree with you, Keaton single handly delivered in the acting department too..

 

[Gexmeister]

Keaton looks the best. Not only that, he IS batman to me. I think it has to do with his lips, the look weird, haha.

 

[p4poetic]

^I always did notice his lips too. I like his eyebrows.

I'll give you studio shots, light and dark. It's not the lighting for either of them. They both look menacing and intimidating with the light shining down on their faces (for the shadow effect) and bright studio shots.

LOVE that last one

 

[spideyman101]

Doesn't really look like the same guy with the cowl on and that grim cold creepy Batman persona contrasted from that light hearted unassuming Bruce Wayne look and persona and his skinny face just looks completely different with the cowl on. The cowl gives the appearance that his face and skinny neck are much much bigger which just adds to the illusion that it's a different person.

People over think it too much, so to defend the Batman they grew up with. I love Batman 89 as much as the next guy, but just admit it. His cowl face is Keaton with a mask on, clearly. The lips give it away! With Bale, sometimes it's noticeable, sometimes not. But the voice helps too. With Keaton, he uses the same voice all the time. Bale changes his, which adds to the illusion.

 

[Leto Atrides]

People over think it too much, so to defend the Batman they grew up with. I love Batman 89 as much as the next guy, but just admit it. His cowl face is Keaton with a mask on, clearly. The lips give it away! With Bale, sometimes it's noticeable, sometimes not. But the voice helps too. With Keaton, he uses the same voice all the time. Bale changes his, which adds to the illusion.

If you want to criticize Keaton for not changing his voice enough that's fine, but you can't really use Bale as a good example. I haven't met anyone who didn't mention his Batman voice as one of the few bad parts of The Dark Knight.

 

[MrQuinn]

If you want to criticize Keaton for not changing his voice enough that's fine, but you can't really use Bale as a good example. I haven't met anyone who didn't mention his Batman voice as one of the few bad parts of The Dark Knight.

he wasn't stating that it was a good voice, though, just that the Batman voice and his Wayne voice are completely different. Your response is besides the point.


As far as Keaton being recognizable, looking at the pictures above I really dont think he's recognizable under the cowl at all. He does have a distinctive mouth and all (the lines around it) but even still, at least in those pictures, I would never guess it was the same guy.

Off topic, but I remember when I was little and I found out Beetlejuice was the same guy as Batman, it really blew my mind...my dad's response was "You couldn't tell by the chin?"

 

[MrQuinn]

haha and looking at that Keaton Batman pic again, his mouth and the lines around almost make a bat symbol shape... (-v-)

 

[justinianus]

Yeah definetely, and that huge panther neck on the BEGINS suit really disguised him from alot of angles, and it gave him a more animalistic type precense. Very aggressive looking.

This huge neck coupled with with the horn-like ears made him look like a big black bull ready to take on a matador.

 

[justinianus]

Doesn't really look like the same guy with the cowl on and that grim cold creepy Batman persona contrasted from that light hearted unassuming Bruce Wayne look and persona and his skinny face just looks completely different with the cowl on. The cowl gives the appearance that his face and skinny neck are much much bigger which just adds to the illusion that it's a different person.

I love this Bat photo. It was the cover art of a video game I had many years ago. He's almost smiling in this one

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

These two pics to me are my favorite "in the cowl" pics!

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

If you want to criticize Keaton for not changing his voice enough that's fine, but you can't really use Bale as a good example. I haven't met anyone who didn't mention his Batman voice as one of the few bad parts of The Dark Knight.

they must not know Batman very well then, and the voice was perfect in my opinion.

 

[MrQuinn]

These two pics to me are my favorite "in the cowl" pics!

awesome pic! never seen before

 

[Leto Atrides]

they must not know Batman very well then, and the voice was perfect in my opinion.

It wasn't the fact he did it, it was how. I've heard many people, both in real life and online, say he went overboard trying to make it sound gruff and raspy. I thought it was fine in Begins, I guess he just took it to far in this one.

My point was that while skipping it isn't ideal, if it's to the point of being distracting it's not worth it.

 

[-Arya-]

It wasn't the fact he did it, it was how. I've heard many people, both in real life and online, say he went overboard trying to make it sound gruff and raspy. I thought it was fine in Begins, I guess he just took it to far in this one.

My point was that while skipping it isn't ideal, if it's to the point of being distracting it's not worth it.

I didnt find it distracting in the least bit. I love it! The only time it sounded off was when he was talking to the joker while he was upside down. But thats to expected when Batman is near total exhaustion. All in all I love this Batman voice over all the others.

When I look back at other Batman films and TAS I find that the voices are no where near intimidating enough, and I realize what Bale intended to do with the character when he got the part.

 

[Leto Atrides]

I didnt find it distracting in the least bit. I love it! The only time it sounded off was when he was talking to the joker while he was upside down. But thats to expected when Batman is near total exhaustion. All in all I love this Batman voice over all the others.

When I look back at other Batman films and TAS I find that the voices are no where near intimidating enough, and I realize what Bale intended to do with the character when he got the part.

It's certainly personal opinion but I've seen other message boards where they have running jokes about it so it's not like I'm making it up.

IMO it makes sense if he's actively intimidating somebody, like he's ambushing a mugger or something, but he carries on conversations with people all the time as Batman. He doesn't have to be all WORSHIP ME while he and Gordon are chatting.

 

[-Arya-]

It's certainly personal opinion but I've seen other message boards where they have running jokes about it so it's not like I'm making it up.

IMO it makes sense if he's actively intimidating somebody, like he's ambushing a mugger or something, but he carries on conversations with people all the time as Batman. He doesn't have to be all WORSHIP ME while he and Gordon are chatting.

See heres the thing. Ive read many people's posts in the past stating that Batman is growling and shouting at everyone he talks to. The truth is he shouts and growls to the 10th degree when hes interrogating someone (such as Maroni) but he talks in a lower tone when hes speaking to to Gordon or Dent. There are variations but alot seem to think he is just shouting at people all the time, which isnt true. I dont know, I love it and thats all that matters I suppose.

 

[michael]

Here is one of my favourites with Keaton in the Returns suit.

 

[nickyg641]

In terms of who had the best...mouth, I guess? I'd say Keaton. He had the effortlessy moody and intimidating expression, and I also thought he had the best voice. The combination of his stoic expression and his sort of whispery rasp (there is a clear difference between his "Bruce Wayne" and his "Batman) just give the impession that he'll completely f*** you up without breaking a sweat. I got the same feeling from Conroy's Batman.

Bale's Batman voice is very hit or miss with me. It worked some times, like the Joker interrogation, and other times it was distracting. There were instances when it was audibly cracking, and obviously not on purpose (you can try to justify it by saying "Well, he was tired!" all you want, I don't want to see my Batman exhausted after wrapping up some thugs in the first scene of the movie.)

In terms of silhouette, I think probably Batman Forever's panther suit got it closest. Keaton's cowl was a bit big and loose-fitting, but the classic silhouette was best preserved in Kilmer. In BB, the huge neck made him look hunched and awkward, and, in TDK, the seperation of the neck from the mask made his nech look too thin (and give him that egg-head appearance).