Batman's voice

[Crook]

That's what Conroy did.

 

[Eggyman]

That's what Conroy did.

Never thought about that, but you're right.

Spoiler

makes a change

 

[Mutagen]

That's what Conroy did.

Your talking to me? If so, I thought Conroy changed his voice a little bit for Batman.

 

[Eggyman]

Your talking to me? If so, I thought Conroy changed his voice a little bit for Batman.

I get what he means. His voice does change, but listen again and you'll notice that it's much more natural as Batman, and almost, yet not quite, forced as Bruce.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

1) Bale
2) Keaton
3) Conroy
4) West
5) Kilmer
6) Clooney

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

In the Batman Year One comic, Batman's voice is briefly described as a beast like growl. Bale nailed that theatrical, urban monster type voice and character. Keaton was kind of soft spoken and whisper like tones.

 

[Mutagen]

I get what he means. His voice does change, but listen again and you'll notice that it's much more natural as Batman, and almost, yet not quite, forced as Bruce.

I guess your right.

Also, I never knew Batman's voice was written to be the way Bale did it. It would seem to be better in tune with continuity, but I still say Conroy's profession to voice the Dark Knight was better, because it was the only thing he had to focus on, and therefore could give a better performance.

If Conroy wasn't part, I would vote Bale, cause he seemed to want be the preferred Batman more than the others.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

In the Batman Year One comic, Batman's voice is briefly described as a beast like growl. Bale nailed that theatrical, urban monster type voice and character. Keaton was kind of soft spoken and whisper like tones.

I think Bale sounded forced and unconvincing. Keaton was completely convincing in his deeper tone. Also, Keaton's Batman is not based on Year One, it's based on the original Bob Kane stories. In those, especially The Case of the Chemical Syndicate, Batman hardly says anything - because his presence says everything for him (he appears out of nowhere, kicks ass, says nothing, and disapears). Keaton understood this best. Batman does not need to shout or growl at thugs. If they are not scared already by his mere appearence, then growling isn't going to make any difference.

In comics, obviously Batman needs more dialogue and narrative than in a movie. But for the movies, Keaton got Batman's voice far better than Bale did in Batman Begins.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

In the Batman Year One comic, Batman's voice is briefly described as a beast like growl. Bale nailed that theatrical, urban monster type voice and character. Keaton was kind of soft spoken and whisper like tones.

I think Bale sounded forced and unconvincing. Keaton was completely convincing in his deeper tone. Also, Keaton's Batman is not based on Year One, it's based on the original Bob Kane stories. In those, especially The Case of the Chemical Syndicate, Batman hardly says anything - because his presence says everything for him (he appears out of nowhere, kicks ass, says nothing, and disapears). Keaton understood this best. Batman does not need to shout or growl at thugs. If they are not scared already by his mere appearence, then growling isn't going to make any difference.

In comics, obviously Batman needs more dialogue and narrative than in a movie. But for the movies, Keaton got Batman's voice far better than Bale did in Batman Begins.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I concur.

 

[Majik1387]

1) Conroy. The only voice I hear in my head when reading Batman's dialogue.
2) Keaton. Very convincing with the little dialogue he had, didn't need to rely on overacting to get his point across.
3) Kilmer. Surprisingly I like his a lot, and there was a distinction between his Bruce and Batman.
4) Bale. I don't care what Nolanites say, his Batman voice was really bad.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

3) Kilmer. Surprisingly I like his a lot, and there was a distinction between his Bruce and Batman.

Good call. He had an icy, concentrated, to-the-point manner...I say this with everything Kilmer did in the role, if you read the Dennis O'Neil/Neal Adams Batman, that is Val Kilmer's version, it's spot on.

 

[sasquatchs]

1) Conroy. The only voice I hear in my head when reading Batman's dialogue.
2) Keaton. Very convincing with the little dialogue he had, didn't need to rely on overacting to get his point across.
3) Kilmer. Surprisingly I like his a lot, and there was a distinction between his Bruce and Batman.
4) Bale. I don't care what Nolanites say, his Batman voice was really bad.

Ditto, although the top 3 are all pretty close for me. On cool factor alone I may just go with Kilmer.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

In comics, obviously Batman needs more dialogue and narrative than in a movie. But for the movies, Keaton got Batman's voice far better than Bale did in Batman Begins.

I disagree, but I get where you could consider it sounded forced. Because it was, you know human beings don't talk like that. Why would Batman's voice be a natural voice? He's acting like a giant bat for effect? That isn't natural.

 

[Crook]

It's not about being inherently unnatural, but sounding so. For example, many talented voice actors put in performances that are far from their natural self, but it's not obvious from hearing it. It sounds like that's how the character actually speaks.

Compare Bale's Batman voice to Ledger's Joker voice. Both are obviously not how any of the actors naturally sound. But the latter makes it work effortlessly. Does not sound forced in the least.

 

[The Chris]

I'n know I'm in the minority here, but I always like how "forced" Bale's Batman voice was because it was his first time out, it wouldn't be as consistant, and it's not just Bale the actor forcing it but Bruce Wayne himself is forcing it, we know very well it isn't, nor anything like, Bruce's real voice. It'll probably will be, and already seems , more consistant in Dark Knight. Plus, Joker's voice probably is his real voice.

I just really appreciate these two men and the work they've done for these two characters. Say what you want about whose batman voice is better and such, but when Bale is in that outfit and he is speaking. He's not Christian Bale at all, he's not even Bruce Wayne, he is 100% the Batman and completely changing his voice totally sucked me in, and the same is happening so far with Ledger. I can't see or hear Heath Ledger, all I see is the clown prince of crime. I will forever respect Keaton and Nicholson, after all Batman 89 was my introduction to the world of Batman, but I can still see Jack and Mike in their characters, even if it's just a little. When we saw the imax footage, I nearly fell out of my seat during the interogation scene part, because I didn't see actors, I saw Batman and Joker.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

Compare Bale's Batman voice to Ledger's Joker voice. Both are obviously not how any of the actors naturally sound. But the latter makes it work effortlessly. Does not sound forced in the least.

I don't see how one could consider one voice to sound effortless and then project the other as sounding forced. You know the way Bale is making his voice sound like grinding glass isn't natural, so you project that because it obviously takes effort, and it obviouslly isn't natural.

That's the point though, he was acting. Both Bale, and Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is an actor. He's acting like a giant Bat. And it obviously sounds drastically different and forced when you hear him talking normal. I think the criticism of Bale's Batman voice is over done.

Batman having a natural sounding voice diminshes his effect and theatrics IMO. I mean were you expecting Bale to hand in a repeat of the whisper that Keaton and every actor after him used? He turns himself into this creature, the manifestation should include his voice. It's raw and visceral. Like the entire movie. I applaud Bale for actually putting his acting cap on and trying something different.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

I'n know I'm in the minority here, but I always like how "forced" Bale's Batman voice was because it was his first time out, it wouldn't be as consistant, and it's not just Bale the actor forcing it but Bruce Wayne himself is forcing it, we know very well it isn't, nor anything like, Bruce's real voice. It'll probably will be, and already seems , more consistant in Dark Knight. Plus, Joker's voice probably is his real voice.

I just really appreciate these two men and the work they've done for these two characters. Say what you want about whose batman voice is better and such, but when Bale is in that outfit and he is speaking. He's not Christian Bale at all, he's not even Bruce Wayne, he is 100% the Batman and completely changing his voice totally sucked me in, and the same is happening so far with Ledger. I can't see or hear Heath Ledger, all I see is the clown prince of crime. I will forever respect Keaton and Nicholson, after all Batman 89 was my introduction to the world of Batman, but I can still see Jack and Mike in their characters, even if it's just a little. When we saw the imax footage, I nearly fell out of my seat during the interogation scene part, because I didn't see actors, I saw Batman and Joker.

This guy gets the point.

 

[Crook]

I don't see how one could consider one voice to sound effortless and then project the other as sounding forced. You know the way Bale is making his voice sound like grinding glass isn't natural, so you project that because it obviously takes effort, and it obviouslly isn't natural.

And what is Ledger's Joker voice? He's doing the same exact thing Bale is doing, which is creating a voice that is unlike their natural one. That's why I made the comparison.

Ledger does a better job because it sounds natural, even though outside the film's context, it's far from it.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

And what is Ledger's Joker voice?

Dramatic difference. Yes Heath Ledger's voice is forced, it certainly isn't natural. The difference however though is Bale is acting like a giant Bat creature part of the time, and the every other moment on screen he's a normal human being. Giant Bat equals giant animal equals animal sounding voice. Heath Ledger has a constant voice, and it's human. Bale is projecting himself as an animal. Then to some viewers it obviously sounds forced because he is also Bruce Wayne and has a normal voice. So there is an element of contrast you don't get with the Joker. Thus the contrast of the normal voice makes some people think it comes off as too forced, even though thats the purpose ... we know it's supposed to be forced. Apples and oranges. Bruce Wayne is supposed to force a voice that sounds different.

 

[Crook]

Heath Ledger has a constant voice, and it's human. Bale is projecting himself as an animal.

Bale is just using a remarkably raspy voice. I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure others feel the same, but I did not once think "wow he sounds like an animal!" during BB. Though during the interrogation scene, I did like the growly tone. It fit well. One of the few times the voice didn't sound forced.

Then to some viewers it obviously sounds forced because he is also Bruce Wayne and has a normal voice. So there is an element of contrast you don't get with the Joker. Thus the contrast of the normal voice makes some people think it comes off as too forced, even though thats the purpose ... we know it's supposed to be forced. Apples and oranges.

I don't think you're giving audiences enough credit. Yes, we know he utilizes a batvoice to differentiate from his public identity. But as I said in my initial post, most of the complaints seem to focus on the execution as opposed to the concept. We don't mind if Bruce sounds normal, and he sounds completely different under the cowl. It's been done before with no complaint.

Bruce Wayne is supposed to force a voice that sounds different.

Again, this is an aspect that previous actors have utilized, without much criticism.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

I'm just going to have to flat out disagree.

But it was forced in the interrogation. The whole Batman persona is a "force" ... What actor forced a Batman voice that sounded natural? The voice used for the character in all previous carnations wasn't a true seperate voice from their normal one. More hushed tone. Bale made something completely different. His voice sounded awesome in damn near every scene apart from maybe a few. The fewer he had to say, the better it had to sound. But that was the point man, Bruce Wayne was trying to sound like an animal. A raging beast like creature of a man. Therefore we get the growl. How does the voice that is forced for the entire movie, not sound forced in the interrogation scene? That doesn't even make sense. Because ontop of the fact that you consider the voice ineffective and forced, he's forcing it even more in that scene as he's damn near yelling at Flass.

The point is how does Bruce Wayne potray himself as a beast, and Bale has to use a natural sounding voice? LOL ... that is an paradox for your ass. Bale potrayed Bruce Wayne as the ultimate actor in order to conceal his identity. He makes up a snobby, distant, arrogant, even dumb jock sounding voice for his public Bruce Wayne persona. Then as the true Bruce Wayne, he speaks in his natural voice in a very hush like tone. Bale's regular Bruce Wayne voice is the equivelent to Michael Keaton's Batman voice. The scene with Rachel at the end of the film is proof positive of this. So for his night time persona thats being used to strike fear, we get an obviously forced (that's the purpose) animal like growl for Batman.

I'm sorry, virtually every scene he sounded like a total bad ass.

His intro? Check
Rachel's first encounter with the Batman? Check
Storm's Coming? Check
Flass Interrogation? Check +++
Crane, What were you doing here? Check
Tumbler Chase? Check

Talking to Rachel in the cave is the only time it differs, and it does so because he's trying to be non-threatning.

Narrows? Check
Finale? Check

He sounded awesome. Only problem I had was that they had so much story to tell, they had to do alot through dialogue. Now Batman wasn't giving speeches or anything, but I did feel he talked too much at times. But the voice itself? I thought it was totally convincing. And I knew it was forced, haha

 

[The Chris]

I'm just going to have to flat out disagree.

But it was forced in the interrogation. The whole Batman persona is a "force" ... What actor forced a Batman voice that sounded natural? The voice used for the character in all previous carnations wasn't a true seperate voice from their normal one. More hushed tone. Bale made something completely different. His voice sounded awesome in damn near every scene apart from maybe a few. The fewer he had to say, the better it had to sound. But that was the point man, Bruce Wayne was trying to sound like an animal. A raging beast like creature of a man. Therefore we get the growl. How does the voice that is forced for the entire movie, not sound forced in the interrogation scene? That doesn't even make sense. Because ontop of the fact that you consider the voice ineffective and forced, he's forcing it even more in that scene as he's damn near yelling at Flass.

The point is how does Bruce Wayne potray himself as a beast, and Bale has to use a natural sounding voice? LOL ... that is an paradox for your ass. Bale potrayed Bruce Wayne as the ultimate actor in order to conceal his identity. He makes up a snobby, distant, arrogant, even dumb jock sounding voice for his public Bruce Wayne persona. Then as the true Bruce Wayne, he speaks in his natural voice in a very hush like tone. Bale's regular Bruce Wayne voice is the equivelent to Michael Keaton's Batman voice. The scene with Rachel at the end of the film is proof positive of this. So for his night time persona thats being used to strike fear, we get an obviously forced (that's the purpose) animal like growl for Batman.

I'm sorry, virtually every scene he sounded like a total bad ass.

His intro? Check
Rachel's first encounter with the Batman? Check
Storm's Coming? Check
Flass Interrogation? Check +++
Crane, What were you doing here? Check
Tumbler Chase? Check

Talking to Rachel in the cave is the only time it differs, and it does so because he's trying to be non-threatning.

Narrows? Check
Finale? Check

He sounded awesome. Only problem I had was that they had so much story to tell, they had to do alot through dialogue. Now Batman wasn't giving speeches or anything, but I did feel he talked too much at times. But the voice itself? I thought it was totally convincing. And I knew it was forced, haha

Agreed.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

Agreed.

All I have to say to you ... that avatar you got there is ****ing outstanding. Every day when I drive by the Sears Tower ... I still can't imagine someone being strapped up there in a Bat-suit, and it being Christian Bale no less. The tallest building in North America. I never thought the image of Batman from B89 would be topped giving it's epic feel, although obviously on a sound stage. That quick glimpse we get of Batman in a real city, atop that height makes me pitch a tent in my pants.

 

[The Chris]

Yeah. Got from one of these TDK avatar threads. Don't remember which one.