Ben Affleck or Christian Bale?

[Jekecy]

Also it's rather silly to hold it against Bale for "quitting" while holding up Affleck for remaining Batman, considering Affleck clearly states his work as Batman doesn't mean anything to him. The movie makes it clear that he thinks killing Superman (for no goddamn reason) will be the legacy of his life. When Alfredo reminds him of all he's done as Batman over the years, he replies saying that criminals are just weeds that will grow back.

You guys are praising him for sticking to a mission he himself doesn't even value. The only reason this guy is still Batman is because he's a psycho who likes it.

That's misconstruing it a bit. The film may have not telegraphed it properly, but it's Superman's introduction which shifts Bruce's worldview.

"This may be the only thing I do that matters."

He's not thinking about Gotham's well-being (anymore), when the stakes are of the planet. In relative terms, all the criminals he's put away is minuscule. He's starting to see how "small" of an impact he really had.

 

[Decepticonus]

Batman being finite never bothered me in TDKT. One, I love Batman and I want him to have a happy ending, he deserves it. Secondly, this isn't YOUR Batman - it is Nolan's who is faithful for the most part but has other ideas and takes. Lastly, Batman is human and I do not mean that in the sense that he has no powers. He still feels, suffers and ultimately fails. Here you had an event where the woman you loved was killed, in addition the man you trusted and had hoped to take your place was scarred and you had to sacrifice him in order to save your ally's friend. Yup, simple things to brush off and ho-hum into the next day. I wasn't overly fond of Rachel, yes she was a distraction but served the purpose of the story wanting to be told.

 

[hafizbat]

I'd rather Bruce quit being Batman than continue to grow old and become a murderer who uses guns, the very thing that killed his parents and yeah, him becoming the thing he swore to defeat.

That's the ultimate defeat for Batman.

Indeed it is. It's why Thomas Wayne exists, to show a Batman gone horribly wrong.

 

[bbasher]

Also I'm praising this movie as a whole because it showed us a Batman who had cleared been through some serious things and turned a little to the dark side, but it was Superman who ultimately swayed him back.

 

[titansupes]

Wait a minute. Are you saying that all crime stopped as soon as Bale hung up the cape? Never realized that...

"Gotham will never be free of crime. But we are without organised crime thanks to the sacrifice of this great man [Harvey]".

TDKT Batman was always after the root of Gotham's problem-- organised crime, clearly delineated in BB-- rather than randomly beating up crooks on the street.

 

[HaplessHenchman]

I'm not trying to argue and change anyone's minds about what their favorite is, just answering why I prefer Affleck over Bale's. No need to try and convince me otherwise, my mind's made up thanks to what I saw in BvS.

Thank you. I sense the butt hurt in here because of the poll results so I will take my leave.

 

[Decepticonus]

That's misconstruing it a bit. The film may have not telegraphed it properly, but it's Superman's introduction which shifts Bruce's worldview.

"This may be the only thing I do that matters."

He's not thinking about Gotham's well-being (anymore), when the stakes are of the planet. In relative terms, all the criminals he's put away is minuscule. He's starting to see how "small" of an impact he really had.

Exactly, like how Lex says "Planetary security" in regards to the senator's "home land security".

 

[hafizbat]

That's misconstruing it a bit. The film may have not telegraphed it properly, but it's Superman's introduction which shifts Bruce's worldview.

"This may be the only thing I do that matters."

He's not thinking about Gotham's well-being (anymore), when the stakes are of the planet. In relative terms, all the criminals he's put away is minuscule. He's starting to see how "small" of an impact he really had.

If true, it's even more proof how idiotic and reactionary this Batman is. He's ready to discard everything he's done over the 20 years for what? Because Superman exists and he's insecure?

If it's so easy for him to forget his mission, he can't have believed in it very much in the first place.

 

[Boom]

Great discussion gang.

 

[Mr.T]

The movie is too fresh to get a fair Batman rating. New always seems to be better in the moment.
I still voted for Bale.

 

[TheSuperBrando]

The fight choreography for Bale was TERRIBLE, jumbled and incoherent. He got no really badass action scenes. Batfleck's takedown of the mercenaries was a thing of beauty.

 

[titansupes]

Thank you. I sense the butt hurt in here because of the poll results so I will take my leave.

We don't care about the poll results. We care about people either not paying attention or deliberately misconstruing the facts. Enjoy your leave.

 

[The Joker]

We don't care about the poll results. We care about people either not paying attention or deliberately misconstruing the facts. Enjoy your leave.

Exactly. People can like what ever they wish. Nobody has been trying to tell anyone they're wrong for that. This has been a facts based discussion.

 

[BatLobster]

Great discussion indeed. To me, Christian Bale is still the definitive Bruce Wayne, but Affleck was fun to watch as this darker, screwed up Batman- and he definitely had a cooler voice and suit, and he's the closet thing we've seen to BatGod in live action. So I completely get why he'll probably be the fanboy fav. for a loooong time to come. And it's just a good performance, probably one of Affleck's best period.

I don't know if anyone else agrees...but that single-take shot in the Knightmare sequence....while the whole scene was visually stunning, I felt there were parts where his fighting felt as lumbered and sloppy as the choreography in TDK/TDKR. I was kind of surprised to see that.

The fight scene in the third act was phenomenal though. Too bad it barely had impact for me because the trailer nearly showed all of it.

 

[Jekecy]

If true, it's even more proof how idiotic and reactionary this Batman is. He's ready to discard everything he's done over the 20 years for what?

If it's so easy for him to forget his mission, he can't have believed in it very much in the first place.

Gods have literally arrived. You're telling me that's not going to have a profound impact on people as far as what they know, believe, and based their principles and way of life on?

I'm a full-blown agnostic, but if Jesus Christ arrived tomorrow I'd have to make some severe adjustments to my established worldview.

Bruce is quite literally experiencing a supernatural, existential, mid-life crisis.

 

[TheSuperBrando]

I'd rather Bruce quit being Batman than continue to grow old and become a murderer who uses guns

Do you consider Luke Skywalker to be a murderer? Or Captain America? What about Frodo Baggins?

 

[Doctor Jones]

See, Affleck's choreography may have been better, but by that point in the movie, instead of reveling in it, I was watching on pins and needles, worried to hell if Batman would kill anyone. And he did.

Bale's choreography may have been underwhelming, but that's a concession I'm willing to make if that means great Batman movies. In a perfect world we'd get both, but with directors, these choices vary. We're never going to get our Batman or a "perfect Batman" because our definition of Batman exists differently in everyone's heads. Batman is the most subjective character in comics.

 

[The Batman]

We don't care about the poll results. We care about people either not paying attention or deliberately misconstruing the facts. Enjoy your leave.

They know this, but they can't really dispute anything you or Joker are saying right now.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Nolan's faults deal with superficial and aesthetic elements more than anything. But I feel like a lot of those come down to preferences. But I'm willing to let those preferences go if it means a better story. You know if the only problems with Nolan's Batman are aesthetic choices and your own preference then your Batman film is in good shape. Though I understand why people have a problem with a finite Batman.

Batman is infinite in the comics because comics are infinite. He will never stop so those things go hand in hand and it's worked for a character as obsessive as Batman too. But it's okay for Batman to want to live a normal life, even if he may never get it and he knows it. He's human remember so he's capable of hanging up the cape unlike Superman who can never hang up his powers so to speak.

Also it's rather silly to hold it against Bale for "quitting" while holding up Affleck for remaining Batman, considering Affleck clearly states his work as Batman doesn't mean anything to him. The movie makes it clear that he thinks killing Superman (for no goddamn reason) will be the legacy of his life. When Alfredo reminds him of all he's done as Batman over the years, he replies saying that criminals are just weeds that will grow back.

You guys are praising him for sticking to a mission he himself doesn't even value. The only reason this guy is still Batman is because he's a psycho who likes it.

Agreed with these posts.

The movie is too fresh to get a fair Batman rating. New always seems to be better in the moment.
I still voted for Bale.

Agreed. And in forum for brand new movie too lol.

Do you consider Luke Skywalker to be a murderer? Or Captain America? What about Frodo Baggins?

They not kill people when they not have to like Affleck Batman. He just a murderer.

 

[king666]

I don't know if anyone else agrees...but that single-take shot in the Knightmare sequence....while the whole scene was visually stunning, I felt there were parts where his fighting felt as lumbered and sloppy as the choreography in TDK/TDKR. I was kind of surprised to see that.

The fight scene in the third act was phenomenal though. Too bad it barely had impact for me because the trailer nearly showed all of it.

100% agreed.

 

[TheSuperBrando]

They not kill people when they not have to like Affleck Batman. He just a murderer.

That makes no sense at all. All of them, including Batman, killed while in combat, while being attacked by enemies, and while doing heroic deeds.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

That makes no sense at all. All of them, including Batman, killed while in combat, while being attacked by enemies, and while doing heroic deeds.

lol he fly his Batplane in and just shoot thugs away. You try and say Batman could not instead go down and fight them thugs, he only could win by shooting them.

 

[Wildcard]

I'd have to give the edge to Affleck's Batman. Better fighting skills & a far better voice change when he's in the suit. I'll always love Bale's Batman & he definitely gave a lot to the character, but watching Affleck just killed it. He encompassed everything needed for both Bruce Wayne & Batman.

Good God.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Who says Bale's Bruce quit as Batman?

Granted, it's a little bothersome when they changed his characterisation in such a large way, since Bruce in the comics almost cracks up when he can't be Batman, fighting criminals and saving the innocent.

But TDKT's Batman was clearly established as a man who couldn't be the Bat forever. He didn't want to be, because, admirably, he held Gotham in a higher regard than himself. He wanted a city that didn't need a hero like Batman. It's a huge change from CB Batman, but I see people act like it's a terrible one and to justify why Affleck's Batman is suddenly the "better" interpretation.

And plus, people often overlook one small detail that really should be the nail in the coffin over claims of quitting... he would have eventually become crippled in the knees. It was one of the many seals that proved that Nolan's Batman was a MAN first and a GOD second, which is sort of the opposite to Affleck's Batman because he is, like CB Batman, a god first.

So, who is the better Batman between them? Well, until I see where Affleck's Batman is heading in sequels, getting a better understanding of who he truly is, as opposed to the monster he was throughout the duration of BvS, I refuse to vote.

 

[Snow Queen]

Easily Bale. Affleck did the best job he could with the material, but what he was given to work with was awful and I don't like this Batman's characterization at all. It's hard to judge him much as there wasn't enough material for him to really sink his teeth into, and I think that alone gives Bale the edge. Bale, in any of the three films or all of them, provided a much more rounded picture of him as a person for my tastes and fit how I like Batman to be. Even aesthetically, I prefer his costume.


Don't kill me for that last one.