Ben Affleck or Christian Bale?

[Kobra]

Affleck didn't do enough to earn the spot of number 1 Batman. He was great in it, but i couldn't connect with his character the same way i did with Bale's in Batman Begins. Bale is funny, likeable, charismatic and still able to deliver a very intimidating Batman. I didn't see Affleck do anything that Bale didn't do even better in Begins in terms of performance.

 

[Robin91939]

This really sums up why the Zack Snyder version of Batman (Affleck) misses the mark;

https://youtu.be/8J80H51YRC8?t=358


Snyder has a sloppy take on the character. Nolan has a far stronger understanding of the character.

This is ridiculous.

He complains about Batman stabbing a man.
Captain America throws a knife that stabs a man through the hand. This is a non-fatal wound. Get over it.

He complains about Batman shooting cars/people with guns on the Batmobile:

- Burton's Batman shot guns and missiles from his Batmobile and Batwing.
- Nolan's Batman shot guns and rockets from the Tumbler, Batpod and the Bat. At cars full of people.
- Nolan's Batman pancaked cop cars in the Tumbler not knowing that the officers would survive. COPS.
- He blew up parked cars with the Batpod not knowing they were empty.
- He smashed a garbage truck with a drive in it with the Tumbler.
- He set events in motion that killed many ninjas and probably the murderer he refused to behead when he blew up Ra's al Ghul's headquarters.
- He fired rockets and bullets that killed the drive of Talia's truck which led to a crash that killed Talia.


Yes, Nolan's Batman avoided killing. And didn't set out to murder anyone, but he definitely killed people. As does Snyder's Batman.

He says that they never try to save anyone.

The entire opening of the film is Bruce Wayne trying to save people in Metropolis.

Superman literally leaves Lex's to fly to Mexico and save a girl from a burning building.

We get a montage of Superman saving people.


I swear -- a lot of the critics out to get this film are hipsters who think it's "cool" to hate on it and Snyder.

I've yet to see a criticism leveled that has true merit -- and believe me, there are some.


All that said, I am holding off voting in the poll. The Dark Knight Trilogy are my three favorite movies of all time and I love Bale as Batman. But Affleck was tremendous as well. Judging them against each other isn't really fair since they are so different. Also, Bale had three solo films of screen time to develop a full character from beginning of his career to end. I can't wait to see more of Affleck.

-R

 

[KingKane88]

How can you say that? The GA are only really seeing this film tonight, and this weekend, and in the week to come.

The audience who has seen it already are the nerdy early ticket buying fans.

I can say that because 8,000 is a pretty darn huge sample size. Flixster had less then 2,000 reviews last night at this time, with over 6,000 reviews in within 24 hours, which tells you the GA is well on their way into the voting. This movie will get between 30-35k reviews on Flixster when all is said and done, a sample size of anything 10% or over is very accurate, and Flixster is nearing 30% or higher already. I just added up the average score of BvS on these boards, and out of 211 votes cast, the average score is 7.03. So there's another one for ya.

In politics, when a polster polls a state of 10 million + people, the sample size is usually only around 400 to 600 people, with a margin of error of 3-4%, and they have proven over the years more then not to be extremely accurate.

This film is going to do just fine with the GA.

 

[The Riddler]

affleck is terrific. considering bale has had much more screentime (especially in begins) to show different facets of the character, i don't think it's a fair comparison. but i voted affleck just because his batman looks like perfection.

 

[jokesonm3]

Now imagine Affleck's Batman in a good movie.

That poll would've been way higher for Affleck.

 

[Marvel Knight]

I can say that because 8,000 is a pretty darn huge sample size. Flixster had less then 2,000 reviews last night at this time, with over 6,000 reviews in within 24 hours, which tells you the GA is well on their way into the voting. This movie will get between 30-35k reviews on Flixster when all is said and done, a sample size of anything 10% or over is very accurate, and Flixster is nearing 30% or higher already. I just added up the average score of BvS on these boards, and out of 211 votes cast, the average score is 7.03. So there's another one for ya.

In politics, when a polster polls a state of 10 million + people, the sample size is usually only around 400 to 600 people, with a margin of error of 3-4%, and they have proven over the years more then not to be extremely accurate.

This film is going to do just fine with the GA.

You are still counting the numbers from the fanboys and nerds who bought early tickets.


There's a reason why cinemascores skew high, because the audiences are biased during the early screenings.

All that being said, BVS's audience RT score was in the 80s yesterday, now it's approaching the low 70s. It's dropping as more general audience members have a chance to see it.

You'll soon see a shift as bad WOM spreads.


And there will be bad WOM. With the cinemascore that BVS got, it's inevitable. Same cinemascore as GL, Catwoman and Elektra.


Things aren't ideal for Affleck's Batman to really be popular here. Maybe only among the comic fanboys, but the GA is another story.

 

[Marvel Knight]

Now imagine Affleck's Batman in a good movie.

That poll would've been way higher for Affleck.

On here, the poll would always favor Affleck.

The Superhero Hype for Affleck is too high among the fanboy community.


We're obviously going to praise the Batman we've spent so much time cheering for recently and becoming invested in.

Once the hype dies down and the bad WOM spreads, it will be another story.

 

[The Riddler]

On here, the poll would always favor Affleck.

The Superhero Hype for Affleck is too high among the fanboy community.


We're obviously going to praise the Batman we've spent so much time cheering for recently and becoming invested in.

Once the hype dies down and the bad WOM spreads, it will be another story.

i don't know how you trash affleck's batman. he looks like batman, he fights like batman, he even does detective work like batman. only problem i thought was he was too loose in the destruction with his batwing and batmobile, but we've seen it before in other batman films.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Ben Affleck by far. I just like the authority in him. He looks absolutely boss. I don't want to trash Bale, he was outstanding Bruce Wayne for Nolan trilogy, but I found his Batman really lacking. I was never happy with it starting with Batman Begins.

 

[Marvel Knight]

i don't know how you trash affleck's batman. he looks like batman, he fights like batman, he even does detective work like batman. only problem i thought was he was too loose in the destruction with his batwing and batmobile, but we've seen it before in other batman films.

For me, it came down to the writing and characterization. Snyder doesn't get these characters and did an inferior job really demonstrating the substance behind Batman, compared to Nolan.

Snyder focused more on the flash over substance. The visuals. For some fanboys, that's enough.

For me, the writing and characterization needs to be there, and Nolan did it well. Other directors can nail it too, but not Snyder. He's too inept, and his critically rotten film here proves it.

Affleck might have been a good Batman with another script, but it would be insulting to BB and TDK to place this Batman on the same level as the Batman brought to life in those beloved films. Snyder's Batman was mediocre.

 

[schereZada]

i don't know how you trash affleck's batman. he looks like batman, he fights like batman, he even does detective work like batman. only problem i thought was he was too loose in the destruction with his batwing and batmobile, but we've seen it before in other batman films.

Like Burton's AND Nolan's ones.

 

[KingKane88]

You are still counting the numbers from the fanboys and nerds who bought early tickets.


There's a reason why cinemascores skew high, because the audiences are biased during the early screenings.

All that being said, BVS's audience RT score was in the 80s yesterday, now it's approaching the low 70s. It's dropping as more general audience members have a chance to see it.

You'll soon see a shift as bad WOM spreads.


And there will be bad WOM. With the cinemascore that BVS got, it's inevitable. Same cinemascore as GL, Catwoman and Elektra.


Things aren't ideal for Affleck's Batman to really be popular here. Maybe only among the comic fanboys, but the GA is another story.

Flixsters numbers were in the 80's the day before yesterday, during the middle of the day on Wednesday is when it dropped to 79% then 75%. The entire day today (when over 6,000 reviews were cast) it went from 75% when i woke up around 9am, to 73% around 3pm (when i got out the movie's), then around 7pm it jumped back up to 74%. This film IS NOT dropping anywhere near GL or Catwoman!

You putting this movie in the same darkness as Catwoman and GL is insulting. Green Lantern holds a 45% audience approval, and even worse Catwoman holds a 18%!!!

You are going beyond pessimistic here, it's to the point that your letting your hate for this movie get the best of your rational.

 

[OutOfBoose]

This is ridiculous.

Agree. Arguments are silly. Hating for fun.

 

[Marvel Knight]

Flixsters numbers were in the 80's the day before yesterday, during the middle of the day on Wednesday is when it dropped to 79% then 75%. The entire day today (when over 6,000 reviews were cast) it went from 75% when i woke up around 9am, to 73% around 3pm (when i got out the movie's), then around 7pm it jumped back up to 74%. I don't see this film dropping anywhere near GL or Catwoman!

You putting this movie in the same darkness as Catwoman and GL is insulting. Green Lantern holds a 45% audience approval, and even worse Catwoman holds a 18%!!!

You are going beyond pessimistic here, it's to the point that your letting your hate for this movie get the best of your rational.

My friend, even Green Lantern started off high and went down. As all films do.

And I'm really not putting it in the 'same darkness' as GL, but BVS does indeed have the same Cinemascore as GL.


What that basically means is BVS is likely to get really poor WOM (word of mouth) leading to a significant drop in ticket sales (and reception) after this opening weekend.

 

[Nokio]

I must say doubting Affleck was a mistake. Now ive always been a fan of his but i felt he was wrong wrong wrong for Batman. Boy I WAS WRONG AND I CAN ADMIT IT. He owned the role and yes im gonna say it he is the best Bruce Wayne and Batman. Ive got not one and i mean one complaint against Affleck as Bats.

 

[The Riddler]

For me, it came down to the writing and characterization. Snyder doesn't get these characters and did an inferior job really demonstrating the substance behind Batman, compared to Nolan.

Snyder focused more on the flash over substance. The visuals. For some fanboys, that's enough.

For me, the writing and characterization needs to be there, and Nolan did it well. Other directors can nail it too, but not Snyder. He's too inept, and his critically rotten film here proves it.

Affleck might have been a good Batman with another script, but it would be insulting to BB and TDK to place this Batman on the same level as the Batman brought to life in those beloved films. Snyder's Batman was mediocre.

i think you're mistaking his characterization with lack of screentime for development. his characterization is very much batman. he's a detective, he's got an analytical mind, and he's a great martial artist. more than any other batman he's embodying many of the character's traits from the comics.

 

[Marvel Knight]

i think you're mistaking his characterization with lack of screentime for development. his characterization is very much batman. he's a detective, he's got an analytical mind, and he's a great martial artist. more than any other batman he's embodying many of the character's traits from the comics.

Executed in a subpar fashion compared to the way Nolan did it.

Though to play devil's advocate, a big reason why the fanboys aren't riding Bale anymore like they did a few years back is because of TDKR, and how Nolan forced his Batman into premature retirement. That film left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

This film is divisive enough to have a similar effect, likely moreso.

It's a shame that all the DC films after "The Dark Knight" have been so disappointing and divisive.

 

[jokesonm3]

Affleck's greatest hindrance will always be Zack Snyder.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Executed in a subpar fashion compared to the way Nolan did it.

Nolan did great with dissecting the character. Batman v Superman is absolutely different stage in life of Bruce Wayne. The stage Nolan's Batman never reached in his trilogy. You can't freaking compare the two the way you do. Batman was executed in a spectacular way, literally everyone I know and heard liked him, except for a few people on this board, who miss Bale and Nolan too much and seek to nitpick every little detail and accuse anyone involved.

Though to play devil's advocate, a big reason why the fanboys aren't riding Bale anymore like they did a few years back is because of TDKR, and how Nolan forced his Batman into premature retirement. That film left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

I wasn't riding Bale as Batman since Batman Begins. I never liked execution (not writing) of him in Nolan movies. Batman should infuse fear in his enemies, not laugh and cringe. Mind you, Bale was excellent as Bruce Wayne. My favorite Batman was Keaton right up till Affleck.

 

[DACrowe]

This never happened. Clark got pictures of criminals Bats brutalized, Bruce got rejected checks and newspaper clippings with "You let your family die!" and other things on them.

Correction then, he got a picture of his mansion and notes about his parents. Point is someone was obviously ****ing with him that implied they knew he was Batman. And if he is so brilliant, he should have been immediately suspicious that it happened only conveniently after the Capitol Hill incident. In short, there was more going on than in the press.

But no, he had to "kill Superman" because of a "one percent" certainty and other Dick Cheney inspired bouts of paranoia.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

On here, the poll would always favor Affleck.

The Superhero Hype for Affleck is too high among the fanboy community.


We're obviously going to praise the Batman we've spent so much time cheering for recently and becoming invested in.

Once the hype dies down and the bad WOM spreads, it will be another story.

We saw it happen with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire.

 

[DACrowe]

The difference between the two characters.

and

 

[Rowsdower!]

For people saying Affleck is the definitive Batman, can I ask why exactly?

I'm wondering how much of it is the superficial stuff like the Batsuit and the fight scenes. Or maybe yall really do see things in Batfleck that I just don't see. Either way, I'd like to know.

Yeah, this I don't get either. The suit and the fight scenes are things that have little to do with Affleck. I'm sure stuntmen were used for a lot of that, and his suit was made by a top-notch costume designer. But the overall performance? I feel like the reason Affleck's Batman "works" is because the movie is built entirely AROUND him and everyone else except maybe Luthor feels like a background character. I think Ben did a good job, but I almost feel like any decent actor with a good physique could have been just as serviceable in the role. I feel like his Batman lacked that extra intensity that Bale and Keaton had. Yeah, I know everyone likes to make fun of Bale's Batman voice. But he still had this quality (that Keaton also had) that pushed Batman past the point of "good guy" or "badass" to "WHOA, this guy is one scary dude." I never got that from Affleck. I know he [BLACKOUT]kills people[/BLACKOUT], but I'm not getting these "psychotic" vibes people keep saying they got from him. I just don't feel like he had that kind of intensity. He seemed sort of detached to me. I suppose that in and of itself could mean that he's a bit of a sociopath, but I doubt Snyder or Terrio thought that much into it. In their world, it seems that [BLACKOUT]anyone Batman kills is more or less cannon fodder and doesn't really matter.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Deserana]

If Affleck had TDK story told in his universe then it would be Affleck. Unfortunately he didn't. However, I more than trust Affleck to do his great own version. Heck him and Gal are likely to get their own films even if everything else collapses.

 

[Mrs. Wayne]

I enjoyed Batfleck but this poll is a bit premature.