Better Bruce Wayne: Christian Bale or Ben Affleck ?

[The Batman]

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[Fincher]

For me, Keaton's Batman/Wayne was the best in pretty much every way. The characterization and mystique, the performance, the "toys", the suit, the way he looked in the cowl. I'm not going to say that it couldn't be done better, but since they're not specifically trying to do Tim Burton Batman better than Tim Burton, I'm not exactly counting on it.

Between Bale and Affleck, though, it's easily Bale.

 

[Brother Jack]

I've always felt distanced from Keaton's version, though I understand that was kind of the point. Burton's films feel more interested in Bruce/Batman's surroundings than the man himself. With Bale and Nolan I felt an immediate closeness to the character that I had never encountered on screen before. The first act of Begins plays like an indie character study, and though the rest of the trilogy becomes exponentially larger in scope, it retains that throughline.

 

[Deck Rickard]

You know, although there were aspects of Keaton’s Bruce Wayne that didn’t quite work for me, one of my favorite scenes in any CBM is when he’s in the cave and Vicki is pleading with him not to go take on the Joker. When she asks him why he has to be the one who goes out to take him on, he responds, “Because no one else can.” That line has always summed up Batman to me. The determination, the drive... with Bruce and Batman, there’s no option to sit things out. And he knows that no one else possesses the skills and conviction to do what he does.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Adam West is pretty much the only live action Batman who was nearly a perfect representation of a Batman from the comics.

He's also the only one in his respective universe who felt like he was truly the world's greatest detective, IMO.




I also love that he mentions Bale's "fat mug" while leaving out how bloated and puffy Affleck often looked throughout his tenure, both in the suit and out of it.

I actually feel that Adam West is really irreplaceable in his campy approach to Batman.

His voice had that sense of authority and mock reverence, his thinking was highlighted, and he was more human in that he would get himself in a scrape and have to plan his way out of it.

It's like he was self-aware enough that he was in on the joke, but serious enough that he didn't feel like he could Bueller his way out of the narrative.

And that Grey Ghost episode proved he could do drama as well


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Somehow, I kind of think that West is doing the Batusi in heaven.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I like how claim characterization had nothing to with Bale and then go on to list a bunch **** that had nothing to do with Bale as his fault. Comical.

I worded it poorly. I'm trying to say that there's very little on actors when it comes to portrayal of Batman. Unlike Bruce Wayne, for example. What can an actor contribute to Batman? Voice and how much the face fits the mask. For the most part, that's pretty much it. That's why actor-unrelated stuff comes forward in this particular case. Characterization, choreography, gadgets, design... I hate Bale's contribution to Batman - the voice. But at least it gave us Batmetal series, lol.

 

[Matleo]

yes its a pitty they didnt did what marvel did and contract for more movies... but Afleck isnt worser it depends also on scriptwriters and dialogs...

For me personally they really would need to give batman worthy oponents after Superman... Poison Ivy with more plant powers, man-bat , clayface, killer croc but better mutated more croc like form???? Even Deathstroke needs more then brut strenght... Batman needs better tech, better suit, maybe drones and better screen writers when it comes to action, fun and drama scenes...
we dont need alwasy to see all his background story every time, only glimps are enough...
The biggest failures of Batman vs Superman and Justice League?
That they took to much time for talking and showing boring things maybe too long... more action, fun and good dialogs during battles...
Also a big failure are mono villian films and movies this days, better 2 or 3 villians after we got Already Batman and Superman people want to see stories from comics and animated series and movies to bring a climax and culmination of joy.

Spoiler

Dark Knight movies were good, but also had something that bothered me personally... many human and batman level weak villians, to much psychology, many bad guys repeted but done better... give us a mix of supernatural foes and the psychology with it... Dr Freeze and the Pinguin would make a cool pair of villians.
Poison ivy, Man-bat, Killer Croc and Clayface would make great army for Deathtroke where they could implement Chetaach from Wonder Woman. I could imagine doctors trying to heal cancer and in reality beeing used by Luthor to create super soldiers... batman into the mix and Deathstroke and Deadshot could be a team that both wont to destroy batman but more showing him as the villian,,, Man-bat could be good to do that thing too

 

[hellblazer103]

WTF, second time I accidentally voted for the wrong choice on these forums... Lmao


I meant to vote Bale but I voted Affleck. I think Affleck very much suits the role of Wayne ( for obvious reasons ) , but Bale is just so damn charismatic in the role of Bruce, plus he had the better movies with the better overall arc. Ben was pretty good in BvS but by JL it just doesn't seem like he cares about it anymore. His heart isn't in it anymore now that he's not directing The Batman or anything ( I still would've liked to see that tbh but Matt Reeves is also great )

 

[Deck Rickard]

What's weird is that even though Affleck is clearly phoning it in for JL, I somehow liked him better. Like, I don't think he was by any means good in the role, but I think I like him better when he's barely trying than when he's trying really hard and still missing the mark (BvS).

 

[Kevin Roegele]

What's weird is that even though Affleck is clearly phoning it in for JL, I somehow liked him better. Like, I don't think he was by any means good in the role, but I think I like him better when he's barely trying than when he's trying really hard and still missing the mark (BvS).

Maybe it's because he's playing a properly heroic Batman in Justice League, whereas in BvS he's playing a misguided, burnt-out Batman who tries to kill Superman?

 

[Skrilla31]

It was hard for me to choose because I'm not really a fan of either, but in the end I went with Affleck because at least he had SOME charm.

 

[JackWhite]

Bale was so young there.

Voted Bale, and easily.

 

[superhero]

my all time favorite batman / bruce wayne is micheal keaton or adam west!! but i also enjoy christian bale as bruce wayne/ batman!! i enjoyed ben Affleck's batman ok!! i think if we ever see batman beyond movie that ben Affleck would be perfect choice for older bruce wayne!! as for fifth choice val kilmer as bruce wayne/ batman!!

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Bob Kane thought Val Kilmer was better than Keaton or West.

 

[The Batman]

Bob Kane was a hack and didn't even create the things that made Batman great, so his opinion is pretty worthless, IMO.

 

[FunkMiller]

Bob Kane was a hack and didn't even create the things that made Batman great, so his opinion is pretty worthless, IMO.

#BillFingerForever

 

[OutOfBoose]

I liked Val Kilmer in the role. Plus his bat-voice was perfection.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

I liked Val Kilmer in the role. Plus his bat-voice was perfection.

Ditto. I wish Kilmer had had another chance in the role. Looking at his interviews he clearly wanted to explore the darker side of the character.

 

[psylockolussus]

Christian Bale.

 

[hellblazer103]

Bob Kane was a hack and didn't even create the things that made Batman great, so his opinion is pretty worthless, IMO.

**** me, ya beat me to the punch.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

I really liked Kilmer too

Had a darkness about him, wish we could have gotten him in the cowl again.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I liked Val Kilmer in the role. Plus his bat-voice was perfection.

Even with the lisp?

“I’m Bathman!”

 

[Awest66]

Pretty easy win for Bale.

Side-Note, does it annoy anyone else when people side-track these discussions with complaints abut fight choreography?

 

[Matleo]

I will say both are good, but Bale had luck to have Nolan and good screen writers who gave him more technology and better dialog and talking... yes actors only play, those who make the sripts and plan the action and taking are the most important ones...

Ben looks good but hope they will use some of that technology gadgets from the past movies also and introduce new ones too.

If they plan in future reboots and series then they need young teams from the start and plan 6 movies in advance.

 

[The Batman]

I will say both are good, but Bale had luck to have Nolan and good screen writers who gave him more technology and better dialog and talking...

And also, Bale is just straight up a much better actor than Affleck.