The Dark Knight Rises Characterization of the Knight - Nolan and Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman - Part 1

[WiseBrook]

I thought Bale's voice was altered in post...

 

[Darthhawkeye]

I think this will always be a sticking point for these films and yes, I think it sometimes overshadows how great Bale is as both Bats and Bruce (IMO); it's not that different from the height issues that people had with Keaton. The voice and height issues will always be fodder for those who dislike these films. For me, Keaton and Bale are the 2 best, with Bale the best for me because he looks like Bats and Bruce to me. Not dissing Keaton, I just like Bale (and these movies) better than 89 and BR.

 

[TheVerbos]

If you listen closely in TDK it has a bit of a mechanical timbre. It might serve to increase his volume. I don't think it altered his performance substantially. I don't think criticism can be written off and directed to post-production tinkering.

 

[Baneis8feettall]

I respectfully disagree.

The Conroy voice would work in live action. Plus, for all of Bale's efforts, what he came up with just isn't intimidating. It doesn't work. It doesn't sell it. I'm not trying to be contrarian or rude. It's just that it doesn't acheive what it sets out to do. It disguises his voice, sure. It doesn't inspire fear, though. It seems effortful. I think that it works okay at times. In BB it was fine. At other times, not so much.

Kevin Conroy's batvoice is simply Kevin Conroy's cool man voice. If Bruce & Batman had those voices he would get caught in couple of minutes.

It's intimidating. You must be super soldier or something to not intimidate by raspy,growling man under that suit.

"Swear to me" scene was higlight of Batman Begins. Maroni scene in TDK as well.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

To me, it seems nothing will be perfect in comic book films; I like the Raimi Spidey films (even 3....but not that much) but was always annoyed that Spidey was not a flippant wise a$$....whatcha gonna do....looks like he will be in ASM.....come to think of it, never liked Tobey as Spidey/PP....but still, I was seeing SPIDER-MAN on the big screen....and I'm seeing BATS in the 3 (probably) best interpretations of his character....the voice is not that big a deal to me in the big picture

 

[JackWhite]

Interrogation room will always be the measuring stick for how the voice should work, IMO. Starts off talking man to man, freak to freak with the Joker all calmly. Great. Bats doesn't get the answers he wants from Joker, begins to rough him up, voice gets a tad harsh, because he's pissed; but not comical. Then he realizes Rachel is involved - "Them?" The voice goes down substantially. Then all hell breaks loose, but it stays streamlined and never over the top.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Interrogation room will always be the measuring stick for how the voice should work, IMO. Starts off talking man to man, freak to freak with the Joker all calmly. Great. Bats doesn't get the answers he wants from Joker, begins to rough him up, voice gets a tad harsh, because he's pissed; but not comical. Then he realizes Rachel is involved - "Them?" The voice goes down substantially. Then all hell breaks loose, but it stays streamlined and never over the top.

EXACTLY......and, to me, no OTHER screen Batman could have pulled off that scene!

 

[The Joker]

Interrogation room will always be the measuring stick for how the voice should work, IMO. Starts off talking man to man, freak to freak with the Joker all calmly. Great. Bats doesn't get the answers he wants from Joker, begins to rough him up, voice gets a tad harsh, because he's pissed; but not comical. Then he realizes Rachel is involved - "Them?" The voice goes down substantially. Then all hell breaks loose, but it stays streamlined and never over the top.

My favorite scene of the series so far. Perfect clash of good vs evil. Black vs white. Logic vs insanity.

Bale and Heath were awesome.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

But whatever...people will always have their opinion and probably not be swayed....it doesn't bother me, I just don't think it's really as bad as some people think....I really don't think it's almost self parody. The "With your help I might!" is obviously taken out of context, so I need to see how it sounds within the context of whichever scene it's in. And after all this, I'd LOVE and welcome a scene of Catwoman takin the piss outta Bats and calling him out on the voice!

 

[TheVerbos]

To me, it seems nothing will be perfect in comic book films; I like the Raimi Spidey films (even 3....but not that much) but was always annoyed that Spidey was not a flippant wise a$$....whatcha gonna do....looks like he will be in ASM.....come to think of it, never liked Tobey as Spidey/PP....but still, I was seeing SPIDER-MAN on the big screen....and I'm seeing BATS in the 3 (probably) best interpretations of his character....the voice is not that big a deal to me in the big picture

Yeah. All of these films have their touchdowns and fumbles in their own ways. The big picture is what is most important.

As far as the Conroy voice not being a proper disguise in live action, I never really considered that. I kinda felt like that was one of those things that was free to suspension of disbelief. If we can tolerate Clark Kent's 'disguise', why not Batman's voice? Oh well.

 

[JackWhite]

My favorite scene of the series so far. Perfect clash of good vs evil. Black vs white. Logic vs insanity.

Bale and Heath were awesome.

The end of that scene is really something else. That look of intense hatred in Batman eye's while he is just destroying the Joker and also feeling responsible for not only one, but two people he cares about. Then there is the Joker, pretty much getting off on Batman pummeling him and walking real close to that line of becoming a murderer.

Great stuff by both of them.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Yeah. All of these films have their touchdowns and fumbles in their own ways. The big picture is what is most important.

As far as the Conroy voice not being a proper disguise in live action, I never really considered that. I kinda felt like that was one of those things that was free to suspension of disbelief. If we can tolerate Clark Kent's 'disguise', why not Batman's voice? Oh well.

Agreed...I can suspend my disbelief that people are fooled and put on edge by the Bale Bat voice.......I love when people go nuts about the Clark Kent glasses stuff....IT'S FANTASY!!!! C'mon, people!

 

[JackWhite]

Yeah. All of these films have their touchdowns and fumbles in their own ways. The big picture is what is most important.

As far as the Conroy voice not being a proper disguise in live action, I never really considered that. I kinda felt like that was one of those things that was free to suspension of disbelief. If we can tolerate Clark Kent's 'disguise', why not Batman's voice? Oh well.

Earlier on in TAS Conroy was really able to make a distinction between his Bat-voice and Wayne-voice, but the suits felt it was getting a little too dark; so he had to pretty much mesh both voices together.

 

[The Batman]

Regarding all these Conroy comments...I really hope people can refrain from "My Batman is better than yours" type posts.

I would think that this thread is above all that BS, unlike the Catwoman and Bane threads.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Regarding all these Conroy comments...I really hope people can refrain from "My Batman is better than yours" type posts.

I would think that this thread is above all that BS, unlike the Catwoman and Bane threads.

AGREED!!! Just think, in '97, who'd thunk that 15 years later, after the debacle that was B&R, all we'd have to argue about was if BATS gravelly voice was good or not!?!?!??!

 

[Darthhawkeye]

AGREED!!! Just think, in '97, who'd thunk that 15 years later, after the debacle that was B&R, all we'd have to argue about was if BATS gravelly voice was good or not!?!?!??!

OK....that wasn't the best worded sentence there.....but you all get the drift!!

 

[JackWhite]

OK....that wasn't the best worded sentence there.....but you all get the drift!!

I'm afraid I don't, due explain.


t:

 

[JackWhite]

But yeah, you're right Darthhawkeye.

We will be lucky if we get another three bat-films with the same director/main cast after Nolan/Bale and Co.

Look at Iron Man - New director taking over for the third film.

 

[godisawesome]

But whatever...people will always have their opinion and probably not be swayed....it doesn't bother me, I just don't think it's really as bad as some people think....I really don't think it's almost self parody. The "With your help I might!" is obviously taken out of context, so I need to see how it sounds within the context of whichever scene it's in. And after all this, I'd LOVE and welcome a scene of Catwoman takin the piss outta Bats and calling him out on the voice!

If she's shouting at him and he shouts back, that will be about all the context I need. But it would be hilarious if Catwoman made fun of his voice. Almost like that Angel bit where Spike dubs dialogue for what Angel and a cute girl are saying.

 

[Baneis8feettall]

Maybe he is shouting as "If you help me instead of do nothing but talk, i might win".. at least that what i get from TV spot.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

If she's shouting at him and he shouts back, that will be about all the context I need. But it would be hilarious if Catwoman made fun of his voice. Almost like that Angel bit where Spike dubs dialogue for what Angel and a cute girl are saying.

LOL!!! Love that Spike bit...almost as good as "I'm a friend....of Xander'er'er's" I do think it'll be some kind of emotionally charged scene (I have nothing to base this on) with shouting involved. I don't think he'll just be responding to "Can you have the Batcave cleaned up by tomorrow, please?"

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Maybe he is shouting as "If you help me instead of do nothing but talk, i might win".. at least that what i get from TV spot.

I definitely think it'll be something like Selina saying, "It's hopeless, you can't win." and he responds. The way the commercial makes it look, she's calmly speaking to him and then we get his response....funny and cause for alarm with the voice peeps, but that's not how it'll play out, I'm sure.

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Of course, we now need someone to post a YouTube clip of someone asking simple questions with Batman responding "With your help I might!!!"

"Can you stack those crates by lunch break?"
"WITH YOUR HELP I MIGHT!!!!!!!"

 

[Darthhawkeye]

Just remember, it could be worse...it could be....

"You're out Gobby....OUT OF YOUR MIND!"

 

[JackWhite]

^ LMAO. Such an awful line from Spidey one. Toby just did not have it in him to be boisterous and sarcastic.