Evan's Cap vs. Bale's Batman

[redfirebird2008]

Evans. Bale is great as Bruce Wayne, but they screwed up big time with the Batvoice.

 

[Hurm...]

Is this even serious? Bale had much more to work with, a more layered, and complex performance.

Evans does great as Cap, but the films are not nearly in the same league as TDKT in terms of acting and writing.

I don't see how the two films can be even compared. They are so different from one another and ask different things from their actors.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

I'm going to say Evans' Cap. It feels definitively like Captain America through and through.

I think Bale's performance is good but for me he didn't inhabit Batman in the same way, he was a very particular version of the character.

 

[Visualiza]

I'm going to say Evans' Cap. It feels definitively like Captain America through and through.

I think Bale's performance is good but for me he didn't inhabit Batman in the same way, he was a very particular version of the character.

Agreed.

In the case of Bale, I think he turned in a serviceable performance in what were otherwise very good movies. It happens.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

well rogers= captain america, he doesn't have a secret identity so chris doesn't have to play two roles.

bale did, in some cases even 3 or 4 roles

 

[Chance Jackson]

I vote Bale's Batman even though I'm not a fan of Bale's Batman Voice
I find Evan as Steve Rogers kinda boring though I think that has more to do with his 616 style characterization than it does Evan's acting talent

BB = TFA
TDK >> TWS
TDKR > TWS

 

[Ajendo]

To be honest, for ME, the best thing about Nolan's batman films wasn't even batman, it was everything else. Bale's batman was just really lacking that certain something which is a shame because everything else was mostly on point. That being said, Evans gets my vote because I found him to be a more engaging character to invest in and be impressed by and he really managed to embody a character that's so easy to get spectacularly wrong.

 

[Alchemyst]

I'm gonna have to go with Evans on this one. Although I like the Nolan films, Captain America felt just a little bit more enjoyable, it had its humor and heart and at the end of the day, I kinda felt sorry for Cap. As far as Nolan's Batman, of course you root for the guy, but just the fact in knowing that he still has people in his life that he has known almost his whole life doesn't make me feel too sorry for him. Cap has just about no one, with the exception of Bucky (who barely remembers him due to all the brainwashing) and Agent Carter who grew old, Cap is virtually alone in a world that has since moved way ahead of his time, so its a constant struggle of him adapting. He makes it a point to not have any "spare" time and is constantly doing missions to fill in a void that will very well never be filled.

 

[DACrowe]

Evans' Captain America is a more faithful, comic book accurate adaptation of his character.

...But Bale's Batman is a better written, better acted, and more interesting film character.

I can understand if comic book fidelity is your most important thing in preferring Evans. But Bale's Batman has had the richest arc and journey of any onscreen superhero to date. And yes, that includes the "it takes a village" mentality of Batman being a construct of a group of people in Bruce Wayne's web, as opposed to a Bat-god super-genius. Sorry if you did not get that, but you will in 2016. Though, it has yet to be proven if it will be a better film or character for it.

 

[UltraSuperGuy]

Is this even serious? Bale had much more to work with, a more layered, and complex performance.

Evans does great as Cap, but the films are not nearly in the same league as TDKT in terms of acting and writing.

I don't see how the two films can be even compared. They are so different from one another and ask different things from their actors.

It's true, one film asks the actor to be heroic and believable.

The other film asks the actor to have a ridiculous voice and then quit being a hero so he can playboy it up in Europe.

 

[CountOrlok]

Gotta go with Evans, although I'm not a fan of the actor, his performance in Sunshine was decent enough.

Christian Bale always phones in his performance.. he's a hammy actor at best.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Christian Bale. He's one of the finest actors of our generation, and has been gifted since he was a mere child in Empire of the Sun, and has gone on to enchant and awe audiences with movies like American Psycho, and his recent Oscar winning turn in The Fighter. He is the definitive movie Batman.

 

[Bullseye1]

I think that Evans' Captain America is closer to the Cap in the comics than Bale's Batman was to Batman in the comics. I love both but voted Evans.

This.

 

[kedrell]

Evans gets my vote.

 

[DarthDorranceBane]

It's true, one film asks the actor to be heroic and believable.

The other film asks the actor to have a ridiculous voice and then quit being a hero so he can playboy it up in Europe.

I know that this is a superhero/comic book site, but sometimes I wish fans would look at a film through "film goggles", not a through a comic book one.

There are a lot of themes and story arcs that you miss (or voluntarily missed) with that statement alone.

 

[Powerman34]

Christian Bale. He's one of the finest actors of our generation, and has been gifted since he was a mere child in Empire of the Sun, and has gone on to enchant and awe audiences with movies like American Psycho, and his recent Oscar winning turn in The Fighter. He is the definitive movie Batman.

Total agreement!
Bale takes on every role with a commitment level that is off the charts. I knew he would be a great Bruce Wayne/Batman from American Psycho and Equilibrium(wish they would've incorporate some of that "Gunkata" from that film to Batman just without the guns!) But Nolan took a lot from the comics for his Batman trilogy, so all this talk about it not being Batman from the comics is ridiculous.
I do wish the fight choreography was more fluid, but they made Batman a brutal fighter and not flashy (as he demonstrates in the comics).

 

[Hurm...]

I know that this is a superhero/comic book site, but sometimes I wish fans would look at a film through "film goggles", not a through a comic book one.

There are a lot of themes and story arcs that you miss (or voluntarily missed) with that statement alone.

 

[Rocketman]

Ironically, I kind of think Ben Affleck should've been Nolan's Batman all along, and I get the feeling Nolan would've wanted him in 2003 had it not been for Daredevil a year prior. If that had been the case, we would've seen Affleck playing the role for a fourth time in BvS, in-continuity with TDKT.

A boy can dream, can't he?

Note: Don't forget, in 2003, WB had their eye on Ashton Kutcher and Joshua Jackson. Knowing Nolan, there's no way he HADN'T thought of Ben Affleck as an early option.

 

[weezerspider]

Christian Bale is one of the best actors in his prime right now. He was fantastic as Batman. This isn't even remotely close.

It seems people are getting writing mixed up with acting. Everything against Bale in this thread seems to be about him not being exactly like the comics. That's all on the Nolan's for writing his character that way. Bale has to do the best with what he's given by the writers and director and he did amazing. Even the bat-voice which most people liked in Begins, was distorted in TDK and Rises in Post by Nolan.


A better poll would have been between Bale as Batman and Fassbender as Magento. Two of the best actors in the world right now each giving great performances in the comic book genre.

 

[Batmannerism]

To start, I'm not putting down Cap fans, and I don't begrudge the OP for setting up the threat, it's still fair to ask the question.

However, while Evans is a credible action hero, and a good Captain America....in fact even if he was the definitive Captain America, he doesn't
even come close to what Bale did with Batman.

Of course that's been said before, and said very well....

Is this even serious? Bale had much more to work with, a more layered, and complex performance.

Evans does great as Cap, but the films are not nearly in the same league as TDKT in terms of acting and writing.

I don't see how the two films can be even compared. They are so different from one another and ask different things from their actors.

And this...

Christian Bale is one of the best actors in his prime right now. He was fantastic as Batman. This isn't even remotely close.

It seems people are getting writing mixed up with acting. Everything against Bale in this thread seems to be about him not being exactly like the comics. That's all on the Nolan's for writing his character that way. Bale has to do the best with what he's given by the writers and director and he did amazing. Even the bat-voice which most people liked in Begins, was distorted in TDK and Rises in Post by Nolan.


A better poll would have been between Bale as Batman and Fassbender as Magento. Two of the best actors in the world right now each giving great performances in the comic book genre.

This guy hits the nail on the head. After the nauseating Batman and Robin, BAtman had to go to much darker place, and Nolan took him there. The Dark Knight trilogy is going to hold up as one of the alltime great Super-hero trilogies. Batman Begins is a triumph (and brought Batman back from the brink) The Dark knight (still possibly a contender for best cbm ever) nearly 7 years after it came out, it still sets the standard. Dark Knight Rises.....well it had its moments, not as great as the Dark Knight but still awesome.

(by the way people who complain about Batman's fighting style, maybe it could have been better, but it would be damn hard to do spinning or flying kicks in that suit, Nolan did a great job with the story, but possibly could have gotten some help with fight choreography -which peaked in Batman Begins).

I'm not putting down Fassbender, he's a great Magneto, but he hasn't done what Bale's done.

A better comparison might be Garfield, after a few more Spider Man movies (I think he's actually getting better as Spidey), or maybe RDJ.....although even then Tony Stark is pretty much the same for two movies, then develops anxiety issues which are conveniently solved in two minutes at the end (not his fault, but he plays tony as a cocky, charming *****e-bag for 4 films, it gets old after a while ). Bale at least plays the character differently, but in a way that makes sense as a progression within the story.

Actually, maybe Jackman's Wolverine would be better for comparison's sake.
But Jackman is a bit like Evans, he's likeable enough, but very two dimensional, he does tough guy Wolvie, sarcastic Wolvie, and angry Wolvie -although he does have some moments of compassion in DOFP )


Also, in comparison to Fassbender, Bale's carried 3 movies (Magneto for all his coolness is still a supporting character in an ensemble cast , Bale has to carry the whole film, although yes, with a bit of help from a dynamite supporting cast) , and despite a bit of OTT with the Bat-voice, has made Batman a complex and engaging character. Bale's portrayed the many faces of Batman ( Bruce the playboy, Bruce the vengeful young man, Batman, Bruce the broken and hopeless) and his journey from beginning to end.
Plus Bale holds the stage with Oldman, Freeman and Caine, and doesn't look out of place (and Hathway and Ledger).

To Evans detriment, he doesn't have much to work with, as Cap is a very one-dimensional character (two dimensions at best).
He's likeable, but you don't really feel his inner turmoil in any sort of convincing way. he's kind of a cap-robot who isn't sure what to do, then flips a switch.

But hey, that doesn't mean his movie wasn't heaps of fun and great entertainment, but it ain't the epic saga that the Dark Knight trilogy was,
and Evans' Cap is a good-looking cardboard cutout compared to Bale's obsessed and tortured Batman.

But just IMO of course.

 

[Quasimod0]

Hugh has really grown into the Wolverine role. I think he has made the character come alive more than any Batman actor has done for Bruce Wayne. Bale was great for what the trilogy needed, still think we haven't yet seen the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman yet. Whereas you watch Hugh or Evans and go "That's Cap!" or "That's Wolverine!!"

 

[The Endless]

People are underestimating how Cap was written. He wasn't just a one dimensional robot. What film did you watch? I thought he portrayed a man who doesn't know his place in the world and who doesn't feel comfortable unless he's on a mission very well. That is what his Cap was about in TWS. Being on a mission is his way of dealing with things. Evans got that across without any dialogue saying "I don't feel right unless i'm on a mission". His speech towards the end on the intercom was a great moment. A more inspiring moment that fully encapsulated the Captain America character than anything Bale's Batman did in the whole trilogy.

Evans gave a pretty subtle performance in TWS. Things like facial expression are very important. The scene where he's talking to Sam Wilson about fallen comrades in war for example was very well acted. Evans didn't need dialogue there, you could see the pain in his face.

Evans is also a superior action star. He physically embodied Cap much better than Bale did with Batman. He did more stunts, he learnt much more difficult and visually impressive choreography. He actually got involved with designing Cap's fighting style with the choreographers.

But don't get me wrong, Bale's Bruce Wayne was fantastic. Especially in TDK. But his Batman is ****ing lame. And no, it's not just because it wasn't true to the comics or because of Nolan's direction. He just doesn't physically embody the Batman character. And physicality is a huge part of acting. When it comes to characters like this, just as important as the quieter scenes.

 

[Travesty]

If you're just talking about acting, I would easily give it to Evans. Bale is a great actor, and he did an amazing job as Bruce Wayne, but when he becomes Batman, it's laughably bad. I loved what he brought to the table in BB, but once TDK came out, his Batman is more comedic to me than Adam West's. It's embarrassing to watch.

I dunno, unless you enjoy an out of breath Batman that is hard to understand, and moves at the speed of molasses, I'm not really seeing how he's better than Evans....but that's just me.

 

[The Endless]

I guess physically embodying a character doesn't come under the umbrella of acting for some people.

 

[Travesty]

I don't see why it wouldn't? This is a movie, after all.