BvS How will Ben Affleck stack up against the other Batmen?

[DigificWriter]

My top two favorite live-action Batmen to date are Christian Bale and Val Kilmer, who just BARELY edges out Keaton. Clooney is a very good actor, but really wasn't the right choice to follow on from Keaton and Kilmer. It also didn't help that the script he had to work with was a complete tonal departure from the other films.

Having just said that, though, I do think Clooney would actually have been a good choice for the role that we now know is Affleck's.

 

[Jekecy]

I don't think the competition is that great honestly. I still like Val Kilmer the most to be honest. I love Bale as an actor but he wasn't great or unbeatable performance wise which still surprises me because I thought I'd like his performance more when he was cast.

Yeah, competition isn't really immense by any means. Bale is undoubtedly this generation's Batman. But he also has quite a few detractors who are aching for a new actor. That alone doesn't make him as definitive and concrete as the likes of Connery, Reeve, Jackman, and Downey.

In a few years time I think Bale will end up in the same spot Maguire is in. Serviceable performance for the modern day, but ultimately upstaged with the right actor and script.

As far as Batman the persona is concerned, I've yet to see a fully formed personality close to the modern books. Batman Begins was the closest. For me it went completely downhill with the sequels due to Bale and the lack of Batman-focus in the scripts.

 

[Gianakin_]

Bale did have the right script for his interpretation and he was the right actor for these movies. It then becomes a matter for which interpretation you like more.

And Connery's definitive nature is certainly being questioned as of Skyfall.

 

[titansupes]

Yeah, competition isn't really immense by any means. Bale is undoubtedly this generation's Batman. But he also has quite a few detractors who are aching for a new actor. That alone doesn't make him as definitive and concrete as the likes of Connery, Reeve, Jackman, and Downey.

Jackman has a LOT of detractors. The whole too tall, too pretty, too nice thing, and then some.

And Connery's definitive nature is certainly being questioned as of Skyfall.

If you'd said that after Casino, I would've been all for it. But in Skyfall... Man, he was a muscular plank of wood.

 

[Gianakin_]

I'm just saying that many many people love Craig and cite him as the definitive Bond.

 

[Jekecy]

Jackman has a LOT of detractors. The whole too tall, too pretty, too nice thing, and then some.



If you'd said that after Casino, I would've been all for it. But in Skyfall... Man, he was a muscular plank of wood.

I'm speaking more from the mainstream audience's perspective. They're not aware of those character details from the books like we are. For all intents and purposes, Jackman is a bad-ass Wolverine.

Batman has a bit more public awareness thanks to his long history, so people sort of know what to expect from the get-go. I don't think it's any secret Bale's performance annoys and turns off some people. Overall he does get praise, but the detractors are loud enough that even his fans know it's an issue with others.

 

[ЯɘvlveR]

bale is definitely in the discussion of best actor of his generation, along with the like of dicaprio, fassbender, phoenix, I'm sure I've left some out. with that said bale wasn't the perfect batman.

 

[Gianakin_]

Nobody was. Nobody will be. That's the beauty of Batman. Grant Morrison sees it (that's probably why I worship the guy).

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Performance-wise, he'll be great just as long as he loses the Boston accent and transcend beyond Ben Affleck in a costume to Batman. It's audience reception is what we should all worry about. For the fans like people here and me, it would be welcomed just as long as he gives a good performance faithful to the character.

However ther's the other folk, the General Audience and Public. Going by Amazing Spider-Man's reception, even when 2015 arrives, Nolan's Bat Trilogy would still have a lot of hold on the GA and many would still be saying "It's too soon!, Bale's the true Batman!" etc just like with Raimi's Spider-Man. There are still plenty of Bale-purists/Nolanites who don't really realise that Bale wasn't that great and perhaps was a little overrated and would continue to look at the Bat-Trilogy with nostalgic rose-tinted glasses. Just the other day I was repeatedly scolded, reprimanded and yelled at by several friends when I was feeling these feelings which were summed up in these songs:

[YT]Eo-KmOd3i7s[/YT]

[YT]3GwjfUFyY6M[/YT]

[YT]uSD4vsh1zDA[/YT]

[YT]dmUtqBF_YZY[/YT]

All after saying Bale's overrated and that Affleck would be a fantastic Batman and better than Bale and more faithful to the character.

So Affleck would continue to be compared to Christian Bale for many years to come, even when the new Batman solo movie arrives which I imagine would be approximately 10 years or more since TDK.

Poor guy.

I think you should always show tact when saying someone's overrated in a particular role. The way I see it, Bale was robbed of the ability to play a Batman who was true to the pages.

I think Nolan would rather make a movie character the audience will sympathize with, than bring to life the detective/martial artist/planner from the comics. There ARE moments in the TDK trilogy where that occurs, but it's subtle and easily missed. Bale did a bit of investigating in Begins and some in TDK. But his role wasn't built around being a detective, just an opposing force to evil.

I think Snyder cares more about staying true to the personality of the character. I think Cavill felt more like Superman than Bale felt like Batman. He just wasn't given a consistently good script.

But to me, the supporting characters are who I think fall under the radar.

I personally think Caine's Alfred may not be surpassed as a performance. Ledger, would be more than difficult to top (Yeah, he isn't underrated, but I'm trying to make a statement)

Oldman as Gordon, I think kind of fell in the background. He'll be tricky to match, and I think he did a perfect job at playing a sympathetic character.

Bale had a bit of screen presence, and was BELIEVABLE as someone who COULD kick butt. However, I think that if Affleck gets jacked, the effect will be similar.

I think the belief that a person has to be a great actor overall to play Batman is wrong. I feel like the person who plays Batman just has to have expressive eyes, and an intimidating voice. And muscles are pretty much a requirement this day and age.

Wayne is trickier, but I think Affleck would have no trouble playing jokey Bruce, and I think he could even play broody Bruce well.

But I think there should be elements to throw off the appearance of Affleck when he's Bruce. Long(er) hair, that kind of thing.

But BA will have to NAIL the role, and not upstage Cavill. That will be hard, I think.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I think it's too early to really consider where Ben Affleck will stand in comparison to the other Batman actors in film history. We probably hav to wait for the film itself to assess that, though the trailers and promotional images might give us enough of an inkling to at least begin the discussion.

That said, as a Ben Affleck fan and a supporter of him taking the role of Batman, I think he's going to have a hard time topping Christian Bale. It's become trendy to trash him in some quarters, but for me, Bale is the definitive Batman, he's MY Batman. Indeed, Batman Begins first came onto my radar as a film to actually look forward to when Bale was cast in the leading role. He was already one of my favourite actors, and his role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho was at the time my all-time favourite film performance. And Bale met my lofty expectations, crafting a complex, powerful performanceas Bruce Wayne with an arc spanning over three films. I remember experiencing the Keaton films, the Kilmer and Clooney films, and Kevin Conroy in the Animated Series back when they were new, not to mention Adam West in reruns of the old TV series, and I've been a Batman fan my whole life. But it wasn't until the Christian Bale era that Batman actually became my favourite character in the Batman mythos: before that it was the villains - mostly The Joker - who I singled out as my favourites.

So no, I don't think Affleck will top Bale. But I wasn't expecting anyone to top the perfect storm of one of my favourite actors playing my favourite character in fiction. I do feel like Affleck should be a worthy successor though, and it may be a case of apples and oranges where the two can't really be compared. Bale played a specific interpretation of Bruce Wayne and Batman, one with a finite journey that came to a rewarding, closed conclusion. Affleck could be poised to play something more like the Batman of the comics, someone on an endless quest who has dedicated himself to a lifelong battle against crime. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I love the Dark Knight trilogy as a closed, complete world with a beginning and an (open) end. But Affleck can be a different Batman, one of a larger shared universe.

 

[titansupes]

I think it's too early to really consider where Ben Affleck will stand in comparison to the other Batman actors in film history. We probably hav to wait for the film itself to assess that, though the trailers and promotional images might give us enough of an inkling to at least begin the discussion.

That said, as a Ben Affleck fan and a supporter of him taking the role of Batman, I think he's going to have a hard time topping Christian Bale. It's become trendy to trash him in some quarters, but for me, Bale is the definitive Batman, he's MY Batman. Indeed, Batman Begins first came onto my radar as a film to actually look forward to when Bale was cast in the leading role. He was already one of my favourite actors, and his role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho was at the time my all-time favourite film performance. And Bale met my lofty expectations, crafting a complex, powerful performanceas Bruce Wayne with an arc spanning over three films. I remember experiencing the Keaton films, the Kilmer and Clooney films, and Kevin Conroy in the Animated Series back when they were new, not to mention Adam West in reruns of the old TV series, and I've been a Batman fan my whole life. But it wasn't until the Christian Bale era that Batman actually became my favourite character in the Batman mythos: before that it was the villains - mostly The Joker - who I singled out as my favourites.

So no, I don't think Affleck will top Bale. But I wasn't expecting anyone to top the perfect storm of one of my favourite actors playing my favourite character in fiction. I do feel like Affleck should be a worthy successor though, and it may be a case of apples and oranges where the two can't really be compared. Bale played a specific interpretation of Bruce Wayne and Batman, one with a finite journey that came to a rewarding, closed conclusion. Affleck could be poised to play something more like the Batman of the comics, someone on an endless quest who has dedicated himself to a lifelong battle against crime. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I love the Dark Knight trilogy as a closed, complete world with a beginning and an (open) end. But Affleck can be a different Batman, one of a larger shared universe.

Great post.

EDIT: And avatar.

 

[Polux]

I think it's too early to really consider where Ben Affleck will stand in comparison to the other Batman actors in film history. We probably hav to wait for the film itself to assess that, though the trailers and promotional images might give us enough of an inkling to at least begin the discussion.

That said, as a Ben Affleck fan and a supporter of him taking the role of Batman, I think he's going to have a hard time topping Christian Bale. It's become trendy to trash him in some quarters, but for me, Bale is the definitive Batman, he's MY Batman. Indeed, Batman Begins first came onto my radar as a film to actually look forward to when Bale was cast in the leading role. He was already one of my favourite actors, and his role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho was at the time my all-time favourite film performance. And Bale met my lofty expectations, crafting a complex, powerful performanceas Bruce Wayne with an arc spanning over three films. I remember experiencing the Keaton films, the Kilmer and Clooney films, and Kevin Conroy in the Animated Series back when they were new, not to mention Adam West in reruns of the old TV series, and I've been a Batman fan my whole life. But it wasn't until the Christian Bale era that Batman actually became my favourite character in the Batman mythos: before that it was the villains - mostly The Joker - who I singled out as my favourites.

So no, I don't think Affleck will top Bale. But I wasn't expecting anyone to top the perfect storm of one of my favourite actors playing my favourite character in fiction. I do feel like Affleck should be a worthy successor though, and it may be a case of apples and oranges where the two can't really be compared. Bale played a specific interpretation of Bruce Wayne and Batman, one with a finite journey that came to a rewarding, closed conclusion. Affleck could be poised to play something more like the Batman of the comics, someone on an endless quest who has dedicated himself to a lifelong battle against crime. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I love the Dark Knight trilogy as a closed, complete world with a beginning and an (open) end. But Affleck can be a different Batman, one of a larger shared universe.

x 10000000000

Took the words right outta my mouth and agree 99.9%, except for Batman not being your favorite character before; Bats has been my favorite character ever since I was 3, from the comics, the 60s show, the movies and animation, and Bale is my favorite version of the character; even as it differs from the comics cannon, I think that in many ways is the most faithful adaptation of the core of the character, and now we can look forward to a different, maybe more comic-faithful version with Affleck, I remain positive.


Polux

 

[slumcat]

Batman Look: Remains to be seen how he will stack up.

Costume: Ben Affleck Costume will be the best no doubt about that.

Physique: Ben Affleck will be the best most powerful looking and the most physically superior Batman ever. No doubt about that.

Bruce Wayne Look: I think it is safe to say that he won't place in the Top 3.

Batman Voice: Remains to be seen honestly.

 

[AnneFan]

I like Keaton and still think he has value. Though Bale is my fave. Always will be, to be honest. I think Affleck can mix in with those two, probably third, or second on the list. He'll have the body mass, and the playboy side I'm sure. I'm interested in how he'll be behind the mask.

 

[GreenKToo]

Can't say. He will certainly look the part tho.

 

[NickNitro]

I swear to God if he has that horrible voice Bales Batman had I'll be soo upset. That was by far the cheesiest part of Nolans Batman, as well as the mask.

I honestly think Affleck is going to do just fine but like many have said before its way too early to make any assumption to his character.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Seems like Affleck has a leg up as Batman considering so many people dislike Bale's Batman voice. I'm not one of those people.

I think it's too early to really consider where Ben Affleck will stand in comparison to the other Batman actors in film history. We probably hav to wait for the film itself to assess that, though the trailers and promotional images might give us enough of an inkling to at least begin the discussion.

That said, as a Ben Affleck fan and a supporter of him taking the role of Batman, I think he's going to have a hard time topping Christian Bale. It's become trendy to trash him in some quarters, but for me, Bale is the definitive Batman, he's MY Batman. Indeed, Batman Begins first came onto my radar as a film to actually look forward to when Bale was cast in the leading role. He was already one of my favourite actors, and his role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho was at the time my all-time favourite film performance. And Bale met my lofty expectations, crafting a complex, powerful performanceas Bruce Wayne with an arc spanning over three films. I remember experiencing the Keaton films, the Kilmer and Clooney films, and Kevin Conroy in the Animated Series back when they were new, not to mention Adam West in reruns of the old TV series, and I've been a Batman fan my whole life. But it wasn't until the Christian Bale era that Batman actually became my favourite character in the Batman mythos: before that it was the villains - mostly The Joker - who I singled out as my favourites.

So no, I don't think Affleck will top Bale. But I wasn't expecting anyone to top the perfect storm of one of my favourite actors playing my favourite character in fiction. I do feel like Affleck should be a worthy successor though, and it may be a case of apples and oranges where the two can't really be compared. Bale played a specific interpretation of Bruce Wayne and Batman, one with a finite journey that came to a rewarding, closed conclusion. Affleck could be poised to play something more like the Batman of the comics, someone on an endless quest who has dedicated himself to a lifelong battle against crime. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I love the Dark Knight trilogy as a closed, complete world with a beginning and an (open) end. But Affleck can be a different Batman, one of a larger shared universe.

Co-signed. Bale will forever be my Bruce Wayne/Batman

I'm excited to see how it goes with Affleck though.

 

[The Guard]

People have this emotional attachment to Christian Bale's take on the character, which is understandable, my generation had that connection to Michael Keaotn, and that often seems to blind them to the fact that while he was certainly good, he wasn't exactly great in the role, or somehow irreplaceable. Bale's Bruce Wayne is fantastic, but it's also kind of hit or miss at times. His Batman, even moreso, and his voice was ridiculous for the most part.

My prediction? Affleck will be right up there with Bale and Keaton in terms of performance quality, and odds are good that he'll be the most comic book accurate representation of both Bruce Wayne and Batman we've seen in a major motion picture.

 

[NickNitro]

People have this emotional attachment to Christian Bale's take on the character, which is understandable, my generation had that connection to Michael Keaotn, and that often seems to blind them to the fact that while he was certainly good, he wasn't exactly great in the role, or somehow irreplaceable. Bale's Bruce Wayne is fantastic, but it's also kind of hit or miss at times. His Batman, even moreso, and his voice was ridiculous for the most part.

My prediction? Affleck will be right up there with Bale and Keaton in terms of performance quality, and odds are good that he'll be the most comic book accurate representation of both Bruce Wayne and Batman we've seen in a major motion picture.

Thank you! I completely agree. I loved his Bruce Wayne but his Batman was pretty meh. God I just hated his Batman voice......idk why it just really annoyed me and became really distracting especially going into the third film.

 

[Elevator Man]

I can't answer the OP's question b/c it's too soon to make comparisons (and in some of the posters case) assumptions.

And I laugh at the revisionist history going on up here. All of a sudden Bale didn't look like Bruce/Batman b/c Affleck is now the first and only actor to look like the character right off the pages. I bet some of these posters were saying the same thing about Bale a decade ago. I guess it's out with the old and in with the new. It's the type of crap bandwagon fans do.

Performance-wise, he'll be great just as long as he loses the Boston accent and transcend beyond Ben Affleck in a costume to Batman. It's audience reception is what we should all worry about. For the fans like people here and me, it would be welcomed just as long as he gives a good performance faithful to the character.

However ther's the other folk, the General Audience and Public. Going by Amazing Spider-Man's reception, even when 2015 arrives, Nolan's Bat Trilogy would still have a lot of hold on the GA and many would still be saying "It's too soon!, Bale's the true Batman!" etc just like with Raimi's Spider-Man. There are still plenty of Bale-purists/Nolanites who don't really realise that Bale wasn't that great and perhaps was a little overrated and would continue to look at the Bat-Trilogy with nostalgic rose-tinted glasses. Just the other day I was repeatedly scolded, reprimanded and yelled at by several friends when I was feeling these feelings which were summed up in these songs:

[YT]Eo-KmOd3i7s[/YT]

[YT]3GwjfUFyY6M[/YT]

[YT]uSD4vsh1zDA[/YT]

[YT]dmUtqBF_YZY[/YT]

All after saying Bale's overrated and that Affleck would be a fantastic Batman and better than Bale and more faithful to the character.

So Affleck would continue to be compared to Christian Bale for many years to come, even when the new Batman solo movie arrives which I imagine would be approximately 10 years or more since TDK.

Poor guy.

I think the GA has every right to be upset. In their POV most believed Batman was retired after TDKRises and therefore wouldn't have anymore films for a while. Barely a year after TDKR release TPTB decide to put Batman in a sequel to a Superman movie . I think it is too soon to introduce a new batman especially since the last trilogy just ended not too long ago. I guess a year feels like a decade for WB. And it's not just the GA Affleck has to deal with but the majority of the critics, who loved Bale's portrayal and the Nolan trilogy for the most part. And nostalgia has nothing to do with TDKT. It ended last year how are people nostalgic over it. I think some people are upset b/c it feels too soon to reintroduce Batman on the big screen again. The franchise needed a few more years rest. I agree that the character needs a break.

I think he may end up being the best we've had so far. He will definitely kill the Bruce Wayne role, and as Batman he'll be the most intimidating physically we've ever had.

LOL I bet you said the same thing about Bale when he was cast a decade ago. More revisonist history.

 

[DigificWriter]

@Elevator Man: Anyone who thought that Warner Bros. wasn't going to make another film using or featuring Batman was kidding themselves.

 

[Elevator Man]

I'm sure Batman would've made an appearance in that rumored JL movie. I believe the GA weren't expecting Batman to return in another 5-7 years at least.

 

[NickNitro]

I can agree with the "it's too soon" notion. I feel like its a bit rushed. A sequal MoS movie without Batman would of been just fine in my eyes.

I have always felt they are trying to play catch up with Marvel, and this feeling rushed just solidifies my feeling on the matter.

 

[DigificWriter]

I'm sure Batman would've made an appearance in that rumored JL movie. I believe the GA weren't expecting Batman to return in another 5-7 years at least.

I doubt the 'general audience' has any objections to them including Batman in the MoS sequel. It's only the 'fanboys' who have a problem, at least insofar as I can tell.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I think there's a chance that Ben could be the best Batman yet. I'm not saying that he absolutely will, but the only other two I've liked were Bale and Keaton. Bale was absolutely the best Bruce Wayne and had the physicality that Batman absolutely needs. Keaton had the best Batman voice and (IMO) the best costume in Batman '89.

I'll never understand why anyone liked Kilmer's Batman/Bruce Wayne. He was either flat to the point of acting catatonic, or just over-the-top awful "HAAARRVEEEEEEY! IIIII'MMMM BATMAAAAAN!"

Clooney was also terrible, but I think that he might have been decent in a better movie.