All this prisoner of the moment retro active backlash to Nolan's films (particularly TDK Rises) and Bale's Bruce Wayne / Batman performance is absurd.
Bland? He now has established the iconic voice of Batman. The growl is often imitated. Either being serious imitation or as overly nit picky parody.
Christian made the character more layered and nuances than he has ever been or probably ever will be.
The bashing of these various recent films which are by far the cream of the crop in the subgenre of comic book movies by people claiming to be Batman fans is absurd. And kind of alarming.
All we've seen is quick glimpses of what Affleck has done so far. I'm not even ready to put his performance based off that over Keaton's B89 portrayal let alone the man who carried the foundation of weight through nuanced and heart felt acting chops the way Bale did for an entire trilogy of movies spanning 7 to 8 years of filming.
That's just disrespectful. Bale exceeded Keaton and left giant shoes to fill. It's like any NBA superstar trying to chase the definitive greatness and GOAT that was Michael Jordan. Bale took the bar set by Keaton and moved it to the stratosphere. Too early to claim Affleck being better.
In regards to the costume? Yes his is more comic accurate but that doesn't make it better. Bale was still identifiable Batman.
And imo as it was show cased on film, even in harsh lighting is a better suit. And looked more believable as actual paramilitary or swat like real world armor. Modern knight like ... yet still retained the exact essence of Batman. He also looked quite intimidating.
vs
The latter requires more atmospheric lighting for suspension of disbelief. Bale's given the use of more rigid and plated materials on the armor and cowl ... looks like actual armor.
Nolan went for more plausible.
Snyder went for more mythological.
Nolan's Batman looks like a practical warrior. Snyder's looks like an organic, living gargoyle ... with a textured suit that resembles Kevlar with armor underneath. But it definitely needs to be accentuated by atmospheric lighting or setting compared to Nolan's take.