The Dark Knight The Christian Bale/Bruce Wayne thread

[BestGirl]

I never saw Bruce Wayne as a character that was supposed to be particularly charming. This isn't James Bond. Ultimately, Wayne is supposed to be a tortured, driven individual -- not a suave ladykiller. I figure someone who is so broken and driven by his parents murder that he would become a masked vigilante wouldn't be a particularly charming person.

Public Bruce Wayne shouldn't be charming anyway. He has to be a frivolous, stupid jackass so as to put as much distance as possible between himself and Batman. A likable Bruce Wayne could arouse suspicion.

I think Bruce Wayne's personality would be a bit more like that of Hugh Laurie's "House" (just without the sarcasm), or Keifer Sutherland's "Jack Bauer" (with one extra rule). He's angry, and constantly in pain. He's intelligent, driven, respected and feared. He's gruff, stubborn and generally disagreeable. But it would be very unlikely that he would be LIKED by anyone other than the few individuals that are closest to him (like Alfred, and Rachel before she was moved from one place to several).

Bale captures that pretty well. I don't think Keaton did. He wasn't angry enough. He wasn't threatening enough. He didn't seem strong enough -- either as Batman or as Wayne. Ultimately, he was too charming, too agreeable, too likeable to play a character as tortured as Bruce Wayne.

KBZ

If anything, Bale plays a nicer Batman/private Bruce than would exist in real life. A true tortured vigilante would probably be more like Rorschach or the examples you gave.

 

[batbat_29640]

Bale has been BY FAR the BEST!! Bruce Wayne on screen. The only other actor to even come close (and I hate to say it BUT IT'S TRUE) was George Clooney. Yes B&R sucked rotten balls but he was still a damn good Wayne. Keaton was a great Batman but it was his Wayne that was bland and lacking. Though he was a much better Wayne in BReturns he still doesn't do as much justice to the character as Bale. And I know I'm gonna get some flack for this but I couldn't stand Bale as Batman in TDK. TDK is a great movie but BB was a much better "BATMAN" movie.
I hope to see a more organic looking BatSuit in the next Batfilm as well. I'm tired of armor uniformed Batman. Bring back the supernatural creature of the night look.

 

[Crook]

Public Bruce Wayne shouldn't be charming anyway. He has to be a frivolous, stupid jackass so as to put as much distance as possible between himself and Batman. A likable Bruce Wayne could arouse suspicion.

Because charm + likability = Batman?

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

If he comes across as an intelligent person involved in the community other than partying and pimping around with babes on his arms, eventually combined with his wealth could arouse suspicion.

 

[Crook]

Bruce is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. You'd have to be intelligent regardless of your lifestyle. As long as he doesn't come off as a cold and depressed loner, then I see no reason to sneak suspicion on him. Especially if he's known to be a charming playboy. No one ever suspects those types to be anything more than really good in the sack.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

Seems like they were trying to make it seem like Fox was really running the company, Bruce just hung around for appearances.

 

[Crook]

I realize that. I'm referencing other interpretations of Bruce in the comics and tv, which are just as valid in depicting a Bruce that no one would expect to be Batman.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Bale has been BY FAR the BEST!! Bruce Wayne on screen. The only other actor to even come close (and I hate to say it BUT IT'S TRUE) was George Clooney. Yes B&R sucked rotten balls but he was still a damn good Wayne.

Agreed on Bale, but as for Clooney, I couldnt see BW, but George Clooney jerking his head every few seconds. Its that his face is everywhere you know?
IMHO Kilmer is second best Wayne after Bale. He was just blond...

Bruce is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. You'd have to be intelligent regardless of your lifestyle. As long as he doesn't come off as a cold and depressed loner, then I see no reason to sneak suspicion on him. Especially if he's known to be a charming playboy. No one ever suspects those types to be anything more than really good in the sack.

We have yet to see the philanthropist, more mature Wayne in the nolanverse. I hope he progresses to that point and acquires the attributes of the BTAS Wayne. He was clear of any suspicion while still being charming, playboyish, philanthropist and respectable.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Whilst I agree Kilmer was a great Bruce Wayne I must say George was pretty good for what he had to work with. His moments with the ailing Alfred were very good in fact.

Clooney is a good actor, he just doesn't help himself by choosing the roles he does and because he is a pretty boy his talents get overlooked.

 

[terry78]

Bruce Wayne's persona is basically dependent on who is writing him at the time. He's gone from being a suave pimp, to a Howard Hughes-like philanthropist/inventor/genius to somewhat of a mysterious recluse that has a rep for just barely showing his face in public.

 

[TheDarkKnight08]

We have yet to see the philanthropist, more mature Wayne in the nolanverse. I hope he progresses to that point and acquires the attributes of the BTAS Wayne. He was clear of any suspicion while still being charming, playboyish, philanthropist and respectable.

I'll bet in BB3, we'll see that side of him. Judging from the events of TDK, I'm hoping we get a more serious side of Bruce and Batman overall.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Bruce Wayne's persona is basically dependent on who is writing him at the time. He's gone from being a suave pimp, to a Howard Hughes-like philanthropist/inventor/geniusto somewhat of a mysterious recluse that has a rep for just barely showing his face in public.

Great post.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I just love how Bale plays both sides. The dizzy playboy type publically and then the somber man with that eight year old boy buried deep inside.

 

[nathaniel]

I just dont see Bale becoming the complete package with one movie to go Nolan just went in a slightly different direction when showcasing his intellect and relationship with the batman persona, a smart guy but more one with an intense drive and passion then the cool anylitical mind of the comics and the Batman persona that isnt as symbiotic as the comics or the keaton,Kilmer bat where its a toss up which is the true personality wayne or batman.

Bale was decent in his role but he seems (so far) a good actor who played batman/wayne rather then carrying off a performance where you cant see anyone doing it in such a special way.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is a great example he just has a magic where he IS Wolverine the stance the voice and the amazing way he can portray the wolvie rage, Keaton isnt everyones cup of tea but he is immortalised as a complete one of a kind Batman/Wayne,Adam West was cast in a campy show but he did have a magic about him just watching him pondering a puzzle or crime was movie gold his hands and voice carried a great performance. and even Ledger as Joker im by no means HL interpretations biggest fan (by NO means) but it was a great one of a kind performance that cant be replicated Just like Jacks and Romeros where.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I just love how Bale plays both sides. The dizzy playboy type publically and then the somber man with that eight year old boy buried deep inside.

Agreed 100%

 

[Vengeance of Bane]

Does anyone else think, that Bruce gets a kick out of being a prick at the scene in BB at the party, and in TDK dinner and party scenes.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I wouldn't doubt it. I don't think he was just making stuff up when he told everyone off at the party when Ra's showed up.

 

[BestGirl]

Does anyone else think, that Bruce gets a kick out of being a prick at the scene in BB at the party, and in TDK dinner and party scenes.

Probably. I suspect he didn't like his birthday party guests and I know he was jealous of Dent.

 

[Fenrir]

Does anyone else think, that Bruce gets a kick out of being a prick at the scene in BB at the party, and in TDK dinner and party scenes.

I most certainly he think he got a kick out of crashing Earle and Harvey's dinner tables. But the birthday scene in BB? Most probably not. Remember that Alfred reminded him to maintain his family name and respect his guests. Bruce clearly obliges. It just so happened that he was put into a position where he had to act like a prick either way to save his guest's lives. That is why there is a moment of sadness and disappointment in Bruce's face when Fredricks tells him "the apple has fallen very far from the tree Mr. Wayne".

 

[Tatsumarushinob]

Very good points. I like the sober man with the 8 year old kid inside. Which is basically what Batman has inside. Batman is pretty much a ****ed up version of a kid reacting to something that got violently taken away from him. This can be seen in his gadgets, his gadgets are like his toys really. In a sense he is always growing up, learning new things about his enemies and especially himself, basically his aibility to not give up. I like the subtleties mentioned in BB in the apple fallen far from the tree and his jelousness over Harvey, who has his girl and has taken the spotlight where Batman should rightfuly be. He is in fact a Dark Knight. The real hero of the piece in the end is Batman, he does all the good things, the right things and willingly takes the the blame for almost all the bad things that happen in the movie, hence The Dark Knight.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I just dont see Bale becoming the complete package with one movie to go Nolan just went in a slightly different direction when showcasing his intellect and relationship with the batman persona, a smart guy but more one with an intense drive and passion then the cool anylitical mind of the comics and the Batman persona that isnt as symbiotic as the comics or the keaton,Kilmer bat where its a toss up which is the true personality wayne or batman.

Bale was decent in his role but he seems (so far) a good actor who played batman/wayne rather then carrying off a performance where you cant see anyone doing it in such a special way.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is a great example he just has a magic where he IS Wolverine the stance the voice and the amazing way he can portray the wolvie rage, Keaton isnt everyones cup of tea but he is immortalised as a complete one of a kind Batman/Wayne,Adam West was cast in a campy show but he did have a magic about him just watching him pondering a puzzle or crime was movie gold his hands and voice carried a great performance. and even Ledger as Joker im by no means HL interpretations biggest fan (by NO means) but it was a great one of a kind performance that cant be replicated Just like Jacks and Romeros where.

You just broke my mind. Punctuation man!

Does anyone else think, that Bruce gets a kick out of being a prick at the scene in BB at the party, and in TDK dinner and party scenes.

I am sure he had some fun when he said "they should, i own the place" and ordered an extra table so that he can sit with Dent. But i dont think anyone would have fun during the BB scene. It was too embarrassing. I agree with Fenrir on this one.

 

[namtaB]

I never saw Bruce Wayne as a character that was supposed to be particularly charming. This isn't James Bond. Ultimately, Wayne is supposed to be a tortured, driven individual -- not a suave ladykiller. I figure someone who is so broken and driven by his parents murder that he would become a masked vigilante wouldn't be a particularly charming person.

I think Bruce Wayne's personality would be a bit more like that of Hugh Laurie's "House" (just without the sarcasm), or Keifer Sutherland's "Jack Bauer" (with one extra rule). He's angry, and constantly in pain. He's intelligent, driven, respected and feared. He's gruff, stubborn and generally disagreeable. But it would be very unlikely that he would be LIKED by anyone other than the few individuals that are closest to him (like Alfred, and Rachel before she was moved from one place to several).

Bale captures that pretty well. I don't think Keaton did. He wasn't angry enough. He wasn't threatening enough. He didn't seem strong enough -- either as Batman or as Wayne. Ultimately, he was too charming, too agreeable, too likeable to play a character as tortured as Bruce Wayne.

KBZ

It kinda goes with the territory. Handsome and ultra wealthy means you will attract women in droves regardless of your game. It really doesn't matter what your personality is whether you're a tool, jerk, etc. I was eating in a diner once in NY and noticed Derek Jeter dining with his manager/agent/what have you and when he went to the bathroom women, and I'm talking 8,9,10s easily, were waiting outside for him to come out at which point he was surrounded by them. It was unreal. Like watching a shark frenzy. These guys can get super hot women at the drop of a hat. Game, charm, charisma, are only needed to get hot women if you're a chump with no money. But if you're handsome and are loaded you will need to tell hot women to leave you alone b/c your personality won't matter much to them, despite what women say.

 

[batbat_29640]

I didn't really care for Bales Batman performance in TDK. He did Great in BB but idk I think the writing was just off. Great story, great cop drama, great Joker scenes. Batman was just . . . off. Didn't much care for the new suit either.

 

[Panthro]

Very good points. I like the sober man with the 8 year old kid inside. Which is basically what Batman has inside. Batman is pretty much a ****ed up version of a kid reacting to something that got violently taken away from him. This can be seen in his gadgets, his gadgets are like his toys really. In a sense he is always growing up, learning new things about his enemies and especially himself, basically his aibility to not give up. I like the subtleties mentioned in BB in the apple fallen far from the tree and his jelousness over Harvey, who has his girl and has taken the spotlight where Batman should rightfuly be. He is in fact a Dark Knight. The real hero of the piece in the end is Batman, he does all the good things, the right things and willingly takes the the blame for almost all the bad things that happen in the movie, hence The Dark Knight.

Bruce was jealous that Harvey had Rachel, but he wasn't jealous of Harvey being in "the spotlight where Batman should rightfully be." Bruce didn't become Batman for glory. He saw Dent's rise as a sign of life improving in Gotham and was grateful for it.

 

[rashad]

For me personally, I cared a great deal for Bale's performance in TDK. There's quite a few scenes that stand out for me. I'll list them when I get back later. I usually tend to stay away from debates like these. lol Simply because I know what I like at the end of the day. Although I respect others opinions in this discussion, despite not agreeing with them all.