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Why Christian Bale comparisons to Michael Keaton?

p4poetic

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The last person that played Batman before him was George Clooney. So why do people only compare Christian Bale to Michael Keaton? That always kind of bothered me. Yes I know, the Batman Forever and Batman and Robin films were horrid, but they were after all, the last memory of Batman until then.
 
Irrelevant that they came directly before Batman Begins. Fans have a tendancy to elevate B'89 and BR because they were MUCH better movies.

Kilmer was asleep, while Clooney's acting was a joke.

Keaton actually accomplished something like, to an extent, Bale did. That is why they are really the only worthy rivals.
 
Irrelevant that they came directly before Batman Begins. Fans have a tendancy to elevate B'89 and BR because they were MUCH better movies.

Kilmer was asleep, while Clooney's acting was a joke.

Keaton actually accomplished something like, to an extent, Bale did. That is why they are really the only worthy rivals.

I can see that point of view. :brucebat:

I loved B89, but BR was okay. It had it's moments.
 
I GREW UP WITH KEATON AS MY BATMAN BUT HE'S NO LONGER THE PERSON I THINK OFF WHEN I HEAR THE NAME BATMAN!

BALE IS! HE'S BECOME THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF BATMAN... EVEN KEATON'S BATMAN SEEMS CHILDISH TO THE BATMAN BALE PLAYS.

Childish?

Bale's Batman is mediocre. The guy doesn't even have the fortitude to refine his joke of a voice.
 
Kilmer signed the contract, wore the suit, seemed like Batman and got paid.

Clooney signed the contact... wore a rubber suit, bobbed his head for an entire movie, and got paid.


Both Keaton and Bale tried to bring something to the character in various ways...

They both had fantastic relationships with their respective directors and gave the character their own spin,
 
personally i see bale's batman as a younger version of keatons, a batman with some and love in his heart, a batman who isn't completely consumed yet to the cause of crime fighting who has forsaken his bruce wayne lifestyle somewhat and is starting to completely regress.
 
Bale is = to Keaton to me, Ill say it for the one-millionth time, they both play Batman yes, but completly different versions for me to love and remember!
 
Whew! Thank God! I thought I missed this weeks Bale vs. Keaton thread!


These damn discussions get old. Seriously, you couldnt have just bumped up one of the other 20 threads on this topic?
 
Whew! Thank God! I thought I missed this weeks Blae vs. Keaton thread!


These damn discussions get old. Seriously, you couldnt have just bumped up one of the other 20 threads on this topic?

Some people will just never learn Shadow!
 
Some people will just never learn Shadow!

should we?

A character spanning near 70 years...

a multitude of comics and various adaptations:

-Serials
-TV Shows
-Manyyyyyyyyyyy Animated projects
-games
-and so much more

And many actors and other talented people whom lent their talents wonderfully!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Comparisons will be made, as will praises, degradations and difficult fanboys unwilling to let go...

some can accept change... some can't!

If your getting to a point in your life where it just simply annoys you endlessly... then don't comment!

Cause I fear its a never ending circle we Bat-fans will always live in.


Michael Keaton and Tim Burton rocks!
 
Let's see because they both played Batman? And on top of that (to take Kilmer and Clooney out of the running), they both played Batman WELL.

Michael Keaton was a great Batrman who nailed the brooding and silent obsessive/driven qualities to a tee. He also played Bruce Wayne as very introverted, uncomfortable, aloof but straight forward in what he wants and what he thinks of people (which is different than Bale returning to the Don Diego depiction of him as a fool to conceal his identity). They both played a kickass Batman.

It's as simple as that.
 
P.S. AS for the versus, I like both. I think I slightly prefer Bale's as it is more rounded to what the post-crisis Batman is. I think he nails the Bruce/Alfred relationship better and gets the Batman moral code better (as Burton, as with Kane's original, did not really have one) and just the way he moves and acts screams the more modern, TAS-styled Batman.

But Keaton brought something interesting to the table. He was far more obsessive than Bale's and bordered on insane. I'd actually say he gets both Kane's better and the beloved "Dark Knight" (aka Miller's batman) a little better. On top of that I like how his Wayne doesn't always act the clown in public and his stare is penetrating. Bale's glares and looks in the Batman suit are full of rage and pent up anger and frustration being released. Keaton's was otherworldly and piercing. You had no idea how far he would go, he was just so "in the zone" as to being Batman he became an omnipotent force not of nature like Bale but of being. His Batman really was probably nuts, but since he uses his psychosis for good we can accept that. Batman is rather the shield and creation by Bale to keep himself from becoming insane. Bale's Batman is an extension of giving his life purpose and Bruce Wayne is allowed to exert his true self in the bat-suit. Keaton has really two separate personalities and when the suit is on, he is Batman and not an extension of Bruce Wayne, but rather who has been since his parents died. His Bruce Wayne is just Batman waiting to be let out, while Batman is Bale's way of expressing his true self to the world beyond just Alfred.

They are two very different interpretations, and I appreciate and like both. I'd also add that again while I prefer Bale's as it is closer to how I imagine Batman normally, Keaton has hands down the better Batman voice.
 
Adam West was great, Keaton was great, Kilmer is great, Bale is great. West is my favourite Bruce Wayne and Keaton my favourite Batman. But I love them all.
 
Kilmer was great? I think Kilmer (and possibly Clooney) would have been interesting Batmans, but they never got the chance. It is pretty obvious when watching that Kilmer was bored out of his mind and slept-walk through that performance. He reminded me of a plank of wood in the scenes he had to wear the suit in.

I know you're up for all interpretations, but Kilmer really didn't even try, he looked like a guy who regretted doing this movie (thought it'd probably be more like the two Burton movies) and was just waiting to get his paycheck and go home. The rumors of whath e was like on the set support this.
 
On the other hand, it's being said that Clooney had a lot of fun on set with the cast & crew. So, he didn't have to work, just put on a rubber suit and act like George!
 
Wow, DACrowe, you totally nailed the pro's and con's of Keaton and Bale.
 
Kilmer was great? I think Kilmer (and possibly Clooney) would have been interesting Batmans, but they never got the chance. It is pretty obvious when watching that Kilmer was bored out of his mind and slept-walk through that performance. He reminded me of a plank of wood in the scenes he had to wear the suit in.

I know you're up for all interpretations, but Kilmer really didn't even try, he looked like a guy who regretted doing this movie (thought it'd probably be more like the two Burton movies) and was just waiting to get his paycheck and go home. The rumors of whath e was like on the set support this.

If that was a phoned in performance on Kilmer's part then god knows what we would've gotten if he was more focused cause it was IMO the best thing from that film. He was my favorite Bruce Wayne in the movie franchise up until TDK. His public Bruce was pitch perfect IMO right like the comics of that time and before as well as after. He's aloof and airheaded but is still firm and has a likeable air to him he's not obnoxious.

His private Bruce was also great the scenes with him recollecting the funeral, his brief moments with Alfred and especially his scenes with Dick from the moments in the garage to the scenes in the batcave. His Batman had a heroic air to him that while not fully explored came across in small bits. Not that Keaton's didn't but if Keaton's was more "take no prisoners do what I have to do to stop crime" Kilmer's was more "do what I must to fight crime but also realize the criminals I'm stopping are not unsympethetic" ("You need help Harvey", "Poor Edward..."). Both very valid and faithful to the comics in their own way but Kilmer's closer to my ideal interpretation (bronze age).

He was a human being not just a force that came across as supernatural and some of my favorite stories contain a more humanized Batman. A Batman who's not afraid to laugh and use punchlines every once in a while. I could see how someone could say he was great considering how well he did in a very unbalanced film. He's definitely up there with Keaton and Bale as a worthy Batman in my eyes.
 
personally i see bale's batman as a younger version of keatons, a batman with some and love in his heart, a batman who isn't completely consumed yet to the cause of crime fighting who has forsaken his bruce wayne lifestyle somewhat and is starting to completely regress.

THE GOSPEL YOU GUYS.
read it.

That's exactly how I feel.

Kilmer was great? I think Kilmer (and possibly Clooney) would have been interesting Batmans, but they never got the chance. It is pretty obvious when watching that Kilmer was bored out of his mind and slept-walk through that performance. He reminded me of a plank of wood in the scenes he had to wear the suit in.

I know you're up for all interpretations, but Kilmer really didn't even try, he looked like a guy who regretted doing this movie (thought it'd probably be more like the two Burton movies) and was just waiting to get his paycheck and go home. The rumors of whath e was like on the set support this.

Oh definitely. Did you see the way he spoke about it [Batman] during his 'Inside the Actor's Studio' interview? He almost made a joke about the character. 'uh yeah, it wasn't really that hard. I just put on this batsuit (audience laughs) and it was really hard to turn around and stuff,' I bet he changes his mind now. I feel like saying something mean, like HAHA THAT'S WHY YOU'RE FAT NOW. But I don't want to.

[YT]HnXl7jPHSgU[/YT]
 
should we?

A character spanning near 70 years...

a multitude of comics and various adaptations:

-Serials
-TV Shows
-Manyyyyyyyyyyy Animated projects
-games
-and so much more

And many actors and other talented people whom lent their talents wonderfully!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Comparisons will be made, as will praises, degradations and difficult fanboys unwilling to let go...

some can accept change... some can't!

If your getting to a point in your life where it just simply annoys you endlessly... then don't comment!

Cause I fear its a never ending circle we Bat-fans will always live in.


Michael Keaton and Tim Burton rocks!
Blah, Blah, Blah is pretty much what I got out of this!
 
I personally say CLOSE THIS THREAD. There are already several discussions about Bale vs. other Batmans.
 
because keaton and bale are considered to be the best batman actors. clooney, kilmer, west etc. arent even in the same league as bale and keaton.
 
I personally say CLOSE THIS THREAD. There are already several discussions about Bale vs. other Batmans.

No, it isn't. I'm asking WHY Keaton in particular when he played Batman nearly 20 years ago, and not the last actor who played him is being compared. It wasn't a run of the mill discussion about Bale vs. Other Batmans. :o
 
Both men put considerable effort into bringing us a unique hero. They both succeeded and I have a lot of love and respect for their hard work. A feat accomplish by about five actors in god knows how many comic book franchises.

I don't think it should be a vs. but rather a "What did Bale do differently to Keaton?" as we should enjoy these two different takes.

Bale & Keaton = Win.
 

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