Why there will never be a better Batman than Keaton

Discussion in 'The Batcave' started by Chris Wallace, Mar 19, 2005.

  1. Chris Wallace LET'S DO A HEADCOUNT...

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2001
    Messages:
    35,629
    Likes Received:
    1
    Kilmer was good-even if he had precious little to work with. I have every reason to believe that Bale will be great. But no one will ever surpass Keaton for one simple reason: He had to rely totally on his performance.
    Think about it. He was completely physically wrong for the part. Wrong height. Wrong build. Wrong hair. He didn't have the "pretty boy Wayne' features. But he played the role so well that WE DIDN'T CARE. When he was onscreen in that ridiculous, confining rubber costume, we believed he was Batman. That's what sets him apart from all other actors in all comic book movies. We nitpick to death everything from muscle tone to eye color. But the complaints we get about Keaton are few & far between-not b/c we don't see the flaws. We just don't care. :batman:
     
  2. Captain_Obvious Bless Us, Christ Bale

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2004
    Messages:
    28,002
    Likes Received:
    0
    who is this we you are refering to?
     
  3. Chris Wallace LET'S DO A HEADCOUNT...

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2001
    Messages:
    35,629
    Likes Received:
    1
    1st "we"-moviegoers.
    2nd "we"-Batfans & comic fans in general.
    3rd "we"-moviegoers again.
    4th "we"-all of the above :batman:
     
  4. Captain_Obvious Bless Us, Christ Bale

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2004
    Messages:
    28,002
    Likes Received:
    0
    hmmm you're just assuming moviegoers and batfans/comic fans think like that though :(
     
  5. Comic Book Boy Producer/Writer/Director

    Joined:
    May 28, 2004
    Messages:
    6,093
    Likes Received:
    0
    I agree and disagree...

    Keaton was amazing and did a great performance.

    I think Bale will be better.:batman:
     
  6. P. Cushing Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    Messages:
    6,748
    Likes Received:
    0
    There already is a better Batman than Keaton: Kevin Conroy.
     
  7. Proximo Registered

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2004
    Messages:
    1,040
    Likes Received:
    0
    Keaton will always be the live action Batman for me.. no mather how bale pull it of in BB, im so sure about it. Keaton just had it in his eyes.. and ... omg alot more.. he is batman...:batman:
     
  8. DarkKnightYone Registered

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
    Messages:
    644
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think your opinions will change once you see Begins. I liked Keaton too but Bale will deliver more to the fanboys and the general audience.
     
  9. Two-Face Harvey Dent

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2003
    Messages:
    48,170
    Likes Received:
    3

    I'm gonna like Bale as Bats/Bruce more and Keaton will be my second choice.
     
  10. bingy13 Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,762
    Likes Received:
    0
    HECK YA!!! Go Batman: TAS!!!
     
  11. AnavelGato86 Registered

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2004
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    0
    While Bale will probably do better. Im still going to Keaton for my favorite and better actor.
    I mean aside from the serials in what the 40's? and the campy version doesnt count. Keaton was the first person to take a real crack at the role, and people enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. I think he played a great Bruce adn a great Batman. And yes while Bale may do a better job, Keaton had to try and define what hadn't been done before. Pioneers make mistakes, **** look at the Donner party ^^ But they did show people what not to do. Bale kinda has it easy cause he has references on film. Something Keaton didnt have.
     
  12. Guason Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2005
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    0
    Keaton is the only Batman!
     
  13. Riven Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2005
    Messages:
    6,625
    Likes Received:
    1
    He's a voice actor. :rolleyes:


    Keaton was amazing, Bale will be too. Better? We'll see!
     
  14. DorkyFresh Sum Dum Goy

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    Messages:
    19,551
    Likes Received:
    21
    Keaton did a great job as Batman....but he didn't look the part.

    Keaton's great job + Someone who looks the part = Bale

    nuff' said.
     
  15. Infinity9999x Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2005
    Messages:
    12,107
    Likes Received:
    638
    idk Bale will really have to pull this off to make me say he was better then keaton. Like Wallace states, a guy has to pull of some damn great acting to sell us that hes batman when he doesnt have the build, look, or a good costume for the part. It would be like imagine some skinny dude playing superman, but he never puts on the super-man coustume, has light brown hair, and has a skinny face, but still pulls off the role. Bale will be great, but Keaton was damn Amazing.
     
  16. Chris Wallace LET'S DO A HEADCOUNT...

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2001
    Messages:
    35,629
    Likes Received:
    1
    Egg-ZACT-lee. I ain't knockin' Bale. I have very high hopes for Bale, but Keaton had to overcome several disadvantages to be accepted in the role & in my opinion, he did it.
     
  17. TheDarkKnight Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    254
    Likes Received:
    0
    For me, Keaton IS Batman. Bale will take over that role, and will probably exceed it because movies now are much, much better than movies in 1989. Kilmer and Clooney aren't Batman IMO.
     
  18. P. Cushing Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    Messages:
    6,748
    Likes Received:
    0
    So? So was Orson Welles.
     
  19. DorkyFresh Sum Dum Goy

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    Messages:
    19,551
    Likes Received:
    21
    Bale has to overcome the disadvantage of everyone comparing him to Keaton.
     
  20. bbb Keysi-Kick

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2004
    Messages:
    763
    Likes Received:
    0
    if kilmer and clooney were chosen to play batman in the first 2 movies then i think they would of gave the same or possibly better performace than keaton as batman, also you seem narrow minded with your comment there will never be a better Batman than Keaton as you havn't seen bale's performance in batman begins yet and assume noone can touch keaton's performance
     
  21. DorkyFresh Sum Dum Goy

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    Messages:
    19,551
    Likes Received:
    21
    To tell you the truth...Keaton's performances as Bruce Wayne aren't anything all that special. Actually there we a couple of moments that made me go "WTF?" like....."You wanna get nuts???? C'MON!!! Let's get nuts!"

    Don't get me wrong....Keaton did a great job, but it's not like his performance as Bruce Wayne struck any real emotions from the audience. Whereas even in Mr. Bale's worst movie (IMO)...in Equilibrium, when he started crying on the steps....you could feel his pain.
     
  22. Bruce_Wayne29 Registered

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2004
    Messages:
    3,111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Please ! You can go and watch Batman when Keaton is remembering the Wayne's death and you can feel his pain as well and he didn't even need to break out and cry, his eyes said it all.
    Chris, great post buddy. You really got it. Keaton is an awesome actor who loves challenges. It's what estimulates him as an artist. He hates to be bored. Batman was one of those roles in which he had alot of fun overcoming all of the odds. And he did it. Maybe he could have been even better had he trained with weights but that was something he was told not to do. He did train martial arts and kickboxing and his instructor in both movies said he never had a fastest learning student.
    And in my opinion it's better when you have both characters (Bruce and Batman) and not suspect that one is the other based on their physique. In comics sometimes it's almost insulting to your intelligence when they paint Bruce with a HUGE body and there he is entering the parties in tuxedo , the biggest guy in the room and nobody suspects he's Batman. I rather believe in a smaller guy who then becomes bigger with his body armour.
    And that's why I always said performance wise (I think Bale will be better as Bruce, in action sequences also because he has a better suit and the help of special effects that Keaton didn't have at the time) Keaton is unbeatable. He had a harder job.
    I take great confort in knowing how well he's still respected. Crowds cheer very loud and clap when he's in talk shows and mentions Batman. And no matter how hard some fans are enamorated with Bale will try to take down his credit, he will always be Batman to millions.
    I do wish Bale good luck and if he impresses me more than Keaton I will be here to admit it. If not, there's no small feat either. He doesn't have to be better. He just has to be good enough. He will be great. But Keaton was amazing.
     
  23. BatmanRules33 Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2005
    Messages:
    2,764
    Likes Received:
    0

    ^ well said my friend, well said. Keaton WAS and IS :batman: !
     
  24. Chris Wallace LET'S DO A HEADCOUNT...

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2001
    Messages:
    35,629
    Likes Received:
    1
    I'll give you that.
     
  25. Riven Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2005
    Messages:
    6,625
    Likes Received:
    1
    So? Did Orson Welles ever voice Batman?

    You can't compare a voice actor's performance to a regular actor's performance of one and the same character. It's two entirely different mediums that requite two entirely different approaches and skills.

    I'm not saying voice actors are inferior to regular actors, I'm saying it's silly to say Conroy was better or worse than Keaton, since they did different jobs with the same character.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice
monitoring_string = "afb8e5d7348ab9e99f73cba908f10802"