How is the new Batman compare to the old ones
Ben Affleck
Val Kilmer
Robert Pattinson
Christian Bale
He's my favorite of them all.
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MovieChat Forums > The Batman (2022) Discussion > How is the new Batman compare to the old...
I was a little bit shocked how much I liked him. He is probably a closer to the mark Batman. I like the detail they put into him, and the fact that they made him fallible. The way they played him gave good depth, but also gave a ton of space for the character to grow and mature in later movies.
I think I liked Bale's Bruce Wayne a little bit more, but I think this is the most complete Batman we have gotten in a single movie.
The fallibility was great. It's a lot more tense watching fights (even if you're still pretty sure how they're going to go) when the choreo has multiple guys jumping him, getting in hits, and Batman not being an unstoppable force. It highlights the vulnerability of Batman - which is great.
Pattinson does a great job with silence and stillness, too; that aspect reminded me a lot of Keaton's Batman, and I love them both for it.
I found the different tack taken on Bruce to be refreshing. The "playboy masquerade" thing is a little worn out, and anyway I think the broodmeister worked better for a year two, still-finding-his-feet Batman - one who is struggling to balance his life.
I can see that take with Bruce. I think I've just gotten use to seeing him played a certain way. The way Pattison played him really did give the whole movie a new dynamic that maybe I'm just not giving enough credit too.
I have a feeling this might be one of those questions best answered after we see the growth in the next movie. There is a very real possibility that we all will appreciate THIS Bruce when we see the growth.
I appreciate this Bruce now. It feels fresher, and I like that they're not afraid to take things into different territory.
I do hope they evolve his character, but I also hope that they follow stories and arcs that suit this new incarnation, not just going paint-by-numbers based on previous versions.
He's on-par, or close, to Keaton in my opinion.
They REALLY focus on his pain, and his struggle is in coming to terms with what Batman should be and with who he is. Like Keaton, Pattinson really uses stillness and silence to build a wonderful performance.
How did you forget Keaton on your list?
My rank:
Keaton/Pattinson
Kevin Conroy (no love for the voice actor?)
Peter Weller (another voice-over - this one from the film version of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns)
Christian Bale
Val Kilmer
Ben Affleck (although, to be fair, I only really saw him in Suicide Squad)
Adam West
George Clooney (sorry, George)
To be fair to Affleck, his Batman was a co-star in ensemble casts. Also, his Batman exists in a universe of super-powered heroes and villains.
The other three are the headliners of their movies and, in their movies, superpowers don't exist. All the villains are more or less human scale.
Nothing against Kilmer. He was fine, but stuck in a movie that was a bit too cartoony.
For me it really is a toss up between Bale/Nolan and Pattinson/Reeves. Bale's Batman is closer to being a spy/soldier type with all the high tech toys, cars, team approach and such. His Bruce Wayne is also closer to the billionaire playboy/ philanthropist that we are most familiar with.
Pattinson portrays Batman in his second year so his Batman is less refined. It shows up in the costume, the car, the lack of tech stuff (but there is some)... He's way more broody, particularly his Bruce Wayne. Even his fighting style is more blunt. However, what this movie does well is focus on his abilities as a detective. He moves about quietly, taking in information before coming up with solutions.
You could visualize Pattinson's Batman eventually evolving into Bale's as he comes into his own.
Gotham City is its own character too that contributes to the success of these movies. Bale's Gotham is essentially a typical American metropolis (Chicago in real life). Pattinson's Gotham is like the emo version of New York City. No Burton style gargoyles and such, but it's all dark shades of blue and brown, rainy, dirty...
Both directors also come up with some kick-ass action sequences.
I really can't choose between Bale and Pattinson. They are both excellent. Go see it and judge for yourself.
You could visualize Pattinson's Batman eventually evolving into Bale's as he comes into his own.
This. It's especially fitting as Reeves/Pattinson's primary narrative arcs for Batman basically fit in as expanded footnotes for what Nolan/Bale's Batman alluded to (e.g. Batman as a symbol, good or for bad. Bruce Wayne being a mask, etc.) share
Why did you not include Michael Keaton?
My ranking (by overall act, personality & screen-presence and not by quality of movie):
Michael Keaton
Robert Pattinson
Val Kilmer
Christian Bale
George Clooney
Ben Affleck
Best Batman:
Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Adam West
Best Bruce Wayne:
Adam West, Val Kilmer, Christian Bale, George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Robert Pattinson
Bale>Keaton>Pattinson>Kilmer>Affleck>Clooney
Bale vs Keaton is a tough one. But Keaton was seen more like an upset, nobody expected anything good about him. I think they tried to do the same with Pattinson.
As Batman, Keaton and Affleck are my favorites.
As Bruce Wayne I think Pattinson is the best. He's more relatable, angry, unsure (not infallible,) and humane. His Batman is almost non-expressive so it's hard to gauge, so in my opinion not better than Keaton, Affleck or Bale. For now.