46 replies to this topic

[dodge]

No one would deny darling Ledger his due. Let the accolades go on for years for his brilliant, inspired performance. Meanwhile, what of Bale, who's worthy of far more praise than he's been getting this time round?

For me, he's BM's Connery roled up into one with Craig. (Clooney stood in for Moore and Michael Keaton for peeling back the layers Broz. Could Val Kilmer have been...Dalton?)

Just a few things I love about Bale, for a start:

1) None of the other actors, for me, had entirely escaped the essential silliness of the Bat suit. But Bale looks entirely at home in the suit and I can easily imagine watching him glower and wonder, "Has my life really come to this? Battling an idiot who dresses like a penguin?"
2) Bale's genius at shapeshifting. The physique he's created is perfect for the part. He looks impressive but not threatening as his dayself...and fearsome in the suit. Entirely convincing in the action scenes.
3) His generosity as an actor. Ledger owns the screen, in part at least, because Bale was big enough to pull back, granting his costar full reign.
4) The camera loves him. Truly. See Bale in most any interview, he looks unprepossessing. Almost ordinary. As Wayne, doing nothing but smiling, he looks outrageously handsome and full of the devil.
5) The voice. Superman looks and sounds exactly like Clark Kent. BM has a deeper, gruffer and more anguished voice. No explanation. But it works--no wonder nobody recognizes him.

What else am I missing that accounts for Bale being so fiendishly good?

[Skudor]

5) The voice. Superman looks and sounds exactly like Clark Kent. BM has a deeper, gruffer and more anguished voice. No explanation. But it works--no wonder nobody recognizes him.

I wondered what the voice was all about and whether I'd missed the explanation. I guess not.

Personally I would have loved to see Bale's take on Bond. I reckon he could have been right up there with Connery and Craig.

[dodge]

5) The voice. Superman looks and sounds exactly like Clark Kent. BM has a deeper, gruffer and more anguished voice. No explanation. But it works--no wonder nobody recognizes him.

I wondered what the voice was all about and whether I'd missed the explanation. I guess not.

Personally I would have loved to see Bales take on Bond. I reckon he could have been right up there with Connery and Craig.

Bingo. It took me a while to get hip to Bale. But now I too think he could've brought real magic to the role of Bond. I suppose by the end of Dan's tenure Bale would be too...old? Bummer.

[Jim]

Why does he do that silly voice?

[Judo chop]

Why does he do that silly voice?

B/c that’s exactly how bats sound.

When they talk.




In secret.

[HildebrandRarity]

Why does he do that silly voice?

Umm...Squeezing into that tight rubber suit gets him angry and irritable?

Look, Spidey and Supes get to wear light, breathable, nicely coloured spandex...and Our James gets to wear some nice 'n comfy Sea Island cotton shirts and a well-made, cool wool tailored suit...so...'ya know. It's all about the comfort factor, dude!

I mean, wouldnt you be all huffy if your balls were sweltering and you couldnt scratch an itch? And Batty has to hold it in all night long. What if you were dying to go but couldn't until you got to the bat cave? Wouldnt you be all gruffy and talk all silly and angry?

[DamnCoffee]

Why does he do that silly voice?

As I am a fairy new Batman fan, I always assumed that it was to hide his identity. But he does sound like a grizzly bear though, doesn't he?

[Andrew]

I excuse Bale's Batman voice because I can't imagine that it would be easy to hide an American accent which is hiding a Welsh accent.

That being said, his voice is superb when he keeps it as a low growl like it was in BEGINS.

[00Twelve]

To answer the question about the reason for the gruff growl, it serves two purposes:

1) It masks his normal speaking voice. Obviously there'd be a bit of awkwardness if Batman was recognized as Bruce Wayne because of vocality. I'd say this is the primary and most practical reason.

(Makes me wonder why no villain has simply tried to scar Batman's cheek or chin. I mean, if you want to find out the real identity, duh.)

2) It's part of the theatricality that Batman uses to intimidate. He already looks like some kind of demon from a Michaelangelo painting, so why not help drive the point home with an unsettlingly gruff voice? Sure, some of us think it's funny, like Clint Eastwood's voice in Heartbreak Ridge, but when you're dangling upside down like that dirty cop in Begins and Batman's screaming "Swear to ME!!!!", well, then, that's another story.

[Bondian]

Why does he do that silly voice?

Because he's undercover as 'Jimmy (Schnozzle) Durante'.

[Judo chop]

(Makes me wonder why no villain has simply tried to scar Batman's cheek or chin. I mean, if you want to find out the real identity, duh.)

I think being totally aware of that trick after using it himself to pass his League of Shadows test in BEGINS, he’s just extra precautious not to get scratched in the face.

[ImTheMoneypenny]

Why does he do that silly voice?

B/c that’s exactly how bats sound.

When they talk.




In secret.

I don't know, dodge, I had a bat in my house all it did was squeal and fly around. He liked us so much he came back again a couple months later, despite us hitting him with a broom the first time around.

But seriously, I read an article which said that Bale was emulating Kevin Conroy's growl as Batman in Gotham Knight.

Bale is a great actor. However part of me still sees that little boy in Empire of The Sun, no matter how old he gets.

[Harmsway]

But seriously, I read an article which said that Bale was emulating Kevin Conroy's growl as Batman in Gotham Knight.

Nonsense. GOTHAM KNIGHT came after BEGINS, and by then Bale's voice was well established.

[00Twelve]

(Makes me wonder why no villain has simply tried to scar Batman's cheek or chin. I mean, if you want to find out the real identity, duh.)

I think being totally aware of that trick after using it himself to pass his League of Shadows test in BEGINS, he’s just extra precautious not to get scratched in the face.

Good thinking, my friend.









Or, um, BB writers.

[DR76]

The voice. Superman looks and sounds exactly like Clark Kent. BM has a deeper, gruffer and more anguished voice. No explanation. But it works--no wonder nobody recognizes him.

I'm sorry, but I hate the "Batman Voice". I really do. I love Bale as Batman. He's my favorite one. But I hated that voice in both films.

[dodge]

I'm off to see TDK again today...partly for the sheer of it--and partly to test my growing notion:

I keep hearing echoes--in Bale's bat voice--of Alec Baldwin in The Shadow.

[bond 16.05.72]

Personally I had no problem with the voice and thought it made him more fearful, ok it made some laugh but to me it worked, that moment when he says "Swear to Me" in Begins was chilling.

I can't take anything away from Heath, the 2nd time around I noticed even more how detailed and brilliant his potrayal of the Joker was, his 1st moment with the mobsters is brilliant but that exiting the Hospital sequence is pure genius, the way he's dressed in the Nurse's uniform and the walk is just magnificent.

Heath you are sadly missed!

Though I also noticed how great Bale was, he owns the role now and he plays both roles so well, he's a great believable Wayne and such a imposing Batman.

None of the previous actors added the depth Bale has, Keaton's Batman looks fat in comparrison, yes Bale's got a better suit but he looks as tough as he should be, Keaton or any of the others didn't.

Eckhart & Oldman were tops as well if I had to rate the cast I would put Heath & Bale level and Oldman just behind with Eckhart trailing close behind.

Edited by bond 16.05.72, 06 August 2008 - 05:43 PM.

[AngryPolarBear]

I'm one of those who just love the voice. "Well, sergeant?". Baleaholic!

[Publius]

For me, he's BM's Connery roled up into one with Craig. (Clooney stood in for Moore and Michael Keaton for peeling back the layers Broz. Could Val Kilmer have been...Dalton?)

I think Keaton was more like Craig while Bale is more like Dalton. Not sure about the others because I haven't seen Batman Forever or that other one since the 90s.

Anyway, I completely agree with your assessment of Bale.

To answer the question about the reason for the gruff growl, it serves two purposes:

1) It masks his normal speaking voice. Obviously there'd be a bit of awkwardness if Batman was recognized as Bruce Wayne because of vocality. I'd say this is the primary and most practical reason.

(Makes me wonder why no villain has simply tried to scar Batman's cheek or chin. I mean, if you want to find out the real identity, duh.)

2) It's part of the theatricality that Batman uses to intimidate. He already looks like some kind of demon from a Michaelangelo painting, so why not help drive the point home with an unsettlingly gruff voice? Sure, some of us think it's funny, like Clint Eastwood's voice in Heartbreak Ridge, but when you're dangling upside down like that dirty cop in Begins and Batman's screaming "Swear to ME!!!!", well, then, that's another story.

Bingo. Well said. Batman is supposed to be a monster in the minds of criminals, although that image was somewhat tarnished by the time of TDK since they had come to realize he has certain rules. I wonder if they'll fear him more than ever in the next one now that he's taken credit for Dent's killings.

Eckhart & Oldman were tops as well if I had to rate the cast I would put Heath & Bale level and Oldman just behind with Eckhart trailing clpse behind.

I probably order them a bit differently than you do, especially since I think Eckhart stole the show, but I agree that all four were excellent, to put it mildly. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were also great. Not a weak (or even so-so) link in the cast.

[bond 16.05.72]

For me, he's BM's Connery roled up into one with Craig. (Clooney stood in for Moore and Michael Keaton for peeling back the layers Broz. Could Val Kilmer have been...Dalton?)

I think Keaton was more like Craig while Bale is more like Dalton. Not sure about the others because I haven't seen Batman Forever or that other one since the 90s.

To answer the question about the reason for the gruff growl, it serves two purposes:

1) It masks his normal speaking voice. Obviously there'd be a bit of awkwardness if Batman was recognized as Bruce Wayne because of vocality. I'd say this is the primary and most practical reason.

(Makes me wonder why no villain has simply tried to scar Batman's cheek or chin. I mean, if you want to find out the real identity, duh.)

2) It's part of the theatricality that Batman uses to intimidate. He already looks like some kind of demon from a Michaelangelo painting, so why not help drive the point home with an unsettlingly gruff voice? Sure, some of us think it's funny, like Clint Eastwood's voice in Heartbreak Ridge, but when you're dangling upside down like that dirty cop in Begins and Batman's screaming "Swear to ME!!!!", well, then, that's another story.

Bingo. Well said. Batman is supposed to be a monster in the minds of criminals, although that image was somewhat tarnished by the time of TDK since they had come to realize he has certain rules. I wonder if they'll fear him more than ever in the next one now that he's taken credit for Dent's killings.

Eckhart & Oldman were tops as well if I had to rate the cast I would put Heath & Bale level and Oldman just behind with Eckhart trailing clpse behind.

I probably order them a bit differently than you do, especially since I think Eckhart stole the show, but I agree that all four were excellent, to put it mildly. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were also great. Not a weak (or even so-so) link in the cast.

I'm thinking that the way TDK left things that Batman will more of an unpredictable force, he will use that perception Gotham have him to his advantage, people will fear as they will think they will end up victims of his now they believe he is a murderer.

The situation is most interesting where Nolan & Goyer could take this.

I would have to agree TDK didn't have a weak link in the casting, Caine, Freeman and also Eric Roberts were great, Gyllenhall although not given the best material was a great improvement over Holmes.

Edited by bond 16.05.72, 06 August 2008 - 06:02 PM.

[dodge]

A smattering of thoughts after a second viewing:

1) Maggie G reminded me in almost every way of Diana Rigg in OHMSS.
2) The bat voice really grew on me...but so did my conviction that Bale's voice was either dubbed or electronically altered. And this in turn led to thoughts of how we might see Bale as Hilary Brayed--and cut Gorgeous George more slack. Wouldn't the two actors have had voice doubles for about the same length of screen time?
3) It really was wonderful to see Eric Roberts get a break after a world record of straight to video trash.
4) The major contributions of Caine and Freeman and Oldman were far more evident to me this time. By peopling the narrative landscape with gifted actors like them, the BM team made certain we take this tale as true to life, however farfetched it may be.
5) I now want to see it in IMAX!

[Harmsway]

2) The bat voice really grew on me...but so did my conviction that Bale's voice was either dubbed or electronically altered.

Given the comments from the actors and crew re: Bale's Batman voice, it's apparently neither (and yes, Bale loses his voice all the time doing it).

[dodge]

2) The bat voice really grew on me...but so did my conviction that Bale's voice was either dubbed or electronically altered.

Given the comments from the actors and crew re: Bale's Batman voice, it's apparently neither (and yes, Bale loses his voice all the time doing it).

Now you've really got me wondering. The normal timber of his voice wouldn't suggest that he's capable of such a gravelly bass. Bravo if he is, though. Have any of his previous performances evidenced such range? He always half-sounds like Travolta to me.

[Harmsway]

The normal timber of his voice wouldn't suggest that he's capable of such a gravelly bass. Bravo if he is, though.

I've got a tenor voice myself (like Bale), with a very limited low range, but I can pretty much replicate the Bale Batman sound no problem. In terms of pitch, his Batman voice really never gets particularly low. Certainly nothing near what a genuine bass voice is capable of. It's just really raspy.

Have any of his previous performances evidenced such range?

Well, no, but that's to be expected since it's such a forced sound. It's not at all natural, hence Bale losing his voice.

[Loomis]

I'm not sure that Bale is "the bomb" is Batman. He's good but, unlike Craig as Bond, doesn't convince me that he's doing it any better than others would.

Sure, he's a lot better than the other recent Batmen, but that isn't saying much because Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney were all horrendously miscast.

Bale's a serviceable Batman, that's all. If for some reason the series had to lose either Bale or Nolan, I'd rather see Bale go.

[Harmsway]

Sure, he's a lot better than the other recent Batmen, but that isn't saying much because Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney were all horrendously miscast.

I actually don't think Kilmer was miscast at all. I think he was in a horrible movie with a horrible director, and that clearly affected his performance. But had he been given a proper script and director, I think he could have done very well with the part.

[Jim]

Have any of his previous performances evidenced such range?

Well, no, but that's to be expected since it's such a forced sound. It's not at all natural, hence Bale losing his voice.

If he really was a bat man, wouldn't he have a really high voice? Missed a trick, there, haven't they? Would be fun.

[Safari Suit]

A smattering of thoughts after a second viewing:

1) Maggie G reminded me in almost every way of Diana Rigg in OHMSS.

Um, how?

Sure, he's a lot better than the other recent Batmen, but that isn't saying much because Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney were all horrendously miscast.

I actually don't think Kilmer was miscast at all. I think he was in a horrible movie with a horrible director, and that clearly affected his performance. But had he been given a proper script and director, I think he could have done very well with the part.

I agree. Although I would say on paper, given some of his filmography up to that point, I can see why they gave Schumacher the job.

[Joey Bond]

Personally off the 3 (Clooney, Kilmer and Keaton) I actually like Kilmer the most.

No match for Bale though. It's good how while the other actors are big names (Caine, Freeman, Ledger, Neesen) like in the old days (Carrey, Nicholson, (gulps) Schwarzhenneger) the did the Daniel Craig thing and gave the main role to a relative unknown whos a great actor.

Too bad that now I think Batman's killed off any chance he has of being Bond.

[dodge]

A smattering of thoughts after a second viewing:

1) Maggie G reminded me in almost every way of Diana Rigg in OHMSS.

Um, how?

Sure, he's a lot better than the other recent Batmen, but that isn't saying much because Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney were all horrendously miscast.

I actually don't think Kilmer was miscast at all. I think he was in a horrible movie with a horrible director, and that clearly affected his performance. But had he been given a proper script and director, I think he could have done very well with the part.

I agree. Although I would say on paper, given some of his filmography up to that point, I can see why they gave Schumacher the job.

Mainly her delivery and the very tone of her voice. But also Tracy-like expressions and gestures--I'm thinking in particular of the infinitely subtle circular movement of her left shoulder when she gets excited. (Okay, I made that last one up--but she's a ringer for Rigg, in my book.)