Robert Pattinson will soon don the iconic cowl in The Batman, and there's a lot he can learn from previous movie versions of the character.
The Batman will see Robert Pattinson step into the Dark Knight role, and with so many on-screen incarnations of the character there's a lot to be learned from previous movie versions.The Batman
Batman movies have generally fared well, despite some missteps. The iconic anti-hero was bringing in huge box office results even before Marvel's MCU dominated the multiplex. In fact, Tim Burton's BatmanBatman ReturnsBatman ForeverBatman & Robin
With so many incarnations of the character out there, Pattinson and Reeves certainly have enough material to learn from. In fact, the theatrical portrayals of the Dark Knight provide somewhat of a handbook on the dos and don'ts of playing Batman. It seems The Batman
Michael Keaton
Prior to Tim Burton's Batman,
One of the main strengths of Keaton's version, who'll soon be returning for The FlashBatman ReturnsBatman,
Compare that with Bale's Batman in The Dark Knight Rises
Val Kilmer
There's no doubt Val Kilmer's impressive jawline suited the famous cowl, but there was more to this mid-90s Batman than looks. The underrated Batman Forever
But he also brought a vulnerability to the role, with his Bruce Wayne seeming genuinely damaged by the loss of his parents in a way that Keaton's broody Wayne didn't. If Pattinson can embody the kind of vulnerability Kilmer brought to Bruce Wayne – even if Kilmer did quit after one movie – while maintaining a similarly composed demeanor as the Dark Knight, that will no doubt go a long way to giving his character some depth while enhancing his believability as an intellectually superior and confident Batman.
George Clooney
George Clooney has publicly apologized multiple times for his take on Batman, and for good reason. Batman & RobinBatman & Robin
Doing away with the Bat-branded credit cards and infamous Bat-nipples would be a good start here, but it seems unlikely Reeves and Pattinson are using Batman & Robin
Christian Bale
Bale will always be fondly remembered for his portrayal of the Dark Knight. His appearances in Nolan's celebrated trilogy were part of what made that particular saga one of Batman's best on-screen runs. Bale brought a depth to the character, aided by Nolan's attempt to chart Bruce Wayne's transformation from man to hero in more detail than any other cinematic treatment of the Dark Knight. Matt Reeves is avoiding an origin story with The Batman
Pattinson, whose slight figure is more reminiscent of Keaton than it is Bale's bulky frame, would do well to follow Bale in playing up the fear aspect as part of his arsenal of weapons against crime. Using more cerebral tactics to intimidate his enemy would fit well with the more intellectual approach Pattinson and Reeves are said to be taking with their detective-focused Batman. A similar appreciation for playing Wayne as a vacuous trust-fund type would also play well in Reeves' reportedly more grounded vision, where it's likely Pattinson's Wayne will have to take these practical concerns into consideration. On the other hand, he'd be well-advised to tone down the meme-fodder that was Bale's Batman voice.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck's Batman in Batman V SupermanJustice LeagueThe Dark Knight ReturnsBatman V Superman
Pattinson's Batman will have little in common with Affleck's, being a much younger version of the character. As such, he'll want to ensure he doesn't mimic any of the jaded demeanor that Affleck brought to the role. It might also be a good call to tone the brutality down if Pattinson's Bat is supposed to rely more on his detective skills than physical prowess. That said, there's some elements of Affleck's portrayal that Pattinson could carry over to his. For one, the Affleck Batman is something of a strategist who did a significant amount of detective work in his two movies, following leads, going undercover, and doing just as much work as Bruce Wayne as he does as Batman to reach his goals. That's something we'll surely see a lot of when the detective of The Batman arrives next year.
Monday, September 14, 2020