Affleck As Batman
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Some history:
Ben Affleck is a star. He acts. He directs. He brings in the money. Since 2010, he has made "The Town" (Legendary) and the Oscar winner "Argo" to the screen for Warner Brothers.
In 2013 Legendary Pictures went to NBCUniversal, leaving Warner Brothers after 8 years, Legendary was their huge distribution partner connected to Universal Pictures, so they needed to make drastic moves. The big money makers from the two Warner Brother movies were movies acted in and directed by Ben Affleck. Also, if you are paying attention, Legendary Pictures was also the distributor for the Nolan’s Batman Trilogy, 300 and Inception, all Christopher Nolan’s movies and Zack Snyder.
So, Legendary giving up Batman Vs. Superman needed a strong response, that response was attaching a big name to Batman/Superman. Affleck now as a few oscars to his name and that helps a crap ton. Affleck is a proven talent who has worked for the company, he’s the safe bet for a franchise.
Now on to Affleck actually playing Batman:
Batman needs to be smart, discerning, and troubled man. Ben’s recent work is incredible. In Argo (an Oscar winning film), his performance was top notch a critic wrote:
“Affleck manages to lead without hogging the stage, playing Tony as a sharp but reserved hero type who has just enough subtly-layered complexities to keep us interested in him, without those points of interest becoming distractions or loose threads.”
This level of performance is not an isolated incident, especially in recent years, in the actors second directorial outing, The Town (which got rave reviews):
“Affleck makes Doug MacRay a worthy central character, at once admirable, dangerous, vulnerable, strong, smart, foolish, brave and loyal to a fault.”
It is not easy for an actor to pull all that off in a character. Affleck as grown tremendously as an actor and a filmmaker. But those above quotes describe Batman to me.
Supporters of Affleck as Batman say that you can’t ignore his charisma and charm, and detractors say that his money and movie star attitude make him someone you despise you could never view him in a good way. Sorry, that sounds exactly like Bruce Wayne.
I think that Ben Affleck is a brilliant choice, not only for his acting and filmmaking chops, and the low risk for Warner Brothers, but he is the correct age, the correct height and build (6’3-½”, replacing Adam West as the most sizable actor), and can play both Batman and Bruce Wayne with gravity and comedy and bring a veteran Batman to life believably. I think this will be one of the best Batmans put to screen and I feel may surpass all of them. Remember how upset the internet was when pretty boy Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker?
Ben Affleck is a star. He acts. He directs. He brings in the money. Since 2010, he has made "The Town" (Legendary) and the Oscar winner "Argo" to the screen for Warner Brothers.
In 2013 Legendary Pictures went to NBCUniversal, leaving Warner Brothers after 8 years, Legendary was their huge distribution partner connected to Universal Pictures, so they needed to make drastic moves. The big money makers from the two Warner Brother movies were movies acted in and directed by Ben Affleck. Also, if you are paying attention, Legendary Pictures was also the distributor for the Nolan’s Batman Trilogy, 300 and Inception, all Christopher Nolan’s movies and Zack Snyder.
So, Legendary giving up Batman Vs. Superman needed a strong response, that response was attaching a big name to Batman/Superman. Affleck now as a few oscars to his name and that helps a crap ton. Affleck is a proven talent who has worked for the company, he’s the safe bet for a franchise.
Now on to Affleck actually playing Batman:
Batman needs to be smart, discerning, and troubled man. Ben’s recent work is incredible. In Argo (an Oscar winning film), his performance was top notch a critic wrote:
“Affleck manages to lead without hogging the stage, playing Tony as a sharp but reserved hero type who has just enough subtly-layered complexities to keep us interested in him, without those points of interest becoming distractions or loose threads.”
This level of performance is not an isolated incident, especially in recent years, in the actors second directorial outing, The Town (which got rave reviews):
“Affleck makes Doug MacRay a worthy central character, at once admirable, dangerous, vulnerable, strong, smart, foolish, brave and loyal to a fault.”
It is not easy for an actor to pull all that off in a character. Affleck as grown tremendously as an actor and a filmmaker. But those above quotes describe Batman to me.
Supporters of Affleck as Batman say that you can’t ignore his charisma and charm, and detractors say that his money and movie star attitude make him someone you despise you could never view him in a good way. Sorry, that sounds exactly like Bruce Wayne.
I think that Ben Affleck is a brilliant choice, not only for his acting and filmmaking chops, and the low risk for Warner Brothers, but he is the correct age, the correct height and build (6’3-½”, replacing Adam West as the most sizable actor), and can play both Batman and Bruce Wayne with gravity and comedy and bring a veteran Batman to life believably. I think this will be one of the best Batmans put to screen and I feel may surpass all of them. Remember how upset the internet was when pretty boy Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker?
Well this changes everything ! :wink:
@sablebrush - Being in the business, I'm sure there are nuances you perceive that I, a simple caveman (a Phil Hartman reference), cannot comprehend. DC or WB, it doesn't matter to me. Whomever has been in charge of the franchises for the past twenty years or so have made poor decisions and have little clue as to what made the comics themselves popular in the first place. The Dark Knight trilogy came close to the comic book origin story. A new Batman every 5 or so years isn't helping matters. If Affleck is a fan of the comic books and rewrote the script, then he knows what to shoot for. Keaton and Bale knew. What sticks in my craw is the lack of a Wonder Woman on the big screen. Strong, positive female role models, who aren't inherently damaged in some way, are still lacking in popular culture.
I recently read "The Secret History of Wonder Woman" by Jill Lepore and it is a fascinating and slightly disturbing book. I cannot recommend a book more. The evolution of the psychology of the character and its author is amazing. Check it out if you can. At this point in my life, all I want is a decent Wonder Woman presented to the public. Why can't I have nice things?? Why? Why? :crazy:
Affleck will do fine as Batman. He may even surmount Snyder's penchant for the melodramatic and emotionally vacant. Anyone here see and like "Sucker Punch"? That was an accurately titled movie.
The movie might be good. Some of the shots in the preview were poorly composited, and that's not a good sign. You're supposed to put your best stuff into the promos. But this may not matter much to the Studio if the box office covers the price tag. And if the box office isn't good enough, nothing else will matter, especially when a film like Deadpool, which cost a fraction of this one, is cleaning up at the box office.
The movie might be good. Some of the shots in the preview were poorly composited, and that's not a good sign. You're supposed to put your best stuff into the promos. But this may not matter much to the Studio if the box office covers the price tag. And if the box office isn't good enough, nothing else will matter, especially when a film like Deadpool, which cost a fraction of this one, is cleaning up at the box office.
@sablebrush52 I saw Sucker Punch, it could have been so much more, but didn't have the acting backbone or writing it needed. It dazzled the senses, but hurrah to them for trying an original high end concept and not adapting or remaking something.
@mayfair70 We are getting a standalone Wonder Woman movie! Some of the footage is already teased, it's released next year! The best fighter in the whole of the DC Universe.
@mayfair70 We are getting a standalone Wonder Woman movie! Some of the footage is already teased, it's released next year! The best fighter in the whole of the DC Universe.
I really think they just hired him for his chin.
They can make him sound like anything they want, they can pad the suit, give him all the coolest gadgets... But the chin has to be real.
They can make him sound like anything they want, they can pad the suit, give him all the coolest gadgets... But the chin has to be real.
The chin is in! Good point, pun intended.....
I'm betting it will come out just pretty darn good, but not a block buster, not THE Batman film by which all are measured. I can wait till it's on DIRECTV®, most likely, though if the GF wants to go, I'm in like Flynn.
I'm betting it will come out just pretty darn good, but not a block buster, not THE Batman film by which all are measured. I can wait till it's on DIRECTV®, most likely, though if the GF wants to go, I'm in like Flynn.
I have no doubt it will be a financial and critical disaster. What is nice, is that we can revisit this and just check out the scoreboard. Now the new Captain America looks ultra-cool. Predict it will be a financial blockbuster and the people will love it. I'm looking forward to Dr. Strange as well.
To me the only Batman is Michael Keaton. The first two Batman movies were good but the other couple failed. I've yet to watch any of the Dark Knight movies and I'm not to keen on watching the new movie either. Maybe he'll do well, but then again its Ben Affleck so I'm not holding my breath.
The Dark Knight movies are held in high regard, but in the end, it is a personal taste type deal, just like with tobacco.
TOMATOMETER
94%
Average Rating: 8.6/10
Reviews Counted: 314
Fresh: 295
Rotten: 19
Critics Consensus: Dark, complex and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.
AUDIENCE SCORE
94%
liked it
Average Rating: 4.4/5
User Ratings: 1,821,375
TOMATOMETER
94%
Average Rating: 8.6/10
Reviews Counted: 314
Fresh: 295
Rotten: 19
Critics Consensus: Dark, complex and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.
AUDIENCE SCORE
94%
liked it
Average Rating: 4.4/5
User Ratings: 1,821,375
I always thought the Batman v Superman story epitomized the "we officially have run out of ideas" storylines and can't see this effort as anything more than that. They sure are promoting the heck out of it though. I won't see it and Afleck is an even worse idea than the story.
Guess we'll see soon enough if this is a hit or miss.
I need characters that I care about. Give me that, and I'll happily submerge myself into a film's reality. Without that, the rest doesn't matter to me. Empty visual pyrotechnics bore me. Having spent 38 years working in visual effects and animation I feel that the only visual worth anything is one that advances the story, and/or supports revealing the characters. The rest is a bore. So let's hope that the characters are more than cardboard cutouts and that there is something in them to which the audience can relate.
If I hear good things about it from people I trust, I'll go see it. As it stands, I've no plans to see it.
I need characters that I care about. Give me that, and I'll happily submerge myself into a film's reality. Without that, the rest doesn't matter to me. Empty visual pyrotechnics bore me. Having spent 38 years working in visual effects and animation I feel that the only visual worth anything is one that advances the story, and/or supports revealing the characters. The rest is a bore. So let's hope that the characters are more than cardboard cutouts and that there is something in them to which the audience can relate.
If I hear good things about it from people I trust, I'll go see it. As it stands, I've no plans to see it.
By any metric, The Dark Knight is one of the best trilogies ever made. At the time, I loved Keaton's, but time was not kind to it. It's just way too soon since Dark Knight for Aflecks batman fiasco. I agree this is an "out of ideas" storyline, made less for telling/promoting a story than making a buck. Again, huge opening weekend, but no legs.
My theory on Batman has always been that the real trick was finding a good Bruce Wayne. If the actor can play Bruce Wayne, then all he needs is a strong chin when he puts the costume on, a decent "Batman Voice", and let the stuntmen do all the work. Maybe he can pull it off, maybe not. He has the chin, but looking at the trailers and online photos the "new" batsuit he has made to fight superman covers the chin anyways. Also, when he speaks during the trailers, he's speaking through some kind of voice synthesizer. Here's hoping it's not as bad as George Clooney's batman ... but my hopes aren't too high.
I wasn't nearly as upset with finding out about the Affleck-Batman as I was hearing about the Jared Leto-Joker. The Joker is just as iconic as Batman, and my all time hands down favorite villain ever. Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger both did a really good job. Mark Hammil has the single greatest joker voice/laugh in history (his performances in the Arkham video games was absolutely breathtaking). Jared Leto? I don't think so. And the images and trailers so far look awful. Absolutely awful. Every new trailer or set photo or publicity image that comes out just makes it look worse and worse. I don't like where they are taking the character AT ALL.
I wasn't nearly as upset with finding out about the Affleck-Batman as I was hearing about the Jared Leto-Joker. The Joker is just as iconic as Batman, and my all time hands down favorite villain ever. Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger both did a really good job. Mark Hammil has the single greatest joker voice/laugh in history (his performances in the Arkham video games was absolutely breathtaking). Jared Leto? I don't think so. And the images and trailers so far look awful. Absolutely awful. Every new trailer or set photo or publicity image that comes out just makes it look worse and worse. I don't like where they are taking the character AT ALL.
Agreed! The Joker... after Jacks portrayal I figured that character couldn't be played by anyone else, but then I saw The Dark Knight trailer. Ledgers performance is too amazing for words. His tragic death made his portrayal even darker and special. To me, at this point, it would be like attempting to recast Hannibal Lechter in a new movie. Is it possible? Sure, but so very unlikely.
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