While we wait for the next Batman movie to come out starring Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame, let us examine how we got to this point. Because like Superman, Batman’s been played by multiple actors over the years who have given us distinct versions of the same character.
Yet almost everyone seems to agree the best actor to play the Caped Crusader was Michael Keaton. Making his debut in the 1989 film Batman directed by Tim Burton, Keaton’s version blew audiences away and continues to be an enduring performance now. It was not only good but also faithful to the comics.
Making Stoic Poses
Due to his serious nature, Batman is often drawn in stoic poses on the covers of comic books with the Bat-Signal usually behind him. It’s an image that’s so iconic that almost every Batman movie seldom passes up the opportunity to use it with different kinds of shots.
But there has never been a shot equivalent to that of Keaton’s pose at the end of Batman where he’s solemnly staring up at the Bat-Signal. Even though he doesn’t speak, we can clearly tell just by the way he stands how much this crusade against crime in Gotham City means to him.
Using Fear-Based Tactics
What makes Batman different from other superheroes in the DC universe is how far he’s willing to go to take down the criminals that plague his city. Namely, using fear-based tactics to intimidate them such as hiding in the shadows and leaping down from high places.
Thus, Batman’s costume helps in this regard because it’s black and made in the image of a creature that most people fear. Now while Batman Begins explored the costume and its origin more thoroughly than Batman did, that arguably made it less interesting. Plus, Keaton nailed the intimidation factor better through minimal movement and a convincingly threatening voice.
Torturing Criminals
Among his fear-based tactics, Batman is not above torturing criminals to either intimidate them or get vital information. This is often considered a major flaw of his, which is shown in varying degrees throughout the different Batman movies. For instance, Batman v Superman showed Ben Affleck’s Caped Crusader branding jailed criminals with a bat-shaped mark.
By contrast, Keaton’s version didn’t have to resort to that level of torture. Instead, he briefly dangled one guy over the ledge of a building before leaving him on the roof. While torture itself is bad, Keaton’s Batman is arguably less cruel which makes him more relatable yet still flawed.
Using His Smarts To Figure Out The Bad Guy’s Plan
Being a detective first and foremost, Batman typically spends most of his time investigating the various crimes committed in Gotham and tries to figure out why the perpetrator did it. Using a variety of high-tech tools including the Batcomputer, he’s able to anticipate their next move and plan a strategy to combat them accordingly.
In the Batman movies, though, we usually get brief moments of actual detective work or none at all in some cases. Such was not the case for Keaton’s Batman, though, where we see him examining television footage of the Joker and newspapers to figure out Joker’s ultimate scheme.
Relying On Alfred For Advice
The under-appreciated hero of the Batman universe, Alfred Pennyworth is always around to help the Caped Crusader in his own small ways such as giving advice on different situations. In turn, Batman relies on Alfred’s advice yet to different extents in the various movies.
While Affleck’s Batman pretty much ignored Alfred unless proven wrong, for example, Christian Bale’s version had to be spurred by Alfred who gave him tough but helpful advice. Compared to those two, Keaton’s Batman had a more balanced relationship with Alfred. Specifically, he respects Alfred’s advice but not to the point of completely depending on him.
Having Charismatic Charm In His Civilian Identity
When Batman is not fighting crime, he is Bruce Wayne the playboy billionaire owner of his family’s company Wayne Enterprises. So as part of this persona, Bruce is often depicted as good-looking in various Batman-related media. On top of that, he has a charismatic charm that woos the ladies and makes him a persuasive businessman to clients and colleagues alike.
In this regard, Bale certainly nails the good-looking aspect in Batman Begins but Keaton has the charismatic charm down more in Batman. Because though Keaton’s Bruce doesn’t look attractive by today’s standards, his unassuming appearance arguably makes it a perfect coverup for his superhero identity.
Not Allowing Himself To Be Photographed
Unlike other DC heroes, who don’t mind being seen by the public or the press for that matter, Batman prefers not to be in the limelight. His reasons for doing this vary, including protecting his civilian identity and making himself more intimidating to the criminals he fights.
Though most of the movies imply Batman doesn’t want to be seen openly, it’s hard to believe that when he shows up at a public event in Batman & Robin or rides around on a motorcycle in The Dark Knight. Yet in the first Batman movie, we see Keaton’s version remove the photographs taken of him by reporter Vicki Vale.
Paying Respects To His Dead Parents
Aside from morals like justice and safety for others, Batman’s primary motivation for fighting crime is because of his own tragedy when his parents were shot by an unknown criminal. So every now and then, he pays respect to his parents’ passing in some form as Bruce.
Usually, though, it’s by visiting their graves which is typically shown in the different Batman movies including Batman v Superman. But Keaton’s Bruce goes the extra mile in Batman by actually visiting the alley where his parents were shot and places a pair of roses there. Thus, it’s more powerful and less cliche.
Being Tortured By His Loneliness
Because he doesn’t want others to get hurt in his line of work, both Bruce and Batman tend to push away the people they care about the most. This is even when they have Alfred as a confidant along with numerous sidekicks and fellow crimefighters that make up one big family.
So when the Batman movies want to impart the Caped Crusader’s loneliness onscreen, it either comes across as hypocritical or needless moping because of more pressing issues at hand. By contrast, Keaton’s Batman expresses a sense of loneliness that comes across as genuine. As a result, we sympathize with him more.
Expressing His Emotions Through His Eyes
Since the bat-shaped cowl and mask that Batman wears covers most of his face, it forces comic book artists to indicate Batman’s emotions primarily through his eyes and mouth. Now this isn’t always easy to draw, and takes a lot of artistic skill.
This is even harder for the actors who play as Batman in the movies since they have to work with not just the materials that their costumes are made of but also the makeup they wear. But some actors like Keaton are able to pull this off thanks to his own acting skills and assistive lighting.
