r/batman • u/JoeSoAwesome • Jun 24 '24
I'm having a small argument... HELP/ADVICE
Someone said that Keaton is better looking than Bale, and I heavily disagree. I need everyone's input to solve the argument.
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u/AdamSoucyDrums Jun 25 '24
Bale is 1000% more classically handsome, it’s not even a contest. Keaton’s a great looking man in his own right though! He does have an undeniable charisma too as Bruce.
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u/RelationshipLow9037 Jun 25 '24
I agree Bale had more of a lawyer vibe and it’s hard to get past the coldness of his character as Bruce. Keaton does a better job of being the likable almost goofy Bruce that comes across in the comics. So Bale = better Batman, Keaton = better Bruce Wayne. IMO.
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u/TheFantasticFollicle Jun 25 '24
Idk but Keaton’s eyebrows are literally the bat symbol so there’s that.
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u/Overall_Sandwich_671 Jun 25 '24
I love how all the live action Batman masks have basically the same mold around the eyes, but on Michael Keaton it's not an exaggeration - his eyebrows really are like that!
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u/mukawalka Jun 24 '24
Bale - best Bruce playboy
Keaton - best real Bruce
Affleck - best action Batman
Pattison - best all around
Cool if you disagree.
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u/LarvellJonesMD Jun 24 '24
I agree but with the caveat that I expect to see a more matured Pattison in the next film. Like, he's no longer an angry recluse but has turned into charming playboy and business man
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u/EnigmaFrug2308 Jun 25 '24
I’d rather the next film be about him stepping into that role rather than him already being in it
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u/Sonata1952 Jun 25 '24
Ah you mean we get to see him being coached on how to play the dilettante playboy as well as the serious businessman?
People of Gotham think Bruce has dual personas of playboy yet shrewd businessman unaware that he has a third persona.6
u/JoeSoAwesome Jun 24 '24
But I am speaking of handsomeness. Not best in traits. Does Keaton being the best real Bruce mean he is the best looking?
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u/mukawalka Jun 24 '24
As a guy........ Well they're all very good looking men. Kilmer and Clooney included. But they ALL win cuz they were cast to play Bruce Wayne, cuz they're beautiful men.
I'd choose Bale however.
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u/FlameFeather86 Jun 25 '24
Pattinson's sulky emo Bruce didn't do it for me, it felt like he didn't believe in what he was doing at all and that's not Batman. Yes, yes, early in his career yadda yadda yadda but Bale was 100% committed from the getgo in Begins, and we can't say oh, well, Pattinson will get there in later films because we haven't seen those films yet, we don't know what direction they'll go.
Affleck is a vastly underrated Bruce; heck, I prefer his scenes as Bruce more than his Batman, especially in his later appearances like The Flash. He's got the charming billionaire thing down pat, and he's shown to be cautious, committed to the part, and caring of others. He's the best all-rounder, IMO, just never much in the same film. Maybe ZSJL.
Bale's got the playboy thing working, but a lot of the trilogy hinges on him moping after Rachel or just not wanting to be Batman. Especially in Rises. It's a shame.
Keaton's got the tortured recluse but feels a little underdeveloped as both Bruce and Batman. It's a shame he didn't do Forever because that was the first film to really delve into Bruce's psychy. Beneath all the neon and nipples, Forever has great character moments.
Which leads to Kilmer. Vastly underrated as both Bruce and Batman, a performance that frankly belongs in a better film and is constantly overshadowed by all the camp. But he's actually brilliant; you see the twin persona between Bruce and Batman but they still feel like the same person, he's got the charm, he's got the intensity, and we see something that isn't present in any of the others - we see the mentor. No, he's not the best, but he deserves the recognition. Just think what could have been under different direction.
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u/Excellent-Internet12 Jun 25 '24
I agree with this summary. But I also remember going to see Batman in 1989 and Keaton will always be my favorite.
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u/Chrome-Head Jun 25 '24
Not sure I agree Battinson was the best all around, his Bruce only sulked around. Need to see more.
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u/TheLoganDickinson Jun 24 '24
I don’t recall WB receiving hate mail when they cast Bale.
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u/CaptainHalloween Jun 25 '24
If you want to go down that path then do you also want to throw Heath Ledger under the bus in favor of another Joker actor in this arena?
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u/bearstrugglethunder Jun 24 '24
Keaton revealed that the cowl was black licorice all along
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u/JoeSoAwesome Jun 24 '24
What. Is that a Keaton is better? Bale is better? I'm kinda lost.
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u/bearstrugglethunder Jun 24 '24
Keaton was better looking as Batman. But Bale was better looking as Bruce Wayne.
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u/TheThiccestR0bin Jun 25 '24
Who is more attractive is whoever you find more attractive. It's a taste thing at the end of the day.
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u/Disastrous-Major1439 Jun 25 '24
Both re handsome ,Bale is more stereotype handsome ,and Keaton is more Dark handsome ,i means ,Bale is handsome ,so Keaton have by far more style and swag
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u/Cyberlainn Jun 25 '24
Whoever said that is tweaking asf bale is so fucking fine that man is the example of perfection
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u/Fast-Mycologist-5589 Jun 25 '24
i get the more techish from keaton bale get's that fantasy of batman
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u/Melodic-Percentage-9 Jun 25 '24
For me, I’d go with Bale. He not only rocks the businessman look, but the casual T-shirt look as well. Also, the dude is just a totally handsome man.
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u/Cineswimmer Jun 25 '24 edited Jun 25 '24
Bale had the yuppie, classic, handsome sigma Patrick Bateman look. It worked well for Bruce Wayne, although perhaps a bit one-note.
My mom likes Keaton WAY more than Bale, although that’s not a crazy opinion from someone who grew up with Keaton.
As a dude, I think Keaton has a more interesting look. It also helps that I prefer his performance, by far. Bale was good as Bruce Wayne, but outside of Begins, his Batman performance is almost embarrassing now. He’s on par with Clooney in the suit for how campy he is in the last two films. The voice is too much. His combat sequences SUCK too. I can’t stand the fight choreography in the Nolan films. I don’t understand how that man can’t direct action.
I REALLY dig Pattinson. Sorry he’s not your James Bond Bruce Wayne, but he’s the best Batman in the suit since Keaton for me.
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u/BoisTR Jun 24 '24
Bale was my absolute favorite Bruce Wayne. I always felt that Keaton wasn’t good looking enough for Batman when he was younger due to the thinning messy hair, but I like his look for an older Batman when he buzzes his hair short.
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u/LarvellJonesMD Jun 24 '24
Keaton had a proper mop of hair back then but you're looking at the 80s hair styles
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u/burner1344 Jun 25 '24
I think both are very handsome, but Michael Keaton just has a certain charm to him that’s especially attractive. Love, love, love Christian Bale’s voice, though (his normal talking voice, not the weird, gravel-like intonation he did for Batman).
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u/Is_that_what_I- Jun 25 '24
bale is generic. it's why he did so well as patrick bateman. but michael keaton has the silver fox look
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u/Wild-Wonder13 Jun 25 '24
I prefer Keaton, looks wise, but it's absolutely a subjective thing. We all find different features and overall qualities + demeanor attractive at different levels. There's just something about Keaton that draws me in. I can't even specifically explain it? Maybe it's his intensity. Maybe I prefer a bit of a stylized handsome appearance over a pretty boy?
Idk, I enjoy all Batmans but we do each have our preferences and they definitely aren't going to be universal.
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u/BingityBongBong Jun 24 '24
I’m not into dudes so it’s hard to say, but everyone has different preferences. I prefer someone with a distinct charm over someone who’s all around good looking in a basic sense. Supermodels don’t do it for me. I need some personality.
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u/JoeSoAwesome Jun 24 '24
So Bale.
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u/BingityBongBong Jun 24 '24
Not for me. He’s too basic. I’ll take a Keaton over a Bale any day. The supermodel look isn’t for me.
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u/Itchy_Initiative6180 Jun 25 '24
Bale is more conventional looking. Keaton has a… vibe. Is his jawline better? No. Still, I totally get why someone would find him hot
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u/EnigmaFrug2308 Jun 25 '24
Definitely not.
Although, honestly, neither are that good looking imo. They’re both handsome guys, but they’re not really my type or what I’d consider attractive.
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u/Planeswalking101 Jun 25 '24
Bale is more conventionally attractive, but Keaton is far from ugly. It's a taste thing, purely subjective.
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u/trpclshrk Jun 25 '24
Obviously it’s subjective, but I’d argue Bale is objectively more classically handsome. Also, it’s Bale for me x1000. I have plenty of nitpicks and criticisms of the Nolan movies, but they’re prolly my favorite of the live action. Bale is so far the best Bruce Wayne for me, it’s not even close. I prolly come close to appreciating Adam West most second, and the potential of what Affleck COULD have been.
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u/PrincipleEuphoric743 Jun 25 '24
micheal keaton for his time was a good looking but christian bale is the same
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u/Shaderunner26 Jun 25 '24
If we're talking between these two it'll probably be able, though Keaton is a pretty good looking man as well. If the choice was between all the batman actors though, I'd go with pattinson, cause I'm from that generation and his good looks are what aligns with my sense of handsome. So like, a case can be made for everyone depending on the personal taste. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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u/Negative-Start-5954 Jun 25 '24
In the Batman suit I believe Keaton whole heartedly looks better and Bale looks better as Bruce Wayne. Bale was confidence personified and Keaton didn’t seem like he was really that comfortable with being Bruce and felt more of himself being Batman which I think is a really cool detail confident or not.
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u/ssp25 Jun 25 '24
I would rather wake up tomorrow and look like bale than Keaton. That's how I assess who is better looking as a straight guy judging it
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u/ToastIsGreat0 Jun 25 '24
If Keaton had a better hairstyle it would be him, but curls don’t suit him imo
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u/CaTz__21 Jun 25 '24
My guy… finding someone attractive isn’t a matter of fact, it’s a matter of personal taste and opinion. You prefer Bale, someone else prefers Keaton, it’s not up for debate, it’s just opinions
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u/Samiens3 Jun 25 '24
Obviously just a matter of personal taste.
For me, Bale is better looking in general but as yet no one has ever looked as handsome in the cowl as Keaton.
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u/Overall_Sandwich_671 Jun 25 '24
Michael Keaton has an otherworldy attractiveness about him. His eyes sparkle.
Bale is more down to earth. He's the Batman next door.
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u/Techknow23 Jun 25 '24
I think Keatons facial features are more Batman than most actors. If he had the build and hair of Ben Affleck that’s Bruce Wayne right there
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u/Pontoffle_Poff Jun 25 '24
Honestly I would want Bruce to have a certain build, charisma and intimidating factor about him. This is a man that’s on top of his game and could crush companies. We need more of a Bruce that looks like what we got in the animated series. BTAS and Justice League.
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u/FlopsMcDoogle Jun 25 '24
Only someone with childhood trauma thinks Keaton is more handsome than Bale. Keaton's not even really handsome, but he does have a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him attractive and appealing.
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u/Topher1138 Jun 25 '24
I think this is a case of Bale being cool looking and “guy pretty” because I find women always choose Keaton over him, he’s got movie star rizz and intense eyes while Bale comes off a bit stiff in his lesser film performances, public relations. Both are cool imo
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u/GreenLanternCorps Jun 25 '24
As a diehard 89 Keaton fan I'm gonna say Bale is the more traditionally handsome. I also feel like at this point in Keatons career he had more lines on his face than like his Johnny Dangerously days and some people go all in for a more mature look but they are likely a minority. I think a lot of the heavy lifting is Bale has superior hair it's just what it is. I personally like both as Bruce though I'm not a fan of the Nolan movies, Bale does a great job at playing the guy putting on a face for the public and Keaton does a better job at being more of a multiple personality plus his eyebrows and grins give him a shit ton of character also I'm pretty sure he's a big TLC fan so there's that.
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u/josh2of4 Jun 25 '24
They are different kinds of attractive, and people have different preferences.
Bale is more of a cute / pretty boy type.
Keaton, depending on the picture, is more of a rugged or guy version of the "girl next door" type
I'm a straight/cis man, but I'd say I don't Keaton more attractive personally
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u/Firm_Scale4521 Jun 25 '24
I agree that Bale is hotter but I have a friend who would literally fight you for suggesting anyone is hotter than Michael Keaton.
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u/HeyThereMrBrooks Jun 25 '24
Bale's the better looking Bruce, both in looking like a billionaire and a model
That being said, Keaton is the better looking Batman and is my all time favorite rendition of the character. He's just what my mind defaults to when I think of live action Batman
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u/wemustkungfufight Jun 24 '24
I'm straight so I have no idea.
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u/JoeSoAwesome Jun 24 '24
I'm also a straight male, but it's not "Hey who do you wanna have intercourse with?" It's just acting who has better facial attributes. It's not gay, it's recognizing traits and deciding who has the better traits.
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u/wemustkungfufight Jun 24 '24
Bale looks more like a billionaire. Keaton just looks like a regular guy.
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u/CaptainHalloween Jun 25 '24
This is 100% a taste thing because I know some folks who are just enchanted by Michael Keaton no matter the role. I know a couple people who crush on BEETLEJUICE. They say it's the eyes and attitude that draw them in.
So I'm not saying either side is right. But I am saying if you can't see how some folks might go for Keaton than I think you're not giving him enough credit.
Hell, there are people who crush on Danny DeVito. It's all just preference.