Dad by Day, Bat by Night

ben-affleck-batman-1

Photo: businessinsider.com
 
Keirsten Connolly
Staff Writer
 

 “Ben Affleck is the perfect choice for Bruce Wayne because nobody would ever suspect him to be Batman.” These are the kinds of jokes you can read daily all over the internet from people who don’t feel Ben Affleck is properly equipped to Batman.

Looking  back on the public’s opinions of previous Batman characters that they didn’t feel were correct; they often turn out great. Some could even be considered legendary.

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman was one of the strongest performances given by a female in the Batman series. She managed to take the stage by storm and give the audience a show that they wouldn’t soon forget.

Hathaway was known for being the good girl of Hollywood, previously starring in movies such as “The Princess Diaries”. This relates to Ben Affleck because he is being seen as too soft for the role of Batman.

Affleck is a dad and acts as such. He, much like Hathaway could be a shock to everyone by releasing his inner bad boy.

Another famous role that was often criticized before they performed was Michael Keaton as Batman. Keaton ended up being what is arguably one of the best Batman portrayals of all time.

Critics claimed that he was America’s “Mr. Mom” and wasn’t physically meant for this kind of role, being considered virtually not muscular, and stood at only five feet nine inches tall. Keaton took the Batman world by storm with his performance that nobody would soon forget.

Ben Affleck has been vilified because he too isn’t built as a Batman  is expected to look. He may not be broad, but he stands at a lanky six foot four inches. Affleck will do just as Christian Bale has done previously and make a significant body transformation for the film.

Arguably the most underrated performer of all the Batman movies was Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker. Many people made assumptions about his acting abilities because of previous movies he had been in.

Ledger never had to play the mean guy; he was always the sweet eyecandy. Many didn’t think he’d have the chops to successfully fill the characters shoes.

Affleck is having the same assumptions made about him. People assume that because he hasn’t done a superhero movie since “Daredevil”, he doesn’t have what it takes to make a good hero. People fear he is going to be an amatuer in comparison to past actors in this role.

Although Ben Affleck has some massive shoes to fill, and many people don’t believe that he has what it takes to play this historical character. Don’t count him out just yet. Some of the most frowned upon casting choices have turned out to be the best and arguably the most legendary.

 

About Kiersten Connolly

View all posts by Kiersten Connolly →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.