… I want to be a Cosplayer/Podcaster/Blogger. Oh, and I want
to get paid for it. Seriously. On that note, some nerdom from the Whetsels…
Batman. There will never be a perfect actor to play Batman.
Ever. For one thing, there are too many versions of Batman for there to be ONE
perfect actor. If you just said, “But, isn’t there really just one Batman?”
Wasp just died somewhere.
Get to clapping people! I believe in Batman! I believe in
Batman!
One of my favorite things about the worlds of comic books is
that they change. Characters can be reinvented over and over and over. Back
stories, costumes and alliances change. Settings can change. Often the stories
are as much romance as action and adventure. Characters can be brought back
from the dead. This is why it gets me that “hard core” nerds get upset when
they change up the story lines for a movie. They do it in the comics AND
animated series all the time. I liken it to Doctor Who fans. Generally, your
first Doctor will be “your Doctor”. So, often, your first incarnation of a
character of a character will be your favorite. For example, when discussing
Spider Man villians, my first Goblins were in the cartoons. Norm and Harry
Osborn. Which come to find out is not correct to the comics. My husband did not
like the change. But, they weren't his first Goblins. Just like Michelle Pfeiffer was my first Catwoman. I loved the idea of the near split personality.
But, part of my love of Gotham is the grit of
it. So, on my first visit alone to the comic book store, I was blessed when the
owner offered me the four issue set that was released in the 90s. It gives
Catwoman a new backstory. She started as a prostitute that receives some
“Schooling” on how to take care of herself. The suit was a fetish of a client.
And, that is where the story begins. This is a lot of the reason I loved the
recent incarnation performed by Anne Hatheway.
I digress… Nerd can
be mean. And, I mean REALLY mean. They are generally wonderful to each other.
But, it they think that someone that isn't a nerd is touching one of “their
stories” and isn’t putting the person in a role they want, they will team up
against the actor that is cast in the roll like a Klingon taking on a Romulan.
I am actually a embarassed to be called a nerd right now. The way people are
badmouthing Ben Afflek is atrocious. I know Dare Devil sucked. Well, except for
the scene where Elektra is “working out” while they played “Bring Me to Life”
and Colin Farrell. But, you can not blame and actor entirely on a actor. I
would try to explain. But, I am going to share a post from Facebook by Harley’s
Joker, a very well known cosplayer.
“On Ben Affleck. (And some of his preceding
Bat-men)
If you plan to start reading this, finish it. This is not for the light readers and casual onlookers. Know that now.
For a very steady twenty-four hours I have received a stream of private messages and posts on my wall all asking the same thing. Here’s the honest answer that we all must accept from everyone: we’ll have to wait and see.
I’ve been an actor for over a dozen years, and a writer and director for the latter half of that time. I am a consummate film fanatic and compulsively detailed observer of the craft. Let me tell you something that for some reason is forgotten by so many. The script, direction and editing of a film will make it or break it and is responsible for ninety percent of your experience. Yet somehow the actors get blamed so often for a film being bad simply because they’re the face you see and therefore with whom you associate your experience. Have you ever noticed how when an actor was “amazing” in something, generally (not always) it’s also a good movie? And when they’re “terrible”, generally (not always) it’s a bad movie? Let this sink in.
Everything before this point in this article is fact. Everything from here on out is opinion, and strictly so. You will not agree with everything I say. I am sorry if I offend you. I will use my opinions of these following examples to emphasize and support the above facts.
Let’s take for example George Clooney. Before we recall his time as the caped crusader, let’s reflect on his career as an actor. He’s good. I personally think he’s very good. If one were to imagine a world where the film “Batman and Robin” never existed, and were then asked to cast an actor as an older Batman/Bruce Wayne, there is no doubt in my mind one would consider George for the part. Acting chops and marketability aside look at him for Pete’s sake. He looks like Bruce Wayne head to toe. Now let’s put him in a film with an absolutely mind numbingly horrible script and an appallingly gaudy and tacky art direction, and you have Batnipples McGee verses the blue Terminator. Was it George’s fault? No. Is he blamed daily for the last sixteen years? Yes.
Christian Bale’s performance as a flat, emotionless, two dimensional Bruce Wayne with an airy screaming whisper when cowled is easily masked by the fact that Christopher Nolan is an extraordinarily technically proficient writer and director. The man knows how to craft a film, this cannot be denied. I’m in the camp of those who thought “The Dark Knight Rises” wasn't very good, however it’s two predecessors were. “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” are well scripted, well directed, well edited pieces of work that made a ton of money and people the world over love. They love this film SO much in fact that they don’t even realize how mediocre, borderline terrible Christian Bale is as Batman.
What’s my point? Most of how Mr. Affleck does depends on the story and the filmmakers abilities to tell it. Had he been the age he is now in 1997 and filled the black boots in “Batman and Robin”, we’d think he’s terrible. Flip the coin and cast him in “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”, we might find him irreplaceable.
On a separate line of thinking: My favorite live action Batman has always been Michael Keaton. I personally think he played the character the best by far, and many people will agree with this sentiment. However (and most of you are too young to remember this) when it was announced that this short, lean, not traditionally handsome comedic actor (who started out doing standup) was going to play the Dark Knight people lost their freaking minds. They were later quite mistaken. Now we have a tall, physically fit, handsome dramatic actor with a very versatile resume cast in the role. Do you really think he doesn't deserve a chance to shut us all up?
I joined the masses in an anarchist uproar six years ago when I learned the Australian kid from “Ten Things I Hate About You” was going to be playing the Joker. What in heaven’s name were they thinking? This was preposterous. One year later I sat in a dark, crowded movie theatre swallowing my words. He was brilliant.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, Ben Affleck has been cast as Bruce Wayne, and as I’ve said before, we’ll just have to wait and see.” –Joker’s Harley
If you plan to start reading this, finish it. This is not for the light readers and casual onlookers. Know that now.
For a very steady twenty-four hours I have received a stream of private messages and posts on my wall all asking the same thing. Here’s the honest answer that we all must accept from everyone: we’ll have to wait and see.
I’ve been an actor for over a dozen years, and a writer and director for the latter half of that time. I am a consummate film fanatic and compulsively detailed observer of the craft. Let me tell you something that for some reason is forgotten by so many. The script, direction and editing of a film will make it or break it and is responsible for ninety percent of your experience. Yet somehow the actors get blamed so often for a film being bad simply because they’re the face you see and therefore with whom you associate your experience. Have you ever noticed how when an actor was “amazing” in something, generally (not always) it’s also a good movie? And when they’re “terrible”, generally (not always) it’s a bad movie? Let this sink in.
Everything before this point in this article is fact. Everything from here on out is opinion, and strictly so. You will not agree with everything I say. I am sorry if I offend you. I will use my opinions of these following examples to emphasize and support the above facts.
Let’s take for example George Clooney. Before we recall his time as the caped crusader, let’s reflect on his career as an actor. He’s good. I personally think he’s very good. If one were to imagine a world where the film “Batman and Robin” never existed, and were then asked to cast an actor as an older Batman/Bruce Wayne, there is no doubt in my mind one would consider George for the part. Acting chops and marketability aside look at him for Pete’s sake. He looks like Bruce Wayne head to toe. Now let’s put him in a film with an absolutely mind numbingly horrible script and an appallingly gaudy and tacky art direction, and you have Batnipples McGee verses the blue Terminator. Was it George’s fault? No. Is he blamed daily for the last sixteen years? Yes.
Christian Bale’s performance as a flat, emotionless, two dimensional Bruce Wayne with an airy screaming whisper when cowled is easily masked by the fact that Christopher Nolan is an extraordinarily technically proficient writer and director. The man knows how to craft a film, this cannot be denied. I’m in the camp of those who thought “The Dark Knight Rises” wasn't very good, however it’s two predecessors were. “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” are well scripted, well directed, well edited pieces of work that made a ton of money and people the world over love. They love this film SO much in fact that they don’t even realize how mediocre, borderline terrible Christian Bale is as Batman.
What’s my point? Most of how Mr. Affleck does depends on the story and the filmmakers abilities to tell it. Had he been the age he is now in 1997 and filled the black boots in “Batman and Robin”, we’d think he’s terrible. Flip the coin and cast him in “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”, we might find him irreplaceable.
On a separate line of thinking: My favorite live action Batman has always been Michael Keaton. I personally think he played the character the best by far, and many people will agree with this sentiment. However (and most of you are too young to remember this) when it was announced that this short, lean, not traditionally handsome comedic actor (who started out doing standup) was going to play the Dark Knight people lost their freaking minds. They were later quite mistaken. Now we have a tall, physically fit, handsome dramatic actor with a very versatile resume cast in the role. Do you really think he doesn't deserve a chance to shut us all up?
I joined the masses in an anarchist uproar six years ago when I learned the Australian kid from “Ten Things I Hate About You” was going to be playing the Joker. What in heaven’s name were they thinking? This was preposterous. One year later I sat in a dark, crowded movie theatre swallowing my words. He was brilliant.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, Ben Affleck has been cast as Bruce Wayne, and as I’ve said before, we’ll just have to wait and see.” –Joker’s Harley
Ben looks far more like any of the actors that
have portrayed Batman. So, I am going to wait and see while the other nerds get
their panties in a knot.
Now, one would think that this type
conversation would only take place every once in a while in a normal house. Not
at Das Whetsel Haus. And, we have many friends that do the same. Well, I am
going to call it a night people.
And, to you nerds out there, be nice. I don’t wanna have to go all Momma on you. - Marlo
