Adam West, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, and Christian Bale all donned the cape and became The Dark Knight. The question on everyone's mind is, who is the best Batman? Up until 2016, the answer for many people was Christian Bale, but little did they know that we had something special on the way.
In 2013, Ben Affleck was announced as Batman for 2016's "Batman v Superman." Fans went crazy, and so did I. More people hated him than those that actually supported him in the role. I was one of the few who believed in him. A year after the announcement, pictures surfaced of Ben Affleck in the suit. It was almost unbelievable.
He had the traditional Bruce Wayne scruffy beard, and he was also physically imposing. It looked like he added about 100 pounds of pure muscle. Fans loved the look, but they weren't convinced because there was no footage. A year after the pictures, the trailer dropped for "BvS," and it received massive praise. Almost everyone was on his side! Them, after "BvS" came out, every hater shut down and crawled into a hole because they realized how big of a mistake they made when they bashed Affleck. Why do I think Ben Affleck is the best Batman? Keep reading...
Ben Affleck not only looks like the perfect Bruce Wayne, but his Batman looks like it was ripped out of a comic book. The new suit featured a whole new design never before seen on screen. The mask had a different look to it. The designs made for the mask were phenomenal, and the short bat-ears were perfect for this new version of the Batsuit. The bat symbol was a larger and different design as well, and for me, that is the best part about the suit. I love the new-looking symbol.
Besides the suit, Affleck has everything else going for him. He looks like the Bruce Wayne from the comic books. He's tall with a plump chest and broad shoulders. The beard was perfect and it complemented the hairstyle he was going with.
Ben Affleck, like Bruce Wayne, has had a tough life on his way to stardom. He has continuously been harassed by the media due to his 'bad boy' title around Hollywood after his scandalous relationship with Jennifer Lopez. After rumors surfaced on the internet about Ben's failed marriage with Jennifer Garner, it looked like there was no coming back from that. Proving the doubters wrong once again, Ben fought through the problems and continued filming "Batman v Superman." He was in emotional pain at the time and he brings out those emotions for the role of Bruce Wayne. (It shows!)
During the Hall H panel at Comic Con 2016, it was obvious that something was bothering him, and when the attention wasn't on him, he looked absolutely miserable and depressed. However, when the attention was shifted to him, Ben thrived off of the fans' vibes and provided them with laughs and important information about "Batman v Superman." That's something Bruce Wayne would do.
In character, Ben makes you believe that he is actually Bruce Wayne. Simply put, he stole the show. He seemed natural in his portrayal of Gotham's favorite son as he pulled off the "douchebag playboy" persona of Bruce Wayne, while also pulling off the worn out and angry version of Bruce. Most importantly, he brought out a side of Bruce Wayne and Batman that we have never seen before.
There have been around seven Batman movies with five different portrayals. Ben Affleck's Batman has more gadgets total in one movie than the other Batmen do combined! His arsenal is more flexible than the previous Batman, Christian Bale. Ben Affleck's Batman has a grenade launcher, a kryptonite spear, a grapnel gun, kryptonite bullets, batarangs, and many more! I'm not hating on Christian Bale, but his Batman had the same gadgets throughout all three movies while using each for only a limited time. The only gadget I remember was his grapnel gun. Christian Bale's Batman was boring and predictable. Not to mention his voice... Let's not go there.
One of the most famous things about Batman is his car collection. The Batmobile is one of the most prized possessions of the comic book universe. There have been some pretty cool versions of the Batmobile, but the newest model takes the prize. It was absolutely beautiful. It had the slick driving controls while also being able to hold its own against an opponent.
Speaking of "holding its own," Ben Affleck's Batman fights like comic book Batman. The fight scenes look like they were pulled out from the Arkham video games, just like every fan wished for. He looks like he is 300 pounds but moves around like a featherweight while punching like a super-heavyweight. Something about the past Batman movies that I really disliked was how unprepared Batman was for battle. From Michael Keaton all the way to Christian Bale's portrayals, Batman always got his ass kicked. What ever happened to the strategist, ninja, and black belt expert? Before Ben Affleck, we did not have a true version of The Batman. We, the fans, deserve this Batman -- but hopefully he does a little less killing next time around.
In 2016's "Batman v Superman," the two most iconic superheroes ever created finally went toe to toe on the big screen. While the highly-anticipated movie as a whole was disappointing (not bad, just disappointing), the fight between the gladiators proved that this version of Batman is not one to mess with. He fought Superman... to the death. Actually, he nearly killed Superman! How many people can say that they did that? Nobody. Not even Zod can say that he almost killed Superman, because he never stood a chance.
Verdict
Ben Affleck has appeared in one movie and he has already sold me on being the best. I cannot wait for the future of the DC Universe knowing that we've got The Batman that we deserve. If this awesome article hasn't changed your view on who the best Batman is, then you'll probably figure it out yourself after a few more movies.
