Batman has been the proud character of the DC Studios, who significantly evolved over the years with different actors’ portrayals. Each actor brought their unique interpretation of Bruce Wayne and its alter ego, making it memorable for audiences. Christian Bale and Ben Affleck are among the two, who garnered critical acclaim for their take on the iconic role.
Although, Bale brought a gritty portrayal of the character in the live-action, many ardent fans admitted that his fighting style was unrefined compared to Affleck’s portrayal.
Christian Bale’s Batman Presented a Gritty Tone Yet the Fighting Style Felt Unrefined
Christian Bale donned the Batman cape in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, which garnered global acclaim, setting a new benchmark in the Batman franchise. Nolan’s approach to the character was grounded in realism, creating a gritty environment where the stakes felt real.
It was well reflected in the titular character as Bruce Wayne’s journey showcased him from a traumatized orphan to a vigilante protector. His take on the superhero garnered a dedicated fan base that continues to applaud the actor and director’s vision for the Dark Knight.
But fans are well aware that his fighting style was somewhat stiff and unrefined. A fan took to X to share an appreciation post for the acclaimed trilogy featuring a sequence where Bale’s character is fighting Tom Hardy’s Bane.
However, replies to the post were more than enough to validate the theory that the actor’s portrayal was quite stiff especially due to his fighting sequences. Check out the tweet here.
As for the action sequences, his portrayal often appeared rigid and methodical lacking the fluidity that one might expect from the formidable character. He utilized a fighting style based on the Keysi Fighting Method (KFM), a form of martial arts that heavily relies on elbows and knees and is effective in close combat.
While using KFM made his character more realistic, it did not bring the dynamic action sequences one would expect from him. As per The Guardian, his character also showcased Jeet Kun Do, some Silat [an Indonesian martial art], and a bit of Thai boxing to evolve the fighting techniques on-screen.
Fans compared his style with Affleck’s, admitting that his combat scenes were way more fluid than the former.
Ben Affleck’s Batman Presented More Fluidity to Action Scenes
In contrast to Bale’s The Caped Crusader, Ben Affleck‘s character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (BvS) and Justice League showcased a more dynamic and fluid combat style.
His portrayal used several martial arts, including Judo, Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing, which contributed to a more versatile and visually impressive fighting technique.
Avid fans must be aware of the standout warehouse scene in BvS, which serves as one of the best Batman scenes in the franchise. It is also popular because of the several fighting styles that the actor demonstrated to fight numerous goons.
From a seamless transition between attack and defense, he proved his combat prowess, which is pretty similar to how the comics define the character.
According to YouTuber Adrian Acevedo-Smith, who deciphered the infamous warehouse scene thoroughly, the character seemingly utilized around 10 martial arts forms in a roughly four-minute-long scene.
Even the Gone Girl actor admitted (via The Mac Life) that some of Batman’s fighting styles are based on MMA fighter Conor McGregor’s unique movements, which made his sequences more authentic. Despite their variations in the fighting techniques, both actors cemented an indelible remark in the superhero franchise.
