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Batman needs to be physically imposing simply because he always has been in the comics. He's always been presented as a man of above average build and, usually, of above average height. Show me the issue where the Dark Knight is represented as a skinny yet wiry motherfucker shorter than your Aunt Ethel after an attack of rickets, and I'll concede the point. Part of the major audience clusterfuck over Keaton being cast was over his short stature, and there they overcompensated with rubber to make up for his lack of physical presence. You don't make a Batman movie where the main character is in the shadows for the entire film... and the guy wears a skintight leotard, for fuck's sake. The second our Bobbie came out into any kind of light all of the criminals would be sniggering into their sleeves.
There have been many takes on Batman (my favourites, probably like yours, devoting more time to the legendary aspects, adding the definite article to his name - thereby making 'The Batman' almost a title rather than a codename) - but for a Barman movie, you need to devote some time to both the Bruce Wayne and the Batman personas. My favourite idea for this is still to explore the idea that 'Batman' is the core personality and 'Bruce Wayne' the mask... still think that'd make a great movie all on its own.
But, and after all that, reassessing the point of this particular thread... it's a Batman Vs. Superman movie. Since the former is not the only star of the movie, I don't see why a more shadowy presentation (or lack of) wouldn't work perfectly, especially contrasted with the Man Of Steel's primary-colour-cleanliness/Godliness. Still think Robert Carlysle isn't imposing enough, in whatever context you pick. And you don't cast a man because his mouth and nose look good in a hood. He's scrawny and wee.
Jude Law - louche? Definitely. The precise word I couldn't think of earlier.
As Superman? If it were Dark Knight Returns, I'd go for Kyle MacLachlan... but as it's not, I'm going for Billy Crudup. Excellent actor, sympathetic yet rugged face, and a build that'll look good in the tights without needing to be overly muscular. And the major plus point is that, like Christopher Reeve, he looks like he could play both Clark Kent and Superman. I can see Jude Law as the former, but never the latter. |
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