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winterI’ve been thinking – and yes, this is more Bat-meta, just because I missed everyone else’s due to the film not being out yet. Anyway.
It’s the perennial question of book vs movie canon. In this case, it’s a big characterization difference between the two, and in the main character at that.
Take ethics. This is a big one, and something that struck me: in the movie, Ra’s does succeed in breaking down Bruce’s resolve a bit. Bruce leaves him to die.
This is something comicbook-Batman would not do.
For me, that’s the charm and appeal of Batman: he’s the Dark Knight, and his chivalric code does not allow him to take life or let life be taken. Exactly this – not saving a villain – is where Jean-Paul Valley fails as Batman in the Knightfall trilogy. I’ve once read a fic where Bruce’s identity was revealed because the only way to save a villain about to fall was to take his cape off and hook the villain with the cowl. And it made sense, because that’s what Bruce is: that’s why he’s a Hero. It’s not the ninja skills, the cool gadgets or the detective skills: it’s being better than normal people.
The only reason I’m willing to forgive movie!Bruce is because it was Ra’s, and Ra’s /told/ Bruce he was immortal.
Another difference lies in trust. This is partly an issue of age: movie!Bruce, for all his adventures, hasn’t spent that much time guarding Gotham, and is more inclined to trust people. As Batman in the comics, more innocence is lost on each case. I have to factor in the fact that the Bat-comics are read were all after Dick was shot. After Barbara lost the use of her legs. After Jason. And in the most, after Knightfall as well. Take even what we know happens just after he puts on the mask – just after the movie, if you will. Harvey (Rachel), his ally, scarred and driven mad, and now his enemy. That, most of all, is what shows Batman people can’t be trusted fully, can’t be let in that close.
Apart from the trust issue, there’s a childlike innocence to movie!Bruce. He’s honestly enjoying designing the Bat-gadgets and walking around scaring people. I think it’s part of why he has to lose the Wayne Manor: this is not a game, not something he can walk away from unscathed. The fire and Rachel agree: he has to bury Bruce Wayne and become Batman.
The above is my attempt to justify the fact my muse-room has two racks of Bat costumes.
There are other interesting characterization differences. The shift of the Ra’s dynamic from the comicbook stern father-candidate to a mentor/friend who wants an equal at his side. How much of that difference is Talia, Talia, Talia, and who wants to bet that if I posted a movieverse Talia fic to the Batman Begins section, it’d end up on a Mary Sue community inside 24 hours?
And Crane: from a mocked literal scarecrow, overly tall and gangly, who develops his own fighting style in a graceful if delirious symmetry with his own poison, to model looks and twisted ambitions. Arguably this makes him even more evil, since he does not have the excuse of a put-upon childhood for his evil: sane is much worse than mad. I happen to think that it takes away from the character, and I like the way![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
helens78 replaced it with sexual violence from his peers in her Sense of Fear stories.
Don’t get me started on Harvey/Rachel. Just don’t :P
In other news, a list I’m on has been discussing Myers-Briggs personality types. I’ve done the full test long ago, and I’m a picture-perfect ENTP. Q, Bugs Bunny, Garfield – take your pick. Go me.
It’s the perennial question of book vs movie canon. In this case, it’s a big characterization difference between the two, and in the main character at that.
Take ethics. This is a big one, and something that struck me: in the movie, Ra’s does succeed in breaking down Bruce’s resolve a bit. Bruce leaves him to die.
This is something comicbook-Batman would not do.
For me, that’s the charm and appeal of Batman: he’s the Dark Knight, and his chivalric code does not allow him to take life or let life be taken. Exactly this – not saving a villain – is where Jean-Paul Valley fails as Batman in the Knightfall trilogy. I’ve once read a fic where Bruce’s identity was revealed because the only way to save a villain about to fall was to take his cape off and hook the villain with the cowl. And it made sense, because that’s what Bruce is: that’s why he’s a Hero. It’s not the ninja skills, the cool gadgets or the detective skills: it’s being better than normal people.
The only reason I’m willing to forgive movie!Bruce is because it was Ra’s, and Ra’s /told/ Bruce he was immortal.
Another difference lies in trust. This is partly an issue of age: movie!Bruce, for all his adventures, hasn’t spent that much time guarding Gotham, and is more inclined to trust people. As Batman in the comics, more innocence is lost on each case. I have to factor in the fact that the Bat-comics are read were all after Dick was shot. After Barbara lost the use of her legs. After Jason. And in the most, after Knightfall as well. Take even what we know happens just after he puts on the mask – just after the movie, if you will. Harvey (Rachel), his ally, scarred and driven mad, and now his enemy. That, most of all, is what shows Batman people can’t be trusted fully, can’t be let in that close.
Apart from the trust issue, there’s a childlike innocence to movie!Bruce. He’s honestly enjoying designing the Bat-gadgets and walking around scaring people. I think it’s part of why he has to lose the Wayne Manor: this is not a game, not something he can walk away from unscathed. The fire and Rachel agree: he has to bury Bruce Wayne and become Batman.
The above is my attempt to justify the fact my muse-room has two racks of Bat costumes.
There are other interesting characterization differences. The shift of the Ra’s dynamic from the comicbook stern father-candidate to a mentor/friend who wants an equal at his side. How much of that difference is Talia, Talia, Talia, and who wants to bet that if I posted a movieverse Talia fic to the Batman Begins section, it’d end up on a Mary Sue community inside 24 hours?
And Crane: from a mocked literal scarecrow, overly tall and gangly, who develops his own fighting style in a graceful if delirious symmetry with his own poison, to model looks and twisted ambitions. Arguably this makes him even more evil, since he does not have the excuse of a put-upon childhood for his evil: sane is much worse than mad. I happen to think that it takes away from the character, and I like the way
helens78 replaced it with sexual violence from his peers in her Sense of Fear stories.Don’t get me started on Harvey/Rachel. Just don’t :P
In other news, a list I’m on has been discussing Myers-Briggs personality types. I’ve done the full test long ago, and I’m a picture-perfect ENTP. Q, Bugs Bunny, Garfield – take your pick. Go me.
