There are of course arguments that would go against what I’m about to say, but there are also arguments that would stick up for it as well since opinion is alive and well on the internet and quite honestly it’s all that some people have unless they’re ready to fall back on facts. So let’s get into why Christian Bale didn’t want to do a fourth Batman by stating that it’s a good thing that this never happened since quite honestly the trilogy worked as it was and folded up its tent before it could come down on its own. As Kevin Burwick of MovieWeb goes on to explain, Christopher Nolan only ever wanted to make one movie, even though the trilogy ended up being one of the best representations of Batman ever put on the big screen. But the approach that Nolan took was great really since he went at it one movie at a time, perhaps dreaming of a trilogy but taking things as they came, not planning them out so far in advance that everything was dependent on everything going just the way it needed to. That’s likely why we got three very distinct movies with only a handful of very distinct characters. The idea that the third movie had something to do with the first while the second was more of a standalone was kind of nice as well.
As Kyle Brunet of Boston Hassle reminds us in his article a good period of time passed between the three Nolan movies that saw Bruce Wayne go from a vengeful younger man to a streetwise and dangerous vigilante that was out for justice in any way he could get it. This Batman was still possessed of a code much as we’ve seen from the dark knight in the comics, but he was far darker and more aggressive than anything that had been seen on the big screen to that point. Compared to Kilmer and Clooney, Bale was an absolute nightmare since he not only talked in a growling voice to hide his identity, but he was absolutely vicious when it came to his fighting techniques. In fact if you think about it there’s a good reason why Batfleck had to step his game up and why Pattinson, who isn’t exactly an action hero, might have his work cut out for him. But Bale was always aware that any of the Batman movies could be his last since this was the premise that he and Nolan were operating on during the creation of each movie. It was that movie, that one and no others that they were thinking of, and that could have been it at any given time. The fact that they finished with trilogy is probably for the best however since as of The Dark Knight Rises things were starting to fall apart just a bit. Bane was a formidable enemy, Batman was starting to wear down and become infirm enough that he’d eschewed trying to plan as far ahead as he could when it came to Bane.
When you think about it that’s a little out of character for Batman, both in the comics and the movies. It’s true that he hadn’t come across anyone like Bane at that point, but to think that Batman, a character that many think could take on anyone with enough planning, might not be ready for such a physically-imposing specimen is kind of hard to swallow. But thankfully Bale is a good enough actor to pull it off, and he did manage to win over a lot of fans that had grown tired of the campy, horrid performances that had come before since the bar was exceedingly low and didn’t require a lot. Honestly I’ll admit to not liking Bale’s version at first thanks to the growling voice, but eventually I too came around and started to think that he was a worthy successor. Plus, when The Dark Knight hit theaters it was one of the best Batman movies yet thanks largely to the cast and in a big way because of Heath Ledger. The chemistry between Ledger and Bale didn’t feel as solid as it should have, especially considering that Batman and the Joker are mortal enemies and have been for a while. But it was still a well-done movie and the Joker was insanely dark, just as he should have been. Maybe this is why so many people are falling all over themselves for Joaquin Phoenix’s version, since apparently he’s darker still and far more real.
It’s just as well that Nolan and Bale didn’t decide to do a fourth Batman movie however since it does feel as though this would have killed it in a big way. Batman had done his duty, he’d supposedly sacrificed himself for the city, and he’d earned a good deal of rest. It was time to move on.
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