the high stinkin'

Where to begin.

This time last year, I was coming down from the high of The Dark Knight Rises, the epic (if a little stodgily paced) conclusion to Chris Nolan’s Bat-Opus.  Having followed the Dark Knight Trilogy since before it’s inception (thanks mostly to Batman-On-Film.com), it was more like coming down from a decade of high-flying Batmangoodtimes.  It was kind of the platinum-age for Batman film fans.  Also, this time last year, I was on the wild and wacky train ride that would be the San Francisco Giants face-melting run to their second World Series in three years.  It was a really good time to be Colby Reed.  Not long after the World Series, we found out that we would be parents in 2013.  Seriously.  A really good time to be Colby Reed.

Now.  The baby is here.  She is amazing.  Every day is a marathon painted in shades of awesome.  It’s like a veil was covering our future and it has now been pulled down and we see a vision of the next forever.  

The Giants suck this year.  I mean, hard.  It’s u-g-l-y.  But this baby is amazing every second of the day.

And now, Ben Affleck is the new Batman.  And people keep asking me what I think.  Well, I’ve taken a couple of days to mull it over, keeping in mind that this baby is absolutely the coolest thing of all time, and I’m ready  to have an opinion.

Let me preface by saying that I’ve always been known as a semi-Affleck defender.  I’ve always kind of liked the guy and can enjoy a lot of his work as an actor.  His work as a director is solid, even if I think a little over-rated.  I think Gone Baby Gone was fantastic.  I couldn’t get through the first 30 minutes of The Town.  And Argo was good, but no better.  Definitely not Best Picture caliber.  I think he’s still finding his voice as a director, since his films fill like amalgamations of great influences.  Which is cool, that’s normal. 

Also, I should say that I think I see what Warner Brothers is doing, and I get it.  His industry-cred is sky high right now and just getting higher.  He just brought in some serious hardware for the studio.  He’s well-respected amongst his peers since turning his personal life around from the tabloid-selling Bennifer or Jaffleck or whatever it was with J-Lo.  And he’s now being mentored by another Hollywood/Warner Brothers golden boy (and former Bruce Wayne), George Clooney.  So, I get it.  

He’s also pretty much the exact opposite of Christian Bale.  And the last thing WB or Zach Snyder needs is a Batman that is seen as a poor imitation of Bale’s.  I know that Bale has his detractors, mainly for the growl.  And there are some pretty great video parodies of the voice and they are hilarious.  But Christian Bale’s Batman was top-notch.  His Bruce Wayne even better.  He was the Batman for the times and he will forever be known as the guy to beat.  Ben Affleck is not Christian Bale.  Far and away.  Which is exactly what is needed for this next incarnation.

I was going to make a list of pros (got the size/build) and cons (will he be able to transcend being Ben Affleck?) for Batfleck but I’ve decided it’s too early to make that list and I’ve got more important things to do (like watching my daughter wake up).  Suffice to say that I am disappointed that they didn’t go with my first choice, Jim Caviezel, but I am excited to see Batman back on the screen.  I am excited to see what the Man of Steel Batman will look like (suit/car/symbol).  I’m excited to see Batman on screen with Superman, namely this Superman, of which I am a big fan.  I am willing to wait and see what Affleck brings to the role.  I love Batman.  Always have, always will.  Ben Affleck being cast does not change my love for Batman.  

So, we’ll see?  What say ye?