Kevin Conroy makes front page of CNN.com!

[maxnugget]

Finally getting some mainstream notice? He's mentioned favorably in the article "What's with Batman's voice?"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/04/mondaymoviebuzz.darkknight.ap/index.html

[batsy2]

finally he gets the respects he deserves

[BigFatHairyDeal]

Good find.

I thought it was funny how The Dark Knight went out of its way to point out the cowl flaw of all the previous movies. Maybe the third installment in Nolan's series will address the ridiculousness of Batman's voice. Maybe a villain will joke about Bats' needing of a lozenge or something.

I just wish the CNN article ran a quote from Conroy, but other than that, great to see the acknowledgement to, IMO, the best Batman actor thus far.

[Michael24]

Darn. Just posted about this story (though on Yahoo) in the TDK talkback. Cool to see Conroy get a mention, though. :)


Maybe the third installment in Nolan's series will address the ridiculousness of Batman's voice. Maybe a villain will joke about Bats' needing of a lozenge or something.

Suddenly I see Casey Jones popping up to say, "You know, a little Primatene might help clear that up." :D

[Anubis C. Soundwave]

I was about to post the Yahoo! (http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20080803/121779624000.html) link.

They (the critics) blame...CONROY...! Conroy...! conroy...! conroy....

[Michael24]

I don't see that it's "blaming" Conroy for anything, just nothing that he was the first actor to really make a clear vocal distinction between Bruce Wayne and Batman. (A much better one than Bale's attempt, IMO, who seems to be trying too hard to make the distinction.)

[Anubis C. Soundwave]

I don't see that it's "blaming" Conroy for anything, just nothing that he was the first actor to really make a clear vocal distinction between Bruce Wayne and Batman. (A much better one than Bale's attempt, IMO, who seems to be trying too hard to make the distinction.)

I should have made it clear: j/k. :) I know they were actually commenting on Conroy's take on the chara of Batman as a clear influence on Bale's voice.

My bad. :sweat:

[maxnugget]

In my opinion Bale did the voice he *should* have used throughout the movie in his one line at the end of TDK when he says "you don't have to thank me." (I'm talking about TDK, not the similar "and you'll never have to" line at the end of Begins). At least when he's talking to his allies (as opposed to criminals) that slightly less growly voice would have been great.

[defunctzombie]

I always think of Howl's Moving Castle when I hear Bale's Batman voice. His evil Howl and Batman are exactly the same.

[The Weed Of Cri]

Bale and Nolan were unavailable to comment for this story

Then they should have interviewed Conroy. I'll bet he would have taken the call. That they didn't feel any need to do so is an oversight in my opinion.

This article is noteworthy for the fact that some non-fans are figuring out what most of us have know for 16 years; that Kevin Conroy is a very talented actor and his Batman rules.

[Mandi-chan]

I like Bale's Batman voice. It sounds nothing like Bruce, and it's kind of scary to listen to (which I'm sure was part of the point).

[Light Lucario]

I'm glad that Kevin Conroy is finally getting some well deserved respect and acknowledgment for his awesome voice work as Batman and Bruce Wayne. While I've only seen clips from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Bale's voice for Batman does sound a bit more gruff to me and that doesn't feel like a natural voice. Of course, Conroy has been the only actor, regardless of the differences between what live action actors and voice actors deal with for their acting, to give a clear and great distinction between his voice for Batman and for Bruce Wayne.

[BigFatHairyDeal]

I'm glad that Kevin Conroy is finally getting some well deserved respect and acknowledgment for his awesome voice work as Batman and Bruce Wayne. While I've only seen clips from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Bale's voice for Batman does sound a bit more gruff to me and that doesn't feel like a natural voice. Of course, Conroy has been the only actor, regardless of the differences between what live action actors and voice actors deal with for their acting, to give a clear and great distinction between his voice for Batman and for Bruce Wayne.

In Nolan and Bale's defense, the Batman voice wasn't supposed to sound natural. It's supposed to be intimidating and anonymous. Also, Bale's voice was clearly different when he was out in public as Bruce Wayne, or in the Batman costume and busting criminals. BTAS one-upped Nolan's Batman because while both made some direct statements about how Batman was the dominant personality and the socialite/industrialist the facade, BTAS reflected it through the voices and the Nolan versions did not. In his private conversations in BTAS, the "Batman voice" was used, and the "Bruce voice" was only used when dealing with others. The live action movies did the opposite, saving the "Batman voice" for only when he was under the cowl.

Too bad Conroy ditched the phony Bruce voice as the DCAU continued. With all the evidence out there suggesting Bruce and Batman are one in the same, the last thing he should do is talk with the same sounding voice as a renowned celebrity.

[maxnugget]

Too bad Conroy ditched the phony Bruce voice as the DCAU continued. With all the evidence out there suggesting Bruce and Batman are one in the same, the last thing he should do is talk with the same sounding voice as a renowned celebrity.

No, ditching the Bruce voice in the TNBA series was a stroke of brilliance, it showed an evolution of Bruce's descent into being Batman. Whereas in the earlier years "private Bruce" still felt (to him) like something more than just Batman. Batman ultimately envelopes the former Bruce Wayne.

That's actually my biggest complaint about TDK (to the extent that I dare have one!), is that Nolan has said in interviews that he sees Bale's Batman eventually following the same trajectory, and it's more difficult to do that story-wise when the voice they've chosen for Batman is such an obvious put-on. Conroy's Batman voice works so well in large part because it isn't just a "growl" but something that sounds like a darker shade of Bruce's normal voice, so as Bruce himself becomes darker and more absorbed in Batman's world, he progressively adopts the darker voice of Batman.

Still, Nolan's approach works fine too.


While I've only seen clips from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight,

How have you not seen them yet??? Don't they have movie theaters in Dream World? ;)

[Anarky]

I fail to see the "problem" w/ Bale's voice. For example, one of my favorite moments from Batman Begins is the interrogation of Det. Flass.

[Wolf Boy2]

Well, I take a rather different interpretation of Bruce/Batman: I think Bruce Wayne and Batman are both masks.

IMO, costumed Batman is a PUT-ON ACT, just like playboy Bruce. The real person is the one who interacts with his inner circle of allies (most importantly, Alfred and, later, Terry). This personality is simultaneously both Bruce/Batman and neither. This is the person who was created when his parents hit the pavement.

"The Batman" who terrorizes criminals is a costume, a shtick and a performance. I liked how Batman Begins and Dark Knight portrayed the three distinct personalities at play. Batman sounded like a put-on voice because he WAS a put-on voice.

[BigFatHairyDeal]

No, ditching the Bruce voice in the TNBA series was a stroke of brilliance, it showed an evolution of Bruce's descent into being Batman. Whereas in the earlier years "private Bruce" still felt (to him) like something more than just Batman. Batman ultimately envelopes the former Bruce Wayne.

Did anyone ever explain exactly why Conroy stopped using the facade voice?

Anyhoo, I just think it's a bit counterproductive toward keeping his identity secret if he uses a very publicly recognized voice while doing his Batman activities, which is part of the reason that the scratchy Batman voice from the Nolan movies was more tolerable for me.

[Grimlock]

I actually had the complaint about batman's voice right after i saw batman begins.

I didn't like how it seemed like he was just shouting all the time.

And while timm may have been trying to make a statement about bruce by having him use batman's voice in TNBA, i sure did miss conroy's brilliance in doing bruce and bats differently.

[Wolf Boy2]

Did anyone ever explain exactly why Conroy stopped using the facade voice?

Anyhoo, I just think it's a bit counterproductive toward keeping his identity secret if he uses a very publicly recognized voice while doing his Batman activities, which is part of the reason that the scratchy Batman voice from the Nolan movies was more tolerable for me.
He still used a facade voice. It's most noticeable in "World's Finest" when he talks to Lois as Bruce than shifts to Batman when addressing Clark. There is also a subtle difference when he talks to Gordon on the phone in "Over the Edge."

If anything, it wasn't as much a move to a more "Batman-like" voice as it was a sexier voice. Even towards the end of BTAS, he started wearing a better wardrobe (like the private eye gear in "House and Garden") and acting less goofy.

I think the "goofy Bruce" had a lot to do with the fallout of his relationship with Andrea. Notice he didn't act goofy or wear brown suits in the Mask of the Phantasm flashbacks. A couple years later, in the "Robin's Reckoning" flashbacks, we see him spilling drinks and popcorn at the circus (while wearing a brown suit). Post-Andrea Bruce seemed to want women to leave him the hell alone. Even when dating Selina Kyle, he was only giving it a half-hearted effort and she didn't feel a bit of chemistry.

But after MOTP, which I place near the end of BTAS (or at least no earlier than episode 31), when his relationship with Andrea is officially ended and put behind him, he comes out of his shell. In TNBA we see Bruce dress and act like he wants women's' attention. He openly courts Lois Lane, until she breaks off the relationship. He nearly marries in "Chemistry." He dates Kathy Duquesne in MOTB and gets frisky off-screen with Barbara. Not to mention off and on flirting with Diana.

[Mad Hatter]

I fail to see the "problem" w/ Bale's voice. For example, one of my favorite moments from Batman Begins is the interrogation of Det. Flass.

Also one of my favorite scenes in the movie. That gives the best version of his "fierce" voice in that movie. If he stuck with that, I would have been happy. I loved TDK. It was awesome. But I didn't like the raspier the voice got toward the end especially. Even my mom noticed it (Yes, my mom saw it too. So?).

[Revelator]

Conroy and Keaton understood that Batman doesn't have to come on strong to sound strong. If you watch a John Wayne movie, the Duke is at his most threatening when he speaks slowly and low. Keaton's Batman, like Teddy Roosevelt, spoke softly and carried a big stick. Conroy also didn't have to strain for effects. He once said that his Batman voice came from a "deep, dark place." In other words, it was intimate, and that in itself is scary when coming from a man dressed like a night creature. Yelling would simply be over the top.
And as Batman Bale doesn't sound intimate. He sounds like Cookie Monster with piles--and sounds about as scary: I thought it was very considerate of the other characters not to giggle when he spoke. Conroy is more subtle and intelligent as an actor; he understands that it's the low-key effects that can be most the most unsettling and menacing.

[maxnugget]

Conroy and Keaton understood that Batman doesn't have to come on strong to sound strong. If you watch a John Wayne movie, the Duke is at his most threatening when he speaks slowly and low. Keaton's Batman, like Teddy Roosevelt, spoke softly and carried a big stick. Conroy also didn't have to strain for effects. He once said that his Batman voice came from a "deep, dark place." In other words, it was intimate, and that in itself is scary when coming from a man dressed like a night creature. Yelling would simply be over the top.
And as Batman Bale doesn't sound intimate. He sounds like Cookie Monster with piles--and sounds about as scary: I thought it was very considerate of the other characters not to giggle when he spoke. Conroy is more subtle and intelligent as an actor; he understands that it's the low-key effects that can be most the most unsettling and menacing.

Well-said!

TDK was jarring because he used his growl-voice even when talking to Lucious, Gordon, and Dent. The worst IMHO was his scene with Lucious, I mean who is this guy, Batman: Method Actor? Can't break character when he's got the suit on?...

[BigFatHairyDeal]

Well-said!

TDK was jarring because he used his growl-voice even when talking to Lucious, Gordon, and Dent. The worst IMHO was his scene with Lucious, I mean who is this guy, Batman: Method Actor? Can't break character when he's got the suit on?...

To Lucius, it was useless because Fox already knows who Batman is.

To Dent and Gordon, though, they didn't know who he was, so masking his voice didn't seem absurd.

[maxnugget]

To Lucius, it was useless because Fox already knows who Batman is.

To Dent and Gordon, though, they didn't know who he was, so masking his voice didn't seem absurd.

Exactly my point. If the intent is to show that his Batman voice represents something more to him than just "scaring bad guys" and is actually becoming part of his personality, you can't do that, no matter how messed up your personality is, sounds unnatural. And if that wasn't the intent, there was no other reason to use that voice when talking to a character who knows he's Bruce and normally talks to him as Bruce when he doesn't happen to be wearing the batsuit.

[kenjisalk]

I don't understand the backlash with TDK in terms of Bale's vocal performance. He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained, but I guess less people in the mainstream watched that movie/gave a crap about it.

They made it pretty clear in Begins that every little thing Bruce did while in the costume was meant to not only intimidate criminals, but to spread the fear of The Batman throughout Gotham.

If he's supposed to be a walking legend, a terrifying mythical beast to the city, then what better way than to hammer home that "THE BAT" isn't quite human?

Like it or not, I think more consideration for that fact would lessen the level of complaining about this otherwise inconsequential aspect of the film.

[warnerbroman]

look up "The Dark Knight- Joker Interrogation Scene Spoof" and you will see the problem

[creativerealms]

I don't understand the backlash with TDK in terms of Bale's vocal performance. He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained, but I guess less people in the mainstream watched that movie/gave a crap about it.

They made it pretty clear in Begins that every little thing Bruce did while in the costume was meant to not only intimidate criminals, but to spread the fear of The Batman throughout Gotham.

If he's supposed to be a walking legend, a terrifying mythical beast to the city, then what better way than to hammer home that "THE BAT" isn't quite human?

Like it or not, I think more consideration for that fact would lessen the level of complaining about this otherwise inconsequential aspect of the film.

Oh people did complain about the voice after begins as well. The reason why "the Batman voice" is getting more complaints now with Dark Knight is because of more Batman Screen time and more lines by Batman in this movie.

I personally fealt Bale's Batman voice sounded forced and pretty bad but thats just me. I had so few complaints about the movie and that was one of the only ones and it was very minor.

Like his Batman voice or not I always felt that Rino Romano did a good job making Batman and Bruce Wayne sounding different.

[Revelator]

He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained, but I guess less people in the mainstream watched that movie/gave a crap about it.

I thought it was pretty bad in the first movie too. But the reason why more folks are complaining is because the problem has gotten worse in the sequel.


They made it pretty clear in Begins that every little thing Bruce did while in the costume was meant to not only intimidate criminals.

Why should criminals be afraid of a man with the voice of a muppet?


If he's supposed to be a walking legend, a terrifying mythical beast to the city, then what better way than to hammer home that "THE BAT" isn't quite human?

And what better way to sound like you're trying too hard to sound scary than by putting on a comically inept funny voice? (Anyway, the idea that crooks should think Batman isn't human falls apart the moment crooks look at his exposed mouth and chin and realize he's just wearing a mask.)


Like it or not, I think more consideration for that fact would lessen the level of complaining about this otherwise inconsequential aspect of the film.

It's not an actual fact. Nor is an effect inconsequential when it irritates many members of the audience and impairs the atmosphere of the film and the presence of its main character.

[dark knight 90]

Sometimes Bale gets it spectacularly right ... and then he can just become disastrous...

'SWEAR TO ME' ... scene rocks

Alot of 'Dark Knight' scenes... was often difficult to hear.


Bale just needs to control his voice and master it!

[maxnugget]

Sometimes Bale gets it spectacularly right ... and then he can just become disastrous...

Like I said earlier, next time you watch TDK listen for his line at the end, right after Gordon runs down to him after he falls, when he says "you don't have to thank me." The way he did that line is how he should have done the voice when he's talking to allies vs. growling at criminals.

The growl works fine when it's used in the right places, but when he's just "talking" he shouldn't use that growl because it sounds ridiculous. When Batman was talking to Maroni in TDK, for instance, the growl sounded fine.

[Light Lucario]

In Nolan and Bale's defense, the Batman voice wasn't supposed to sound natural. It's supposed to be intimidating and anonymous. Also, Bale's voice was clearly different when he was out in public as Bruce Wayne, or in the Batman costume and busting criminals. BTAS one-upped Nolan's Batman because while both made some direct statements about how Batman was the dominant personality and the socialite/industrialist the facade, BTAS reflected it through the voices and the Nolan versions did not. In his private conversations in BTAS, the "Batman voice" was used, and the "Bruce voice" was only used when dealing with others. The live action movies did the opposite, saving the "Batman voice" for only when he was under the cowl.

Too bad Conroy ditched the phony Bruce voice as the DCAU continued. With all the evidence out there suggesting Bruce and Batman are one in the same, the last thing he should do is talk with the same sounding voice as a renowned celebrity.

I understand where you're coming from. The voices for Bruce Wayne and Batman in The Dark Knight are pretty different and I could see how the voice is suppose to be intimidating and intense for criminals. I don't think that Conroy ditched the Bruce voice as t he DCAU continued. I think that it just changed as they went to BTAS to TNBA. His Bruce voice sounded something like his natural voice, from what I could tell in interviews, during BTAS, but it went a bit deeper once TNBA started. I don't think that it was just like his Batman voice, but it was a bit closer to it than his Bruce Wayne voice was back in BTAS.


How have you not seen them yet??? Don't they have movie theaters in Dream World? ;)

Oh they have plenty of them there, but too many dreamers don't have money.:) Seriously, I haven't seen them yet because I would get too nervous during some of the more intensely violence scenes. I couldn't even watch the death scene of Bruce's parents when I was watching a special of analyzing Batman psychological from Batman Begins. From what I've seen and heard, both films are great, all of the hype and commercials for The Dark Knight almost made me go and see it, but I'm too sensitive to handle some of the violence.

[Aldrius]

He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained,

I heard plenty of complaining. I certainly didn't like it very much.

My problem with the accent is that it's difficult to understand and every time I hear it, it just makes me roll my eyes.

[Grimlock]

I don't understand the backlash with TDK in terms of Bale's vocal performance. He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained

I did.

[Old Guy]

I don't understand the backlash with TDK in terms of Bale's vocal performance. He did the same thing in Batman Begins and nobody complained.

People did complain, but if you go back and watch the movie you'd notice it was very inconsistant. As a result people just said, "well...he's finding his Batman voice." He found it alright...and it sucks.

[defunctzombie]

I preferred the softer voice Bale used when asking the tied up honor guard what happened. I never found his overall voice hard to understand, but like I've said before he sounded more like a cartoon character than a dark knight. :shrug:

[Ed Liu]

but like I've said before he sounded more like a cartoon character than a dark knight. :shrug:

Am I the only one who sees the irony in complaining that Bale sounded like "a cartoon character" when we're holding up a cartoon character as the one instance where they got the Bruce/Batman difference right? :D.

I've never been terribly fond of Bale's Batman voice very much, either, and I'm still thinking that TDK Batman looks best when you can't really see what a dork he looks like in the suit.

I'm glad to see Conroy get the props, though. To date, he's still just about the only one who seems to have gotten the difference between Batman and Bruce Wayne right. Jeremy Sisto probably could have, too, but he was never Bruce Wayne in New Frontier. Sisto certainly got Batman right, though, IMO.

-- Ed

[defunctzombie]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in complaining that Bale sounded like "a cartoon character" when we're holding up a cartoon character as the one instance where they got the Bruce/Batman difference right? :D.
Okay, you got me. :p You see, I consider "cartoons" as the wacky stuff that little kids watch. I never really considered BTAS a "cartoon" as much as I considered it a "show". So when I say Bale sounds like a cartoon character, I mean he sounds like someone out of, let's say Freakazoid. :anime:

[dark knight 90]

Okay, you got me. :p You see, I consider "cartoons" as the wacky stuff that little kids watch. I never really considered BTAS a "cartoon" as much as I considered it a "show". So when I say Bale sounds like a cartoon character, I mean he sounds like someone out of, let's say Freakazoid. :anime:


Freakazoid!??!!?

Thats taking it a bit far... Bale just needs a few lessons from a vocal coach on how to control his voice...

I'm surprised Nolan didn't discover the problem here... as Bale was a little hard to understand sometimes.

[Michael24]

Maybe they should just have Kevin Conroy dub all of Bale's Batman dialogue. :D

[dark knight 90]

Maybe they should just have Kevin Conroy dub all of Bale's Batman dialogue. :D


Problem solved...


What work does Kevin be doing these days (apart from Gotham Knight) - before that his last working credit on IMDB was The Batman guest spot in 2006...?

Hes such a talented actor, I hate to see him go wasted... :(

[defunctzombie]

Freakazoid!??!!?

Thats taking it a bit far... Bale just needs a few lessons from a vocal coach on how to control his voice...

I'm surprised Nolan didn't discover the problem here... as Bale was a little hard to understand sometimes.
Hey, it was the first cartoon I thought of! Maybe my memories of that show aren't as clear as I thought they were... :sweat:

[Michael24]

What work does Kevin be doing these days (apart from Gotham Knight) - before that his last working credit on IMDB was The Batman guest spot in 2006...?

Hes such a talented actor, I hate to see him go wasted... :(

I agree. However, since he moved back to New York a few years ago, he's probably been doing local stuff. Perhaps he's gotten back into stagework, and I think he continues to do commercials. I know he was doing VOs for Blood Diamond TV spots when that movie was coming out. I'd hoped to get him affiliated with my website in order to keep up-to-date about his work, but my efforts have pulled futile. :(

[Beyond Batman]

I have all the respect in the world for Kevin Conroy. He embraces Bruce/Batman's voice and makes it his own. He's also a very friendly guy. I got to meet him at Comic Con several years ago and was very appreciative of the praise. Viva la Conroy!

[Michael24]

I met him in 1998, at what I think was his very first public appearance (at the local WB Store), and yes, he is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He delighted all the kids in line by repeatedly saying "I, am, Batman!" to which everyone would applaud and cheer. I still kick myself for not bringing my camera to get a picture with him.