A Tale of Two Bales in 2005In 2005, actor Christian Bale starred in two interesting, if very different films: David Ayer's "Harsh Times" and Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins." Though both films are practically diametrically opposed, they do share some interesting similarities in regards to the characters Bale plays. Both characters are specially-trained warriors who return to a less-than-familiar home to then try and use the skills they honed in foreign lands fighting foreign enemies to find a new purpose. The similarities don't end there, though, as both characters are plagued by past traumas that manifest themselves in disturbing visions and hallucinations. This article would be a study of those characters (Bruce Wayne/Batman in "Batman Begins" and Jim Davis in "Harsh Times" and just how their skills, experiences, and relationships shape them into the people they are. |