I know what the original comic version of Bane was going for. Someone clever and calculating like Bat-man, but relying on strength and "steroids" to counter Bat-man's agility and tech.

The thing is, except for Batman the Animated Series I can't recall the last time I've seen a giant Bane who was intelligent. Even versions that were "intelligent" are simply that in his previous differences. Currently he is almost always roid raging out to the point that you could probably paint him Green, turn him into a hero and you'd have DC's Hulk to DC's Tony Stark (Batman) for a future Justice League movie.

The Dark Knight series has been more realistic so far. So a smaller Bane works, I suppose. Also the series has been goo so far. I'd rather see a smaller Bane than a Bat-Man Forever Bane.