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Who played the best Batman?

Corinne [Ninja]™ 2008/05/15 21:21:07
Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
Val Kilmer. Batman Forever (1995)
George Clooney. Batman and Robin (1997)
Adam West. Batman (1966) and TV Batman (1966-1968)
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  • Tevboi 2008/07/11 21:15:50
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    Tevboi
    +9
    Bale+Ledger= awesome ass movie

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Opinions

  • el gato 2013/04/29 14:48:20
    Undecided
    el gato
    ME
  • el gato el gato 2013/04/29 14:50:02
    el gato
    +2
    el gato
  • David Thomas 2013/02/07 19:25:00
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    David Thomas
    +1
    christian bale all the way!!
  • Rich 2012/11/11 08:57:49
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    Rich
    +1
    Batman and Robin was so campy, I'm proud to say that I've never seen the whole movie, although I saw enough to be ashamed. Bat nipples...
  • travis.jones.77715869 2012/08/06 20:08:57
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    travis.jones.77715869
    Christian Bale? Really?? With that silly voice and Chicago home address? Was not impressive...Keaton was much more mysterious and didn't resort to comical voice-modulation to scare his enemies, A simple, cooly-delivered "I'm Batman" (did everyone just forget how amazing that line is? it's like these new Batman movies gave everyone amnesia, that's one of the most quoted lines in movie history for my generation) was enough cause that hood to probably void his bowels as he was hung over the side of building, pleading "don't kill me man, don't kill me!" So classic! You tell me one Christian Bale as Batman moment as cool as that.
  • joshua.schuler.75 2012/07/19 13:11:45
    Undecided
    joshua.schuler.75
    +1
    tough call on this one. bale is phenominal in the role. i loved keaton in the first two movies. adam west is just great. clooney was a mistake. kilmer was good.
  • Hunter ... joshua.... 2012/07/23 05:32:43
    Hunter Mesojednik
    +3
    very good answer. completely agree. clooney was a joke. kilmer was decent. west was hilarious. keaton was excellent. bale is very dark as far as batman goes.
  • el gato Hunter ... 2013/04/29 14:49:31
    el gato
    +2
    el gato
  • el gato joshua.... 2013/04/29 14:49:24
    el gato
    +2
    el gato
  • august welles 2012/07/06 00:08:24
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    august welles
    This is a very hard choice. I chose Michael Keaton for his admirable Batman performance. With that said, I think Christian Bale captured the darkness that the true batman should have fantastically. Unfortunately, for most of the movie I was overlooking that because I simply could not get over his voice that he was pushing too hard. Michael Keaton had more of the elegance and suave that I always pictured as batman (and this is coming from a fifteen-year-old girl). I have to admit though, Keaton's Batman costume was a little laughable, but I'll just blame that on the times.
  • LoisLane0815 2012/06/28 09:26:11
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    LoisLane0815
    1.Bale 2.Keaton 3.Kilmer 4.West 5.Clooney
  • el gato LoisLan... 2013/04/29 14:49:46
    el gato
    +2
    el gato
  • Toshimurra 2012/04/08 08:40:51
    George Clooney. Batman and Robin (1997)
    Toshimurra
    I say George Clooney! Was The best batman His Voice is Sexy hes Sexy ! I mena his voice sounds like the animated batman kindof I say he was Perfect!
  • ॐGuru Joshॐ 2012/03/26 06:18:08 (edited)
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    ॐGuru Joshॐ
  • R Diddy 2012/01/04 01:47:08
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    R Diddy
    +1
    There are some very simple reasons why Christian Bale is clearly a better actor. For comparison's sake, I'll play devil's advocate against Michael Keaton, since he seems to be another favorite. I'll leave Kilmer and Rubber-Nipples out; they were not playing Batman.
    1) The Looks: No, I'm not going to go on about how hot Christian Bale is. Bruce Wayne is supposed to be a handsome, tall, dark-haired, well-built, battle-worn man. Bale pulls this off beautifully with his fantastic physique. Keaton has curly hair, never depicted on Wayne, and he was much smaller. When I first watched "Batman" as a child, I didn't even know who Michael Keaton was. I couldn't tell who was Bruce Wayne at the beginning at the party scene at Wayne Manor. In "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", you looked at Bale and instantly connect him to Wayne from the comics.

    2) The Personality: You can also see the pain in him, especially in "Batman Begins", when he is about to shoot Joe Chill. You can feel the repressed anger in him, knowing that he wants to avenge his parents, but not knowing how to do that. Keaton never went deep into the character; all he did was try to explain to Vale about his dual life. In the 1989 film, you could see that Keaton pulled off a very strange Wayne in public. At the party scen...



    There are some very simple reasons why Christian Bale is clearly a better actor. For comparison's sake, I'll play devil's advocate against Michael Keaton, since he seems to be another favorite. I'll leave Kilmer and Rubber-Nipples out; they were not playing Batman.
    1) The Looks: No, I'm not going to go on about how hot Christian Bale is. Bruce Wayne is supposed to be a handsome, tall, dark-haired, well-built, battle-worn man. Bale pulls this off beautifully with his fantastic physique. Keaton has curly hair, never depicted on Wayne, and he was much smaller. When I first watched "Batman" as a child, I didn't even know who Michael Keaton was. I couldn't tell who was Bruce Wayne at the beginning at the party scene at Wayne Manor. In "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", you looked at Bale and instantly connect him to Wayne from the comics.

    2) The Personality: You can also see the pain in him, especially in "Batman Begins", when he is about to shoot Joe Chill. You can feel the repressed anger in him, knowing that he wants to avenge his parents, but not knowing how to do that. Keaton never went deep into the character; all he did was try to explain to Vale about his dual life. In the 1989 film, you could see that Keaton pulled off a very strange Wayne in public. At the party scene, he is somewhat shy and has an almost confused look on his face. Bale nailed the "troubled-in-private, playboy-in-public" persona. In "BB", Wayne goes into a "drunken stupor" and makes the guests leave his home. Bale's Wayne routinely walks into restaurants with models and asks to buy the establishment.

    3) The Voice: People keep whining about Bale's gruff Batman voice. Keaton's Batman/Wayne voice is identical. Batman's voice is supposed to: a. mask his identity b. frighten his foes. Bale's voice does exactly this. Batman is not supposed to sound pretty, he is supposed to be a monster of the night.

    In conclusion, Bale is a better Batman. AND, by the way, Heath Ledger owns Jack Nicholson any day.
    (more)
  • moo5e27 R Diddy 2012/08/20 05:45:21
    moo5e27
    +3
    I agree to a extent, you have to realize that they are playing two different ages of batman, Keaton had been batman for many years and had already made his name in Gotham and he was already established and set down in Wayne corp. But bale was telling it from the beginning so yea he would be a little bit darker and crazy at times, so Keaton had already been that party boy he didn't have to really do all that stuff, but the only thing that I can say that bale did a lot better in was the fighting and all the action. But I can say that Michelle pffifer did play a best Catwoman
  • Funzi159 2011/11/22 11:28:55
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Funzi159
    We have to consider the differences; Keaton was Tim Burton's Batman, actually a character even deeper and more complicated than Chris Nolan's movie. He is closer to an anti-hero, rather than a super-hero, and this makes him quite unique in the super heroes world! Bale is great for portraying a human Bruce Wayne and a man of law, but surely Keaton is closer to the original vision of Batman made by Bob Kane!!!
  • Dave Pearson 2011/10/31 00:42:47
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Dave Pearson
    Keaton. Bale sounded more like someone was choking him while he spoke. He sounded HORRIBLE as Batman. His costume dowsn`t even LOOK like Batman. The Keaton portrayal was very comic like, while Bale was just boring. The only reason DK grossed as much as it did was for....Ledger, the junkie. Not for Bale. Kilmer and Clooney....haha...they blew badly. No comment.
  • sam ford 2011/10/07 23:08:23
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    sam ford
    for me, it's bale vs keaton! michael keaton and tim burton were all right at first when jack nicholson blew us all away as the joker in the first film and then when both keaton and burton made batman returns, they both it more gothic than the first one. but i think in first place should be christian bale and christopher nolan, because they did a much better job of doing batman begins and dark knight than burton and keaton ever did. the thing with bale and nolan is 1st in batman begins cause, it's where bruce wayne goes under the guidance with liam neeson also known as ducard/ra's al ghul who teaches him to become batman, plus, bruce wayne would have to get a suit, equipment and the batcave to start the journey including the tumbler a.k.a the batmobile. in the dark knight, we meet the updated, new joker a.k.a heath ledger-i like him now, more compared to jack nicholson, cause, what he did as the joker was so clownish, especially with very old elongated revolvers that managed to blew up the batwing and has flags that said bang! on them. plus, he didn't kick much butt, did he? but, he was funny though including trashing up the art gallery and poisoning people with smylex gas.-the thing i like about heath ledger is that he's more psychotic, he kicks more butt, he's a man of his wo...
    for me, it's bale vs keaton! michael keaton and tim burton were all right at first when jack nicholson blew us all away as the joker in the first film and then when both keaton and burton made batman returns, they both it more gothic than the first one. but i think in first place should be christian bale and christopher nolan, because they did a much better job of doing batman begins and dark knight than burton and keaton ever did. the thing with bale and nolan is 1st in batman begins cause, it's where bruce wayne goes under the guidance with liam neeson also known as ducard/ra's al ghul who teaches him to become batman, plus, bruce wayne would have to get a suit, equipment and the batcave to start the journey including the tumbler a.k.a the batmobile. in the dark knight, we meet the updated, new joker a.k.a heath ledger-i like him now, more compared to jack nicholson, cause, what he did as the joker was so clownish, especially with very old elongated revolvers that managed to blew up the batwing and has flags that said bang! on them. plus, he didn't kick much butt, did he? but, he was funny though including trashing up the art gallery and poisoning people with smylex gas.-the thing i like about heath ledger is that he's more psychotic, he kicks more butt, he's a man of his word, he doesn't use what nicholson used, he feels less pain, and he can do any killing job affectly and properly. that's why i like bale, ledger and nolan more better! can't wait for the dark knight rises. it's a sham that heath ledger is not alive to do it, i would love to see him again.
    (more)
  • Patrick 2011/03/14 21:39:59
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Patrick
    +1
    Michael Keaton nailed the Batman role perfectly. He was dark, brooding...almost without emotion. He was also a man on a mission. Christian Bale was an acceptable Batman, but i felt that his portrayal of Bruce Wayne was subpar. Keaton successfully handled Bruce Wayne and Batman. Don't get me started on George Clooney and his Batsuit with nipples, that was disturbing beyond measure.
  • Ruth Ann Patrick 2011/05/02 02:26:35
    Ruth Ann
    +2
    Michael Keaton was not the best Batman. He was good but not the best. Ever read the batman comics. Bruce Wayne was a playboy and Christan Bale nailed that part of the role. Besides the earlier movies did not really have Bruce Wayne having a major role, they focused more on the Batman side of the story.
  • ger 2011/02/23 04:56:38
  • Patrick ger 2011/03/14 21:43:21 (edited)
    Patrick
    +3
    Aggressive in a quiet way?! You never read the original Bob Kane comics, have you?! He was a dark avenger of the night. He was judge, jury and executioner and a hard core street vigilante with a attitude. Bale has so far just been a bi-polar martial artist with an attitude. Keaton was all those things and more.
  • Cody T 2011/01/03 20:15:21
    Undecided
    Cody T
    kevin conroy is definitely the best batman
  • louie 2010/12/19 15:07:26
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    louie
    michael keaton is the best batman. and the best joker is jack. just beceues that domb ass heath ledger's dies ever one thanks he is a good acter but he is not that good of an acter.
  • Vincent 2010/06/27 03:13:35
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Vincent
    +3
    Michael keaton played the best batman.
  • АлександрЛысенко 2010/06/20 08:54:18
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    АлександрЛысенко
    +2
    only Keaton
  • JM 2010/03/29 22:15:22
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    JM
    +3
    keaton was a close second
  • David 2010/03/12 12:35:05
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    David
    +1
    Bale. Bale Bale Bale. Amazing actions, expressions, voices, and portaying 3 characters, the Bruce Wayne, the billionaire playboy and the man hidden under a mask
  • Batman enthusiest 2010/01/29 10:09:25
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Batman enthusiest
    +6
    The only two people to even compare are Keaton and Conroy. Conroy is the voice of batman! If you even try to deny that you don't belong here. However Keaton is the only one, on camera, to portray the darkness of batman.
    Bale is a HORRIBLE batman! I can't stand everyone giving him so much credit for nothing! People only say he's "the best" because the movie was GREAT! (I say movie because Begins was ok, TDK was amaizing) Bale's portrayal of batman/bruce wane is pathetic! He by far has the WORST Batman voice!
    If they could have keaton on screen with conroy's voice as batman it would be the best of both worlds. However on screen (since I've never actually seen conroy in person) as an overall performance Keaton is the only one to capture both bruce and batman.
    Bale plays it as an angry kid who's just trying to impress his girl; while Keaton really understood the darkness of batman, and lost person that is bruce wayne. Who is doing it by himself, beacuse he doesn't trust anyone else; nor needs anyone else. As much as I enjoy the character of Fox, I don't think so! The only one that Bruce can trust is Alfred! Eventually his sidekicks, but even then, not as much as bale depends on Fox.
    Now to be far, to truly compare, you would have to put each actor in the other persons time. By doi...

    The only two people to even compare are Keaton and Conroy. Conroy is the voice of batman! If you even try to deny that you don't belong here. However Keaton is the only one, on camera, to portray the darkness of batman.
    Bale is a HORRIBLE batman! I can't stand everyone giving him so much credit for nothing! People only say he's "the best" because the movie was GREAT! (I say movie because Begins was ok, TDK was amaizing) Bale's portrayal of batman/bruce wane is pathetic! He by far has the WORST Batman voice!
    If they could have keaton on screen with conroy's voice as batman it would be the best of both worlds. However on screen (since I've never actually seen conroy in person) as an overall performance Keaton is the only one to capture both bruce and batman.
    Bale plays it as an angry kid who's just trying to impress his girl; while Keaton really understood the darkness of batman, and lost person that is bruce wayne. Who is doing it by himself, beacuse he doesn't trust anyone else; nor needs anyone else. As much as I enjoy the character of Fox, I don't think so! The only one that Bruce can trust is Alfred! Eventually his sidekicks, but even then, not as much as bale depends on Fox.
    Now to be far, to truly compare, you would have to put each actor in the other persons time. By doing that, you'll understand that Bale could never have been Batman in the late 80's early 90's; while Keaton would still be a great fit in the present day! You put Keaton as batman in the next movie, put this poll up again and most of the people that picked Bale would then say that Keaton was the best ever!

    I'll leave you with this, try to take out the special affects, storyline, directors, and supporting actors/actress', etc. If you get down to what you think of when you think of Batman, you'll agree that Conroy is the voice you think of, and Keaton best fits an on screen portrayal.
    (more)
  • David Batman ... 2010/03/12 12:28:25
    David
    +2
    I don't agree with you not at all. Sry to disappoint. My point is that you can't say what Bale did and what Keaton did as well and so on because it is what the director wants from you and what lines are written to be said. So if the director visions an angry Batman the actor play it as Nolan wants. As far as I concern Christian Bale is the best actor to portay Batman for his 3 personas. He is capable of present a Bruce which deep down he has anger, disappointment, mournful for his parents death in front of him, in public he is the Bruce-Wayne-Doesn't-Care-Beca... Rich and the thrid persona which is batman. His voice was good, his physique excellent, and even his good looking. I see Val Kilmer as a nerd guy rather than a billionaire guy and as for Keaton, he was a little bit mature for Batman. I think Bale did awsome in the three characters. and as for fierce, I don't agree that Keaton is the best because of his weapons. Again this is from the director's work, vision and creativity rather than the actor's himself. It was really though for Bale because people expected from him. Everyone knows that there are 4 other Batman previously so he did have to put something in it that makes him special.

    As for Clooney he was not bad except that he wasn't so much what critics expected from him when he had the suit. Bat Bale is the best, even the Joker, along with Commisioner Gordon and Alfred. They all superseded prior actors in the same characters
  • fierce 2010/01/24 00:10:06
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    fierce
    +1
    Christian Bale is in second place for me. But my favorite would have to be Keaton. Bale was really cool as Batman, but he gave him a realistic version of him. Sure Keaton's abilities as Batman seems lazy and slightly cheesy compared to the way Bale does it. But its the imagination that makes Keaton awesome. If anyone can beat the crap out a group of goons with simple punch's and very convenient items (the metal plate that extends from his wrist that hit Jokers ninja-goon in the balls) has to be very very badass. So Keaton has my vote.
  • Deidre 2010/01/05 22:44:14
    Undecided
    Deidre
    +3
    I liked Michael Keaton because he too is from Pittsburgh, PA. He plays Batman as a mysterious, character and romaticizes the character. It is a simple portrayal and not too violent as the last Batman movie.
  • superville8 2010/01/05 04:10:47 (edited)
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    superville8
    +2
    1) Christian Bale hands down
    2) If anyone comes close to him its Kevin Conroy he is that perfect iconic voice.
    3) After then the only other actor who really does him justice is Michael Keaton.
  • Wraith13 2009/12/02 03:11:15
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    Wraith13
    +1
    Micheal keating was the best batman....He was able to pull off the two sides of bruce wayne very well
  • kriptic2005 2009/11/11 15:03:58
    Michael Keaton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
    kriptic2005
    +1
    michael keaton hands down.
  • Laura 2009/09/22 05:04:06 (edited)
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    Laura
    +1
    christian bale, definatly.

    Christian Bale Heath Ledger = a.m.a.z.i.n.g. movie!
    and i mean.. look at him. He's so sexy!
    knight 2008 christian bale definatly christian bale heath ledger movie christian bale definatly christian bale heath ledger movie sexy
  • Marcus Romero 2009/09/21 23:47:38
    Adam West. Batman (1966) and TV Batman (1966-1968)
    Marcus Romero
    +4
    Whose better than the original!
  • Patrick... Marcus ... 2011/06/15 23:17:45
    Patrick Marshall
    +3
    Michael Keaton!!!
  • Ace 2009/08/27 08:32:50
    Christian Bale. Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008)
    Ace
    +2
    Bale has done very well... but a bulk of the credit should go to Nolan's fantastic direction.
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