Dairy Queen - Summer Movie Guide

Summer Movie Guide

By Erik Davis

Who Makes the Best Batman?

Whoever thought an icky creature would come to represent one of our most beloved superheroes of all time? Batman has been around for roughly 70 years, fighting crime and protecting Gotham City in comic book form, on television and in the movies.

A number of different actors have lent their image and/or voices to the Caped Crusader over the years, but in honor of The Dark Knight Rises, we thought it would be fun to pull out those Batmen who’ve played the hero on the big screen and decide once and for all which version we like best.

(Bat-scale: 1 = Find a New Gig/10 = Gotham City God)

Comments (17)Leave a Comment

  • Aug 19th 2012 11:48PM

    the freddy  said...

    Christian Bale without a doubt, Michael Keaton was a great actor but Batman is supposed to be 6'2" and muscular, not short and scrawny. Val Kilmer and Gearge Klooney are decent actors but unfortunately their movies were directed by Joel Schumacher, who tried to make Batman funny/cartoony, which he should not be... and Adam West, well, out of shape and once again too cartoony (granted that's not all his fault)

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  • Aug 2nd 2012 6:00PM

    bat89  said...

    Vicki Vale too, because she at least reminds Bruce Wayne that he's still human, that he's still the little boy before the tragedy. Catwoman only reminds Batman of how weird and crazy he basically is. As for a third film, Knox, Vicki and Robin should all return. The Riddler should be a classmate of Bruce Wayne in their youth and wants to be the smartest man in Gotham. So he gets Bane to break Batman's back. But because Batman's suit is armor, the damage to his back is not as profound. Also, unlike Bale, Keaton figures out a way to expose Bane's weakness and defeat him at the end.

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  • Aug 2nd 2012 5:57PM

    bat89  said...

    I have some ideas for what an ideal Keaton trilogy could have been. For instance, most of what was in BATMAN RETURNS should stay, except for Batman "killing" people (which he didn't do so much in the first film), Penguin doesn't bite anyone's nose off and he doesn't bleed "black blood". Also, instead of Max Shreck, we should get Harvey Dent running for mayor, who gets blackmailed by Penguin to not only bring him into the world, but make him a candidate instead. This will eventually make Dent go mad and become Two-Face toward the end (in a DARK KNIGHT-style fall from grace). Instead of Catwoman, introduce **** Grayson, who becomes Robin at the end. Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl's character) should come back.

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  • Aug 2nd 2012 5:01PM

    bat89  said...

    This blog was also used three years ago after THE DARK KNIGHT came out and they also said that Michael Keaton was the best Batman. This goes to show that nobody can really top Keaton, because he was the definitive Dark Knight for cinema. Christian Bale did too many things wrong with the character, namely that he made Batman too extroverted (Batman is an introvert!!!!!) Keaton, at least, did his thing and went home: he made Batman the opposite of Superman, whereas Bale's Batman looks more like a bad-ass, bad boy version of the Man of Steel. Of course, if they had only gotten the original franchise right (i.e. a trilogy with Keaton), we wouldn't need a reboot!

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  • Jul 30th 2012 2:39PM

    kencole88  said...

    The BEST was Christian Bale, hands down. Then Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer. Adam West gets an "Honorable Mention" for making me laugh with what I believe to be a light-hearted spoof of the Caped Crusader.

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  • Jul 27th 2012 10:19AM

    asamuel  said...

    Michael Keaton for sure!!!

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  • Jul 21st 2012 8:35PM

    redmoviecrit  said...

    Val Kilmer, although he was not in the best batman movie as far as action, script or dialogue. His character is the best batman. He has the physical size to look powerful, a symmetrical face which is a small but important point because the bat mask actually looked straight on him. His voice has the best tone quality and his perfect diction conveyed both the refinement of Bruce Wayne and the psychological darkness of Batman, plus you could understand him. His acting choices and economy made his character interesting emotionally and psychologically, instead of creating a human caricature. He was not in the best batman film but all things equal his acting, voice, screen presence and especially dramatic choices make him the best.

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  • Jul 21st 2012 2:49PM

    100000149559404  said...

    Number 1 is Christian Bale. My second would be Val Kilmer. The others were jokes.

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  • Jul 21st 2012 2:38PM

    1643550265  said...

    Michael Keaton hands down!!!

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  • Jul 3rd 2012 10:05PM

    Bearfist  said...

    Christian Bale without question. Of course, he's a fantastic actor. There's the big ticket films like Batman but watching him in other movies where he becomes deep, complex characters is fastinating. It's dynamite that he's paired with Gary Oldman in the Batman movies since Gary Oldman is another great actor.

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  • Jul 3rd 2012 5:51PM

    marquisjust2fresh  said...

    Sorry guys but i have to go with CHRISTIAN BALE !! sure michael keaton was pretty good as was val kilmer all of them were good but no could match to BALE. Bale is the only one who showed us batmans true colors batman was never an iconic love duvy kinda guy he was like a hero that emerged from the dark. Not some fancy show off trying to impress people . HE was more than just a man himself he has to be one of the greatest heroes to ever live because its what drove him to do what he does and its the willpower and devotion he has. That kind of dark portrayl was best played by CHRISTIAN BALE HANDS DOWN !!!

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  • Nov 1st 2010 10:42AM

    Jdo4031  said...

    Christian Bale Just Dont Look Tough and Scary, Head is to Narrow and what is with that gruff wispier voice that is hard to understand, Does he eventually turn into Smegal. Look at that pic of Michael Keaton as Batman who wants to mess with that.

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  • Jul 30th 2010 6:44PM

    Hades87  said...

    Christian Bale the BEST BATMAN !!!

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  • Jul 27th 2010 9:29PM

    105600js  said...

    Tim Burton just made Batman too dark (or at least put him in the wrong shade of gray). There is nothing that sets Keaton apart from the rest. He makes a decent Batman but an awful Bruce Wayne. Even Val Kilmer was a better Bruce Wayne. When it comes to a iconic, moody but human, vigilante and heroic Batman/Bruce Wayne, you have to go with Christian Bale and Kevin Conroy. I'm not sure who makes a funnier Batman, though: Adam West or George Clooney...

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  • Jul 25th 2010 9:07AM

    max60watts  said...

    Without a doubt...Michael Keaton made the best Batman to date....his manic personality fit the character perfectly. Val Kilmer was too rigid and Christian Bale's persona was one in which he worked too hard to fit into the role.

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  • Jul 23rd 2010 9:42PM

    robdelrosario2005  said...

    I got to go with Val Kilmer and Christian Bale

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  • May 5th 2010 11:05PM

    1816972520  said...

    Either Michael Keaton or Christian Bale....Maybe even Kevin Conroy........No one else is qualified to compete

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