Comic books are perhaps harder to cast than novels, since artists have provided actual pictures of the characters that have a consistent look that fans know well. When filmmakers try to emulate a characters’ look above anything else, they tend to come up short, but when they take chances on talent and personality, they come up with super-gold. Take a look at this gallery of great and bad casting choices over the years for examples.
DarkHorses said...
Considering that there have been only 2 Jokers and most people consider them both great (I couldn't decide which one I like better), it would have been better to have the villian Two-Face done. The author could have used Billy Dee Williams (Batman, '89), Tommy Lee Jones (Batman Forever, '92) or Aaron Eckhart (DK '08). But as someone already mentioned, that would have taken someone to write the article that had some movie, much less comic book knowledge.
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kevroy7 said...
Everything appears to be in working order except for Christian Bale as the worst Batman. You have absolutely got to be kidding me. He brought a whole new darkness to the character as we have never seen in the other Bat films. Yes the growl may seem comical, but still! George Clooney is THE WORST Batman.
tsupplice said...
What is fandango smoking? George Clooney was the worst batman by far. This article is horrible!
744565423 said...
And one more rant: Mr. Freeze is not a boring character. His implications and evil tendencies are driven and derived from wanting to save his wife. The incarnation of Mr. Freeze by Bruce Timm from the 1992 Batman: TAS was one of great development, inner turmoil, and emotion (even though Mr. Freeze has none except for the love for his wife). Again, this was a directorial flop, not an actor upset. Arnold can be a great actor if put in the right role. Personally, I would not have picked him but can any good actor do well in a Joel Schumucker film?
Also, when it comes to Bale not giving into brutal urges or succumbing to his pain, did you see the interrogation scene in The Dark Knight? He almost kills the Joker. Also, in the comics, Bruce doesn't succumb to urges as much as you think he does. He's had years upon years of mental preparedness and has undergone numerous bouts where he doesn't kill or break bones. Bale is the best Batman when it comes to the serious role. Keaton was the best Batman in the comic role. If you want to criticize, you need to evaluate the directors, not the actors because both were cast in two completely different roles, even though they both donned the mask of the bat.
Ok. I don't agree with most of this. It's hard to compare both Jokers when there has only been...two, for at least the big screen. Bale isn't the worst Batman. I know people find the Batman voice annoying but, with the realism Nolan is trying to do, if Bruce Wayne didn't try changing his voice while in Batman garb, everyone would know EXACTLY who he was. Jack Nichoulson as the Joker was a brilliant choice. Of course his make up was crazy. Have you seen any Tim Burton films? He was insane (his final plot was on top of the tower and even though a few times he almost died, eventually he did, he still continued to try and kill Batman). Whoever wrote this article needs to go back, read comics & become a better reviewer when it comes to film.
100000048099760 said...
I can see the writer never actually read any Iron Man comics before they decided to write this.
505612931 said...
Wait a minute, you think George Clooney was better than Christian Bale?!?!?!!?!? Christian Bale did great, no one likes the growl but that was how he and Christopher Nolan chose to do it. Seeing as how this is the most successful Batman trilogy of all time, I say they chose well. Seriously though George Clooney was the WORST batman ever
babadavis1 said...
On the positive side, no lsiting for 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World?' How about 'Best and worst 'offbeat' comic book films. Scott Pilgrim and howard the Duck, respectively.
I disagree with the Conan selection- not that Jason was in any way good, just that Conan was a novel first, comic second. In it's place, let's put Shaq's 'Steel,' 'Halle Berry's 'Catwoman,' Jennifer Garner's 'Elektra,' Howard the Duck, Dolph Lundgren's 'Punisher,' or Nicolas Cage as 'Ghost Rider.' Twice. And no mention of the Supergirl movie anywhere on this list? Really? No wonder comic book movies got such a bad rap for a while.
I'm getting the feeling this person asked around the office for movies other people remembered without any research or actual experience. Some of the reasons are good, others are way off mark.
mrbeige said...
I mostly agree with the picks. I don't agree that Christian Bale was the worst BATMAN. I think he plays a good BATMAN. He is dark enough. I agree with the picks for X-Men except Haley Barry. She was not a good STORM. STORM is African not African American. Should have used Iman; you know, the model from Africa. I like all the FANTASTIC FOUR except Jessica Alba. She was not a good Ms. Invisible. Should have used a more mature female.
GHOSTFACE12 said...
To me, I think TOBEY MAGUIRE should have been in the WORST list because his acting was wooden, boring and he lacked the precence of a super hero character. Back to the list, I agree Arnie as Mr Freeze/aLICIA SILVERSTONE SUCKED BIG TIME!, Bale was excellent as Bats (though he was overshadowed by Heath) Eric Bana SUCKED TOO! I hated liev as Sabretooth! loved the guy who portrayed Sabre in the first Xmen movie. I think George clonney was alright but he was given a ridiculous dialogue
100000541948358 said...
I agree. I liked Tobey in the first movie, but instead of growing with the character he just fell to dropping lines without a lot of well anything.
Future films said...
Bale in my words is a good batman not worst that just makes sound stupid
mmcintosh said...
Wow, I could not disagree with you more on Batman but then critics are never the true representation of Hollyweird anyways!
AgentSmith47 said...
I mostly agree with the bests but the worse were just that. Nicholson Joker worked for its time, same as Romero Joker which I would've put there instead. The worst Batman was Clooney who still apologizes for B&R. The best team automatically goes to The Avengers, worst, the dreadful LXG, at least FF had a sequel. The worst Spidey-friend goes to Dunst, if you read comics then you know she's no MJ. Supes choice is unfair only two have played him on film, now expand to DC hero & its Shaq's Steel. Heroine worse than Silverstone was Halle's Catwoman. Movie sibling is also unfair as only two exist & Origins Sabertooth isn't the same as the X-Men 1 version. Finally, worst alt. hero is Cera for SP just about killed it for me & I love the movie.
bigftdaddy said...
robert downey jr. thee best actor ever, of all the super heroes. he rang the bell ! !!!!!!!
JDB728 said...
It's hard to take someone seriously when they're criticizing the Fantastic Four, and refer to Sue Storm as "Invisible Girl". I trust pretty much everyone even vaguely familiar with the Fantastic Four would know it's "Invisible Woman". Additionally: The 2005 Fantastic Four was well cast aside from Jessica Alba. Each of the male actors was very good for the role. The problem was more to do with writing and direction then with the acting.
100000752379582 said...
Bale is the wrost batman ever!!!! Nobody watch the dark knight for him, they watched for the joker and chris direction of the movie.
100000043424542 said...
lol bale is the best batman... theres a reason all the other batman movies sucked
So, Christopher Nolan, Heath Ledger, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Aaron Eckhart, the writers, ect... had nothing at all to do with the success of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? Ann Hathaway and Tom Hardy(along with everyone other than Christian Bale) have nothing to do with the high level of anticipation for The Dark Knight Rises?
paulmath said...
Agree with most picks. However, Bale is a great Batman and brings a sense of realness to the role. Clooney couldnt stop bobbling his head long enough and was terrible. Jack was a solid joker for its time as he still had to play comically as it was wrote. People are way to harsh with Brandon's Superman. He played it well, but wasnt the fit people wanted. Odonnell didnt stand a chance with a homo-erotic director and a bobble head for a co-star. Sabertooth wasnt the actors fault it was the writing. He could be a much deeper character to Wolverine (see comics) but they wrote him as a mere thug, shame.
A look at Hollywood's best crews in outer space.
Who needs plot and story when your movie looks this good? (Although, most of these have that, too.)