From all of the "Batman" movies, who is the better Batman? (Possible Spoilers)

[thenewme93]

Since there's a Joker thread, I thought there should be one for the Caped Crusader as well...Which Batman out of all the movies is your favorite??? Christian Bale for me...he seems to be the most smoothest out of all of them..

[Knight]

I would have to go Bale and then Keaton.

[DarkAngel]

Keaton's been my favorite Batman, based on reasons I've given in other threads. In short, I've felt the menace he brought in suit was the greatest, and so naturally and unforced. I also felt he had the advantage of a batsuit that looked a lot better.

And I just loved his Bruce Wayne, which felt so different. Loved the reclusive aspect, how out of place he seemed in social situations, the vulnerability that seemed to be there at times, stemming from witnessing his parents' murder. I really liked the whole presentation.

I have to say, though, that TDK alone has me wavering a bit. I've been harsh on the costume, but even the old suit played out well during the early part of the movie. Physically, I loved the situations they put Batman in and the way he operated and was filmed. And as Wayne, I loved his struggle and that strong desire to end his stint at Batman, even while circumstances were dictating that he might never be able to. Seeing him look to another as the city's great hope and White Knight, as well as his depth of pain over losing Rachel and his one shot at happiness...all that put Bale's Batman in a new light for me.

I don't know. I've got something to think about.

DA

[Aizen]

Christian Bale's Batman is the best for me.

[Mynd Hed]

Bale's a real contender, but nobody trumps Kevin Conroy in my book.

(What? The thread title said of ALL of the Batman movies.)

[BonyT]

Like you, DA, I've been through this in other threads and don't aim to rehash all of the points of those aguments here. But in brief, for my money it's Bale's Batman. I know others see a great deal more in Keaton's performance than I do; but to me Burton's/Keaton's Batman was just so flat, just the guy in the Batsuit, someone I could never care much about one way or the other -- although that has more to do with the style of film that Burton was making than with Keaton's acting abilities. Bale's is the rich, nuanced Batman that honors the depths of the most genuinely mythic of all superhero characters; not to mention that Bale's just much better suited physically for Batman.

... And to be honest, I have several of the animated VAs above Keaton on my list.

[Soul]

No one gives Conroy the credit he deserves or the fact that Mask of the Phantasm was a Theatrical feature film.

Bale is the quintessential Bruce Wayne and Batman in the live-action medium.
He understands the character and has a real passion for portraying him.

Though.. I feel sorry for Clooney.
He COULD have been a amazing Batman, but he was bogged down by a horrendous script, directing and director at that.
Clooney is a great actor so I think he could've done SO much better.

[Icer]

Bale, with Keaton behind him. Kilmer was whatever, and Clooney sucked.

[Mad Monkey 7]

Kilmer

[Bat Bruce]

Lewis Wilson!

[defunctzombie]

1. Conroy - He's the only one that does both Batman and Bruce well.
2. Bale - Good Batman, lousy Wayne
3. Keaton - Good Wayne, lousy Batman
4. Kilmer - He was okay, but he came off a little funny
5. Clooney - Only thing good about him is the Bat-chin

[RonDrakenfan17]

Christian Bale for me. I fell he's so great as Batman these films, I like him as Bruce Wayne too :)

[BatKid]

Keaton. He just embodied that dark creature, much more so than any of the other Batmans. It also helps that everything from his voice, to his stature and movements, seemed very natural. Not an act or a show. This was the "true" Bruce Wayne.

I know Bale is a fave, but his Batman, while bad-ass, is artificial. I suppose not seeing a single ounce of rage or intensity when he's out of that mask was a detriment in watching him in the suit.

[Damien]

Apparently, West was so good he hasn't made the charts! :p

Bale and Keaton are both tops. Bale's Batman acts with a certain urgency and ruthlessness, while Keaton's just seems to act with smoother no-nonsense. Keaton is also Batman/Bruce no matter what he's wearing, while Bale makes the clear distinction. Both work well. On the down side, Keaton's Batman killed a few people, but let's chalk that up to faulty scripting. ;)

[Light Lucario]

I'll have to go with Conroy. He does Batman and Bruce so well that it can be hard to tell who is the real person. That's how I felt when I've watched some BTAS episodes.

[Batman]

1. Conroy

2. Bale

3. Kilmer

4. Keaton

5. West

To Hell with Looney Clooney

[Ragebot]

Conroy all the way. Bale is excellent in his films, but he's not what I would call a "definitive" version of the character.

Also, I think that Kilmer could have been a better Batman than Keaton had his services been used in a better movie.

[AlgeaX]

As far as live action Batmen go, Bale with no contest.

[Old Guy]

I'd say it's between Bale and Keaton.

Bale is great because he looks the part and has the acting chops. As well as being aweome during the fight and action scenes. However, the writing hurts his performance all the time. Nolan has Bale give speeches all the time. Batman is the silent type. He shouldn't be giving speeches.

Keaton was great in those Burton movies because you got a good sense of the character's psychology. And unlike Bale you could see what he was going through without saying a word.

[Hanshotfirst113]

For me, as excellent as Bale and Keaton were, I'd have to go, hands down, with Kevin Conroy. He IS Batman to me, his rich baritone perfectly epitomizing the Dark Knight.

[Spideyzilla]

For me, as excellent as Bale and Keaton were, I'd have to go, hands down, with Kevin Conroy. He IS Batman to me, his rich baritone perfectly epitomizing the Dark Knight.
I never thought of Conroy. I agree, he is BAtman, but for live action, I like Bale.

[Question411]

I would go with Bale, follwed very closly by Keaton. For the animated world Kevin Conroy beats them all hands down.
Question411

[DarkAngel]

For me, as excellent as Bale and Keaton were, I'd have to go, hands down, with Kevin Conroy. He IS Batman to me, his rich baritone perfectly epitomizing the Dark Knight.
I think I hesitate on Conroy because there all we can consider is voice. I don't mean that to put him down, because he is excellent. But part of what characterizes that Batman is the design and animation of the character as well, which we can't credit him with. Whereas with, for instance, Bale and Keaton we can look not only to what they were doing vocally, but also the performance they brought physically.

Similar thing with Joker. Hamill was outstanding, but with Ledger we've got not only the vocal aspect, but all the mannerisms and body language and everything else that colored his representation of the character.

I guess if we take everything into consideration, not just Conroy's work but also that of the artists and animators, then its fine. But simply comparing Conray to Bale or Hamill to Ledger doesn't feel like its fair or appropriate.

[tb4000]

Keaton, definitely.

[Ishtar]

1. Conroy- Needs no introduction.
2. Keaton- To me, he just felt the most like Batman compared to the rest of the actors.
3. Bale- While he is generally good, my main personal gripe is his voice while he is Batman. It just sounds too forced and gravely.
4. Kilmer- Not a bad Batman or Wayne. His acting is not the best, though.
5. West- I have to appreciate his Batman from the 60's TV Show and movie, and hey he wasn't a bad actor.
6. Clooney- Batman & Robin in general just ruined his take on the character. Also, his physical appearance just didn't seem like Bruce Wayne to me. I will admit, though, that he had a good voice for the character.

[AlgeaX]

I guess if we take everything into consideration, not just Conroy's work but also that of the artists and animators, then its fine. But simply comparing Conroy to Bale or Hamill to Ledger doesn't feel like its fair or appropriate.

I think voice acting and live action acting are just too different to make a really fair comparision. Which is why I confined myself to the live action Batmen for the purpose of this thread.

[JiminyCrick91]

Well not counting West I go...

1. Conroy
2. Bale
3. Kilmer
4. Clooney

But also of the live-action films I go...
1. The Dark Knight
2. Batman Begins
3. Batman Forever
4. Batman
5. Batman Returns
6. Batman & Robin

So that may be my bias.

[dmxx116]

Well not counting West I go...

1. Conroy
2. Bale
3. Kilmer
4. Clooney

But also of the live-action films I go...
1. The Dark Knight
2. Batman Begins
3. Batman Forever
4. Batman
5. Batman Returns
6. Batman & Robin

So that may be my bias.Did you forget Keaton on your list bro.

[randomuser83]

I like your guys list but I would rate Bale higher because thats just his natural voice. Watch American Psycho thats how he pretty much sounds.

[Harvey Two Face]

As for actors:

Keaton
Bale
Kilnor

and movies:

TDK
Batman Begins
Batman
Batman Forever
Batman Returns
Batman and Robin

[defunctzombie]

I like your guys list but I would rate Bale higher because thats just his natural voice. Watch American Psycho thats how he pretty much sounds.
But he's Welsh, so he's still faking. :p

[JiminyCrick91]

Did you forget Keaton on your list bro.
Woha. That's how forgettable he was to me. We can fix that though...

1. Conroy
2. Bale
3. Kilmer
4. Keaton
5. Clooney

[Michael24]

ACTORS:
1. Michael Keaton
2. Val Kilmer
3. Christian Bale
4. Adam West
5. George Clooney

(Altogether, I'd place Kevin Conroy at #2. If he'd played Batman in live action, I'd probably put him at #1.)

MOVIES:
1. Batman
2. Batman Returns
3. Batman Forever
4. The Dark Knight
5. Batman Begins
6. Batman: The Movie
7. Batman and Robin