Clooney as Batman in Year One??

[Russkafin]

I was recently reading on the Worlds Finest Newspage about the rumor that George Clooney may once again be playing Batman in the "Year One" movie. This upsets me on so many levels. First of all, I don't think that I am the only person who was less than pleased with Batman & Robin. I was so excited to hear that they were doing Year One, because maybe, just maybe, it would wash away the foul aftertaste of that joke of a bat-film that Joel Schumacher made. But to bring George Clooney back into the role makes no sense at all, especially given the fact that Year One is about Bruce's first year as Batman (duh), and should be played by a younger actor. I don't want to watch Year One and be constantly reminded about Batman & Robin. Because of this, I have prepared a list of actors who would be a better choice to play Batman in Year One. Warner Brothers, please take note.

Brad Pitt
Wes Bently
Edward Norton
David Duchovney
Russell Crowe
Tom Cruise
Michael Keaton
Guy Pearce
Ewan McGregor
Mark Wahlberg
Keanu Reeves
Ben Affleck
Matt Damon
Jude Law
Alec Baldwin
Brendan Fraser
John Cusack
Antonio Bandares
Nicolas Cage
Kevin Spacey
Hugh Jackman
Jeff Goldbloom
Matt Dillon
James Marsden
Pierce Brosnan
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Jason Biggs
Bruce Willis
Ben Stiller
Barry Pepper
Dean Cain
Toby McGuire
Michael J. Fox
Adam West
Norm Macdonald
Samuel L. Jackson
Haley Joel Osment
Woody Allen
Regis Philbin
Adam Sandler
Mr. T.
Michael Jackson
Boy George
Gary Coleman

Please feel free to add to this list.

[Bird Boy]

the last 12 are disturbing..lol.

I would like to see michael keaton back....

-BB

[Trent Lane]

Sorry, but Clooney wasn't THAT bad as Batman- Joel Schumacher and the script writers are the ones to blame. IMO, Val Kilmer was the WORST Batman to date. Adam West was better as Batman- I'm serious!!! I'm willing to give Clooney another shot at Bruce, even in a Year One movie. Although, like BB, I'd love to see Keaton back. Once Batman, always Batman...

[James Harvey]

The script, weak directing, weak EVERYTHING really brought down BATMAN & ROBIN. I think the cast could've done a better job if they had an even servicable script. Clooney was okay, but not the best. I just can't see him playing a 20 year old Batman...

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by flhero311
IMO, Val Kilmer was the WORST Batman to date.

That's ridiculous. Obviously Val wasn't allowed to do the dark Batman, but he did the best he could with the new direction WB was taking the films in. They were clearly trying to lighten the movies up, so if Kilmer wasn't allowed to do the cold, dark, grating voice, all he could do was deliver the lines in an emotionless manner. And one could definitely sense pain and sadness in his Bruce Wayne. Kilmer's was a brooding Batman/Wayne. Again, without the darkness of the character, that's all one could do.

I'd love to see Kilmer back in the Batman movies and actually allowed to act. He could do a tremendous job if allowed to.

Michael Keaton was great, but he's too old for a year one Batman. Even Kilmer might be too old. I'm not sure who could play the role.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by DarkAngel
I'm not sure who could play the role.

I think it's going to have to be an unknown. The well-known actors who've been bruited about are either good at brooding but too old, or young enough but too Dawson-ish. I think the role needs an unknown who won't be carrying any baggage.

[Robin2099]

I still say David Boreanaz would be the perfect Batman. He's old, but not too old to play a young Batman. Plus in the year one comic Bruce seemed to be in his late 20's to early 30's when he became Batman. Plus he's got the brooing thing down to a tee, and he can also play someone who's smooth and playboyish too.

[mxyzptlk]

please no cloony. i was watching batman and robin on tv lastnight and realised it was the worst movie i think i have ever seen.

[Trent Lane]

Sorry, Darkangel, but Kilmer was too, for the lack of a better word, prissy to play either Batman OR Bruce Wayne. Clooney at least had the look down. The movie sucked ("Don't leave the cave without it", "Hi Freeze, I'm Batman", "So many people to kill, so little time", "BOMB!", etc....), but again Clooney looked more the part than Kilmer...

[mxyzptlk]

keaton was by far the very best

[Trent Lane]

Agreed, no one tops Keaton as Batman.

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by flhero311
Sorry, Darkangel, but Kilmer was too, for the lack of a better word, prissy to play either Batman OR Bruce Wayne. Clooney at least had the look down. The movie sucked ("Don't leave the cave without it", "Hi Freeze, I'm Batman", "So many people to kill, so little time", "BOMB!", etc....), but again Clooney looked more the part than Kilmer...

I just don't think that Clooney looks like Bruce in any sense. Kilmer fit in that his age and look was appropriate for a rich playboy like Bruce. And the "brooding" visage that he gave the character was far more fitting than Clooney's performance which made Bruce seem a lot "lighter". I realize that story and directing is going to affect a lot of this, but Kilmer proved he could portray, at least visibly, a Bruce Wayne that wasn't truly happy, a Bruce who, deep inside, is feeling pain.
Even as Batman, Clooney didn't look as good as Kilmer. Facially, Kilmer works better behind the cowl. In both cases, lacking stories limited what these actors could do. Clooney perhaps was at the biggest disadvantage given that "Batman and Robin" sucked so bad. But looking at the performance they gave, Kilmer's Batman came closer to comic book Batman than Clooney's. Add the dark edge to Kilmer's portrayal, and it would be dead on. Give him a true chance to act when portraying Bruce Wayne, and he'll get the job done.

[Trent Lane]

I won't get into a big huff about this. Simply put, I don't like Val Kilmer's Batman, or any other movie he's been in. On the other side, I hated From Dusk Till Dawn, featuring Clooney, but thought he looked more the part of Bruce Wayne (I know, I'm getting redundant...) in B & R... even tho the movie sucked royally...

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by flhero311
I won't get into a big huff about this. Simply put, I don't like Val Kilmer's Batman, or any other movie he's been in. On the other side, I hated From Dusk Till Dawn, featuring Clooney, but thought he looked more the part of Bruce Wayne (I know, I'm getting redundant...) in B & R... even tho the movie sucked royally...

Ok, fine. Understand that I wasn't criticizing Clooney, though, or blaming him for B&R. In comparison, I just feel that Kilmer's Batman had more of the elements of the actual character. I also don't feel that disliking Kilmer is a good reason to dismiss his Batman. In any case, what truly upsets me is that neither actor was given a true chance at Batman. I just don't understand what Joel and WB was thinking. Not at all. The only guess I can make is that the lackluster response Batman Returns got prompted them to run in the opposite direction, blaming Burton's gloomy Gotham city as being the reason for it failing. But I still don't see how that justifies turning Batman into...well, B&R. And did Batman Returns do that bad at the box office? I'll acknowledge that it wasn't all that interesting, but I would think that the natural response to that would be to try for stronger writing and not the other way around. There must be real idiots making the decisions for WB. It's completely baffling.

[Calhoun07]

I would like to see James Van Der Beek in this role. I never watched Dawsons' Creek, but I can just picture him as a young millionare rather easilly, and I think he'd make a good young Batman.

[Trent Lane]

Gotcha, darkangel. No hard feelings:D

I'd also like to know how we go from a dark, realistic Gotham to "black light neon nipple" Gotham. Stick to what works best. I watched Batman on DVD the other night and was like "THIS is Batman!" Why did Joel go and screw it up? The world may never know...:rolleyes:

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by DarkAngel


I just don't think that Clooney looks like Bruce in any sense. Kilmer fit in that his age and look was appropriate for a rich playboy like Bruce. And the "brooding" visage that he gave the character was far more fitting than Clooney's performance which made Bruce seem a lot "lighter". I realize that story and directing is going to affect a lot of this, but Kilmer proved he could portray, at least visibly, a Bruce Wayne that wasn't truly happy, a Bruce who, deep inside, is feeling pain.
Even as Batman, Clooney didn't look as good as Kilmer. Facially, Kilmer works better behind the cowl. In both cases, lacking stories limited what these actors could do. Clooney perhaps was at the biggest disadvantage given that "Batman and Robin" sucked so bad. But looking at the performance they gave, Kilmer's Batman came closer to comic book Batman than Clooney's. Add the dark edge to Kilmer's portrayal, and it would be dead on. Give him a true chance to act when portraying Bruce Wayne, and he'll get the job done.

i hated clooney as batman, but, he looked the part far more than kilmer.

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by mxyzptlk


i hated clooney as batman, but, he looked the part far more than kilmer.

I guess it's a matter of opinion. I think both had potential, though. If they were to do a Batman 5, taking place after the other four movies, I think I'd like to see Dylan McDermott as Batman. I think he'd be good. Keaton would be the best choice along with Burton returning as director, but that's not happening, unfortunately.

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by flhero311
I'd also like to know how we go from a dark, realistic Gotham to "black light neon nipple" Gotham. Stick to what works best. I watched Batman on DVD the other night and was like "THIS is Batman!" Why did Joel go and screw it up? The world may never know...:rolleyes:

Yeah. I'm trying to figure out whether it was WB or Joel that was ultimately responsible. Joel has put out some strong movies, hasn't he? So what was he doing with his Batman movies? I remember him saying parents were coming to him asking for a movie they could take their kids to. What was he talking about? What parents would approach him?

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by DarkAngel
I remember him saying parents were coming to him asking for a movie they could take their kids to. What was he talking about? What parents would approach him?

A reference to Schummacher's rather frightening appearance? ;)