The Caped Crusader - Favorite Live-Action "Batman" Moments

[James Harvey]

With The Dark Knight premiering this week, what better time than now to look back at Batman's many live-action appearances over the years. From the very beginning up to today, you would like to share? Have a favorite moment, movie scene, etc, from the many larger-than-life adventures of the Dark Knight?

Image from Batman Begins

As we gear up for the new live-action The Dark Knight movie, let's dig into our favorite live-action moments with this classic character!

Note: If you want to discuss Two-Face's only major live-action appearance, check out the "Batman Forever" Talkback.

Related Threads:
-The Caped Crusader - Favorite "Batman" DC Animation Moments
-The Caped Crusader - Favorite "Batman" Comic Book Moments

[Chiptooth]

My favorite live-action Bat-moments:

Batman '89


Batman Returns


Batman Forever


Batman & Robin (a task to find something that wasn't nauseous, this one)


Batman Begins


And, of course...the single greatest live-action Batman moment EVER!!!...

[Batman]

Favorite moments
-----------------------
BATMAN BEGINS

(1.) - The rise of BATMAN presence in Gotham City. & Batman calls a Legion of Bats to help him escape Arkham Asylum from Police Capture .

(2.) - Batman & Gordon on the top of police H.Q. with The Bat-Signal discussing the rise of escalation in Gotham & The Joker . And Batman flies off into the Night .

(3.) - Batman interagating Detective Flass

(4.) - All scenes with The Tumbler

(5.) - The assembling of The Batsuit, the BatCave , And The Bat Gadgets

(6.) - The Journey/Training of Bruce Wayne

(7.) - The Father & Son dynamic between Alfred & Bruce

(8.) - The Origin of Batman

(9.) - Ra's Al Ghul

(10.) - The Scarecrow

----------------------------
Batman 89

1. Batman's first appearence & Batman's arrvial at the Art Museum

2. The Batmobile

3. The Bat-Wing

4. The Joker

----------------------

Batman Forever

1. The Opening /The Bank Heist/Two-Face escaping

2. Dr. Chase Meridian

3. The Batmobile, The Batwing & The Batboat

4. Batman walking thought fire

5. Batman & Robin running with the bat-signal behind them

6. Two-Face - (a bit)

7. The Riddler

------------------
Batman Returns

1. Bruce awaking when the Bat-Signal appears

2. Batman & Catwoman

3. The Penguin taking over The Batmobile

4. Batman vs. The Red Triangle Circus Gang

5. The Batboat/batsub

6. The Penguin (When he wasn't gross)

[James]

"Batman" (Adam West)

- Has to be the bomb run. A predictable choice - for good reason.

- I also like his meeting with Kyle in which he has milk in a glass made for a more spiritual substance.

"Batman" (Keaton)

So much.

- I love the music and visuals when Batman rises from the dead in the opening moments.

- The events leading to Napier's acid bath are well directed, with some great physical and verbal bouncing between Keaton and Nicholson.

- The crash of the Batwing. It's a real Joker moment with Elfman really delivering as Batman makes crashdown.

- Batman's fight in the belltower to Elfman's waltzy number while Nicholson plays it up in the background.

"Batman Returns"

- Batman vs the Clown. His malicious smile as the clown realises he has a bomb strapped to his torso.

- Catwoman's infamous "meow" moment - I just like the meeting of the antagonists.

- Catwoman and Batman's tussle on the roof.

"Batman Forever"

- Gets hard from here - Riddler's destruction of the Cave. It's over the top and beautifully carried by Carrey. The Cave makes it sort of a Batman moment I guess.

- I guess his saving of Robin and Chase is quite impressive even if its a little silly.

"Batman & Robin"

- I do actually like some of the camp elements to this one. I really enjoy Arnie's over-the-top version of Freeze. He makes me laugh. But so far as Batman goes, there are no really good Batman moments I can recall.

"Batman Begins"

- The Bat's opening confrontation at the docks.

- Scarecrow Vs Batman: their first encounter.

[FightingDreamer]

After giving it some thought, I realize that I still like the Burton films; I just don't think they're great, and they could have been better. So, here are my favorite live-action Batman moments starting with Burton (regretfully, I have almost no experience with Adam West's Batman).

89
-The entire opening scene that culminates in this classic exchange: "What are you?!" "I'm Batman." Such a cool, iconic moment.
-Jack reemerges as the Joker: "Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me... Joker. And as you can see, I'm a lot happier." As fun as Nicholson is in the role, this is one of the only times he's truly scary as the Joker.
-Danny Elfman's score. The "Batman Theme" is the perfect superhero theme, and the rest of the score is pretty awesome.
-It has been said before, but Burton's Gotham is one of the great movie cities. It feels a little claustrophobic (which continued in Returns), but it just looks so gorgeous and atmospheric I can't help but forgive the claustrophobia.

Returns
-The opening is eerie stuff, and I like the reorchestration of the Batman theme that plays over the opening credits.
-The villains are great, although Catwoman's 'romance' with Batman is hampered by some truly awful dialogue (seriously, that whole 'mistletoe' exchange is horrendous).
-The surreal nature of the movie: Penguins with rocket launchers strapped to their backs? A giant Duck-Mobile? Why the heck not?
-The ending, which would be perfect if we didn't get that stupid, stupid shot of Catwoman looking at the moon (unsurprisingly, this was added in at the last minute).

Forever
-Well, I like Kilmer's Batman, and Carrey's Riddler (he's OTT, sure, and John Glover is better in TAS, but Carrey's still fun), and the overall look of the movie is not quite as annoying as Batman and Robin. It's an enjoyable time-waster... but that's about it.

Batman and Robin
-I know, I know: "What? You actually thought something in B&R was good?!" But I must confess that, in a strange way, I enjoy Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze. True, it doesn't hold a candle to TAS' version (although there is a hint of that in the shot of Freeze looking at the snowglobe), but Ah-nuld is the only actor in the movie who successfully embraces the campy vibe of the movie. He actually looks like he's having fun spitting out the terrible ice-themed puns given to him by the screenplay, and for that I applaud him.

Begins
-The docks attack. It's filmed almost like a horror film, and it really gets across the idea that one of Batman's strategies is to scare the living crap out of crooks.
-The ending: "Got a taste for the theatrical, like you. Leaves a calling card." Gordon hands Batman the Joker card. "I'll look into it." I knew right then and there that there had to be a sequel.

[Movie06]

Hmm, hard to say with Burton's Batman films and Batman Begins including yes Batman Forever (It's still a whole lot better than Batman & Robin). I mean, I have alot of favorite moments but I'll mention this, I do like the fight scenes in Batman Returns where he fights more of The Penquin's clown cronies including placing a bomb on that wrestler clown and punches him and then he blows up, I'm surprised there wasn't any blood but what can you do on a PG-13 rating?

Oh, and in Batman Begins, I happen to like the scene where Batman said to Rachel "It's who am' I underneath, it's what I do." At least, that's how I think the line went. Anyone care to correct me?

[langden alger]

Hmm, hard to say with Burton's Batman films and Batman Begins including yes Batman Forever (It's still a whole lot better than Batman & Robin). I mean, I have alot of favorite moments but I'll mention this, I do like the fight scenes in Batman Returns where he fights more of The Penquin's clown cronies including placing a bomb on that wrestler clown and punches him and then he blows up, I'm surprised there wasn't any blood but what can you do on a PG-13 rating?

Oh, and in Batman Begins, I happen to like the scene where Batman said to Rachel "It's who am' I underneath, it's what I do." At least, that's how I think the line went. Anyone care to correct me?

pretty sure it's " it isn't who i am underneath, but what i do."

and one of mine would be the one that still gives me chills. as others have already brought up:

*falcone scurries in fear escaping into the back seat of his car, scrambles to load his gun.

falcone (muttering to himself frantically):
"what the hell are you?!"

*black glove crashes through the car roof seizing falcone like a hawk to it's prey, pulling him into the cold night air.

the strong black glove thrusts falcone forward-face to face with a dark, demon-like mask.

"i'm batman."

*a nearby homeless man stands shocked and in awe of the strange and powerful figure of batman perched on the car roof, gripping a terrified falcone.
(batman turns,flashes grin at homless man) "nice coat."

[rggkjg1]

"I'M BATMAN."

[Aizen]

I liked Batman Begins when he interrogated Flass, and at the end of Begins when he sees the Joker card.

[Cortez2301]

Batman (1966): The final battle on board the ship.

Batman (1989):

1-The fight scene at Axis Chemicals.
2-The first Batmobile scene.
3-Jack laughing at the surgeon's office.
4-Enter the Joker (followed by Grissom's murder).
5-The fight scene at the cathedral.
6-The Joker's death.
7-Bruce Wayne's parents' murder.
8-The final shot of the movie.
9-The meeting with the mob bosses.
10-The Joker attacks the art museum.


Batman Returns:

1-The opening of the movie.
2-The ending of the movie.
3-Penguin's death.
4-The Batmobile chase.

Batman Forever:

1-The scene with Nygma at Arkham.
2-The scene at the circus which leads to the murder of Dick's parents.

Batman and Robin:

1-The scene where they go after Mr freeze after he robs the diamonds at the auction.

Batman Begins:

1-The murder of Bruce's parents.
2-Joe Chill's murder.
3-Bruce Confronts Falcone.
4-The last bit of training The league of shadows gives Bruce.
5-Bruce escapes the burning base and the fight with "Ras al Ghul".
6-The fight at the docks and the capture of Falcone (also where he gets strapped to the signal).
7-Falcone threat to Crane Backfires.
8-Batman confronts Flass.
9-Batman confronts Scarecrow and is under the effect of the toxin.
10-Batman goes to Arkham and rescues Rachel.
11-The Tumbler chase scene.
12-All the scenes after The League leave the burning mansion and start the microwave emitter causing the toxin to spread.
13-The monorail chase scene and the fall of Ducard.
14-Fox's line:"Didn't you get the memo?"
15-The ending of the movie,especially when Gordon reveals the Joker card.

[DarkAngel]

Hmm.

Batman:

• I loved the entire early rooftop scene, but especially the delivery of the line "I want you to tell all your friends about me."
• Batman's encounter with Jack at Axis Chemicals. As I've mentioned in the past, I loved that unsettling smile/smirk Keaton had that seemed to imply he knew something you didn't.
• So many of the Bruce Wayne scenes. Keaton brought a vulnerability, a sense of still being the child who'd just witnessed his parents' murder that I really appreciated. I also loved the reclusive aspect, and his seeming oddness/discomfort in social situations.
• The bit right before the flashback as Bruce realizes Joker/Jack was his parents' killer.
• Bats expression in the Batwing as he bore down on Joker. Complete rage and menace I don't think any other Batman actor has been able to pull off as effectively.

Batman Returns:

• Elfman's theme at the beginning.
• Bruce standing in his mansion with the Bat symbol on the wall behind him.
• The Bruce/Selina scene outside after Wayne's meeting with Max. Selina looked a bit unhinged, yet attractive.
• Batman/Catwoman on the rooftop
• Batman gliding through the air as below bats fly out of the tree and the people scatter in horror.

Batman Begins:

• Scene at the docks. Loved the from-the-baddies-perspective and almost horror-movie type feel to seeing one guy after another "disappear".
• The encounter with Scarecrow and Batman's flight out the window, his desperation as he tried to get to safety.
• Bruce vs Ra's on the ice.
• Batman and the bats at Arkham, and then the fight with Crane's guys below.
• The Tumbler chase
• Bruce/Ra's at the mansion.
• Bats being pulled along by the elevated train and then shooting up and through the window to get inside.

I had a lot more moments listed, but then realized a lot of them didn't feature Batman/Wayne at all. So I removed 'em. Still have a lot of Wayne scenes, but I suppose I could always edit those out if we're talking strictly in-costume Batman scenes.