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Who was the BEST Batman?

Laughing Fish·4/25/2016, 2:29:22 PM·7 votes·4,418 views

Throughout the years many an actor has played the caped crusader, and each brought something special to the role. Whether it was Michael Keaton's intelligence and detective skills, Adam West's charisma and humor, Ben Affleck's rage and intensity, Christian Bale's technological savvy, or George Clooney's Bat-nipples, each was memorable in their own way. Below is my rating of the Dark Knights, from worst to best. Note: There have been other actors to play Batman (such as in the early serials), but I am only including live-action feature films.

#Number 6: George Clooney (Come on, we all saw that coming) http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111127013/3312583-clooney+agility.gif Appearances: 1997's "Batman & Robin" Pros: Was a charismatic Bruce Wayne, and sold the playboy aspect of Bruce. Cons: Not intimating, poor portrayal of emotion, and the Bat-nipples.

#Number 5: Val Kilmer http://i.imgur.com/V0WE4n0.gif?Noredirect Appearances: 1995's "Batman Forever" Pros: Attempted Emotional turmoil was on the right track. attempted to explain why a man would dress like a bat and punch criminals Cons: Poorly acted, emotional turmoil was never believable, and more fucking bat-nipples.

#Number 4: Michael Keaton http://media.giphy.com/media/ige3bwNyIUlYA/giphy.gif Appearances: 1989's "Batman", 1992's "Batman Returns" Pros: Arguably the most intelligent Batman to date, and played a very believable Bruce Wayne. Balanced the two identifies nicely. Cons: Character was not developed fully, and lacked emotional conflict and intensity of Batman. Kills people.

#Number 3: Adam West https://45.media.tumblr.com/9669a6bbae17299eb48506690c72d42a/tumblr_nr3t8qtuzC1rebyr4o1_250.gif Appearances: 1966's "Batman: The Movie" Pros: The only live action Batman to succeed in humor. Introduced Batman to non-comic reader's, and is responsible for the creation of countless Batfans. Cons: Lack of any backstory (although being a comedy, this is more forgivable)

#Number 2: Ben Affleck https://greentwritesdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/abvmxbfj3nr237gn5cb41.gif?w=350&h=200&crop=1 Appearances: 2016's "Batman v Superman", 2016's "Suicide Squad" Pros: Brought the rage and raw power Batman has had for years to the big screen. Physically and mentally intimidating. The best portray of Bruce Wayne to date. Really sells the emotional turmoil of Batman. Cons: The fact that Batfleck kills people is the only thing keeping him out of the number 1 slot.

#Number 1: Christian Bale http://static3.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_super/10/105634/3662820-cut+sword.gif Appearances: 2005's "Batman Begins", 2008's "The Dark Knight", 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises" Pros: Great martial artist, technologically savvy, believable and very well acted moral struggles. A very keen understanding of Batman's moral lines and ethical system. Cons: Voice becomes slightly grating after 3 films of it

So there you have it! This is my list of the greatest Batmen! Who do you think was best? Vote below!

25 Comments

Gentleman Gems4/25/2016, 2:39:51 PM6 votes

Christon Bale, only because he got us the Hethleger Joker

But we all know who the best batman is

DRAVEN!

Over Innsmouth4/25/2016, 4:04:13 PM4 votes

Kevin Conroy?

No offense to any of the live action ones, but his is the voice I hear whenever I imagine the Caped Crusader. I think his portrayal of Batman (especially in the JL Unlimited series) is the best so far, though I have yet to see Batfleck.

Wandering F B4/25/2016, 5:17:51 PM4 votes

LEGO Batman

Fishtaco4/25/2016, 2:50:46 PM4 votes

George Clooney https://gobbledygeekbtr.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/bat-nipples.jpg You can't go wrong with Bat Nipples

Maximum Morde4/25/2016, 4:25:50 PM3 votes

It should be obvious.

http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/9-02-2015/i8IuN4.gif

Karfuss4/25/2016, 4:11:50 PM3 votes

Bale will forever be top spot. The Dark Knight brought us the best portrayal of an anti-hero protagonist and a psychotic villain in a single movie.

Oleandervine4/25/2016, 4:24:12 PM3 votes

Bruce Wayne will always be #1!

Colgate Gator4/25/2016, 4:46:24 PM2 votes

Am I the only one who really dislikes Bale's Batman?

Getting the obvious out of the way (the infamous "Batman voice"), he doesn't even have the jaw to be Batman (unlike Affleck), he's an idiot who keeps getting blindsided by everyone and can only resolve things via brute force or asking God (Morgan Freeman) to set him up with some device to do his job for him (bear in mind the original batman is actually smart and he's the one who makes his own devices for the most part).

Granted, a lot of these issues aren't exactly regarding Bale but the script and movie directing, but still. Batman's non-comic book best depictions are in digital media, to be honest.

...I know I said I'd be done with Batman voice but... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J72GOv3G738

Toa of Death4/26/2016, 2:24:23 AM1 votes

Batfleck for me. Killing people isn't anything new for Batman really. He's broken his "one rule" plenty of times in the comics. http://static7.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_super/4/49536/2851428-153102.jpg

Billy VoHagen4/26/2016, 4:02:12 AM1 votes

It's unfair to say that Affleck isn't number 1 because he kills people when that's how it happens in the canon. He's been batman for like 20 years, after robin was killed, he lost morals, and became more dark. That isn't just Affleck bringing that to the screen.

Strawberrycocoa4/26/2016, 4:08:58 AM1 votes

My favorite Batman is Kevin Conroy's Batman from The Animated Series (the original B:tAS from the 1990s, not the sequels/spin-offs or the Justice League) because he had all the technical and martial skills and intelligence and gadgets, but he also showed a lot of compassion. Frequently he resolved a scenario by appealing to people's better nature and talking people down from their psychological precipices. He could beat the shit out of any opponent who made that the only resort, but he chose lighter tactics when necessary.

TaS Batman knew that sometimes people just have One Bad Day (ba-dum-psh) and need compassion more than they need a beating. He didn't growl, he didn't scream his rage to the raining sky, he thought and reasoned his way out of a fight before turning to his superior martial training.

That's why he's my favorite Batman.