RANKING BATMEN
BATMANS? BATMEN? Whatever!
What can I say? With every day that passes, I get more and more excited for Christopher Nolan’s next installment in the Batman franchise. To bide my time, I thought we could take a look back at all the men who have played the Caped Crusader on the silver screen and figure out who did it best. Let’s get to it:
5. GEORGE CLOONEY.
This production was doomed from the start but it’s for reasons beyond just nipples on the bat suit. Even Clooney agrees he was easily the worst to take the part.
4. VAL KILMER.
Batman Forever is the most under-appreciated of all the Batman films and while Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey brought 60’s camp to their roles, Kilmer actually turned in a solid performance as both Bruce Wayne and Batman.
3. CHRISTIAN BALE.
Bale is a great Bruce Wayne and, his gravelly voice in The Dark Knight aside, a really good Batman. He also stars in what are easily the best of the Batman movies. Unfortunately, #3 is the best I can do for Mr. Bale.
2. ADAM WEST.
While some of you younger folks may disagree, those of us who grew up watching reruns of the campy 60’s Batman series have a special place in our hearts for this man. Since he did actually make a feature-length Batman movie he has to be considered amongst these other men and makes my #2 for nostalgic reasons alone.
1. MICHAEL KEATON.
While the 1989 Batman is very Burton-y it was still everything a young fanboy could’ve dreamed of back in the day. The success of this film rests on the performance of one of the most underrated, underused actors in all of Hollywood: Mr. Michael Keaton. Well, Nicholson helped too! Still, Keaton turned in a great Batman and a spot on Bruce Wayne earning him the greatest honor of his career… #1 on my list!
February 14, 2011 at 2:44 am
Great minds think alike, Kai. But your omission of Kevin Conroy (Mask of the Phantasm was a feature release) will not stand. This will not stand, man!
February 14, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I’m not countint him DAMNIT! haha
February 14, 2011 at 3:58 pm
You can’t hide the truth forever, Kai!
February 14, 2011 at 5:13 am
yeah, has to be Keaton on top. ‘You wanna get nuts?! Lets get nuts!!’
Ranking Batmen… im singing the title of this post. to the tune of ‘Making Christmas’ from nightmare before christmas
February 14, 2011 at 5:22 am
I reckon you should rank the Batman VILLAINS. Gives you a few more to chose from, plus the bad guys tend to steal the show in these films anyway
February 14, 2011 at 1:35 pm
I just may have that on tap in the weeks to come, Tom.
February 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm
No qualms here – I can see some giving you shit for West being #2, but nostalgia is huge.
I wonder how Clooney would have done in a real Batman movie and not a fucking pun machine co-starring rollerblading bad guys and a blue Austrian. He might have actually been solid…
February 14, 2011 at 4:45 pm
I object…I actually know one of those rollerblading bad guys…Ryan Allen Carrillo…you can also find him rollerblading bad guying in Austin Powers: Goldmember….look him up, I hear he’s huge in the gay community:)
February 14, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Too late – I’m already well-versed in Mr. Carrillo’s work. I have all of his performances on tape and watch them often. *swoon*
February 14, 2011 at 8:53 pm
You’re gay for saying that… but whatever makes you happy, Buddy!
February 15, 2011 at 10:54 am
YES! Much love for the Keaton! BEST. LIST. EVEEEERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 15, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I’m sure this is a fine list Kai, but I was unable to read it. The moment I saw the George Clooney and Batman I suffered through a flashback montage of all the awful puns and product placements in that film before my head collapsed onto itself. This comment is based solely on what few accessible memories I now posess. Or as I like to call it: just another day of the week.
February 16, 2011 at 3:23 pm
George Clooney unsuitable to play a millionaire playboy? Am I the only one who found that odd?
February 16, 2011 at 8:43 pm
None of these are Kevin Conroy. And before people say his voicework never appeared in a film, go watch Batman: The Mask of the Phantasm.
February 16, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Finally! Someone who gets it! You can’t silence all of us, Kai!
February 21, 2011 at 3:38 pm
I adore your love for Keaton. Will be the only Batman to me ti the day I die.
Great job listing them and I too think Kilmer was pretty good, and you’re right the film’s camp took too much attention off his performance.