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!