Best Batman portrayal

[Blade Hoarder]

Ben Affleck is the greatest Batman ever.

Spoiler: ..

Psyche! Lol

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Unnecessary challenge; accepted

1. Ben actually nails the role in terms of tortured soul/tortured psyche which is what Bruce has.
When? How? By dreaming?


2. His Batman actually showcases real detective skills which is something Bale or any one else does not do.
Adam West was shown to follow clues and reach the right conclusion multiple times.
Michael Keaton was shown to investigate every chance he got, and came to the correct conclusions.
Christian Bale may have been the least detective like of the bunch, but he had his time in Batman Begins.

Didn't you get the memo?


3. Ben's Batman actually is a pure strategist which is what Batman is at heart and Ben nails that.
Aside from an elaborate set-up to fight that Superman cosplayer, what strategy did he device?


4. Ben actually looks like Batman in terms of comic accurate looks.
He does?


5. Ben's Batman actually trains like Batman does and should in terms of physical fitness
Aside from Ben and Bale, did they show the training of any Batman? Only exception I might think of is Gotham's David Mazouz.

I'll give him #4. But look is far less important than character, so it doesn't save that version. Not by a long shot.

 

[Frodo]

I see Keaton, Bale , and West as the sort of big 3 in terms of shaping the role, being iconic, and being the 3 popular ones when talking about the GA.

Affleck, Kilmer, and Clooney all got the short end of the stick imo and really didn't have the talent behind the scenes to craft good stories which exploited their strengths and skills.

 

[MFM]

I for the most part, kinda liked the Clooney's version. He's still the brooding, don't trust no one even Robin kind of Batman, but a more matured version of it (he wasn't tormented by his nightmare I pressume, since he overcomed it after Batman Forever?). But the film itself? Yeah...

 

[Rorschach2012]

I enjoy watching Batman and Robin more than The Dark Knight Rises

 

[Fincher]

If you include bias from pre-existing expectations about what Batman movies should be, I enjoy it more than Batman v Superman. But I think B&R is the worst on its own merits.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I think Batman & Robin is legitimately more entertaining than BvS. It is stupid to be sure. But it is so silly you can watch it and at least get some enjoyment out of how over the top and cheezy it is. Mr. Freeze in particular is loads of fun. Don't get me wrong, it is a terrible movie. But I can watch B&R and have a decent time. It is like a big budget version of some bad 80s kids cartoon show. One of those ones that existed mainly to sell toys.

BvS is just a soul-crushing slog. I don't get any enjoyment out of watching it at all. Not only is B&R more entertaining, but I think it comes closer to succeeding at what the makers of the film were trying to do. So yeah, I'll go so far as to say I think it is legitimately a better film. Although that isn't saying much.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

I think Batman & Robin is legitimately more entertaining than BvS. It is stupid to be sure. But it is so silly you can watch it and at least get some enjoyment out of how over the top and cheezy it is. Mr. Freeze in particular is loads of fun. Don't get me wrong, it is a terrible movie. But I can watch B&R and have a decent time. It is like a big budget version of some bad 80s kids cartoon show. One of those ones that existed mainly to sell toys.

BvS is just a soul-crushing slog. I don't get any enjoyment out of watching it at all. Not only is B&R more entertaining, but I think it comes closer to succeeding at what the makers of the film were trying to do. So yeah, I'll go so far as to say I think it is legitimately a better film. Although that isn't saying much.

Pretty much where I’m at. The biggest disappointment of my lifetime, anyone around here will tell you how excited I was for that movie. Like it was my most anticipated ever.

 

[Awest66]

Definitely Christian Bale. I know many will say Keaton because of his whispery Batman voice or Affleck because of his Arkham Games fight scene but Bale nailed the character of Bruce Wayne which is honestly far more important. He also did his fair share of Detective work too (gathering the information on the mob in Begins, tracking the marked money in The Dark Knight, pulling up Selina Kyles entire background in Rises) The whole Batman voice complaint people love to throw at him has always struck me as really shallow too.

That being said, Adam West was absolutely perfect as his version of Batman, There really was no one they could've gotten who was better.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Pretty much where I’m at. The biggest disappointment of my lifetime, anyone around here will tell you how excited I was for that movie. Like it was my most anticipated ever.

Walking out of that theater was one of the strangest feelings of my life. I had been dreaming of a Batman/Superman movie my whole life and it was not what I wanted/expected at all. Soul crushingly disappointment.

Months later, I saw the UE and my whole perception changed. I have seen the UE countless times. It is so rewatchable, I love it. One of my favorite Batman movies ever for sure!

 

[Airwings]

A little thought experiement. Could any the actors have managed to pull off the 1966 version?

And if Adam West never left his prime age, whould he as an actor have the skills to portray the Burton or Nolan character?

 

[Mandon Knight]

They all, at some point, cover an era of the comics….

 

[Airwings]

Best Batman, it's between Keaton and Bale. Both have a menacing appearance .
If I have to go for the actual look/design, Burton's version is far better. The suit is just so iconic.
In the Nolan films, Batman looks weaker/smaller. But he's a better fighter and it upweights it.

Best Bruce is another thing. Bale gave life to the character in a very realistic way.
Adam West then, his classy, elegant millionaire is in a league of it's own. No-one would guess he's Batman, even less so than Bale. Isn't that a very good thing?
However, he doesn't seem affected by any darkness at all. I know that never was the intent, but still.

 

[Deck Rickard]

A little thought experiement. Could any the actors have managed to pull off the 1966 version?

And if Adam West never left his prime age, whould he as an actor have the skills to portray the Burton or Nolan character?

Interesting idea. I think Bale could play any era of Batman; after watching him in Ford v. Ferrari, I can easily imagine him zipping around in the ‘66 Batmobile. Keaton probably could have pulled it off too; he started in comedy and has never shied away from goofy material.

I’m not sure if West would have been able to pull off the Burton or Nolan versions, though I’ve seen very little of his filmography outside of Batman so I’m not sure how good of a serious actor he could be.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

A little thought experiement. Could any the actors have managed to pull off the 1966 version?

And if Adam West never left his prime age, whould he as an actor have the skills to portray the Burton or Nolan character?

Bale is the greatest actor of the bunch and a chameleon in his own right, I bet he’d turn in a fun wacky performance ala American Psycho. Keaton could probably turn in a bang up comedic performance with some of that Adam West suave as well.

so Bale and Keaton, I guess.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Clooney would be the best for an Adam West style Batman.

Clooney deserved better. He could make a great Beyond or TDKR Bruce Wayne now. Would be a great redemption story for Clooney.

 

[DeadlyWest]

If we're only talking live action, I'm gonna go for Keaton (strictly from an acting standpoint, the character's not even close). If we're expanding this into anyone who's acted as Batman in any fashion?

Kevin Conroy.

I'll hear no objections.

 

[Tg11]

Watched The Batman by watching Batman Begins (2005) last night and I have to say I sure as hell hope Pattinson's version of Batman is similar to Bale's portrayal but also have elements of every other Batman however putting his own unique spin on it. I didn't know I would be so enamored again by rewatching Nolanverse Batman but it is exactly why I fell in love with the character. Yeah sure I grew up on the Burton and Schumacher Batmans but the Nolanverse vibe I wonder if they go with that for Matt Reeves' Batman?

October 2021...the first of October...is perfect and just in time for Halloween...couldn't think of anything more poetic or more fitting

However, as far as the best Batman portrayal you have to go with Bale even though I still say Affleck was a pretty damn good Batman.

 

[Herofan]

Preference: Schumacher > Burton
Quality: Burton = Schumacher

I'll never understand the love and high praise for Burton, especially with Returns. As flawed as the Schumacher movies were, they still feel like a Batman movie more so than Burton's and closer in spirit to what Batman actually is.

I do think that BF seems more like a dark hero, Burton Batman seems more like just a dark vigilante, so BF Batman is closer (while B&R Batman is more of a bad joke) but Burton's films, especially BR, seem closer to the overall tone of a lot of the comics (BF's focus and tone being too popcorn-y).

In terms of comic accuracy, it would be Bale if he just did BB but since he did more, probably Kilmer just for not having things really different even though he wasn't very impressive.

 

[SVSuperman]

Bale is my Batman!

 

[The Caped Knight]

Christian Bale is the best Batman

 

[The Batman]

I don't get the fascination with Bale honestly when all he would do was growl under the cowl or yell...he was not even all that menacing as Batman which is what the character of Batman should be. He should strike fear into criminals and Bale's version didn't really do that. Not to mention he did not even look the part at all. In terms of peak physical fitness he is not even as big as Batman should be...in the comics Batman is a big guy muscularly. Bale's character also his detective skills were not even all that great either. Bale was good at playing a playboy but that's it. He played the part of tortured soul well but come on.

Watched The Batman by watching Batman Begins (2005) last night and I have to say I sure as hell hope Pattinson's version of Batman is similar to Bale's portrayal but also have elements of every other Batman however putting his own unique spin on it. I didn't know I would be so enamored again by rewatching Nolanverse Batman but it is exactly why I fell in love with the character. Yeah sure I grew up on the Burton and Schumacher Batmans but the Nolanverse vibe I wonder if they go with that for Matt Reeves' Batman?

October 2021...the first of October...is perfect and just in time for Halloween...couldn't think of anything more poetic or more fitting

However, as far as the best Batman portrayal you have to go with Bale even though I still say Affleck was a pretty damn good Batman.

 

[Lantern Venom]

This really comes down to Affleck and Bale, and Bale has the definite edge. Keaton did the best that he could, but he just wasn't physically right for the character and the action in Batman '89 wasn't indicative of a man who lived and breathed physical combat.

Affleck and Bale's versions of Batman were the only ones to really explore tightrope walk between sanity and insanity. Affleck's effort was admirable, as was his dedication to training, but Bale was perfect in every way. Granted, this was helped by the fact that he had a skilled trainers and stuntmen helping him pull off those actions scenes, but the intensity of Bruce Wayne was all Bale.

 

[Iceman]

I see Keaton, Bale , and West as the sort of big 3 in terms of shaping the role, being iconic, and being the 3 popular ones when talking about the GA.

Affleck, Kilmer, and Clooney all got the short end of the stick imo and really didn't have the talent behind the scenes to craft good stories which exploited their strengths and skills.

Same for me. The other 3 I think might have been fine with better material.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Rewatched TDKR recently and damn... when Bale says more than a few words in the Batman voice, it really is laughable and takes you out of the movie. Should’ve stuck with that Begins voice. Yikes.

When he’s in the suit, Keaton is far more intimidating. He just feels more like Batman to me. But I strongly prefer Bale’s characterization and he was in objectively better films.