The Dark Knight EW.com Poll : Which actor will always be Batman to you?

[Nepenthes]

Yeah animal intensity would be great but I just don't see it. That's what I meant about the 'kid playing dress-up' - to me it's all forced frowns and tough guy voices.

Also my perception of Batman is slightly different from yours I guess. I see Batman more controled, cooly psychotic and quietly imposing instead of 'rah rah rah!' in your face like when he interogated Flass. He's scarier when he's calmer, like as if it's *normal* to dress in a Batsuit. The intensity comes from confident authority and blazing eyes. Like Keaton.

*agress to disagree*

 

[Ronny Shade]

Obviously, since I answered "Conroy" to this question, that's also how I see Batman. That's not Bale's Batman. Bale's Batman is different. Personally, I though Keaton was boring. He wasn't scary at all. Neither were Kilmer or Clooney, but they'd stopped trying by then, so I forgive them. Conroy and Bale was the only Batmans that actually seem believably scary. They do it in different ways.

 

[Sloth7d]

George Clooney

 

[LadyVader]

Yeah animal intensity would be great but I just don't see it. That's what I meant about the 'kid playing dress-up' - to me it's all forced frowns and tough guy voices.

Also my perception of Batman is slightly different from yours I guess. I see Batman more controled, cooly psychotic and quietly imposing instead of 'rah rah rah!' in your face like when he interogated Flass. He's scarier when he's calmer, like as if it's *normal* to dress in a Batsuit. The intensity comes from confident authority and blazing eyes. Like Keaton.

*agress to disagree*

Batman is just starting out. At this point, I think he is in part motivated by revenge. He has found the right tools to get the job done (use of fear, the Batman persona) but he's still not quite there in terms of motivation. The more experience he gets, the more he will understand that the world NEEDS a Batman. And that's why he is Batman. I hope then he will calm down and won't use theatrics anymore.

 

[batbat_29640]

No, Bale comes off better because of the raw animal intensity he brings to the role. He really bubles over with rage that adds a new dimension to the character that wasn't present in the old franchise.

Thank you, sir. I'm glad that someone else appreciates that. That's what I've always wanted to see in a Batman movie even back in '89. That's the Batman I grew up on. Batman from the comics.

 

[metkalfe]

1.Val Kilmer
2.Christian Bale

But Conroy deserves an honorary mention for his perfect Batman voice.

 

[LadyVader]

In body and spirit, Val Kilmer was the surfer version of Batman:
"It's the car right. Chicks dig the car."

 

[The Kid]

Keaton since he's not only a great actor, but to me the best actor I've seen/heard to capture the intelligence and mysterious aura and of batman perfectly besides the voice actor, Kevin Conroy. Kilmer came close and while good just got caught in the wrong movie...

Don't argue with me, just watch the man's work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYUd1wvE24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIThrMHEhk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKA3skBjLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwL9Ao-Y3w

Bale's good too, I've got nothing against him, but he hasn't even touched what keaton's accomplished with batman yet in my mind... I just shake my head when I read people here say bale is the best... come on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTBScHE2Dls I don't want to laugh but it's all a bit silly.

And it'll take more than a lot of grunting and growling like a wrestler to impress me.

Oldman's the best gordan though... kicks all the other's asses easily. Because he's Gary Oldman.

 

[Miranda Fox]

I've watched his work many times dude, and as much as I love it, Bale still clicks better with me.

I don't want to laugh but it's all a bit silly.

I wasn't aware the Thought Police operated in this area.

 

[superkong 500]

Yeah animal intensity would be great but I just don't see it. That's what I meant about the 'kid playing dress-up' - to me it's all forced frowns and tough guy voices.

Also my perception of Batman is slightly different from yours I guess. I see Batman more controled, cooly psychotic and quietly imposing instead of 'rah rah rah!' in your face like when he interogated Flass. He's scarier when he's calmer, like as if it's *normal* to dress in a Batsuit. The intensity comes from confident authority and blazing eyes. Like Keaton.

*agress to disagree*

Remember he's still learning its batman begins you know and that's actually a good thing, keaton's batman was more experienced. As the story progresses in the sequels I'am sure that he will gain that coolnes and control that keaton portrayed. and Btw conroy is not batman, he didn't play batman he was the voice. Yes he gave life to the character via his voice and tone but what you saw of it was a cartoon so you can't really count him. He didn't put the suit and acted. He acted through his voice, meanwhile the others did the voice and everything else.

 

[superkong 500]

Oh and I don't see how you think bale looks like a kid playing to be batman. He's batman he fits all the physical aspects and the psychological aspects as well. He's actually intimidating as batman he looks bad ass i nthe suit, he has the face and the stare. As bruce(the public image) he's suave, charming and sometimes a prick(as he should be) as the real bruce he's complex, disturbed and determined. As batman he transforms even if he's fully aware that he's just a man, he changes his mental state and it shows without words.He embodies everything that batman is, he portrays him as this big creature of the night. and not just as a man trying to be a superhero like others did. Iam gonna say it this way, bale is as good as batman in all aspects as conroy is with his voice.

 

[Two-Face]

Keaton since he's not only a great actor, but to me the best actor I've seen/heard to capture the intelligence and mysterious aura and of batman perfectly besides the voice actor, Kevin Conroy. Kilmer came close and while good just got caught in the wrong movie...

Don't argue with me, just watch the man's work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYUd1wvE24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIThrMHEhk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKA3skBjLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwL9Ao-Y3w

Bale's good too, I've got nothing against him, but he hasn't even touched what keaton's accomplished with batman yet in my mind... I just shake my head when I read people here say bale is the best... come on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTBScHE2Dls I don't want to laugh but it's all a bit silly.

And it'll take more than a lot of grunting and growling like a wrestler to impress me.

Oldman's the best gordan though... kicks all the other's asses easily. Because he's Gary Oldman.

Why "silly"? I don't understand for example let's say someone likes Clooney as Batman/Bruce better. Is that silly to you? Everybody has an opinion right or wrong.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Keaton came off as silly to me.

 

[WeaponXProject]

It's the eyebrow acting, isn't it Ronny? That's pretty much Keaton's career...those damn pointy eyebrows! I love Keaton, though.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Nah, I just couldn't really take him seriously. He didn't move well in the suit (of course that wasn't entirely his fault) He didn't have a hardcore or intimidating look, he didn't capture either the intensity of Batman or the foofiness of public Bruce Wayne, and he had no jaw.

 

[Miranda Fox]

Nah, I just couldn't really take him seriously. He didn't move well in the suit (of course that wasn't entirely his fault) He didn't have a hardcore or intimidating look, he didn't capture either the intensity of Batman or the foofiness of public Bruce Wayne, and he had no jaw.

You realise that his fans are gonna swarm in here like fireants, right?

 

[Ronny Shade]

the Keaton/Bale debate is old news.

 

[spdpink]

BALE BALE BALE cos he's hot!!! lol!!!

 

[Miranda Fox]

the Keaton/Bale debate is old news.

Right. Pick on me because I'm new-ish...

 

[Ronny Shade]

ish.

wait...who the hell is Jack Davenport?

 

[Miranda Fox]

ish.

wait...who the hell is Jack Davenport?

Norrington in the Potc films. And he was in the Talented Mr. Ripley.

 

[Ronny Shade]

hhmmmmmmm......

 

[batbat_29640]

Keaton since he's not only a great actor, but to me the best actor I've seen/heard to capture the intelligence and mysterious aura and of batman perfectly besides the voice actor, Kevin Conroy. Kilmer came close and while good just got caught in the wrong movie...

Don't argue with me, just watch the man's work:

Sorry I feel obligated to argue these points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYUd1wvE24
This is never how Bruce Wayne was supposed to have appeared. That's one of my favorite scenes from that movie but I watch it and can't help but wonder how it would have looked if the quintessential Bruce Wayne had been standing there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIThrMHEhk
Another one of my favorite scenes. Again there's the Bruce Wayne Factor. He just doesn't come off as a very good detective with a keen mind. His Batman (in this scene) is great nearly spot on . . . but as we all know Batman's not above standing on a roof in the snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKA3skBjLM
Come on! You threw this in? This was one of the most absurd scenes. His Batman is okay but . . . yeah such poor diologue for such potentially great characters. Not to mention in the following scene he gets his @$$ handed to him by a girl. Batman does not go down that easy. Nor does he just stand there and watch things happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwL9Ao-Y3w
Do i wanna even comment on this? . . . okay yeah. Bruce Wayne is a Playboy. Suave, dapper, debonair . . . Bruce Wayne from BTAS vol.4 or The New Batman Adventures . . . That's Bruce Wayne! That's Bruce Wayne all around! Did Keaton deliver Bruce in this scene? No! What did we get instead? Michael Keaton. Michael Keaton is NOT Bruce Wayne. Dude, Clooney was a better Bruce than Keaton.

Bale's good too, I've got nothing against him, but he hasn't even touched what keaton's accomplished with batman yet in my mind... I just shake my head when I read people here say bale is the best... come on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTBScHE2Dls I don't want to laugh but it's all a bit silly.

Sorry I don't see anything silly there. Can you show me another Batman movie that had a scene like that with Gordan? EVERY good Batman movie needs SCENES with Batman and Gordan just like that. It's vital to the mythos!

And it'll take more than a lot of grunting and growling like a wrestler to impress me.

Was his whole performance like that one with Flass? No. Say Batman were real . . . Today. Do you honestly think he's going to act like Batman in the 40s 50s and 60s? Or do you think he'll want people to belive he's more than just a man in a suit?

Oldman's the best gordan though... kicks all the other's asses easily.

Because he's Gary Oldman. Ya damn skippy! I'll agree with you 100% there!

 

[cryptic name]

i voted keaton.

 

[Texas Ranger]

bale will always be batman to me