So, confession time, I actually don't think the Batman movies released in theaters are that good (with three huge exceptions). To me, the new film doesn't have to work too hard to be at least 4th or 3rd place on my list.
To be clear, these are my rankings of enjoyment, not necessarily quality. I'm thinking about which Batman movie I would rather throw in the Blu-Ray player over the others.
1) Batman Begins (one of my favorite films in general and easily one of the top 5 comic book movies)
2) The Dark Knight (Ditto, just prefer Begins due to having seen it way more as a child)
3) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (I think the movie has more flaws than some fans will admit, like the Joker's intrusive presence taking focus off of the Phantasm mystery, but it's a really well made look at Batman's origins and the thin line that separates him from the people he fights)
4) Batman (1989) (for me, this film is the movie equivalent of a music video, in that it looks great and it really fun to watch, but it doesn't have much substance at all and isn't really about telling a three act story)
5) Batman Returns (I think this movie has some excellent ideas, along with beautiful cinematography and Elfman's best score, but it never comes together quite right and I really don't think Burton understands Batman as a character)
6) Batman Forever (I LOVED this one as a kid, but it does not hold up well, with cheap looking sets and some over the top performances, though it is still pretty fun if you are in a nostalgic mood)
7) Dark Knight Rises (this is the biggest difference between objective quality and enjoyment on this list. Quality wise, this is probably #4, but I do not care for the direction Nolan took this at all. Batman is barely in it and his arc is lost in the 3 hour runtime, I cannot take Bane seriously, and. the Talia twist is lame. Don't even get me started on "Robin" or the 8 year time jump. But, this is still a really well made film and that first fight between Batman and Bane is chilling. Plus, the ending makes me tear up every time.)
8) Batman V Superman (I'm not a fan of a Batman who kills people left and right and pre-meditates murder. This movie looks beautiful and I can respect fans who love it for the bold choices, but this is just not a version of Batman I can get behind.)
9) Batman and Robin (What can I say?)
10) Lego Batman (Never saw it).
