Batman Showdown: West vs Keaton vs Kilmer vs Clooney vs Bale vs Affleck

[Guestx]

Batman is arguably the most popular superhero of all time and many actors have come along to play the role. So in a head-to-head deathmatch, who wins? Who's your personal favorite and why? And who did you NOT like in the role?

Here's the rundown:


Adam West

Adam West played Batman both in the 1960s television series as well as the '66 film, Batman: The Movie. His take on the character is campy and kid-friendly, choosing a more slapstick approach over the dark and brooding Batman that most modern viewers are used to.

Michael Keaton

Along with director Tim Burton, Michael Keaton revived Batman for a new generation with 1989's Batman, as well as its follow-up Batman Returns. When news that he had been chosen to play the character was leaked, there was a huge backlash from comic book readers but once the film was released his portrayal become widely accepted.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer played Batman only one time, in 1995's Batman Forever. He picked up where Keaton left off, and he is, perhaps, the most forgotten Batman.

George Clooney

If Kilmer is the forgotten Batman, then Clooney is the notorious Batman. Both his portrayal of the character and the entire film--1997's Batman and Robin--were panned by both critics and audiences. Some say this is the movie that killed the franchise for nearly a decade. I nevertheless submit Clooney for your consideration.

Christian Bale

No doubt the Batman that is most recognizable by today's generation, Christian Bale played the character in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. This series of films went on to gross nearly $2.5 billion worldwide. I feel like nothing more needs to be said.

Ben Affleck

He's the new kid on the block, but many have said he was the best thing about Batman v Superman. With reports of a Batfleck standalone film on the way, how's everyone feeling about this guy? Does he have what it takes to be great and how does he stack up against the old crew?

 

[El Moose]

Keaton

 

[edco76]

Voted Keaton.










Would also vote nicholson

 

[HARRISON_3]

Keaton all day everyday.

He was also the best Bruce Wayne.

 

[Guestx]

Personally, here's my take:

Keaton -- The best. He was good as Batman, but in my opinion it's the way an actor plays Bruce Wayne that makes him a "good Batman" because that's where we really see the human side of the character. Keaton played that side of the role to perfection. It's a shame he didn't stick with the series past the second film, but I understand why. He said he didn't like the direction the studio wanted to take the films (less dark, more campy).

Kilmer -- Underrated. The second best Batman. If he had had more than just one movie to show his stuff then I think he could've become a legitimate player in this race. Unfortunately, he was one and done.

Clooney -- Fuck that.

Bale -- He was okay. Again, it comes down to the way an actor plays Bruce Wayne and honestly I thought he was a little boring as Wayne.

West -- A totally different kind of Batman. That campy shit isn't really for me, but for that sort of role he plays it well. I liked the 60s show as a kid.

 

[MaureenCretis]

Keaton

Agreed.

Bale was a bit too forced, never felt like he had any real madness inside. Something you could never say about Keaton.

 

[MMouse]

Keaton

 

[BEER]

Keaton. Not even close.

 

[HARRISON_3]

Reminds me of...

 

[Guestx]

Since everybody so far seems to like Keaton, here's an interesting article I found earlier. He says he's actually come back and play the character again if Tim Burton was directing.

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/michael-keaton-says-hed-play-batman-again-under-one-99645220277.html

Here's another article where talks more about his experience playing the character.

http://screenrant.com/michael-keaton-batman-comments-tim-burton/

 

[Substance Abuse]

Bale.

No one screams 'Where are the drugs?!' like he does.

 

[Guestx]

Reminds me of...

Damn, I legit LOLd at that.

 

[Guestx]

Wish I could've made this a poll.

 

[MMouse]

Keaton should play old batman

 

[GracieMMABarra]

I didn't need molded plastic to improve my physique...pure West

 

[Rhood]

I have a split vote between the actor in the suit and the actor without the suit.

As Bruce Wayne I think Val Kilmer was the best for that role.
His charm & charisma was very similar to James Bond.

As Batman I think Michael Keaton was the best for that role.
His performances with the utility belt using jerking type motions with the grappling hook and tight deflective techniques during hand to hand combat made his role more believable compared to the other Batmen.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Can't choose between Keaton and Bale. Keaton gave good Wayne, but was physically unimpressive. Ironically, however, the fight scenes in the Keaton movies were actually better than some of the crap in the Nolan films. While darker by orders of magnitude than anything West(or Clooney and Kilmer)did, the Keaton films were still too camp/Gothic for my tastes.

Bale actually looked like a bad ass, and the some the fight scenes in BB and TDK were very good. But they shit the bed in TDKR, in which Batman(and Bane for that matter)look like a pair of drunks brawling over a spilt beer.

If it was which Batman film was the best, this wouldn't be close: Dark Knight shits over every other Batman film ever made. But as to who was the best Dark Knight Detective, that's almost too close to call.

 

[Guestx]

As Bruce Wayne I think Val Kilmer was the best for that role.
His charm & charisma was very similar to James Bond.

I thought Keaton was the better Wayne, but as I said in the OP I think that Kilmer's turn as the character is very underrated. He really was good and it would've been nice to get another (good) film or two with him.

While darker by orders of magnitude than anything West(or Clooney and Kilmer)did, the Keaton films were still too camp/Gothic for my tastes.

I re-watched Batman 89 recently and it was--I don't know if campier is the right word, but it was definitely more stylized than I remembered. Burton had a very clear vision for what he was trying to do there and he still kept the story rooted in the comic book world, whereas Nolan was trying to tell a comic book story but place it in the real world.

 

[ZERO THEORY]

Would ban everyone ITT if I could.

 

[EGarrett]

1. Keaton
2. Kilmer
3. Clooney
4. Bale
5. West.

Bale's Batman voice was just execrable.