Your favourite Batman...

[Kirkman1987]

I think The Animated series is the best adaption of the character.

As for live action I can't decide between the Nolan-verse and Adam West. Both are nearly perfect at what they are trying to achieve. I think I will have to favor the West series as my favorite while admitting the Nolan series is the best version.

[TrekNut87]

Warped9 wrote:

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One of the things I've really liked about B:TAS and subsequent animated features has been Batman's voice. And one of the criticisms I've had with Nolan's film's is Batman's voice.

Agreed! I love Kevin Conroy's Batman. Granted, he hasn't been in all the animated features, but was in the entire run of TAS. Bale's Batman voice sounds too cold to my ears and it got worse with each film IMO.

[lennier1]

90's cartoon, followed by Nolan's trilogy and the the '89 and '92 movies.

[Carcazoid]

In Tim Burton's Gotham it's totally believable to me that a normal guy like Michael Keaton could be the badass called Batman.

Kilmer and Clooney? Too many costume changes. Too ... nippley. Chris O'Donnell was a decent Robin, but Alicia Silverstone? Please.

I never bought into Bale as Batman. To me he just isn't believable. I don't like the suit either. Not one little bit.

Conroy will always be the voice of Batman to me.

Adam West IS Batman.

[Mage]

For me, it's The Dark Knight. Heath's Joker was amazing, yes. But everything else clicked as well.

And I feel Nolan and Bale nailed it with Bruce Wayne/Batman. Not just Bale's performance, but the way Nolan made sure we saw Wayne plenty aswell, being Wayne. The older movies focus and Wayne as Batman, while the Nolan-movies focus on Wayne as Wayne. Like Alfred said, you can't just be a billionaire and not act like the billionaire playboy. Appearing at the restaurant with a famous ballet-dancer, and just shoving some tables together because he owns the place. Appearing at Dent's fundraising with not one, but three pretty women. Stuff like that.

[JarodRussell]

I like the Nolan-Batman approach the most. But of all his films, I like Batman Begins the most. It contains the greatest amount of Bats, Fear and ninja tactics.

In the other films, they almost ignore that, so he could wear ANY mask. It's not important anymore that he's the BAT man.

[Warped9]

JarodRussell wrote:

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I like the Nolan-Batman approach the most. But of all his films, I like Batman Begins the most. It contains the greatest amount of Bats, Fear and ninja tactics.

In the other films, they almost ignore that, so he could wear ANY mask. It's not important anymore that he's the BAT man.

A very good point and why I almost chose Batman Begins as my favourite. It does a good job of setting the stage for the Batman we know. On another day depending how I feel I could well pick BB.

Two main reasons why the Burton films are weak for me. Burton's Gotham City doesn't impress me as a believable place. It feels like a huge isolated soundstage, which it really was. It feels small while Nolan's stories feel like they're part of a broader world. Also the camp element hasn't aged well and comes off as too blatant. It feels too much like a lighthearted comic even with some of the darker elements present. It feels too operatic and staged, which works for some people but not for me.

Mind you the live-action films have largely missed the boat on a big element of Batman comics: Batman as detective. This is something B-TAS got right as well as Bruce's occasional other disguises.

[Christopher]

I think George Clooney could've been a superb Batman (and Bruce Wayne) if he'd had good material to work with. Unfortunately, he never got the chance.

[Gov Kodos]

Christopher wrote:

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I think George Clooney could've been a superb Batman (and Bruce Wayne) if he'd had good material to work with. Unfortunately, he never got the chance.

Indeed, after seeing his performance in 'From Dusk Till Dawn' I had wished they'd taken a less campy take in his Batman outing. He could have played a great Batman in a more Nolan style outing.

[DWF]

As far as the animated series I go really liked the Tarzan/Batman Adventure Hour which was turned into Tarzan And The Super 7 on CBS.

As far as the live action shows and movies I have a soft spot for Adam West series and movie, it was campy and not quite totality faithful to the comic book but it's still alot of fun to watch.

But as far as Batman goes oddly enough I found Michael Keaton's Batman/Bruce Wayne the most efective version. He was able to play the sad and slightly mad Bruce Wayne that I thought worked rather well.

[DWF]

Gov Kodos wrote:

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Indeed, after seeing his performance in 'From Dusk Till Dawn' I had wished they'd taken a less campy take in his Batman outing. He could have played a great Batman in a more Nolan style outing.

George Clooney was still on ER at the time, he seemed tired and unfocused to me at times. Even with a better script I doubt if could performed any better in the role.

[scnj]

Christopher wrote:

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I think George Clooney could've been a superb Batman (and Bruce Wayne) if he'd had good material to work with. Unfortunately, he never got the chance.

If they wait a few years, I'd totally be up for Clooney in a Dark Knight Returns adaptation, provided he's still in shape.

[Dream]

Good to see Batman Begins having more votes than TDKR.

[Reverend]

If we're just restricting this to live action, then I'd have to vote for Keaton. I'm not the biggest fan of the Burton films by any means (I rather prefer the Nolan films) but I can't deny that Keaton trumps Bale.

If we're to include non-live action performances, then it's easily Kevin Conroy by a MILE!

[JD]

A few months back I was reading Death in the Family, and I didn't even realize until I was over half-way through it that I'd been unintentionally reading it with Conroy's Batman and Hamil's Joker voices in my head. I think that right there shows just how much of an impact those two have had on me. As good as some of the other people have been, they are the first voices I hear when I picture the characters.