205 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

For me, still Returns. I need to see Begins a few more times to get a much more accurate rating.

[tdalton]

Who is your favorite actor to play Batman?

Lewis Wilson
Robert Lowery
Adam West
Michael Keaton
Val Kilmer
George Clooney
Christian Bale

Before I saw Begins, George Clooney was my favorite Batman/Bruce Wayne. Now, having seen Begins, Christian Bale is the best of them all, but I still think that George Clooney was cheated out of a great chance to establish himself as Batman because of the lousy script for Batman & Robin.

[Buck]

It wasn't listed but my favorite is from Batman TAS, The Mask of the Phantasm.
But as far as live action, Batman Begins all the way.

Buck

[Tanger]

It wasn't listed but my favorite is from Batman TAS, The Mask of the Phantasm.
But as far as live action, Batman Begins all the way.

Buck

Yeah, I too am wondering why the superb animated series is being ignored. It was by far the closest adaptation of the source material yet.

[Harmsway]

For me, still Returns. I need to see Begins a few more times to get a much more accurate rating.

As much as I love Returns (it was my fav. Batman film previous to Begins), Begins takes the cake without much competition.

BR's story is all over the place (and full of plot holes), parts of it are overly grotesque and bizarre, and it never really all locks into one entirely coherent film. Perhaps if the script had been redrafted and given some more focus, the film would have worked on the same level that Begins (the clearly more coherent film of the two) does.

[Harmsway]

It wasn't listed but my favorite is from Batman TAS, The Mask of the Phantasm.
But as far as live action, Batman Begins all the way.

Buck

Yeah, I too am wondering why the superb animated series is being ignored. It was by far the closest adaptation of the source material yet.

The TAS deserves to be recognized. It was a fantastic show that really did an excellent job of capturing Batman (at least The Mask of the Phantasm did - the TV show was often too kiddie-oriented for my tastes, unable to explore the violence and dark side of Batman to satisfaction).

IMO, MOTP and Begins are the two finest Bat-films to date, but Begins wins out just because it's live action and animated Batman can never beat out live-action Batman.

I'd love to see a new 13-episode animated Batman series (not like the one they currently have running called "The Batman" - it's trash), done in a very adult manner with anime artists based off of the story The Long Halloween. Ooh, that would be perfect.

[Harmsway]

Who is your favorite actor to play Batman?

Lewis Wilson
Robert Lowery
Adam West
Michael Keaton
Val Kilmer
George Clooney
Christian Bale

Before I saw Begins, George Clooney was my favorite Batman/Bruce Wayne. Now, having seen Begins, Christian Bale is the best of them all, but I still think that George Clooney was cheated out of a great chance to establish himself as Batman because of the lousy script for Batman & Robin.

Clooney was just miscast, period, bad script or not. He doesn't have the capability to be truly threatening, with that gravel-filled voice. Can you see Clooney pulling off the whole "SWEAR TO ME!" line in Begins? I think not. Clooney just doesn't have an inherent darker edge, which is so necessary.

Of the Bat-actors besides Bale, Val Kilmer had the most potential to truly succeed, but was let down by Joel Schumacher as director (they didn't get along during Batman Forever due to Schumacher's lack of guidance and other things). Kilmer had the edge, the good looks, and the body mass for the role, but he just came across as wooden sometimes. Given a decent director and script, I'm sure he would've done a great job.

[Lazenby880]

Begins for me too. And Christian Bale is without a doubt the best live-action Batman, with the ability to play the Wayne side of the character expertly too. Pretty much blows its predecessors out of the water, really.

[Buck]

Michael Keaton really had the emotional intensity for the part but was totally lacking physically. Christian Bale had the physical presence and played the role of the playboy perfectly. Bale gets my vote. Compared to the other movies Batman Begins is an A++. But as a Batman fan, it gets a solid B. I didn't like what they did with Ducard. However, the movie really nailed the Scarecrow. What do you guys think?

Buck

[Harmsway]

Michael Keaton really had the emotional intensity for the part but was totally lacking physically.  Christian Bale had the physical presence and played the role of the playboy perfectly.  Bale gets my vote.  Compared to the other movies Batman Begins is an A++.  But as a Batman fan, it gets a solid B.  I didn't like what they did with Ducard. However, the movie really nailed the Scarecrow. What do you guys think?

Buck

I liked what they did with Ducard immensely. It was a great twist, having Liam be Ra's al Ghul the whole time, and idea of a Ra's al Ghul double is straight out of the comics. I felt that tying Ra's into Batman's origins was a brilliant move, making Ra's relationship with Batman even more poignant than it is in the comics.

Scarecrow was 100% nailed, and for the most part, an improvement on how he often appears in the comics.

[Qwerty]

Scarecrow was outstanding in the film.

[Buck]

It was a twist alright. I sure as heck didn't see it coming. I should have since Ducard didn't give Batman any of his detective training in the movie unlike the comics. The detective part of Batman was totally ignored in the movie and it's such an important aspect of the character as a whole. I know I'm just being picky.

Buck

[Bond_Bishop]

I haven't seen Batman Begins yet but I think it will take the prize as number one. So still it is Batman Returns for me

[Harmsway]

[quote name='Buck' date='17 July 2005 - 03:56']It was a twist alright.

[licensetostudy]

Batman Begins is far and away above the earlier pictures. Forever and Batman and Robin are completely awful, and even though Tim Burton was the right director 15 years ago his "Returns" is not bad but depressing, especially the Penguin's life. Begins is the film they should have made in 1989.

Ranking: 4 stars is best

Batman Begins: 4 stars
Batman(1989): 3 stars
Batman Returns: 2 1/2 stars
Batman Forever: 1 1/2 stars
Batman and Robin: 1 star

[Righty007]

Begins is the film they should have made in 1989.

With Pierce Brosnan as Bruce Wayne/Batman!

[Bond_Bishop]

After seeing Begins I know that is the best movie. It is so damn good!!! . Chris Nolan, Chris Bale, Goyer, Caine bring the next one to us sooon!!!

[Mr. Somerset]

I thought the new one was easily the best of the series. However, I chose the 1949 serial because it's funny. Lowery has some good moments, and Jane Adams is great as Vicki Vale. Besides, it's got Lyle Talbot as Gordon!

[Navy007Fan]

Begins got my vote. It's the Batman film I have been waiting for for a long time.

[Loomis]

BATMAN BEGINS, no question. Although that's more an indictment of the other films, which are mostly awful, than an endorsement of Nolan's picture, which is pretty good but nowhere near as innovative and brilliant as it's made out to be.

For some reason I suspect that the next one - which I hope will have someone other than Nolan in the director's chair - will be the best of the Batman flicks.

[Righty007]

I have a feeling The Dark Knight will replace Batman (1989) as my favorite.

[mrsbonds_ppk]

Voted for Batman Begins. I went to see it with my boyfriend and I loved it. He didn't though (prefers the old Batman movies I can't understand why he didn't like it). I still love Michael Keaton in Batman Returns and Val Kilmer also.

Edited by mrsbonds_ppk, 30 May 2007 - 07:44 AM.

[sharpshooter]

My order:

1.Batman Begins
2.Batman (1989)
3.Batman Returns
4.Batman Forever
5.Batman and Robin

Begins totally decimated the others. Batman 89 is such a great movie, with Returns being just as good. Forever was quite good, but Batman and Robin is a total abomination. I expect that The Dark Knight will take either number 1 or 2 positions.

[DaveBond21]

Batman (1966) got my vote.

The others take themselves too seriously...

[Sbott]

My order:

1.Batman Begins
2.Batman (1989)
3.Batman Returns
4.Batman Forever
5.Batman and Robin

Begins totally decimated the others. Batman 89 is such a great movie, with Returns being just as good. Forever was quite good, but Batman and Robin is a total abomination. I expect that The Dark Knight will take either number 1 or 2 positions.

Perfect list and reasons - no need to write more

[Qwerty]

For some reason I suspect that the next one - which I hope will have someone other than Nolan in the director's chair - will be the best of the Batman flicks.

Seeing that this post was from mid-2005, was there someone you were hoping for The Dark Knight?

[Cruiserweight]

I voted for Batman Forever simply because the Riddler is my favorite Batman villain.But the best Batman movie ever made was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.As far as actors go i'd pick Bale as the best.Keaton was a joke he practically used a stunt double for every scene even when he was in the Bruce Wayne role.

[Odd Job]

Batman Begins by a country mile!! Not only the best Batman film ever, but it is now firmly entrenched in my all time top 10 (just below LOTR trilogy and GF). Roll on 'The Dark Knight' in 2008.

[DaveBond21]

Batman Begins by a country mile!! Not only the best Batman film ever, but it is now firmly entrenched in my all time top 10 (just below LOTR trilogy and GF). Roll on 'The Dark Knight' in 2008.

Wow, that is quite an endorsment.

[Righty007]

New poll added.