The Dark Knight cometh...

Posted July 17, 2008 - 4:11pm by Craig Silliphant

In preparation for the new Batman movie, I thought it might be fun to see what everyone thinks about the Batman movie franchises past and present (These are not in order of appearance).

Here are the Bat-questions, and I'd love to hear your Bat-answers!  (Yes, it is much more fun to put "bat" in front of everything, though it's been driving my best Batgirl, Jenny, nuts all week.)

1) Who is the best Batman --- and why?

Christian Bale (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) --- Christian Bale is an unnatural force as an actor, and brings a huge intensity to Chris Nolan's dark vision of ole' Bats.

George Clooney (Batman & Robin) --- I picked this picture on purpose, because Clooney looks like he's some kind of winking, suave, ladykiller Batman.  Clooney brought the square jaw to the role, but unfortunately, this movie is one of the worst comic book movies ever made.  It wasn't Clooney's fault, he was ok, but this movie tanked the franchise for quite a few years.

Micheal Keaton (Batman, Batman Returns) --- Tim Burton should take a bit of the credit for the Chris Nolan versions of Batman, as their visions of a dark crusader were similiar.  Burton had to fight everyone for his choice of Batman/Bruce Wayne --- he wanted an everyman, not a musclebound hero, and he knew that Micheal Keaton (who he'd also worked with on Beetlejuice) would fit the bill.  He got his way in the end, and Keaton did a bang up job.

Val Kilmer (Batman Forever) --- here is where the franchise started to slide downhill, though this movie is watchable.  I'd have to say that Kilmer was a decent enough Batman, and though he's a great actor, I don't know if he brought anything significant to the role.  Even Clooney brought the Batwink and the Batjaw.

Adam West (seen with Burt Ward as Robin) (Batman - 1966) --- The kitchy 60's version of the Bat, famous for his Batbelly and the Batusi dance brought us Adam West, a decidely out of shape caped crusader.  You can't deny how fun this show (and subsequent movie) was though, famous for the Bat-shark repellent.  Good times.

Bat-Question # 2!  Who is the best Joker and why?  (I know we haven't really seen Heath Ledger's version yet, but you can tell me why you think he'll be better or worse than the rest)

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) --- Horrible tragedy meets marketing bonanza as Heath Ledger takes over the role of the insane clown, and it becomes his last.  The hype is huge on this performance, and though I think Ledger was coming into his own as an actor, we'll see if he really makes this role his own.  They say The Joker killed him, got inside his head and made him slip over the edge.  I would hope that this is all marketing BS, that Ledger was a troubled young actor who made a mistake, but we'll never know.

Jack Nicholson (Batman) --- Though I never believe that Jack's body type was right for the role (you know who would have been good?  The guy who played the young Jack in the movie!  He was skinny and weird looking.), Jack threw all his acting gusto behind the role, and his trademark sharp grin didn't hurt either.  Heath will really have to throwdown to give Jack a run for his money here.

Caesar Romero (Batman - 1966) - He was a close approximation to the comic book Joker I remember as a kid.  Later versions have seen the Clown Prince of Crime turn into a sadistic, sociopathic killer.  Romero's Joker definately ages better than the old school Batman.

And the final question --- should the new Chris Nolan movies have a Robin?  Why or why not?

To recap!

1) Best (and worst) Batman and why?

2) Best (and worst) Joker and why?

3) Should there be a Robin?  Why or why not?  Who do you see playing him?

Can't wait to read your answers!  See you on Monday with a Bat-review of The Dark Knight!