Ya know, Christian Bale did an excellent job in the role of Bruce Wayne, but his Batman seemed a little…I dunno…his voice seemed a little weird. It just seemed like he was ACTING tough or something. I did like how his Batman seemed to be more of a man of action, and not one-liners.

When Michael Keaton took the role in the eighties, I had only known of him in comedies and I thought he was totally wrong – but he turned in a terrific performance…quite dark and brooding…tormented.

In defense of Val Kilmer – he was trapped inside Joel Schumaker’s neon joke of a Batman movie. If you look at his performance alone, he makes a striking and believable Bruce Wayne, and he certainly seemed “driven” as Batman.

George Clooney – totally fucking wrong. I just loved the stupid smirk on that guy’s face as Alfred DIES. He looked like he had just taken a satisfying shit, and with a shrugging “Oh well,” went on about his business as if nothing had happened. Clooney was the perfect Batman for Schumaker’s ridiculous version of Batman; insipid, bland, and derivative.

ummmm i seriously dont get what is up with everyone likeing christian bale. i really didnt like the new batman movie as a whole, so i really cant say much for the film. i thought it was..well…boring. i think alot of ppl also felt the same. seems mainly the uber-fanboys and todays “modern” society liked bale cuz all he was was known for was “kick-ass kick-ass”, but emotionally and acting wise, bale was wrong. stiff as a horse. even stiffer. sure he may have been this built guy, but he never felt REAL to me.

Michael Keaton, however, totally got the charater from the get-go. i love both of the tim burton films, and as far as im concerned, they are the only 2 batman films worth watching. They werent silly and campy and neon-bright like the schumacher films, nor were they super-serious and not fun like the new film. the films themselves were good, what with the awsome art-deco gothic scary Gotham City, to what i define as THE epitomy of the batmobile, not to mention Burtons genious character development for the gruseome villians, but Keaton anchored the films as the deadly Batman and his “Dark Knight Returns” inspired bruce wayne. Purists will always have somethin to say, but there is no doubt that Keaton nailed Batman. He just had the Batman look. Bale didnt. Bales bat-voice sucked and sounded like he was faking the tough guy thing, while keaton just WAS a Tough guy and had a more clint Eastwood vibe. bales batman was christian bale in a suit, while keaton WAS Batman. and a MUUCH brrodier and darker one as well.

in short, bale just didnt cut it for me. sounded too silly and didnt look or act the part. he just didnt FEEL like batman to me. hell, the whole movie didnt feel like a batman film to me. ill stick with the first 2 burton films anyday.

Peter you make some good points…

1st…. Its all opinion but I too also prefer not only Burton’s Batman over Begins but also Keaton’s Batman over Bale’s. However I do believe Begins to be a better movie than Batman 89, its just i prefer that one.

2nd…. On the voice of Bale, yes it does seem a little forced but think about it. The movie is the first outings of Batman, you are bound to sound a bit forced on your first patrols out. Everything about the Batman in Begins showed a character just getting settled into his new role.

3rd…. Begins is a GREAT movie and is very funny in parts. The Gotham in Begins is probably the nearest gotham we will ever get that is close to the comic books. Look at Batman Year One and tell me Begins doesn’t remind you of that Gotham!