# Who nailed the role of Batman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875 "2010-07-24T20:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/21 "2010-07-25T07:04:29Z")
[quote=“smiling\_bandit, post:16, topic:547875”] > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Sure, peope argue whether Heath Ledfger’s Joker was too much or isnanely cool, but I’ve never seen anyone except hardcore comics nerds who whine about any movie claim he just wasn’;t the Joker. He was probably closer to the current comics Joker than any other, except perhaps Mark Hamil’s from the Animated Series. . I am not a comics nerd, and I have claimed mutiple times that despite Ledger’s acting being pure genius, he wasn’t all al like the Joker. The Joker had always had jokes, was almost always a natty dresser, wore the make up right and so forth. Yes, Ledger’s Joker was as insane as some versions of the Joker were. Keaton and Clooney played _Bruce Wayne_ very well. Keaton has the edge. West did a great Batman who was a period of those times. His voice _was_ Batman, however, campy or no. No one has yet done a serious (non-camp) live action _Batman_ very well. Bale has the edge. The animated one don;t really count. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/22 "2010-07-25T11:35:00Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > As far as live actors, while I like a lot of what Christian Bale did, there was a menacing quality to what Michael Keaton did. I also think Keaton had an understanding of the character that some of the others lacked. His “two truths” speech from the second movie really encapsulated it, IMHO. But it’s not like he wrote the movie – or that speech – right? _“Keaton is still the best,”_ said RealityChuck. _“He also nailed the serious side of Batman; it was smart that he didn’t say much when he wore the mask.”_ Well, of coursee didn’t have much to say when he wore the mask; he was _ **scripted** _ as not saying much; give him Adam West’s lines and he’d be a wordy guy who doesn’t make any “two truths” speech. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/23 "2010-07-25T15:17:48Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > > > As far as live actors, while I like a lot of what Christian Bale did, there was a menacing quality to what Michael Keaton did. I also think Keaton had an understanding of the character that some of the others lacked. His “two truths” speech from the second movie really encapsulated it, IMHO. > > But it’s not like he wrote the movie – or that speech – right? I know he didn’t write the script. I just think he delivered that line better than any of the others might have. Can you imagine Clooney giving that speech? Me neither. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/24 "2010-07-25T15:52:04Z")
Conroy IS batman/bruce. The rest are just acting. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/25 "2010-07-25T16:04:29Z")
I voted for Christian Bale, even though I think his Cookie Monster voice for Batman is a bad choice. Upon reflection maybe I should have gone with Keaton. Quiet menace works better than raging, screaming Batman, I think. I suspect I penalized Michael Keaton unfairly because I don’t like Tim Burton’s take on Batman very much. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/26 "2010-07-25T16:15:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am not a comics nerd, and I have claimed mutiple times that despite Ledger’s acting being pure genius, he wasn’t all al like the Joker. The Joker had always had jokes, was almost always a natty dresser, wore the make up right and so forth. Yes, Ledger’s Joker was as insane as some versions of the Joker were. The visual style was diffrent, in terms of how smooth he was. But Ledger had the distinctiveness, the crazy, and the scheming down pat. And that, I would say, is what makes the Joker. Plus, his clothying was extremely high-end - it just didn’t _look_ it. And it also possible that the Joker as a character was intended to change, somewhat like Scarecrow (whom they imply is trying new and different schemes to build his own small criminal empire). We may never know now, unless they re-cast the role. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/27 "2010-07-25T22:42:18Z")
Bale’s growling voice is straight out of the comics. For references, I cite Dark Knight Returns when Batman confronts his first villains and Knightfall when Robin hands Jean-Paul Valley the suit and reminds him to use the scary, growling voice that Bruce uses as Batman. I choose Bale and Kilmer because they’re actually athletic and could pull off what they’re doing. Keaton was stiff, lumbered around, and looked flabby. West actually played Batman pretty true to how the character was at the time. Clooney would be a good Bruce now, but I don’t know about Batman. He wasn’t given a lot to work with at the time. Conroy, of course, is Batman. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/28 "2010-07-26T03:46:52Z")
Adam West remains the one true Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/29 "2010-07-26T05:18:23Z")
Keaton. His eyes just fit well behind the mask, does that make sense? Also, Bale as Wayne is just a little too obviously insane, I keep expecting him to show off his new business card. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/30 "2010-07-26T14:30:11Z")
Val Kilmer had the best lips… and since that’s all you see of Batman… 😉 Anyway, I think he did a passable job and he was the most pleasing on the eye. But Keaton, I think, performed the role better… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/31 "2010-07-26T14:40:36Z")
The animated series Batman, voiced by Kevin Conroy, is the best Batman in the best animated series. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/32 "2010-07-26T15:12:04Z")
Kevin Conroy is the best Batman IMO. Mark Hamil is the best Joker IMO. As for the movies. I really liked Keaton but thing Bale wins just because he and the movies as a complete package are better than Keaton + his movies. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/33 "2010-07-26T15:42:14Z")
The Penguin and his ten goons are plotting in a back room POW! **BASH** BOOM BAM\*\* In leaps the Bat Man making life safe again for all the Gotham citizens He’s so bitchin’, he’s so brave. It’s back to the Batcave He’s got cool, and savoir faire. In his cape and cowl and his grey underwear Who is the hero that we like best? Got to be the Bat Man. Got to be Adam West Adam West I always cheer, I always squeal, when he cries out “To the Bat-Mobile” Commissioner’s on the Bat-Phone talking to the duo Joker has escaped again then just to learn, gotta rev it up, rev it up emergency bat turn Each bad guy he always gets, how does he stay dry? He never sweats Which antiperspirant does he like best? Gotta ask the Bat-Man, gotta ask Adam West Adam West Adam West You can have you’re Mr. Spock, you can have your Superman, you can have your Ronald Reagan, you can be an Elvis fan. Sure they’re heroic, sure they astound, but they can’t hold a candle to the Bat-est guy around. You see him at conventions, and shopping malls. Meeting all his fans, he’s sure got ------- GUTS. I comb the TV Guide for Bat-Man’s best. Tune’n into Bat-Man, Tune’n into Adam West Adam West Adam West Adam West Adam West I’ll get myself a Bat-Suit, then I’ll be lookin’ real cute I’ll somersault all over town, I’ll find Cat-Woman, we’ll get down I’ll build my arms, I’ll pad my chest so I can look like Adam West He’ll be the hero of the nation for a zillion generations He’s got cool, and savoir faire. In his cape and cowl and his grey underwear Who is the hero that we like best? Got to be the Bat Man. Got to be Adam West Adam West Adam West He’s wrestled giant clams, he’s been almost BAR-B-Q’d But he always gets away just when you thought he was screwed He’s beaten up the Joker, the Riddler, and the others But now his greatest foe’s are the folks at Warner Brothers. “Will their big budget blockbuster be a Bat-Bomb?” “Will Bat-Fans care that Bat-Man is also Mr. Mom?” “Tune in tomorrow, to learn the rest” 'Cause I’ll be watching Bat-Man, Bat-Man staring Adam West Adam West Adam West Adam West Adam West “Naturally you didn’t know I was wearing my Special Super Thermal B Long Underwear! ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/34 "2010-07-26T18:29:32Z")
Another vote for “Other” because I like Kevin Conroy best. He’s the Batman Gold Standard in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875/35 "2010-07-26T20:41:45Z")
Keaton. As someone said, when you play Batman, you have to remember you are playing Bruce Wayne, too, and I think Keaton did the best at both of them. Personally, Batman was about the time I started disliking Christian Bale. I think he didn’t do very well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-nailed-the-role-of-batman/547875.md?page=1)