{"id":7096,"date":"2017-02-20T17:02:46","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T17:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/?p=7096"},"modified":"2017-02-20T17:02:46","modified_gmt":"2017-02-20T17:02:46","slug":"who-is-the-best-movie-batman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/2017\/02\/20\/who-is-the-best-movie-batman\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is the best movie Batman?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Since 1989, a burning question has divided people across the globe: who is the best Batman?<\/p>\n<p>Well&#8230; we may finally have the answer. Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, we\u2019ve worked out an average critic and audience score for each movie Batman and ranked them below. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not an exact science, of course, as the ratings are for the films rather than actors. But it should go some way to settling the great Batman debate. Maybe.<\/p>\n<p>(Please note: because they\u2019re ancient, we couldn\u2019t find many reviews for the Lewis G Wilson and Robert Lowery <em>Batman <\/em>movies. We haven\u2019t forgotten about them!)<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4>8. George Clooney (Batman &#038; Robin) <\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 28.25%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4RBXypX4qWI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>George Clooney is the least popular Batman based on review scores alone, although that may have more to do with the film he starred in than his performance.<\/p>\n<p><em>Batman &amp; Robin <\/em>is basically a modern remake of the 60s series, plonking Batman and Robin in the midst of a day-glo Gotham City and pitting them against a pun-addicted Mr. Freeze (played by Arnie) and Poison Ivy (played by Uma Thurman).<\/p>\n<p><em>Batman &amp; Robin <\/em>received a critical mauling, with fans decrying ridiculous elements like Batman\u2019s credit card (presumably he had to reveal his true identity to get that) and the infamous Bat-nipples. It very nearly killed the <em>Batman <\/em>franchise for good.<\/p>\n<p>Clooney <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/batman-robin-movie-george-clooney-apology\/\">has actually apologised for <em>Batman &amp; Robin<\/em><\/a>, although we think he\u2019s being a little harsh on himself. It\u2019d certainly be interesting to see how he\u2019d perform if he had slightly better material to work with.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>7. Val Kilmer (Batman Forever) <\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 47.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/suOgRZflPtk\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>AKA The Batman most people forget about. You\u2019d be hard pressed to find anyone who\u2019d argue Val Kilmer was the best big screen Batman, although he did have one very important fan: <em>Batman <\/em>creator Bob Kane, <a href=\"https:\/\/batman.wikia.com\/wiki\/Batman_(Val_Kilmer)\">who claimed Kilmer was the best Batman he\u2019d seen<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Kilmer donned the cowl in <em>Batman Forever <\/em>after Michael Keaton dropped out. Director Joel Schumacher picked him personally after seeing his performance in <em>Tombstone<\/em>, although relations between the two on set were so strained that Schumacher later described Kilmer as \u201c&#8230;the most psychologically troubled human being I\u2019ve ever worked with\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n<p>Time seemed to heal their relationship though, as Schumacher went on to call Kilmer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blastr.com\/2011\/10\/joel_schumacher_defends_v.php\">\u201cthe best Batman\u201d\u009d.<\/a> Nevertheless, <em>Batman Forever <\/em>was Kilmer\u2019s only film under the cowl.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>6. Ben Affleck (Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 49.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0WWzgGyAH6Y\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>There was uproar when Ben Affleck was announced as the next Batman, despite his obvious talent as both an actor and director. The resulting Twitterstorm was so bad that even the reigning king of Twitterstorms stepped in to say his piece&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trump-on-batman.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trump-on-batman.png\" alt=\"Trump on Batman\" width=\"637\" height=\"288\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trump-on-batman.png 637w, https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trump-on-batman-300x136.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Affleck\u2019s time in the cowl has been hugely divisive so far. <em>Batman v Superman <\/em>is loved by some and hated by others, with some enjoying its grandeur and pitch black tone and others finding it overserious and overblown.<\/p>\n<p>Affleck\u2019s performance as Batman is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/film\/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice\/ben-affleck-premiere-reaction-reviews\/\">generally seen as one of the film\u2019s high points though,<\/a> with noted Batman superfan Kevin Smith (who named his daughter Harley Quinn) describing Affleck as <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/video\/kevin-smith-ben-affleck-batman\/\">the best Batman he\u2019d seen<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s still time for Affleck to improve his Bat legacy too. The first <em>Justice League <\/em>movie hits cinemas later this year, with Affleck\u2019s first standalone movie, <em>The Batman,<\/em> scheduled for 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, <em>The Batman <\/em>is going through quite a rough production. Affleck was originally due to write, direct and star in the film but dropped out of directing duties earlier this year. Matt Reeves, who directed <em>Cloverfield <\/em>and the hugely popular <em>Planet of the Apes <\/em>reboots, was due to replace him <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/news\/2017-02-18\/ben-afflecks-batman-film-loses-a-second-director\">but soon dropped out of negotiations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And now, there are rumours Affleck wants to hand in the keys to the Batmobile entirely. According to John Campea, who hosts the Collider Movie Talk podcast, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/films\/news\/the-batman-ben-affleck-director-no-more-the-dark-knight-a7580116.html\">three people at Warner Bros have claimed Affleck is going to quit the role imminently<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019d be a massive shame given the potential Affleck has shown so far, but he\u2019ll still go down as one of the better big screen Batmen.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>5. Kevin Conroy (Batman: Gotham Knight, The Killing Joke)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 67.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VeNi4PfNMqI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Kevin Conroy has played Batman more than anyone in the world, yet most people don\u2019t even know what he looks like.<\/p>\n<p>Conroy has voiced Batman countless times, most notably in the critically acclaimed <em>Batman: The Animated Series <\/em>and in all four <em>Arkham <\/em>video games.<\/p>\n<p>His score in this post is limited to his big screen voice work though, which includes <em>Batman Gotham Knight <\/em>and <em>Batman: The Killing Joke<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Gotham Knight<\/em>, released the same year as <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>, was hugely popular although <em>The Killing Joke<\/em>, an animated version of Alan Moore\u2019s legendary one-shot comic, received decidedly mixed reviews.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, Conroy is the ultimate Batman for many Batfans.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>4. Adam West (Batman: The Movie, Return of the Caped Crusaders)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 75.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vvY5MgOgDUw\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The man, the myth, the legend.<\/p>\n<p>West was cast in the <em>Batman <\/em>television series off the back of an appearance in an advert, bringing a comedic earnestness to the show\u2019s surreal and often ludicrous storylines.<\/p>\n<p>We haven\u2019t consider West\u2019s small screen appearances in our overall score, instead focusing on reviews for the infamous 1966 movie spin-off and 2016\u2019s animated revival, <em>Return of the Caped Crusaders<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The 1966 movie features West\u2019s defining moment in the Bat cowl, the infamous bomb scene. After discovering a comedy fizzing bomb, West holds it above his head and tries to find somewhere safe to dispose of it, only to be thwarted by a group of nuns and a family of ducks.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, West\u2019s time as Batman was fairly short. The series was cancelled in 1968 and, at one point, West had to resort to making public appearances as the Caped Crusader. The show has since become a bona-fide cult classic though, mainly due to West\u2019s and co-star Burt Ward\u2019s masterful comedic performances.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>3. Michael Keaton (Batman, Batman Returns)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 76%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Too3qgNaYBE\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The role of Batman wasn\u2019t as prestigious in the late 80s as it is now. Adam West was the last actor to play Bruce Wayne and he hadn\u2019t appeared on screen for 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>Yet people still got <em>really, really<\/em> angry when Michael Keaton was cast as the Dark Knight. Fans feared that Keaton, best known for his comedy work, would follow in the footsteps of West, and 50,000 of them wrote to Warner Bros to voice their disapproval (the 1980s equivalent of a Twitterstorm).<\/p>\n<p>They needn\u2019t have worried. Keaton reinvented Batman for a new generation, turning Bruce Wayne into a serious, brooding character. The fact Keaton didn\u2019t boast the traditional physique or looks of a superhero only made his performance better, adding a vulnerability and everyman quality to the character.<\/p>\n<p>Keaton was set to play Batman for a third time in <em>Batman Forever<\/em>, although he dropped out after deciding that the script \u201d\u201c in his own words \u201d\u201c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avclub.com\/article\/michael-keaton-passed-batman-forever-because-scrip-247879\">\u201csucked\u201d\u009d<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He did reveal in a Twitter Q&amp;A that <a href=\"https:\/\/batman-news.com\/2017\/02\/06\/michael-keaton-tells-himself-im-batman-at-least-17-times-a-day\/\">he still says \u201cI\u2019m Batman\u201d\u009d at least 17 to 18 times a day<\/a> though. We really hope he isn\u2019t joking.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>2. Will Arnett (The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 85.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rGQUKzSDhrg\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Will Arnett holds the distinct honour of being the first Batman not to lead a movie, instead appearing as a supporting character in <em>The LEGO Movie<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Arnett\u2019s Batman plays up the Dark Knight\u2019s grumpy teen tendencies to hilarious effect. \u201d\u02dcUntitled Self Portrait\u2019, Batman\u2019s theme song, may just be the best parody of Batman ever (sample lyrics: \u201cDarkness, no parents, continued darkness\u201d\u009d).<\/p>\n<p>The popularity of Batman in <em>The LEGO Movie<\/em> led to <em>The LEGO Batman Movie<\/em>, which takes the Batman pastiche to a whole new level. Arnett\u2019s Batman is arrogant, grumpy and hilariously brooding but also kind of lovable.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<h4><strong>1. Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Overall score: 85.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EXeTwQWrcwY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Just pipping Lego Batman to the top spot is Christian Bale, star of Christopher Nolan\u2019s <em>Dark Knight Trilogy<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Bale played Bruce Wayne as a brooding, intense billionaire who pined for companionship but doomed himself to a life of solitude to protect the city he loves.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, his portrayal behind the cowl is still hugely polarising for one reason: that voice. Speaking in a death metal growl designed to hide his true identity, it was equal parts funny, hard to understand and intimidating.<\/p>\n<p>Still, there\u2019s no denying how important Bale\u2019s performance is to perhaps the best series of superhero movies ever made. \u00a0Although Christian Bale himself may not agree; in 2016, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2016\/mar\/04\/christian-bale-batman-v-superman-heath-ledger-dark-knight\">told Yahoo! News that he \u201cdidn\u2019t quite nail\u201d\u009d the role<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<\/hr>\n<p>Love Batman? We\u2019ve got a huge range of Batman goodies, including DVDs, Blu-Rays and soundtracks, at incredible prices over on the musicMagpie Store! Click below to check them out!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/store.musicmagpie.co.uk\/category\/?keyword=Batman\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/SHOP-NOW.png\" alt=\"SHOP NOW\" width=\"299\" height=\"50\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5210\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also giving away a fantastic bundle of Lego Batman prizes over on Facebook. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/musicMagpie\/photos\/a.208323665876029.47472.190533904321672\/1408116159230101\/?type=3&#038;theater\">Click here to enter<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since 1989, a burning question has divided people across the globe: who is the best Batman? Well&#8230; we may finally have the answer. Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, we\u2019ve worked out an average critic and audience score for each movie Batman and ranked them below. It\u2019s not an &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[1620,1574],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7096"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7096"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7101,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7096\/revisions\/7101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicmagpie.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}