Comments on: The Best On-Screen Portrayal of ‘Batman’ Characters http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/ Stuff by geeks, about geeks, for geeks. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:26:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tatiana http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-677401 Tatiana Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:41:01 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-677401 Can someone help me out, i vaguely remember a character from the animated series...it was a batman fanboy...he was chubby and he too wanted to be a superhero...he would dress up and try to save the day but always fail miserably...was it ratman? batboy? i cant remember any help and a picture would be greatly appreciated! =] email me: starenyt@aol.com Can someone help me out, i vaguely remember a character from the animated series…it was a batman fanboy…he was chubby and he too wanted to be a superhero…he would dress up and try to save the day but always fail miserably…was it ratman? batboy? i cant remember any help and a picture would be greatly appreciated! =]

email me: starenyt@aol.com

]]> By: Amol http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-468555 Amol Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:53:28 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-468555 ("soon came Val Kilmer and George Clooney, who made a mockery of one of the greatest characters ever.") 1. Bale is leaps and bounds ahead of all other 'Batmen'. 2. Kilmer had everything correct about him except one: he was in a Bad Movie. One simply canNOT refer to Bad scenes in a Badly scripted Bad Movie by a Bad Director to explain why the actor was not good to play his character. I understand, Kilmer could have never replaced Bale, but he would have easily replaced Keaton (who even though was a good Batman, WAS a wimp Wayne). Even if we forget that Keaton was the least good looking and had the least physicality required for an ideal Wayne/Batman respectively, we still cannot forget that he never had the ideal Wayne magnetic personality to attract females. He was a plain idiotic wimp as Wayne. And females never get attracted to a 'jerk' which the Wayne in 'Batman(1989)' and 'Batman Returns(1992)' clearly was. But maybe the female-leads in those movies were paid by the producers to do so. Whereas while Kilmer was definitely muscular/handsome of the two, his was unfortunately limited by the Bad Movie itself that he worked in that did no justice to the character of any roles in it, least of all Batman. Also, we can’t forget that Kilmer did play a very good playboy-Wayne of whatever the script allowed him to. That is what is important (where Keaton failed). Because once you’re inside the caped costume, it does not matter who is inside it, because nobody’s going to recognise you anyway. So the character that must be given more priority is of ‘Wayne’ where one can’t hide behind a costume. Remember, Kilmer was a good Wayne/UNDERUSED Batman in a bad movie by a bad director. Keaton was a good Batman /wimp Wayne even in an overall OK movie by a very good director. Even worse was that, unlike Keaton who got two opportunities as Batman under the very good director to prove himself as Wayne and yet failed on all points as Wayne, Kilmer never got a second chance to prove himself as Batman even though he had proved himself as Wayne, no… not even under the same hellish director. MY POINT: If the physically strong, play-boyish Kilmer was that good as Wayne under the hellish Schumacher, imagine how great he could have been in costume (Batman) under the very good Burton. 3. As for ‘Batman & Robin’, every thing was wrong about it and so was Clooney who only played ‘himself’ both as Batman/Wayne. Anyway, except when the movies are called ‘Syriana’, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ and ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’, Clooney is all himself everywhere. I seriously hope they destroy all records/sources of that B&R-crap and pretend it never existed. (”soon came Val Kilmer and George Clooney, who made a mockery of one of the greatest characters ever.”)

1. Bale is leaps and bounds ahead of all other ‘Batmen’.

2. Kilmer had everything correct about him except one: he was in a Bad Movie. One simply canNOT refer to Bad scenes in a Badly scripted Bad Movie by a Bad Director to explain why the actor was not good to play his character. I understand, Kilmer could have never replaced Bale, but he would have easily replaced Keaton (who even though was a good Batman, WAS a wimp Wayne).

Even if we forget that Keaton was the least good looking and had the least physicality required for an ideal Wayne/Batman respectively, we still cannot forget that he never had the ideal Wayne magnetic personality to attract females. He was a plain idiotic wimp as Wayne. And females never get attracted to a ‘jerk’ which the Wayne in ‘Batman(1989)’ and ‘Batman Returns(1992)’ clearly was. But maybe the female-leads in those movies were paid by the producers to do so.

Whereas while Kilmer was definitely muscular/handsome of the two, his was unfortunately limited by the Bad Movie itself that he worked in that did no justice to the character of any roles in it, least of all Batman. Also, we can’t forget that Kilmer did play a very good playboy-Wayne of whatever the script allowed him to. That is what is important (where Keaton failed). Because once you’re inside the caped costume, it does not matter who is inside it, because nobody’s going to recognise you anyway. So the character that must be given more priority is of ‘Wayne’ where one can’t hide behind a costume.

Remember, Kilmer was a good Wayne/UNDERUSED Batman in a bad movie by a bad director. Keaton was a good Batman /wimp Wayne even in an overall OK movie by a very good director. Even worse was that, unlike Keaton who got two opportunities as Batman under the very good director to prove himself as Wayne and yet failed on all points as Wayne, Kilmer never got a second chance to prove himself as Batman even though he had proved himself as Wayne, no… not even under the same hellish director.

MY POINT: If the physically strong, play-boyish Kilmer was that good as Wayne under the hellish Schumacher, imagine how great he could have been in costume (Batman) under the very good Burton.

3. As for ‘Batman & Robin’, every thing was wrong about it and so was Clooney who only played ‘himself’ both as Batman/Wayne. Anyway, except when the movies are called ‘Syriana’, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ and ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’, Clooney is all himself everywhere. I seriously hope they destroy all records/sources of that B&R-crap and pretend it never existed.

]]> By: Tom http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-371241 Tom Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:34:02 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-371241 I also disagree with Major's choice for Alfred. Caine beats Gough hands down. If Gough had better writers who understood Alfred better, than it would be more of a competition. Saying that Major, how could you think that Gough showed any fatherly qualities? He portrayed the character as a servant and nothing more. Caine actually is more of a father to Bruce in Nolan's movies than Gough ever was. I also disagree with Major’s choice for Alfred. Caine beats Gough hands down. If Gough had better writers who understood Alfred better, than it would be more of a competition. Saying that Major, how could you think that Gough showed any fatherly qualities? He portrayed the character as a servant and nothing more. Caine actually is more of a father to Bruce in Nolan’s movies than Gough ever was.

]]> By: Tom http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-371233 Tom Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:30:24 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-371233 Hey Chris, What about Richard Moll's performance in the animated series? I say he beats Aaron Eckhart only because he changed his voice for both Harvey and "Big Bad Harv"/Two-Face. He was a perfect choice for that role. Hey Chris,

What about Richard Moll’s performance in the animated series? I say he beats Aaron Eckhart only because he changed his voice for both Harvey and “Big Bad Harv”/Two-Face. He was a perfect choice for that role.

]]> By: Joey Diggs http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-359944 Joey Diggs Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:16:48 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-359944 Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill win by a landslide for Batman and the Joker. Ledger was okay, but he sounded like he was doing a Christian Slater impersonation half the time - his voice never hit the lows and highs like Mark Hamill. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill win by a landslide for Batman and the Joker. Ledger was okay, but he sounded like he was doing a Christian Slater impersonation half the time – his voice never hit the lows and highs like Mark Hamill.

]]> By: MichellePfeiffer.us http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-339612 MichellePfeiffer.us Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:46:20 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-339612 [...] The Best On-Screen Portrayals of “Batman” characters - read it here. [...] [...] The Best On-Screen Portrayals of “Batman” characters – read it here. [...]

]]> By: Chris http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-336224 Chris Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:56:41 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-336224 What about Two-Face? I can say that without seeing the new movie that Aaron Eckhart will be the best Two-Face. Tommy Lee Jones was horrible. Allow me to ask something of all of you though- Who was the real killer of Batman with "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"? Joel Schumacher is the answer. Honorable should go to Akiva Goldsman as he was responsible for the writing on both. The acting was nasty in the films but actors can only do so much. What about Two-Face?
I can say that without seeing the new movie that Aaron Eckhart will be the best Two-Face. Tommy Lee Jones was horrible.
Allow me to ask something of all of you though- Who was the real killer of Batman with “Batman Forever” and “Batman and Robin”?
Joel Schumacher is the answer. Honorable should go to Akiva Goldsman as he was responsible for the writing on both. The acting was nasty in the films but actors can only do so much.

]]> By: http://webescape.wordpress.com/ http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-336023 http://webescape.wordpress.com/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:34:07 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-336023 Nicholson made a decent joker, my fave ever is probably Julie Newmar as Catwoman because you could totally see how Batman would get taken in by that body and face. Nicholson made a decent joker, my fave ever is probably Julie Newmar as Catwoman because you could totally see how Batman would get taken in by that body and face.

]]> By: Andrew http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335950 Andrew Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:11:13 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335950 Dan you fail. To say that Romero's joker is top notch is to fundamentally misunderstand what makes the Joker tick. The Sixties will always be something that the Batman mythos tries to escape from. While the lighthearted adventures of the 60s were great for kids, (hell, some of my earliest memories of Batman were watching the Adam West movie multiple times with my dad) anymore they should only serve as an easy stepping stone for children to learn about the characters before they really get into the nitty-gritty of Gotham and its protectors. The Joker is not someone to be trifled with, which something that Ledger and Nolan hit directly on the head. The campy zany version that Romero portrayed ignored what makes the Joker such a great foil for Batman. He was just a clown, not the Clown Prince of Crime, and should be treated as such. Dan you fail.

To say that Romero’s joker is top notch is to fundamentally misunderstand what makes the Joker tick. The Sixties will always be something that the Batman mythos tries to escape from. While the lighthearted adventures of the 60s were great for kids, (hell, some of my earliest memories of Batman were watching the Adam West movie multiple times with my dad) anymore they should only serve as an easy stepping stone for children to learn about the characters before they really get into the nitty-gritty of Gotham and its protectors. The Joker is not someone to be trifled with, which something that Ledger and Nolan hit directly on the head. The campy zany version that Romero portrayed ignored what makes the Joker such a great foil for Batman. He was just a clown, not the Clown Prince of Crime, and should be treated as such.

]]> By: levi http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335944 levi Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:06:21 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335944 what about adam west? :P nothing beats pot-bellied batman. what about adam west? :P nothing beats pot-bellied batman.

]]> By: Cortie http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335874 Cortie Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:13:09 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335874 Nice job. Mark Hamil is, and will always be, the greatest Joker in my books. Spot on with that one. But I have to point out: "most fiercest"? Really? Grammar, man. It is your friend. Nice job. Mark Hamil is, and will always be, the greatest Joker in my books. Spot on with that one. But I have to point out: “most fiercest”? Really? Grammar, man. It is your friend.

]]> By: LL http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335833 LL Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:32:34 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335833 Robin will ALWAYS be terrible. He's a terrible character. Chris O’Donnell was perfectly cast in the role, which says all that needs to be said about Robin. Bale has gone so far as to say that if Robin is scripted into future Batman films, he's outta there. Robin will ALWAYS be terrible. He’s a terrible character. Chris O’Donnell was perfectly cast in the role, which says all that needs to be said about Robin.
Bale has gone so far as to say that if Robin is scripted into future Batman films, he’s outta there.

]]> By: AlZuben http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335828 AlZuben Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:26:20 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335828 anybody who begins by paying homage to Tim Burton's fetish-laden fantasies...and a 5'10 balding and 165lb soaking wet Michael Keaton as Batman is nucking futs. but thanks for invalidating your opinion in the opening statements so I knew better to ignore everything that follows. you just robert eberted yourself! =) anybody who begins by paying homage to Tim Burton’s fetish-laden fantasies…and a 5′10 balding and 165lb soaking wet Michael Keaton as Batman is nucking futs.

but thanks for invalidating your opinion in the opening statements so I knew better to ignore everything that follows.

you just robert eberted yourself!

=)

]]> By: Jimmy T http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335820 Jimmy T Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:17:44 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335820 Make that a second vote for Caesar Romero. My only gripe is that he should have shaved the moustache for the role. Other than that, a perfect Joker. Regarding your comment about the 60s show: "You really can’t beat them for campy, but they don’t really match up to reality." Is "reality" really the word you meant to use there. If so, I've got some bad news for you... Make that a second vote for Caesar Romero. My only gripe is that he should have shaved the moustache for the role. Other than that, a perfect Joker.

Regarding your comment about the 60s show: “You really can’t beat them for campy, but they don’t really match up to reality.”

Is “reality” really the word you meant to use there. If so, I’ve got some bad news for you…

]]> By: Dan http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335650 Dan Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:13 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335650 You are also forgetting the TV series from the 60s, with greats such as Caesar Romero (The Joker) and Eartha Kitt as Catwoman. While these two were over top, so was the whole series. Romero goes down as my favorite Joker ever. You are also forgetting the TV series from the 60s, with greats such as Caesar Romero (The Joker) and Eartha Kitt as Catwoman. While these two were over top, so was the whole series. Romero goes down as my favorite Joker ever.

]]> By: Daniel http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-335230 Daniel Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:10:53 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-335230 DeVito does INDEED have competition for the role, and if you've been watching as much of the animated series as you say you have, you should know that. Paul Williams manages to make Penguin's baroque turns of speech sound both natural and, when called for, menacing as all hell. (David Ogden Stiers was good in "Mystery of the Batwoman", but Williams was better.) For a Joker who was a very close fit to the comic book portrayal of the time, it's hard to beat Larry Storch (who did the voice for the Filmation cartoons of the 60s). Before you sneer, Storch was a gifted comic actor who was often far better than the scripts he was given. But when we compare the Schumacher versions of almost ANY character with their animated counterpart, it's the toons that win. Michael Ansara vs Arnold Schwarzenegger? Please. DeVito does INDEED have competition for the role, and if you’ve been watching as much of the animated series as you say you have, you should know that. Paul Williams manages to make Penguin’s baroque turns of speech sound both natural and, when called for, menacing as all hell. (David Ogden Stiers was good in “Mystery of the Batwoman”, but Williams was better.)

For a Joker who was a very close fit to the comic book portrayal of the time, it’s hard to beat Larry Storch (who did the voice for the Filmation cartoons of the 60s). Before you sneer, Storch was a gifted comic actor who was often far better than the scripts he was given.

But when we compare the Schumacher versions of almost ANY character with their animated counterpart, it’s the toons that win. Michael Ansara vs Arnold Schwarzenegger? Please.

]]> By: Jerry http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/comment-page-1/#comment-334869 Jerry Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:35:29 +0000 http://geeksofdoom.com/2008/07/14/the-best-on-screen-portrayal-of-batman-characters/#comment-334869 I know a lot of fans who feel the same way about Mark Hamil's Joker. The more I think about the animated series was pretty top notch. I know a lot of fans who feel the same way about Mark Hamil’s Joker. The more I think about the animated series was pretty top notch.

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