Who Was the Best Bat? One Geeks Opinion There have been many men to wear the cowl both on television and on the big screen, but who did it best? Adam West - Considerd by most the be the original Batman, wore the cape during the campy Batman TV show which ran from 1966-1968, and was the first Bat to grace the big screen in the Batman Feature film which came out in 1966. Michael Keaton - Brought the bat back, playing the title role in Tim Burton’s reimagined Batman (1989) and returning for another go around in Batman Returns (1992). Kevin Conroy - At first seem an odd choice to be included here, but as far as Im concerned, Conroy is the definitive voice of Batman. Credits include the fantastic Batman the Animated Series (1992-1999) old man Wayne in Batman Beyond (1999-2001), almost all the animated movies from Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) to Justice League: Doom (2012), and both steller Rocksteady Bat Games, Arkham Asylum (2009) and Arkham City (2011). Val Kilmer - Followed Keaton in the third Batman movie, Burton produced and Joel Shumacher directed, Batman Forever (1995), also the first such modern movie which included Robin. George Clooney - Cloone took over for Kilmer for Shumacher’s second attempt at a Bat Epic, the first modern bat movie sans Tim Burton, Batman and Robin (1997) which ended the first modern run of the Bat series with a thud. Christian Bale - Along with Christopher Nolan, revived and rebooted the franchise with Batman Begins (2005) beginning a new Bat trilogy. The Dark Knight (2008) and the Dark Knight Rises (2012) brought new life, and a new fanbase, to the caped crusader. Before we can talk about the best, lets thin the herd. George Clooney, and Val Kilmer, are the first out the door. Kilmer had a the physical presence of the Bat, but struggled to capture Bruce Wayne, and Clooney was the opposite, Charming as Wayne but.. . well.. tiny as Batman, both very good actors, but victims of terrible movies. Next off the list would be Adam West, although a sentimental favorite, his portrayal of Batman came at a time when comics were still a genre for kids, so he goes away simply because he was just too damn silly. Then there were three. Next, has to be Michael Keaton, which is tough for me since growing up he was MY Batman, I have memories of seeing Batman, and Batman Returns in the theater with my dad, and it was these moves that sparked my early love and wonder for Batman. Looking back, although Keaton played Wayne and Batman well, there is just something missing, maybe the curly/thinning hair, maybe he is too old, maybe he is just a little too pudgy, whatever it is, he is not the best. Now we are down to the final two, and I have to say this is tough. The next one off my list… Christian Bale. I give Bale credit, I think he is the best actor to play Batman and Bruce Wayne, he was able to create a believable billionaire, and added a presence and ferocity to the Bat that I don’t think West, Keaton, Kilmer, or Clooney even came close to. I do have issue with his weird bat voice, but that I can live with. Bale also was lucky enough to have Christopher Nolan writing his bat epic, their three movies will go down in history as not only some of the best superhero movies, but some of the best storytelling in modern movie history. So yes, Im going with the voice, Kevin Conroy is the best. Stop for a second, get a mental image of Batman in your head, what does he sound like? If its not Conroys smooth delivery, then I feel sorry for you. His lungs have backed the bat for a decade and a half now, and although a lot is made of Bale and Heath Ledger’s Batman/Joker work, and it is amazing, I think Conroy and Mark Hamill have some of the best Bats Joker moments of all time, but hey, thats just one geek’s opinion. Agree? Disagree? Suggestions for future “One Geeks’ Opinion”? Let me know what you think in the comments, Twitter, or Facebook.
March 22, 2013 VIEW POST
Good Monday Morning, I Give you Batmanatee! Check out jharris’s full Deviant Art page below for more super powered manatees. Batmanatee! by *jharris
August 13, 2012 VIEW POST
What is your favorite Bat symbol? Its such a simple and borderline trite question, but I think your favorite sign of the bat says a lot about either how you first discovered Batman or what comic, film, or show impacted you most. I have always been partial to the Tim Burton Bat symbol, I was 8 or 9 years old the first time I saw it, and it really imprinted itself on my psyche as the defacto sign of Batman.  What do you guys think?  Let me know in the comments.  The print below from Laughing Squid, has a few more:
August 2, 2012 VIEW POST
August 1, 2012 VIEW POST
Good guy Christian Bale, and his wife, visiting the memorial and victims of the tragic shooting in Aurora Colarado yesterday.  In addition to patients he also: “met with a number of doctors, Aurora police officers and emergency medical technicians who were first responders when James Eagan Holmes allegedly killed 12 people and injured 58 others at Century Aurora 16 theater early Friday. Bale spent about 10 minutes with each person.” Classy classy move Mr Bale, my favorite part, according to the Denver Post, is that he he let the hospital know that he wanted to visit, but did not want them to alert the media stating “he just wanted to meet with the victims and police”.  Here is hoping he is remembered more for this (he will) then his outburst while filming Terminator Salvation.   More pictures at video over at the Denver Post
July 25, 2012 VIEW POST
Check this ridiculous taxonomy of Batman villains print entitled Myriad Monikers of Gotham’s Villains.  You have to click the link to truly appreciate this masterfully done piece.   Curious to how many animal based villains Batman has faced?  This has you covered from the well known “Penguin” and “Catwoman”, to the lesser known “Human Flea” and “Killer Moth”.  What about more abstract, like villains named for facial features, gotcha covered from “Two-Face” and “Clay Face” to “Dimples Drew” and “Johnny Squints.” Ah, there is just so much to love, you can pick up your own huge 18”x24” limited edition print, for on $27. Pop Charts
July 24, 2012 VIEW POST
Official Misguided Geek Movie Review:  The Dark Knight Rises Before reading this review, or any review, I encourage you to see the movie first, just do it, go, you will thank me I promise. There, now, to the review, which I will try and make as short and to the point as possible.  The Dark Knight Rises is not a perfect movie, it drags a little bit, the story jumps around too much, and for an action movie there were long stretches with out any, you know, action.  So yes, its not perfect…. but it is close. Christopher Nolan set out to make an epic, and he succeeded.  The Dark Knight Rises is an intense film, worthy of being one of the best Batman stories period, up there with the Killing Joke, Long Halloween, and yes The Dark Knight Returns. Nolan has excelled in humanizing Batman.  It can be hard to identify with demigods, men in armor, war heroes and super powered teenagers, yet if you strip away the money and gadgets, Bruce Wayne is just a hurt guy, trying to rediscover who he is after a great loss.  Something many of us can understand. Nolan matches up the, now very human and vulnerable Bats with the very inhuman killing machine Bane.  Unlike the Joker, Bane is driven, focused, with a clear cut plan.  Where the Joker was a forest fire, Bane is a tacticle strike cruise missile. And then there are the supporting, no means minor characters, Selina Kyle, Commissioner Gordon, new comer John Blake, as well as the ever present Alfred Pennyworth.  Much like what he did with Inception Nolan intertwines all of his players to create a tapestry of events and arcs which bring the three movies together, and then give them the bitter sweet ending that they, and we the fans have deserved. Make no mistake, the ending is definitive, and I must say as the movie was winding down, I became surprisingly emotional.  Like many of you, I have known these characters my whole life, and although I know there will be more movies (eventually) and tv shows, and video games, and of course more comics, Nolan has done a masterful job of retelling the old story in such a new and refreshing way, that I am sad that the run is over. Avengers had the flash, and it has been the superhero movie of the summer, but The Dark Knight Rises has the heart, and the soul that was missing from Marvel’s summer epic.  You have to go see it, its as much watch as any movie of the summer, and it does not disappoint. *This review was written before my awareness of the tragic events that occurred last night in Colorado.  This review is not meant to be insensitive to those events, merely a review of the movie.  My thoughts go out to the people and community affected.
July 20, 2012 VIEW POST
The Dark Knight Rises made up word movie review: DeKnightful Full review up later today.
July 20, 2012 VIEW POST
Just got tickets for the 3:30AM showing of The Dark Knight Rises… next post will be in about 3 hours!
July 19, 2012 VIEW POST