I think he is by far the most cool and true to the character of Bruce Wayne and Batman persona. Not many actors can actually divide the duality of this character, and Christian Bale nailed it. Fans really can see him as Bruce Wayne and Batman, so was the director. Bale is just right for this emerging version of Batman. He can balance the character very brilliantly and dare I say, sexy.
Tortured soul, full of anger, bitter, full of vengeance, and a womanizer at the same time, although he's pretending to be a playboy. Tall, dark, and handsome. Great casting *****
Michael Keaton
Apparently he became somehow the poster boy for Batman, because he did played the first movie charmingly. Although I do agree that he played a great Batman with his coldness and frightening aura, I don't see him as a charming Bruce Wayne. Maybe he was too old, or maybe he was too short, or he just plain...er, not too good looking. He could play the menacing and dark Batman, but as Bruce Wayne... Good casting though ***
Val Kilmer
Well, again this is one of those case where an actor cannot balance the duality of a character. MK was good as Batman but suck as Bruce Wayne, while Val Kilmer was good as Bruce Wayne but suck as Batman. I liked him when he was trying to find the meaning of his life, such as dreams of the past and how he was trying to create his life again. I think he was actually good potraying the character Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, he couldn't let go the charisma for Batman. Somehow, Batman was a popular guy in this movie and less dramatic or dark. Okay, not to mention he was too short and had blonde hair, which I despised. Okay casting ***
George Clooney
I admit he's a good looking man...but I always wondered; what the fuck he was thinking? Sure, I could see he was having a good time. He played Bruce-Fucking-Wayne. But let's get real here, it was just a mismatched casting. He was too charismatic and seemed always smiling and grinning all the time, which I can't figure out where he's becoming Batman or Bruce Wayne, because he was smilling at both times. I can't bear to think that he was willing to lowered himself just to played the icon. He's a good actor, but I don't even want to watch him playing dark and menacing Batman. Lousy casting *
Adam West
I can surely say that he is the original Batman. Although he's been mocked for sure for his potrayal of the Dark Knight, somehow people accepted him as he was. He was being suave and sometimes could be funny as Bruce Wayne. Charming, no doubt. But as Batman, well... back then Batman was being potrayed as a Caped Crusader. Not as taken seriously. So he was okay. I don't think he could be modern Batman though. Nice casting **
Alec Baldwin, Linus Roache (Thomas Wayne)
Both of them are my candidates for Bruce Wayne, actually. Alec Baldwin would make a great Bruce Wayne, although I'm not sure as Batman. But he's too old now, back then he would make a cool Bruce Wayne. Linus Roache is just so cool, I think as both Batman and Bruce Wayne. But he is less famous. Then again, he's already nabbed the character of Thomas Wayne anyway. Good choices of casting.
