WEIRDO Ranks: Every Live-Action Batman Actor 🦇 (Part 8 of 11)
I am vengeance. I am the night. I AM BATMAN!
Numerous actors have donned the Dark Knight’s iconic cape and cowl in the 80 years since Lewis Wilson first portrayed the character in the 1943 movie serial titled The Batman. Every on-screen iteration of the Caped Crusader has provided something unique to the mythos. However, few have been able to properly capture the dichotomy between Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter ego.
This series seeks to provide my personal ranking of each live-action interpretation of my favorite comic book superhero! I hope you all enjoy, and remember to hit that clap button as well as comment where you would rank each Batman actor on your personal list.
Disclaimer: There are two live-action outings that I either haven’t seen whatsoever or haven’t finished, and those are The Batman & Batman and Robin movie serials that released in 1943 and 1949, respectively. Therefore, I have chosen to leave each of their Batman actors out of this particular ranking. Oh, and if you haven’t seen any of these projects, there could be minor spoilers ahead!
4. Val Kilmer (Batman Forever)
“I’ll get drive-thru.”
Shocked? I bet. Being the first Joel Schumacher-directed Batman movie, the masses were completely unaware per the outcome of this particular iteration of the character. That is, until the first trailer premiered, giving audiences a glimpse as to the vibe the flick set to put out. It’s colorful, it’s fun, and it’s got Jim Carrey as one of the two main villains. It was transparent that the days of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton’s gothic vision was given a complete overhaul.
Is this a fun, turn-your-brain-off type of movie? Yes, it is. But that doesn’t stop my man, Val Kilmer, from putting his all into the role. The guy gets way too much undeserved hate for Batman Forever. In his defense, Kilmer’s performance is rooted in expectations as he anticipated making a totally different movie than what was released, hence why he didn’t return for Batman & Robin.
In past interviews, Kilmer has stated that he wanted to bring the trauma and true darkness within Bruce Wayne to the surface to create a more nuanced character akin to Michael Keaton’s portrayal. It’s not exactly his fault that the movie simply went in a different direction. Apparently, a 3 hour cut of the film exists somewhere in the pitch black depths of the Warner Bros. chopping block, peaking my curiosity to see how much more the actor was able to bring to the part.
All in all, Kilmer’s turn in the title role is something to be admired. He handles the cool, cocky, and sophisticated side of Bruce Wayne with finesse. His eyes and actions convey his inner struggle with the necessity to be Batman almost as much as Bruce Wayne, presenting a near-perfect balance between the two. Though he smiles while in the suit, which contains the signature Schumacher nipples, and joins the Batman legacy of corny one-liners, he delivers them with a dry wit, kicks major a**, and rides dope Bat-themed vehicles. For me, Kilmer deserves his spot at #4. *Insert: Thumbs-up Batman gif*
