The Super-Controversial Live Action Batman Rankings Episode!
Welcome back, dear listener! We've decided to mix things up a little and record a more informal episode for your listening displeasure this week, as we each decided to share our personal rankings of every live action Batman film! Well, every live action Batman film not directed by Zack Snyder. And we've kept this episode to live action depictions of the Caped Crusader only because there are numerous worthwhile animated Batman stories out there, and that might just end up being a topic for a future episode. The animated Batman stuff, not the Zack Snyder movies. We're never going to talk about the Zack Snyder movies. That being said, there's really not much more to say about this week's episode. We're talking about Batman. Some of our rankings may be a little controversial in some circles, but we fear no reprisal, so let the bloodbath begin!
You can find the episode below, or check it out on Apple, Google, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify and Anchor, so choose your own adventure and let's all dance with the devil in the pale moonlight...
Join the conversation! Leave a comment below with your own live action Batman rankings, and while you're down there be sure to suggest a few topics for future episodes. If you're feeling more wordy, you can always drop us a vengeful email, which we always appreciate. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for the complete TRAPPO experience.
Thanks for listening!
I’m not trying to stir the pot, but those rankings of yours are all fucked up. Who’s putting the Joel Schumacher Batman movies over any of the Chris Nolan movies? I’m not the biggest fan of The Dark Knight Rises but come on! My ranking, from best to worst:
ReplyDeleteThe Dark Knight
The Batman
Batman Begins
Batman 89
The Dark Knight Rises
Batman 66
Batman Forever
Batman Returns
Batman & Robin
That’s a reasonable ranking, you damn clowns. No self-respecting Batman fan is putting Batman & Robin anywhere but the bottom of their list. You suck. I’m sorry but it’s true. Look yourselves in the mirror and you’ll know I’m right.
My list is
ReplyDelete1- The Batman. It's just well made, with awesome style, and we don't have to deal explicitly with the character's origin again. The story takes some cool twists and turns, and I know a lot of people think it's too long, but I love how it feels like two cool Batman stories stuffed into one movie.
2- The Dark Knight. I don't have a problem with Christan Bale's voice. It's fine. The story here is a serious crime drama that reminds me a lot of a Michael Mann movie. The Joker is iconic here. Two Face might feel shoehorned into the third act, but I think he works as a tragic secondary antagonist. There's a reason why this movie is so well-regarded.
3- Batman Begins. It's an origin done right. Not too melodramatic and with some awesome cinematography and production design. The bait and switch with Liam Neeson's villain is a cool twist.
4- The Dark Knight Rises. Now this movie feels bloated. A good story in there, but it gets muddled, and Bane being a puppet of the REAL villain (and who couldn't have seen that reveal coming? Ray Charles?) was lame. But there's a lot of good there. A solid ending to the Nolan trilogy, although the cop's real name being Robin was dumb as hell.
5- Batman (1989) Michael Keaton's really great here, and Jack Nicholson's having a blast. Maybe the plot isn't up to snuff, but there's so much style here that it just carries the whole movie.
6- Batman Forever. Val Kilmer's an underrated Batman/Bruce Wayne, and the deeper psychological look at the dichotomy of the character here is much appreciated. By the end of the movie, this Batman is a fundamentally more grounded and yes, even happy human being. And his relationship with Nicole Kidman felt more realistic, with her character being a worthy foil for this debonair Batman. It's a damn shame we never got another movie with this pair.
7- Batman Returns. It's a freak show. I like it the same way I may like a train wreck; it's a fascinating mess, and I can't look away. Catwoman is foxy as hell in that latex suit, the Penguin is gross and off-putting, and Batman is barely in the damn movie. Plus he straight up kills a guy by shoving a bomb down his pants. That's not Batman.
8- Batman & Robin. Fuck this ridiculous movie. I don't know how anybody could watch this more than once without losing their mind.
9- Batman (1966) I never saw this movie. I'm not a fan of the Adam West TV show.
My favorite movies are Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. The Batman was okay, but too damn long and it got boring. The Twilight guy was miscast. I saw the older Batman movies but they're no good. Nostalgia blinders on, maybe? Just stiff as hell movies with bad scripts and over the top acting. We're in the 21st century we don't need to waste our time with that wack shit.
ReplyDeleteThe Batman
ReplyDeleteBatman Forever
Batman 88
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Batman Returns
Batman And Robin
Batman 1966
Batman V Superman would be right after Batman Returns
I'm not really the biggest Batman fan out there, but I've seen most of the movies oddly enough. Mostly on cable back in the day, because they were seemingly always on at some point for years and years. If I had to rank the ones I remember seeing, my list would be:
ReplyDelete1)The Dark Knight
2)Batman Begins
3)Batman Forever
4)Batman Returns
5)Batman (89)
6)The Dark Knight Rises
I may have seen the others, but I just don't remember them. Batman Forever was colorful and cool and Nicole Kidman was at her absolute most gorgeous in that movie, so it gets the edge over the Tim Burton movies for me. I haven't seen The Batman yet, and that three hour runtime is too intimidating for a guy who doesn't consider himself a real big fan of Batman in general. I do love Batman: The Animated Series, though. THat's the best Batman stuff that's ever been made.
1. Batman
ReplyDelete2. The Dark Knight
3. The Batman
4. Batman Forever
5. The Dark Knight Rises
6. Batman Returns
7. Batman Begins
8. Batman 1966
9. Batman & Robin
This is the list that makes sense to me. I can understand a “so bad it’s good” view of Batman & Robin, but it just doesn’t work for me. I’m not a fan of campy Batman movies. It doesn’t need to be “super serious” business, but I think the Christopher Nolan films have been pretty successful overall. Although next time I rewatch any of them I’ll just be thinking of Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman whenever he’s on screen. The new Batman movie is solid as a rock, a great start to a new franchise. I just hope all the bill Shit happening at WB doesn’t screw up this new series just as it’s getting started. I don’t need some brain-dead executives forcing The Batman to cross over with The Flash or some new Superman. Just let this series be its own thing, please.
Batman all day and night. You guys said Batman way too many times during that episode. The name starts to lose all meaning after you say it too often, and it becomes pure gibberish. Like that one scene in Being John Malkovich, all you hear is “Batman, Batman Batman!”
ReplyDelete1 The Batman
2 Batman
3 Batman Returns
4 Batman Forever
5 The Dark Knight
6 Batman Begins
7 Batman & Robin
8 The Dark Knight Rises
9 I never saw Batman 66
I’m not the biggest fan of the Nolan Batman movies overall, and the only reason Dark Knight is as high as it is is due to Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker. He did deserve that Academy Award. The movie itself is okay really. Nothing amazing. Batman & Robin was actually the first Batman movie I saw in a theater, so I have some nostalgic affection for it, but I do still enjoy the movie as a trashy fun experience.
Michael Keaton was my favorite Batman until I saw Robert Pattinson last year. I really love The Batman. It’s got the dark and gritty sheen, but it also feels like a “comic book movie”, with a solid heightened realism that I enjoy a lot. Batman gets to be an actual detective, but he’s still relatively new and learning on the job. And he gets to finally feel like the HERO he’s been for so long in other media. I love The Batman. It’s epic, stylish and cool. And Zoe Kravitz is the sexiest Catwoman of all time.
The new Batman movie made him a pussy. Pretty boy Pattensen is no Batman. He just sucks, an emo weenie with slumped shoulders who couldn’t credibly kick a garden rake’s ass on a good day.
ReplyDeleteThe Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Batman Begins
Batman
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman & Robin
The Batman (dog shit)
And that Adam West movie doesn’t count. It’s just a long episode of that lame TV show.
The CORRECT Batman Ranking…
ReplyDelete1: Batman Returns
2: Batman ‘66
3: Batman ‘89
4: The Dark Knight
5: The Batman
6: Batman Forever
7: Batman Begins
8: The Dark Knight Rises
9: Batman & Robin
The ranking is correct because it’s mine, and I am always correct in these matters. The Batman may creep higher on the list in the years to come, but it’s still so new and hasn’t had a chance to stand the rest of time. Batman & Robin is at the bottom because… it’s Batman & Robin. Have you seen that movie?
Maybe one day they’ll stop making Batman movies.
-Batman 1989
ReplyDelete-Batman Forever
-The Dark Knight
-The Batman
-Batman Returns
-Batman 1966
-Batman Begins
-Batman & Robin
The Dark Knight Rises
I’m not a Batman fan. I like the Michael Keaton movies, but I don’t have any real dog in this hunt after that. I didn’t see all of the big Christopher Nolan films, and I haven’t seen The Batman yet, nor do I have any intention to do so any time soon. Superheroes just aren’t my thing. So here’s my exciting rankings.
ReplyDelete1 Batman Returns
2 Batman 89
3 Batman 66
4 Batman Begins, which is only on this list because I saw the whole movie once. I hated it so much I had no interest in seeing whatever came next. It’s on the list by default.
In the words of Robin from that awful trailer for the TV series “Titans” I saw on YouTube once, “fuck Batman.”
I would consider myself a pretty big Batman fan. I’ve seen every live action Batman movie, most of the animated movies that involve Batman, and all of the various animated series, with my personal favorite being Batman: The Brave & The Bold because it was deliberately ridiculous and very funny. I love Batman comics, Batman action figures and statues, I even own a pretty solid Adam West Batman costume I’ve worn to several Halloween parties over the years, and it always gets a good response. I just want you to understand my enthusiasm for Batman before I provide you with my ranked list of Batman movies. Batman is the coolest Batman who ever Batman’d. He Batman’s the hearts of Batmen everywhere, and Batman has universal appeal for many Batman Batman, Batman Batman Batman. Batman.
ReplyDelete1- Batman
2- Batman
3- The Batman
4- Batman
5- Batman
6- Batman
7- Batman
8- Batman
9- Batman & Robin
Why so many anti-social fucking nerds deify this Batman character is beyond me. Have you ever met any of these people? They'll argue with you non-stop about how Batman is absolutely unstoppable because he's got the keenest mind and he's ready to take out the whole Justice League if they go rogue or whatever else, and you just want them to shut the fuck up. I'm glad you like Batman dude, but it's a character made up to fill pages in a cheap book designed to sell cheap crap to small children. Maybe you need to think of something else to enjoy as you approach middle age? It's okay to like this stuff, but it's also okay to have other interests. All these self-important geeks are so happy that Christopher Nolan made "films" that have made their cartoon character palatable to a higher scale audience. Heath Ledger won an Academy Award for playing the Joker, that means it's high art! I'm so sick of this shit. Get over yourselves. Just more contributions to this sick discourse. The world is circling the drain and we're debating the ranking of a bunch of fucking comic book movies as if any of this matters at all to anybody in the real world.
ReplyDelete1) Batman Returns (Obviously it's the best Batman movie ever made)
2) Batman 66 (Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb)
3) Batman 89 (THIS is the best depiction of The Joker right here)
4) The Batman (Is it too long? I don't care. I was never bored.)
5) Batman & Robin (It's a pile of crap. I also think it's a lot of fun)
6) The Dark Knight (Maybe Heath Ledger earned that Oscar)
7) Batman Begins (The only Nolan movie where Gotham felt unique)
8) Batman Forever (Half of a good movie. The Riddler & Two-Face suuuuuuck)
9) The Dark Knight Rises (I just don't care about this dumb, boring movie)
I'M NOT WEARING HOCKEY PADS!
FUCK THIS DUMB SHIT
ReplyDelete