George Clooney as Batman...

[Jarod X]

I still haven't figured out why George Clooney was chosen to play Bruce Wayne.Who was he supposed to look like? Michael Keaton? Val Kilmer? I don't see it.But considering 'Batman and Robin' was so childish, I figure he was chosen after the Batman WB cartoon's Bruce Wayne.Either way, bad Batman.

[frosteey]

I find it unfair to judge how good his performance was, as Akiva Goldsman wrote an awful script and Joel Schumacher directed the whole mess...er a film stupidly.
As for why he was cast: He really does look like Bruce Wayne and probably played Wayne better than either Kilmer or Keaton.

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[Neo1977]

I think Clooney could have been a pretty good Batman if he had a decent script to work with. I think people didn't like him because it wasn't Michael Keaton, which is ridiculous since Keaton isn't the only one actor who can play Batman. To be honest, he wasn't that great as Batman and there are alot of actors better then him who could have been cast in the role.

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"Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony." - The Matrix

[Jarod X]

Well, It's sort of obvious why Keaton was chosen...friendly with Burton.I wouldn't have minded Clooney as Batman.If they started with him from scratch, They got Kilmer because he resembled Keaton..They got George because he was a big name.Oh well, We won't be seeing him again as Batman, which is pleasant to me.However, I agree George was probably the best Bruce Wayne so far in the movies, and Keaton may have been worst for his comedic portrayal of him.

[Oldsoul3300]

--My whole take on the subject is this:
Michael Keaton: a superb performance as Bruce Wayne... percieved as a billionaire playboy, but we got to see this neurotic, almost psychotic side of him... so in that sense, I could see him breaking over to this other persona... Batman. Keaton was good in the cape and cowl too, but I just couldn't believe, from a physical standpoint, that this 5 1/2 foot wimp, turned into this 6 foot + master of hand-to-hand combat.
Val Kilmer... physically believable as Batman and Bruce Wayne. Believable as the playboy type. Extremely stoic as Batman, but he sounded like he had a cold all the time. I didn't believe that Kilmer's Wayne was screwed up enough to be Batman.
George Clooney... I think Clooney would've been a really good Batman, if he had had a decent script and director. I think he was the most believable as Bruce Wayne *AND* Batman in mental, pschological, and physical traits. It'd be nice if they could stick with him, should they continue the series.

[Fabio2]

Keaton was a poor Bruce Wayne in my opinion. Where was the charm? WHere was that playboy attitude? Keaton isn't the most charming guy around, and that's what was lacking in his Bruce Wayne. He played the character as though he were Batman out of his suit, instead of giving us the Bruce Wayne act.

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Fabio2
Webmaster of the greatest BATMAN 5 and SUPERMAN LIVES sites on the net.

http://www.fabio2.zzn.com

[Neo1977]

You're right about Michael Keaton. He really didn't play the duality between Batman and Bruce Wayne too well. As you stated, even when he was Bruce Wayne he was still Batman and I couldn't have put it any better myself. I mean, at least with George Clooney, even though the script sucked, he handled the duality of the character very well and did his best despite a poor script. In fact, Clooney is one of the biggest critics of the movie and has often criticized Joel Schumacher direction on Batman and Robin.

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"Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony." - The Matrix

[knack]

Personally I thought Clooney was great in Batman and Robin. I'd love to see him in a GOOD Batman flick.

[Jarod X]

Dosn't the fact that he looks nothing like the 2 previous people to play Batman mean anything?

[Neo1977]

Nope, it's no different then James Bond to be honest with you. None of those actors looked anything like each other. It would be hard to cast actors who look exactly like the previous actors and I wouldn't ask any director or casting director to do that.

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"Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony." - The Matrix

[Stew]

Okay, I've spoken at length about this on Fabio's boad so I'm going to reward you guys too http://www.comics2film.com/UBB/smile.gif

George Clooney is a good actor who gets better every movie. That's just simple.

And he could have made an excellent Batman. But he was the ONLY guy who got Wayne right. He has that natural aloof quality about him. Like when his lady has to get his attention and he's not paying attention. His Wayne was actually how he should have been all along and he played it perfectly. That was maybe the best part of B&R.

Also, none of te actors showed as much as emotion as Clooney in his scenes with Alfred. To me those were the price of admission. Clooney could have played it as sad and depressing, but he played it like Batman and Wayne would have. A strong face and a forced smile and just a feeling that "Maybe it's his time, and I love the guy. He wouldn't want me to weep all over the place. Be strong and remember the good time." Very good. To me those are some of the best scenes of the series.

As for his Batman. Well, he did the best he could. Physically he was the best all around to tell you the truth. He had the jaw naturally, He had the voice naturally deep and gravelly. He was of good height and build. The script and Schumacher simply didn't tell him to be the Batman he should have been. I always like to point to a few scenes in which you think, "Damn, that could have been cool".

After taking down Freeze, Batman is sitting in the car. The camera showsn him speak to Dick before he gets out. It is a dark shot, with Clooney opening his eyes and staring straight ahead with the cowl silhouette. It is perfect. He looks like such a dark badass.

Also, when he lets his cape down after taking out Freeze. The scenes in the cave look good, his face has a dark quality to it.

Also, watch "Out of Sight". There's a scene in which Clooney, dressed in black, is brooding in the car on a winter day. The dark trees reflect off the windshield and Clooney sits with his dark stare out the window. It is absolutely awesome. Much more convincing and effortless than Keaton ever made it.

When I think of Clooney I think of what a horrible mistake. This guy, my favorite actor, could have been the best Batman by a long shot, and yet his talent was wasted. Being a good guy he took responsibility and now looks on the wholee thing as an example of what he'll never do again. Too bad, he could have been the complete package.

[TC]

Oh, stop trying to defend the guy, for crying out loud!
What you poeple are saying is, "he looked cooler as Batman in this scene then Keaton did in that one. That makes him the better Batman." GIVE ME A BREAK!
Oh my gosh! The guy gave a wooden, emotionless performance. But just because he "looked cool" and had a "square jaw" you poeple say he's the best Batman.
Then, you say he "seperated" the characters of Bruce and Batman better than Keaton did. You are dead wrong. Oh yeah, when he was Bruce he wore a tuxedo, when he was Batman he wore rubber. Big difference between those characters. He acted exactly the same in and out of the costume.
1.When he was Bruce he said stupid lines.
2.When he was Batman he said stupid lines. Exactly the same character...just a different outfit.

Here's a quarter, poeple...buy a clue.

[Jarod X]

Exactly! And I am starting to think you guys haven't seen the first Batman movie

In the first, Keaton as Bruce Wayne was sort of a nerdy...clutsy..plain guy with emotions.My god, Clooney as Bruce Wayne was a boring-serious-quit guy who spoke like 2 words a.k.a. Batman.

Ah, AH, My headace

[Fabio2]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TC:
<B> Oh, stop trying to defend the guy, for crying out loud!
1.When he was Bruce he said stupid lines.
2.When he was Batman he said stupid lines. Exactly</B> the same character...just a different outfit.

Here's a quarter, poeple...buy a clue.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

George Clooney DID NOT write the lines, so you blaming him for those is just plain silly. He said the lines that were given him, Keaton would've sounded just as stupid had he played Batman in BATMAN & ROBIN.

Oh, and Keaton was a poor Bruce Wayne in his films. He failed to delineate the Batman/Bruce Wayne personas. He played Bruce Wayne as he did Batman, only without the suit. Where was the suave charm, the cheeky smile etc. etc.? It wasn't there. Sorry, his Batman was fine, but his Bruce was poor.

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Fabio2
Webmaster of the greatest BATMAN 5 and SUPERMAN LIVES sites on the net.
http://www.fabio2.zzn.com

[This message has been edited by Fabio2 (edited 09-05-2000).]

[TC]

I never said he wrote the lines, or that he was to blame for them!
*Sheesh!* I just said that he did'nt seperate the character's at all. He seemed to be repeating the same characteristics in both the Batman and Bruce Wayne characters.
I was comparing his performance as Bruce and Batman, and there's no difference.
Stop sticking words in my mouth!

[Jarod X]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fabio2:
<B> George Clooney DID NOT write the lines, so you blaming him for those is just plain silly. He said the lines that were given him, Keaton would've sounded just as stupid had he played Batman in BATMAN & ROBIN.

Oh, and Keaton was a poor Bruce Wayne in his films. He failed to delineate the Batman/Bruce Wayne personas. He played Bruce Wayne as he did Batman, only without the suit. Where was the suave charm, the cheeky smile etc. etc.? It wasn't there. Sorry, his Batman was fine, but his Bruce was poor.


Buy yourself a clue.
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Picture when Bruce Wayne[Keaton] took the flowers over to Vicky's appartment.He was a bumbling...kind of emotional, REAL PERSON.Even in one of the very first scenes as Bruce Wayne where Vicky asked if he knew where Bruce Wayne was, he was just..Normal like everyone else who was in the room.

Clooney's character was a zombie like creature who looped around with his arms behind his back.He never spoke, never smiled.My god, he was Batman..

How did he seperate the characters? I don't see it!

[Fabio2]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Picture when Bruce Wayne[Keaton] took the flowers over to Vicky's appartment.He was a bumbling...kind of emotional, REAL PERSON.Even in one of the very first scenes as Bruce Wayne where Vicky asked if he knew where Bruce Wayne was, he was just..Normal like everyone else who was in the room.

Clooney's character was a zombie like creature who looped around with his arms behind his back.He never spoke, never smiled.My god, he was Batman..

How did he seperate the characters? I don't see it!
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Clooney never spoke and never smiled? Puh-leaze, that's just plain FALSE. Give yourself an uppercut.

Since when is Bruce Wayne supposed to be bumbling? He's supposed to be devlishly handsome, suave and charming, with a killer smile. Keaton was NONE of that. His Bruce Wayne was as brooding and intense as his Batman. Like I said, his Batman performance was great, but his Bruce Wayne was severely lacking.

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Fabio2
Webmaster of the greatest BATMAN 5 and SUPERMAN LIVES sites on the net.

http://www.fabio2.zzn.com

[TC]

Alright! Thats...IT!.
Fabio2, I challenge you to a duel.
(TC raises his hand in they air and screams, "Lightsaber fight!!!!!!!")

[Fabio2]

You're on, TC, put 'er up!

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Fabio2
Webmaster of the greatest BATMAN 5 and SUPERMAN LIVES sites on the net.

http://www.fabio2.zzn.com

[TC]

TC unleashes an incredible backflip onto a higher platform. Fabio2 follows.
TC punches Fabio2 in the nose and throws him off the platform and into a deep, dark abyss.
Did he survive? Maybe. The real question is, "Who wants chinese?"

[Count Enance]

Okay, let's get back to business. I don't know about you guys but I got to say that George Clooney is the most passionate Batman actor towards the character. I mean, read the "Clooney's Batman 5 idea" topic, which I personally think doesn't sound bad. If the Batman Beyond project would go underway, I would really like to see Clooney as Bruce Wayne. I enjoyed his performance in "Three Kings" and "The Perfect Storm" and I'm sure he would do a better jod (I'm not saying he was bad) than when he was in "Batman & Robin". Your thoughts?

[Fabio2]

Delivers powerful uppercut and instantly kills a VERY weak TC. Sorry about that mate

[ALA)V(O]

Keaton was the best batman ever...christian bale I feel will do just as good a job.

[imported_StormShadow]

Well I truly don't understand why if you love Clooney you hate Keaton and vice versa. Honestly both of these gentlemen were both a good Bruce Wayne and Batman. I was baffled when you said that there was no distinction between Keatons Wayne and Batman. His Batman was incredibly dark almost to the point of being psychotic, yet I think his approach to Bruce Wayne was probably the most comedic out of the three. You have to think about different points in his two films. Like the off the handle "You wanna get nuts" moment, and the part of Batman Returns where they are dubbing in the Penguins voice over the P.A. system and Bruce starts scratching on the turn table with the cd on it. Very humorous.
Clooney on the other hand had a more sympathetic approach to Bruce Wayne. He was more of the dashing playboy and less the bumbling business man(when actually he is both) He was a great Bruce Wayne, and had he been allowed I think he could have been an equally intimidating Batman. But sadly he was forced to channel Adam West. Personally I think Clooney would have made an excellent Superman, but he could have made an excellent moody Batman as well.
If you want to pick on somebody pick on Val Kilmer, the sorry S.O.B. was the same sad sack as both Batman and Bruce Wayne. He always sounded like he was gonna cry. And his voice never changed between the two personalities.

[Sonic1002]

I'm going to have to disagree with you about Keaton. He had Batman perfectly done. Batman is supposed to be extremely dark ,if not slightly psychotic. That is one of the things that makes him feared. Clooney's Batman would not strike fear into a five year old girl. I will say, though, that Clooney had a half decent Wayne... but Keaton I liked better.
But there is one thing I WILL agree with you about: Kilmer sux. Nuff' said.

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Now comes the part where I relieve you, the little people, of the burden of your failed and useless lives. But remember, as my plastic surgeon always said: if you gotta go, go with a smile.
-Joker

[imported_StormShadow]

yup, Kilmer did suck...not that he is a bad actor, I love Tombstone, but just a crappy Batman. Just a question though, how did you disagree with me about Keaton as Batman? I never said he was bad at all. I was just showing his distinction between the two parts. Just clarifying incase there was confusion.