Ranking Batman - Part 3

Ranking Batman - Part 3

Who did it best?

 

 

So here's Part 3 of my weekly Op-Ed counting down the best performances of Batman from the most popular films, Val Kilmer took the number 5 spot in Part 2. So which actor makes number 4 on the list? When deciding I've taken a few things into consideration;

• All aspects of the character - There are many sides to Bruce Wayne, who made him real?
• Action - Which actor could bring the smackdown on criminals and handle the Batmobile best?
• Script - Sometimes you can only be as good as the lines you are given.
• Supporting Cast - Hugely important in helping an audience believe in a world with a Batman.
• Overall Performance - Finally, just how does the actor bring of of this together within the final film?

 Okay, got it? Let the games begin!

#4 Adam West - "Batman: The Movie" 1966

 

Adam West's place on this list may surprise some, with the recent success of the more adult and dark Nolan films it's easy to dismiss the 60's Batman TV Series and it's spin-off movie as a camp product of it's time. I do not think it should be ignored and I'm writing this as someone who grew up on the Gothic Burton movies and super serious Batman comics of the 90's. The appeal of the show and in turn Adam West's performance is that it captures the spirit of comic books at the time and their base appeal to any 3 year old who picks up an issue. I remember being shown The Batman TV Series as a kid by my Father and whilst I never connected with it the same way as say the "Batman: The Animated Series" but I was absolutely hooked for these half an hour adventures. All the clever puns and more adult humour was completely wasted on my young mind, all I saw was my hero and his sidekick, beating down on bad-guys, driving an incredibly awesome car and escaping inescapable death traps! 

Adam West most definitely had the best looking Batmobile

Adam West was absolutely my favourite part of the show, (and maybe the Batmobile) the way he carried himself and took the goofy material so seriously really sold the show and the tone it was aiming for. His Batman was a straight laced, super-smart, charming crime-fighter, always looking to do what's right even when it may not be the easiest option. West didn't forget to give Bruce Wayne the same charisma and while most of the show he was in full costume you got a sense he perhaps enjoyed the role of Billionaire Playboy a little more.

Adam West excelled as Bruce Wayne

West wasn't alone in his portrayal of The Not-So Dark Knight, Burt Ward offered an equally impressive take on The Boy Wonder, Robin. The Dynamic Duo were a serious presence on screen and their chemistry was fantastic, despite the good spirited rivalry that West and Ward enjoyed off-screen. Any ill feelings the two may have had towards one another was never on show when the cameras were rolling and their relationship was great fun to watch, everything from Batman's reliance on Robin to solve The Riddler's puzzles to Robin always needing Batman's approval before even attempting anything outside the law.

This particular Dynamic Duo may be the most iconic

The show had a tremendous amount of talent behind it, the supporting cast were phenomenal and all the most popular villains were on display. West had the rare opportunity of facing more villains than most other actors who have donned the cape and cowl. The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin, Mr Freeze and so many more all made an appearance on the show and West bounced off the characters easily. Playing Batman never seemed difficult to the Actor and watching him now in my 20's I appreciate so much more, the campy humour and pun-filled dialogue is hilarious and so much of this was down to West, he was the figure-head and made sure all the other performances flowed through his actions, for every joke he delivered, he gave nothing away, never sold the show short of what it was aiming for. This goes the same for film as well and to see how fantastic he was check out my favourite (and I'm sure many others) scene from the film in the video below.

While the success of the TV show and film was fairly brief at around 4 years all in, Adam West's Legacy lives on perhaps the best out of all the other Actors on this list. West has made no secret of the fact that he found it hard to find work after Batman and even began to dislike the character, but make no mistake he now fully embraces what he has accomplished and is a continuing advocate for the character. The most notable example I can find of West influencing Batman lore today is the animated TV Show "Batman:The Brave and the Bold". This cartoon came out around the same time "The Dark Knight" was lighting up cash registers all over the world and it was a response to how as dark as Batman is, he will always need to be fun as well. There is a Batman for every age and that's part of what makes the character so special, Adam West knew that before a lot of other people and for that deserves some major respect.

The Brave and the Bold captures the same fun spirit as the 60's show

Overall, Adam West managed to cross generations of appeal in his take on Batman and certainly nobody else has had as much fun with the character than he. The film and show is a moving 60's comic book and Adam West is a walking, talking, sometimes dancing, real-life Superhero. 

Adam West now

For more on Batman: The Series check out the recently released Limited Edition Blu-ray here and also keep your eyes on the recent "Batman 66" comic book that pays tribute to the old show with brand new adventures.