Personally i have always been a huge fan of Micheal Keaton. But ther eis no denying that Bale is also very good. Surely Adam West should win this by default because the 60's series was lengendary. Ive been trying to track down a complete DVD set (Yes I know there are no coshure copies) to own, I loved Batman.

What about the first two actors to play Batman in the 1940's "Cliffhanger" serials?

Lewis Wilson played him in 1943 in Batman (with Douglas Croft as Robin) and Robert Lowery took the role in 1949 in Batman & Robin (with John Duncan as Robin).

George Clooney. Not arsed how terrible the film is, i'm a mark for Clooney.

Micheal Keaten, played the Batman brilliant in the first two movies, as much as i love good old adam west, Micheal was fantastic.

what about Kevin Conroy?

Well, for my mind it has to be Michael Keaton... no contest. Don't get me wrong! Christian Bale is good.... Very good if'n all you're lookin' for is an angry Batman, but there's more to Batman than being Mr. Angry. Michael Keaton is the only one that has sucessfully portrayed the more subtle aspects of Bruce Wayne's mental torment. As for Adam West winning by default... I should cocoa! All of us over a certain age have a soft spot for the 60's show, coz we grew up watching it, but you have to admit it's not particularly a true representation of Batman as created by Bob Kane. I also happen to think that given the right Batman movie, George Clooney could have made an exceptionally good Bats.... Imagine if they ever got round to adapting The Dark Knight Returns for the big screen. I don't think I could think of anyone other than Clooney that could play the older, grittier Batman.

I also have to agree with joe the baker... Kevin Conroy was a great Batman, but only as a voice actor, and I think to allow him in the poll would mean you have to include all of the other lesser mortals who have portrayed the Bats in 3rd, 4th and 5th rate cartoons over the ages. You could go on forever. And then you have all of the fan movies.... Would they have to be included too??? ( Batman: Dead End is well worth a watch if you get the chance... Alien Vs. Predator Vs. Batman! What more could anyone want !?! )

Ahhh.... Well, Keaton had the best Batmobile, and aside from the superior acting from Keaton, he gets my vote every time on the strength of the alone, though it has to be said that Bale is far, far tastier when it comes to rucking. He's an absolute animal. Having said that, all the martial arts ability is for nothing coz his Batman hasn't crossed the line ( yet ) and has stopped short of actually killing anybody. Although Batman wasn't always the ( barely ) self controlled psycho that we know and love today, Bob Kane's original intepretation of the Bats had him with the brakes well-and-truly off. He also wasn't as averse to using a gun as they would have you believe...
Keaton's portrayal of the Bat is truest in spirit to the character as originally conceived by Bob Kane ( et al ), mostly due to how Tim Burton wanted the character portrayed, I know , but Michael Keaton made it believable, which ( despite all his undeniable acting ability and superior kung-fu mojo ) Christian Bale would not have.