With The Dark Knight coming out in two days, we need to get caught up on the prior, modern Batman films.  I have ranked the five films from worst to best. 

5. Batman and Robin: George Clooney as Batman… enough said. This is by far the worst of the batman features.  Batman looked way to futuristic.  This is not the traditional Batman that we are used to.  George Clooney just doesn’t do it for me.

4. Batman Forever: Val Kilmer wasn’t bad. With Jim Carrey as The Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face, this film was too goofy.  Joel Schumacher just does not capture the comic book on film.  The film is too lighthearted and is obviously targeted for the entire family.  

3. Batman Returns:  This film was scary as hell.  I remember watching this movie as a kid and being scared to death when the Penguin’s parents threw his carriage in the river with him in it.  Tim Burton captured the darkness of Gotham City.

2. Batman Begins: Christopher Nolan’s first Batman film was almost perfect.  Christian Bale is the best Batman, hands down.  The film shows how Bruce Wayne became the Dark Knight. Due to the fact that this film takes place so early in Batman’s vigilante career, it lacked a legitimate villain.  I am hoping that Nolan’s The Dark Knight can top the #1 Batman film.  

1. Batman: Jack Nicholson basically solidified Tim Burton’s first Batman film at the top of the list.  The Joker is arguably the best comic book villain of all time.  This film can be endangered for the top spot if The Dark Knight lives up to the hype.  It’s going to be Jack Nicholson vs. Heath Ledger