2. Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy)
Now, when it comes to who played Batman the best on the silver screen, nobody nailed it like Bale. Often cited by modern fans as the best, the Welsh-born actor did something few other portrayals of Batman could: he made Batman scary, and of course that's the point. Not only did it fit in with Christopher Nolan's more realistic and darker tone for the recent trilogy, but also what Batman should be, to strike fear into the hearts Gotham's criminals. Sure, complaints about Bale's gravel-swallowing Batman voice are abound on the web, but I think it works. I remember seeing "Batman Begins" when it was first released and actually being in awe at the "Swear to me!" scene. Freaked me the hell out, and made me excited at the same time. This is Batman like we've never seen him before. I should also mention Bale's physique and fighting style: he played Batman like a trained soldier, tough and intelligent who could sense every move before they happened. The same just can't be said for the other movie Bat-men. Again, the performances are in keeping with Nolan's vision, but it was Bale who put them on screen. And he's not wearing hockey pants!