Big screen bouts: Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman vs. 'Dark Knight'

By Patrick Kevin Day, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Two movies. One weekend. Most will assess their success on box office tallies. We consider the films' finer points: star power, quotability and all-around coolness. May the best film win.

This week we make an exception to our normal bouts and consider a four-way free-for-all between Batmen past and present. In one corner, we have the current Batman, Christian Bale. In the other three corners, we have a rotating cast that includes Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and, of course, Adam West.

The critics are going wild over the latest Batman film, "The Dark Knight," but how does it stand up to Batman movies past? Is it possible that "Dark Knight" really is the best of the Batmen?

Tune in here. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-website.