MTV might not know good music from a hole in the ground these days, but I’m a big fan of the guys over at MTV Movies Blog.

This week, they’re asking a big question:

Who Was The Ultimate ‘Dark Knight’? Christian Bale or Michael Keaton?

(And before I forget to mention it, check out this running log of MTV’s Dark Knight coverage, including excellent interviews that I’m not going to read until after I’ve seen the film next Thursday night.)

I’ll never forget the night I saw the first Burton/Keaton Batman movie.

It blew me away. Keaton owned the role. When I look back on the film now I think it’s a terrible Batman movie because of the ridiculous way they made Nicholson’s Joker the killer of Bruce Wayne’s parents (which never happened in the comics) and then killed The Joker off at the end of the movie. Not to mention the fact that Batman was killing people left and right. That being said, I still love to watch it and I enjoy it for what it is.

But Keaton? Awesome. I loved how spooky and intense his dark blue eyes looked behind the mask, and when he spoke you knew he could kick anyone’s ass. He was always “my” Batman.

Until Christian Bale came along.

Anybody can identify with Spider-Man. Sometimes your best is not enough no matter how hard you try, and sometimes your best intentions still end up hurting people you love.

It’s a lot harder to empathize with a billionaire. But Bale took us right inside of Bruce Wayne’s heart in a performance that wasn’t about money or masks.

It was about a man.

Bruce Wayne.

And even though we saw the emotions that make Bruce do what he does, none of that took away from how capable or dangerous his Batman was.

In fact, it only made us understand him even better than ever before.

So as much as I love Keaton’s work as Batman, in the end there can be only Bale.

I’m working on a big Batman Begins review that focuses on Bruce Wayne. It’ll go up a week from tomorrow, just hours before I see The Dark Knight in Los Angeles.

Who’s your favorite Batman?

And while you’re thinking about that, let’s flash back to MTV’s hilarious video interview with Aaron Eckhart, who tries to answer some questions about the movie without actually answering any questions about the movie. It’s hilarious:

Aaron Eckhart Says He Is Two-Face And That He And Ledger Are ‘D’Accord’

More to come!

First of all, let me offer the warmest of welcomes to all of you who were directed here by Batman on Film, and big thanks to my good friend Jett for linking to the article. If you love Batman, you need to be reading Jett’s website daily and often.

And don’t forget to read Stephanie’s coverage, which is better than mine, and please feel free to contribute to the Whatever if you’d like.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s never been a better time to be a Batman fan.

_______________

Why am I still up after midnight?

Because I just watched Aaron Eckhart’s appearance on Jay Leno.

So did my beautiful friend and ace reporter Stephanie, who provides a much better play-by-play here.

Eckhart is playing Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent — who becomes the tragic but spectacularly deranged Harvey Two-Face after a mob-dispatched acid splash — in The Dark Knight, which will melt the theater near you with its awesomeness on July 18, which is just days away.

Days!

First of all, Leno very sincerely called The Dark Knight the best film of the year.

And, as always, Eckhart was hilarious and charming. He told fun stories about his first acting role (as Charlie Brown in a Peanuts play when he was 14), he spoke highly and lovingly of the way Heath Ledger energized the crew with his amazing performance as The Joker, and then he was accused by Jay of hoarding grocery bags.

Anyway, they showed a clip from the film.

I won’t say anything specific about the contents out of respect for those of you who are avoiding spoilers.

I’ll simply say that we saw Harvey giving a speech.

And it was jaw-droppingly mesmerizing and inspiring.

Not just to me watching the clip from my couch, but to the audience in the film.

Which, by the way, just happened to include Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne.

I BELIEVE this guy is Harvey Dent.

And thanks to Aaron Eckhart, I’m going to have no problems BELIEVING IN Harvey Dent.

This movie can’t come fast enough.

And!

Check your local listing for the rest of these publicity appearances by the cast.

And go see The Dark Knight on July 18.

And I’m a very happy man right now.