Here we have Michael Keaton in-hand. This figure is a reuse of a prior mold we had in the 6-pack and Gold Label Batmobiles with cloth capes on both. This figure is functionally the same as with those prior versions, though the main difference comes in the accessories as we'll get to. The proportions of the figure feel like a weird halfway point between matching the way he looked in the movie and deviating somewhat. Maybe it's from how the figure is solid black beyond the logo and belt where they aren't super noticeable, but it could benefit from looking more matte to keep the plastic from bouncing light off everywhere or not sharing the same proportions as the Flash suit. I also find the cape for this version to be really annoying to work with when it lacks any wiring, though we'll get into why it doesn't. The logo should have a black trim for the oval, and while we're at it, anyone found it unusual with how the logo has the two extra points for the tail despite the merch not having it on there? It should also be a more honey shade of yellow instead of the bright banana shade it has.
His head sculpt is halfway there between being accurate and not at the same time. The obvious neck separation and the lack of Keaton's distinct lips are already major compromises, as are the possibility that this was based off the CAD file for suit used in the Flash movie and then retooled to be proper 1989. It doesn't fully work if accuracy was the thing. It also doesn't help that the suit was infamous for not allowing proper neck rotation, requiring Keaton to move his whole body around to look in any direction. It's sort of possible to mimic that with some poses, like the one where he holds his decently-detailed microphone for his Batmobile, but with this being an action figure, you can always pose the neck without issue. It's just funny how you have one crowd that really hates the neck articulation, and appealing to that crowd means the neck articulation is lost, which will upset other fans.
The main draw for this figure is the ability to do the glide that involves holding two bars that to inside the cape's pockets on each side to simulate that look of him simulating how a bat spreads its wings. Problem is that 1) that's not really how he did it in the movie since he held it by the hands, and 2) this could have been aided with a wired cape.
The Grapnel Gun is decently sculpted and proportioned, and I like that the hook is painted copper to distinguish itself from the belt and logo.
And of course, he has throwing stars as well as a larger Batarang. That's not even mentioning coming with 5 extra hands for specific poses or accessories to hold!
Here he is next to Christopher Reeve Superman, no doubt a wet dream for any 80s babies out there. Pretty cool to have them together for anyone that sees them as a better match than with Adam West, and now that these two along with Cavill and Affleck are on my shelf, how long should Routh come along for Bale?
Speaking of Christian Bale, this is the Batman Begins suit worn primarily in the first chapter of Nolan's trilogy as well as briefly in The Dark Knight before replacing it with a more agile one. The second suit is more iconic in pop culture media, though this first one still has its appeal (apart from comic purists liking this one more). Thankfully, the black plastic isn't super shiny, and the cape has a wire implemented on each side. The figure reuses parts from the second suit, though thankfully they mostly blend in decently unless you get real up close. Nothing awful like turning Marvel Legends Icons Cyclops into SDCC 2015 Giant Man, but still. The bulkier proportions on the TDK figure annoyed me, but they work better on this suit given how it looked in the movie.
His head is the exact same as the one from the second suit, which is annoying to some who don't like how inaccurate it is, though others mostly find the thinner neck more of an issue. It isn't as annoying as the Keaton neck problem, but that's mostly to how dynamic Batman Begins is overall compared to the stiffer 1989 movie. For accessories, he comes with an oversized Batarang that thankfully isn't as thicc nor unpainted like the one that came with Affleck last year.
He also co.es with a still oversized Grapnel Gun, though it also has some copper paint. I do wish it had some added paint apps to break up the solid color. He also has a right hand meant to hold 3 Batarangs that scale better ironically (a la Batman Hush), and he also has a left hand meant to hold a grenade or smoke bomb...though it's barely noticeable so it makes you wish he had a right fist.
And that wraps up the two Batmen provided by McFarlane. Overall, neither is perfect, but I think Bale wins overall for being better in terms of not being entirely shiny black plastic, having better proportions, using a wired cape, and better resembling the costume from the movie, even with the reused parts. Keaton is only a purchase I would recommend if you don't have either the 6-pack or Batmobile version, and while the accessories are neat, you're better off waiting for the Batman Returns version if it'll be more accurate.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (1989)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Begins)