I know I'm biased, but I've always considered Batman Begins to be the definitive Batman film partly because it pulls off his origins story perfectly. In Burton's Batman and Batman VS Superman, the death of his parents are only briefly featured and that's not bad, but I have a soft spot for Batman Begins in general and I love how unique it is in the sense that it's really the only Batman film to give Batman's origins in full fledged fleshed out details. I guess it's also because I have a nostalgic connection to Batman Begins since I was fresh out of middle school when it came out and I was starting high school the following upcoming school year so the coming of age nostalgia I feel toward Batman Begins is why I tend to put it on a pedestal. I guess it's better to argue that Batman Begins is the definitive super hero origins film and you had a lot of cheap imitators such as the ill fated The Amazing Spider-Man that was a sad attempt to give Spider-Man a Batman Begins style reboot, but instead was a blatant rehash of Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man film. While I love The Dark Knight, we can for the most part agree that Ledger as the Joker was the real star. That's not a bad thing and again, I tend to be biased towards Batman Begins.
Metallica and Iron Maiden ship Fluttershy and Discord

From the perspective of which I enjoy watching the most I'd have to say
The Dark Knight
. For me it's a gritty, edge-of-the-seat thriller with plenty to think about. However I enjoyed
Batman Returns
nearly as much, and it does score by having Batman inhabit the more fantastical world of the comic books. I enjoyed
Batman
'89 when it came out (and I was delighted to finally have a darker and more serious Batman) but I liked
Batman Returns
even more - and always have done. Both Burton's movies certainly nailed that 'Batman atmosphere'.
I put Bale's performance as Batman over Keaton's (much as I like Keaton - and generally prefer him as an actor), but I'll take Keaton's Bruce Wayne over Bale's any day. As for the quality of the other performances in both movies I find very little to separate them.
If I had to watch only one Batman movie it would be
The Dark Knight
; if I was asked for the 'most CB faithful' Batman movie it would be
Batman Returns.*
To add some context; I've been a DC (especially Batman) fan for decades. I saw all the movies from 1989 onwards on the big screen as an adult. I own them all (with the exception of Batman & Robin) and I rewatch them regularly.
My top 5 Batman film rankings are,

1. The Dark Knight
2. Batman Returns
3. Batman '89
4. The Dark Knight Rises
5. Batman Begins

• I'd put Mask of the Phantasm above it, but obviously being CB faithful is easier with animation.
  "A big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff"
  The Tenth Doctor explains all.

Because it was a re-boot with a back-story so therefore it has an excuse for not being "fully-loaded."
Bullsh!t.
That and because everyone considers it a solid comic book movie. The delusional ones "think" The Dull Knight and The Dull Knight Rests are the most awesomest movies ever made because they are awesome and realistic and grounded in realism - regardless of all the mistakes, stupidity, poor film-making, etc in those movies.
So you have it all figured out where as professional film critics have it wrong. Good to know I should put more stock in you than them. Tell me more about Clint Eastwood's four acting Oscars he has

I don't understand why Begins gets a pass whereas TDK and TDKR get attacked.
Because it was a re-boot with a back-story so therefore it has an excuse for not being "fully-loaded."
That and because everyone considers it a solid comic book movie. The delusional ones "think" The Dull Knight and The Dull Knight Rests are the most awesomest movies ever made because they are awesome and realistic and grounded in realism - regardless of all the mistakes, stupidity, poor film-making, etc in those movies.

I also preferred the Begins suit to that of TDK/TDKR.
"A big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff"
The Tenth Doctor explains all.

Apart from the villains Begins had a better suit than the one after.

That and he had Gordon shoot out the train tacks. So he totally killed Ras.

Isn't it hypocritical for Batman to say he won't kill Ra's but he won't save him either? It's a crime of omission, seeing as he knows that failing to do anything will result in Ra's' near certain death.
That line is thus pretentious and meaningless posturing.

It's unfortunate that the last 2 offerings of Nolan just didn't do much for me! They're huge, but
"Begins"
continues to be my all time fave; so classic with great music! It took me back to a feel of a "gladiator" movie with all kinds of honor being acknowledge, where good had to battle over evil at the end! The train scene was great; esp. Bruce's exit:
"I won't kill, but I don't have to save you!"

http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2012/12/batman-forever.html

http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/batman-forever.html

• Batman Homage

I don't understand why Begins gets a pass whereas TDK and TDKR get attacked.
I personally thought that Nolan's versions of the Joker, Bane, Two-Face and even Catwoman, are more exciting and visually appealing than anything he did with Ra's al Ghul or Scarecrow (who basically amounted to a physically unassuming guy in a suit and a ratty sack-mask).

It's what happens when you make something like Begins where people look at it as the way to go from now on and where everyone starts calling Nolan & Co a genius, he thinks he can just take any old Batman character, strip them down, make them grounded in reality, puts them out and they're lackluster as hell or unrecognizable in appearance.

My thought exactly;
"Begin"
was the best, but became something unacceptable in canon for me in the sequels; just call me old!

https://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2012/12/batman-forever.html?showComment=1481600070229#c5750249133682489099

http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/batman-forever.html

• Batman Homage

Nolan's realistic approach was initially interesting but gotten nonsensical in the sequels.

I only ever hear people talk about the Nolan films as "the" Batman films. Also Batman seems much stronger and more of a superhero in the Nolan films then in Batman where he doesn't fight as well and at times runs from the bad guys! That was crazy to me to watch as they have Batman run away from some old dudes dressed in wayfarers at night.

It's the definitive live-action one as far as I'm concerned. The Nolan trilogy is great but it doesn't embrace the larger-than-life fantastic approach one expects from a superhero film.

Lying come stained pile of sh!t.
Prove where I said someone was stupid for liking Burton's Batman films. I will wait.

I never called anyone stupid for liking Burton's films that is their opinion
Lying come stained pile of sh!t.

You're a moron.
Of course you're entitled to your opinion as to what is superior, but why trash other films? If you don't like this film, bug off and stop trolling it's fans.
Did I ever say people do not have the right to like Burton's films? Nope I never did I simply find them to be trash and an embarrassment to cinema. So you are the one who is a moron buddy. I never called anyone stupid for liking Burton's films that is their opinion and they have a right to it. I can and will call Burton's films trash because in my opinion they are.

You're a moron.
Of course you're entitled to your opinion as to what is superior, but why trash other films? If you don't like this film, bug off and stop trolling its fans.

Well, it will always depend who you ask to, the generation and their general knowledge of Batman. Like you said, the quality of the movies itself isn't even relevant, but the Batman universe is a fantasy one, it includes ice men, plant women, you name it, and the fact that TDK does its best to take place in the real world makes it impossible to be considered definitive.
No it does not. It simply is taking a new approach with the character. Batman is a fantasy of course but in the end taking a realistic approach is not so far fetched. In the end you still get him dressing like a Bat and fighting criminals. The psychology of the character is still very much there. You even got the clown prince of crime in TDK. Sorry I know this offends you because you are such an avid fan of those trash Burton films but Nolan surpassed those films. Read the critical reception and weep. The entire trilogy is seen as better critically than Burton's trash films and rightfully so.

Well, it will always depend who you ask to, the generation and their general knowledge of Batman. Like you said, the quality of the movies itself isn't even relevant, but the Batman universe is a fantasy one, it includes ice men, plant women, you name it, and the fact that TDK does its best to take place in the real world makes it impossible to be considered definitive.

After the Nolan films Gotham or DCEU have taken certain traits like going to all in one cowl, Selina Kyle looking like Michelle Pfeiffer etc.