Batman's Cowl Face

[MrQuinn]

While, I'm sure there has already been a thread about this [sorry if there has], who do you think looks best under the mask?

And also, do you think you'd be able to recognize any of them under the mask, not knowing who was initially under there (as if Batman were real and you lived in Gotham).

I think Kilmer is pretty recognizable under the cowl, but I think Keaton I would have a hard time with.
Bale I find to be somewhat recognizable too, especially if you were acquaintances with Bruce before hand, because Bale has a weird way of moving his mouth when he talks.


either way, I think Keaton has the best cowl face.

 

[The Chris]

Well with Keaton the first one's mask can make him somewhat unrecognizable at times because of how loose it was compared to the others, but in Returns I could compeletely tell that was Bruce Wayne because of the tighter mask.

Bale during a lot of scenes didn't look like Bale. Others he did. I think the animalistic details of the cowl helped, I think the dark Knight cowl is even better in that regard. I think in terms of unrecognizability in real life, the TDK cowl. Because of the smaller mouth and morer animalistic detail around the eyes.

These two would probably scare the crap out of me the most if I ever saw them in a dark alley.

 

[Crook]

I'm gonna have to go with Keaton in Batman Returns. Just looked so effortlessly bad-ass.

 

[Eggyman]

I'm gonna have to go with Keaton in Batman Returns. Just looked so effortlessly bad-ass.

Yep. I've heard Returns mentioned so much lately. I'm gonna watch the **** out of that later

 

[Kevin Roegele]

It's got to be Keaton. He has the eyes, a a certain shape of face...togetehr with the cowl, he not only looks the best, he loosk the most like a traditional 70's/80's Batman.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

Well with Keaton the first one's mask can make him somewhat unrecognizable at times because of how loose it was compared to the others, but in Returns I could compeletely tell that was Bruce Wayne because of the tighter mask.

Totally agree. In actuality, they said in damn near every scene where Batman is moving and what not, it wasn't Keaton. That's how restrictive the suit was. They used mostly still cuts and small movement shots of Keaton in the cowl. In fact there is alot of scenes visually in the movie you can tell it isn't Keaton.

As for the Returns suit? I totally agree. It to me was too streamlined. It was damn obvious the guy's identity. It didn't hide it at all. And the suit had an almost blue-ish hue at times. Wasn't my bag, at all.

Bale during a lot of scenes didn't look like Bale. Others he did. I think the animalistic details of the cowl helped,

Yeah definetely, and that huge panther neck on the BEGINS suit really disguised him from alot of angles, and it gave him a more animalistic type precense. Very aggressive looking.

I think the dark Knight cowl is even better in that regard. I think in terms of unrecognizability in real life, the TDK cowl.

Definetely. I think TDK cowl and the way it makes Bale look is easiest the best of the bunch. Not only does it allow him to turn his head at a free range of motion, I love how to incorporate the theme of a "knight" the whole suit and cowl takes on a night's armor look. And the cowl of BEGINS loses the animal neck, and instead of curved cheekbones which showed Bruce's angst, they are replaced with sleek angles. And the best part? The part that I loved the most out of any other Bat-suit, which it takes from the B89 cowl, the intimidating black eye look. They designed the cowl to not give too much light to Batman's eyes, thus making them blacked out which I think gives a much more intimidating look. The B89 cowl had this, but it wasn't because of design ... it was because the cowl was way too big.

These two would probably scare the crap out of me the most if I ever saw them in a dark alley.

Easily. Not to mention the sheer brute size of the Batman in those two armors compared to Keaton. And also, I always believed the huge more bat like wingspan of the BEGINS and TDK costume would ultimately be much more frightening if someone dropped down on y ou in an alley way.

Bad Ass Personified

 

[Sawyer]

I've gotta say that Bale's is the best. Plus, most of the time he's hiding in shadows and when he fights, hes lightning fast. It'd be nearly impossible to actually be able to tell who he is.

 

[siqzadams]

I've gotta say that Bale's is the best. Plus, most of the time he's hiding in shadows and when he fights, hes lightning fast. It'd be nearly impossible to actually be able to tell who he is.

Anyone else notice this version of the cowl is pulling up on his nose??

 

[Kevin Roegele]

That is a wonderful picture. These icons have been re-invented again, guys. It's great to see.

 

[Da Joker]

I've gotta say that Bale's is the best. Plus, most of the time he's hiding in shadows and when he fights, hes lightning fast. It'd be nearly impossible to actually be able to tell who he is.

i actually cant tell that its Bale under there...

 

[Sawyer]

i actually cant tell that its Bale under there...

You cant tell from the mouth?

 

[Da Joker]

You cant tell from the mouth?

maybe if i had just seen a pic of bale, guess its just the angle, his mouth looks smaller

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

That is a wonderful picture.

If only they were facing forward a bit more, it would look like a hysterical Sears family portrait.

 

[Sun_Down]

Keaton in Returns with Bale in Begins in a close second.

 

[Cmill216]

Keaton looked the best, but Bale gets the "harder to recognize" title.

 

[fabman]

Christian Bale

 

[Lethal Weapon]

Yeah Christian Bale has the Best Cowl face

 

[KnightBat]

Keaton, I love how badass he looks here from Returns.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Particularly in 'Returns'... Keaton looked as if he was ripped from a batman comic.

That was an all round sleek costume.


But Bale is the most unrecognizable and his mask has more 'character' if you will.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Keaton, I love how badass he looks here from Returns.

he always did look the most badass!

 

[Nightwing1977]

You cant tell from the mouth?

I can't here. It really doesn't look like him. And as for which I like best, it a toss up between Bale & Keaton. Both look great in their own cowl. Keaton has the angry look, while Bale has the look that make you can't tell it him in the cowl. I bet if we first see him as Batman in the pic above from BB & no one say who is playing him, we wouldn't know it him.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

Which is ultimately the goal ...

I never thought it was Keaton so much looks more intimidating, as it was Tim Burton knew how to properly light Michael as the character to MAKE him seem imposing. If you took both guys in the suit and had them in the same lighting, Christian Bale looks more fierce in the Bat-suit. I mean, just compare the studio shots of B89 to BEGINS. Bale looks intimidating under bright lights in the bat-suit.

And as you can see for TDK, they improved their approach to lighting Bale in away that leaves him more mysterious and ambiguous to his intentions, as you can see with the new cowl design and lighting, they black out Batman's eyes ... which is the similar approach of lighting technique that took a man who naturally isn't intimidating and made him threatning in a bat-suit. Now you got an intimidating guy naturally, having his look amplified by the right setting and lighting.

I mean, look how bad ass he looks in a well lite interrogation room. Pretty bad ass.

 

[Zig-Zag Man]

People are using studio shots of Bale compared to gritty, dark context shots of MK in the bat-suit in the appropriate settings.

 

[DiFabio]

Which is ultimately the goal ...

I never thought it was Keaton so much looks more intimidating, as it was Tim Burton knew how to properly light Michael as the character to MAKE him seem imposing. If you took both guys in the suit and had them in the same lighting, Christian Bale looks more fierce in the Bat-suit. I mean, just compare the studio shots of B89 to BEGINS. Bale looks intimidating under bright lights in the bat-suit.

And as you can see for TDK, they improved their approach to lighting Bale in away that leaves him more mysterious and ambiguous to his intentions, as you can see with the new cowl design and lighting, they black out Batman's eyes ... which is the similar approach of lighting technique that took a man who naturally isn't intimidating and made him threatning in a bat-suit. Now you got an intimidating guy naturally, having his look amplified by the right setting and lighting.

I mean, look how bad ass he looks in a well lite interrogation room. Pretty bad ass.

People are using studio shots of Bale compared to gritty, dark context shots of MK in the bat-suit in the appropriate settings.

I'll give you studio shots, light and dark. It's not the lighting for either of them. They both look menacing and intimidating with the light shining down on their faces (for the shadow effect) and bright studio shots.

 

[theMan-Bat]

Doesn't really look like the same guy with the cowl on and that grim cold creepy Batman persona contrasted from that light hearted unassuming Bruce Wayne look and persona and his skinny face just looks completely different with the cowl on. The cowl gives the appearance that his face and skinny neck are much much bigger which just adds to the illusion that it's a different person.