The Dark Knight Batsuit Discussion Thread

[Whack Arnolds]

You guys are seriously nuts. It's not that big of a deal. And of course someone only turns their neck when THEY ARE IN A CAR...DRIVING, but Batman is filming a movie, and not actually driving... and so he turned alittle bit? It came off as more dramatic anyway... You costume dorks have your panties all in a bunch over nothing. So the mask may get wrinkles in it, what's the deal? No matter how flexible you get it, you still can't turn it like your natural movements (which I don't get why Lujho is comparing how he moves his head naturally, compared to someone who is wearing a big mask that has a neck piece)...utterly ******ed.

 

[BatScot]

No matter how flexible you get it, you still can't turn it like your natural movements

Put Spider-Man in your DVD and then get back to us... not to mention that I've seen people in hooded wetsuits move their head quite freely and naturally—superstretch neoprene neck makes movement easy in virtually any direction.

 

[Whack Arnolds]

Yeah, but the cowl's face is thick because it has to give an armored look, along with the etched in features...it isn't a skintight suit in every way like the Spider-Man suit...

The Spider-man mask doesn't attach as a whole piece. It's supposed to be flexible. Batman has to be hard to have all the distiguishing features, and it has to cover the neck, naturally its going to be hard. You're comparing un-like things when you compare the Spider-Man mask to the Batman mask. Apples meet Oranges.

 

[Bathead]

I'm not sure all this stuff about not being able to turn your head while wearing one of the movie cowls is accurate. I'm thinking it's not that you *can't* move in the cowl it's that if you did , the facial opening would "gap open" in an unsightly way along the jawline. I've seen this happen in reproduction cowls sold to the public. Granted, those are just cheap copies of the real thing, but I can't help but think of that when this argument comes up. Has anyone ever seen official comments that the actors *couldn't* move, or that they *wouldn't* because it would look like crap?

 

[BatScot]

Batman has to be hard to have all the distiguishing features, and it has to cover the neck, naturally its going to be hard.

The neck is not part of the nomex survival suit Wayne acquires from Fox, nor is the neck part of the graphite crown that Wayne acquires from China. In fact, what the ‘neck’ might be is not explained in the film. Presumably, Wayne used some ‘other’ material to construct the finished cowl, what that material was is pure speculation but it’s fair to assume that Wayne would have chosen a material that allowed maximum flexibility and a “hard neck” is contrary to that very practical consideration—even if you were to theorize that the neck was reinforced in some manner.

Simply put—the neck could have been made of any one of several materials, all of which could have been explained in a “realistic” fashion, and some would have given the wearer more flexibility than the material that was used.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

About the cowl neck thing, doesnt state that they made it the most flexible so that he could turn his neck? Even on the DVD and in Wizard Magazine June 05?

Let me check imdb too....

 

[Rynan]

I think some of you people are Bat-**** insane.

 

[Whack Arnolds]

Yeah Luda, the production designer on the dvd clearly states he could move his neck, and it is even shown. Its obvious in the movie as well. People tend to exaggerate the fact that he actually accentuates moves with his torso.

 

[Boom]

Yeah Luda, the production designer on the dvd clearly states he could move his neck, and it is even shown. Its obvious in the movie as well. People tend to exaggerate the fact that he actually accentuates moves with his torso.

What was shown was Bale slightly moving his head up and to the side. Wow, what a feat. That hardly means he could move his neck and completely.

I've watched the movie and the behind-the-scenes documentary on the suit plenty of times. Did we once see him completely shift his head to the side? I certainly can't recall that.

 

[Whack Arnolds]

What was shown was Bale SLIGHTLY moving his head up and to the side. Wow, what a feat. That hardly means he could move his neck and completely.

Did we once see him completely shift his head to the side? I certainly can't recall that.

Question is, who ****ing cares? is that what makes the movie great? seeing him turn his head alittle more of an angle?

 

[Super_Ludacris]

What was shown was Bale SLIGHTLY moving his head up and to the side. Wow, what a feat. That hardly means he could move his neck and completely.

Did we once see him completely shift his head to the side? I certainly can't recall that.

But they said in the DVD and in Wizard that it was designed to be that flexible lol like what else do you want?

 

[Boom]

But they said in the DVD and in Wizard that it was designed to be that flexible lol like what else do you want?

Sure, they can SAY that. But I couldn't care less what they have to say. I'd like to SEE it.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

lol wtf? So you aint gonna be satisfied till he does an excorcist head turn? It's such a minor point....let it go

 

[Whack Arnolds]

lol wtf? So you aint gonna be satisfied till he does an excorcist head turn? It's such a minor point....let it go

Seriously. This is how anal retentive most comic book dorks are. Is it really that important? lol...

 

[Boom]

Question is, who ****ing cares? is that what makes the movie great? seeing him turn his head alittle more of an angle?

Certainly a number of people "care," since this issue has been brought up numerous times (both now and in the past).

From an aesthetic standpoint, you bet your ass it'd make the movie better, even if it is a minor thing. Something as simple as Batman slowly turning his head (completely) toward a cowering criminal is far more effective (and less stiff-looking) than him having to turn his upper body to compensate for the lack of neck mobility in a cowl that should (logically) offer a full range of motion.

 

[Boom]

lol wtf? So you aint gonna be satisfied till he does an excorcist head turn? It's such a minor point....let it go

Yes, because clearly an Excorcism head turn was implied in my post. No, I want Batman to be able to turn his head more than an inch. That's not asking much from the costume department I'd hope.

If you can't carry out an intelligent conversation, then you're the one that needs to let it go.

 

[Whack Arnolds]

No... it truly isn't because he has "slowly moved his head" looking at a criminal before or just looking up, dating all the way back to Batman 1989. It's no big deal... It would have no effect on the aesthetics of the movie. The look of the costume? Yeah... Batman turning his head slightly more than he did in BEGINS? No... Flexibility should just be there for the actor to be comfortable.

 

[Boom]

No... it truly isn't because he has "slowly moved his head" looking at a criminal before or just looking up, dating all the way back to Batman 1989. It's no big deal... It would have no effect on the aesthetics of the movie. The look of the costume? Yeah... Batman turning his head slightly more than he did in BEGINS? No... Flexibility should just be there for the actor to be comfortable.

Once again, point me out ANY scene in ANY of the Batman movies where Batman comfortably turned his head (about) 90 degrees. Just one scene. A full range of motion in the neck would allow Bale to pull off very dramatic, iconic, and beast-like poses. So yes, a full range of motion would make the "turning the head toward a criminal" better, even if it isn't that big of a deal to some.

Again, yes it would. It'd make the suit look less thick, chunky, and stiff. I'd rather Batman look organic instead of a robot.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Yes, because clearly an Excorcism head turn was implied in my post.

If you can't carry out an intelligent conversation, then you're the one that needs to let it go.

See this is the problem you guys are nitpicking at things that are completley irrelevent to the production and when people say its stupid you guy's get upset. Why?

In the grand scheme of things, what the hell does Bale head movments matter? He certainly doesnt appear uncomfortable and we have to take the factual point made by the crew that this cowl was designed to move his head and that this was the first cowl that could over a couple of fans "feelings" and perceptions of what they think they saw.

And when people say extract yourself from the heat of the discussion and keep it in perspective that all we can do is see him move his head right to left and that's we can ask for at this point.

We can talk about adjustments and new looks but something is already it's already there, what else is there to do unless like to argue for the sake of argue. Stop being bitter and take everything as an insult.

 

[Boom]

See this is the problem you guys are nitpicking at things that are completley irrelevent to the production and when people say its stupid you guy's get upset. Why?

Well here's my question. Why is a FULLY FLEXIBLE neck for the cowl "stupid?" That honestly baffles me.

In the grand scheme of things, what the hell does Bale head movments matter? He certainly doesnt appear uncomfortable and we have to take the factual point made by the crew that this cowl was designed to move his head and that this was the first cowl that could over a couple of fans "feelings" and perceptions of what they think they saw.

Once again, they said it could move. I got little to no indication of this in the movie. Since it's only the visual representation of the cowl in the movie that I'm concerned with, the crew's words mean little to me.
For the record, the cowl gave Bale headaches. After a while it did make him uncomfortable, but he lived with it and channeled it, to add to his performance. As for why Bale's head movements matter? Probably for the sake of Bale. A more flexible neck allows him a wider range of acting with his head, even if that is a subtle improvement. It would probably also feel less cramped and restricted.

We can talk about adjustments and new looks but something is already it's already there, what else is there to do unless like to argue for the sake of argue. Stop being bitter and take everything as an insult.

Or they could IMPROVE the cowl's neck for the sequel, which I believe is the point of this thread. Suit improvements.

The only thing I get irritated by is that when people ask for improvements, others come in and call us "fanboys," "insane," and "anal." Since when were "improvements" a bad thing? Why wouldn't you want a neck that could turn better than the one in Begins? Sure, it might've "worked" in Begins. But why stop at what "worked" and not try to make it better?

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Well here's my question. Why is a FULLY FLEXIBLE neck for the cowl "stupid?" That honestly baffles me.


Or they could IMPROVE the cowl's neck for the sequel, which I believe is the point of this thread. Suit improvements.

Well you do realise in the DVD they said they designed and tested and created the cowl so he could fully move his neck (which would the 90 degree head turn that we so desperatly needed appearntly). The fact that Bale choose not to do this by your perspective is moot. Because the cowl according to the designer was already made so he could.

So basically it just boils down Christian literally turning his head to appease you.

Now to do see my point?

 

[Boom]

Well you do realise in the DVD they said they designed and tested and created the cowl so he could fully move his neck (which would the 90 degree head turn that we so desperatly needed appearntly). The fact that Bale choose not to do this by your perspective is moot. Because the cowl according to the designer was already made so he could.

So basically it just boils down Christian literally turning his head to appease you.

Now to do see my point?

Well if you want to look at it that way, sure. I just find it odd that we get absolutely no visual look at the cowl being able to do this. Even in the movie the cowl still comes across as looking stiff.

My question still stands. What's wrong with improving the neck?

 

[Super_Ludacris]

My question still stands. What's wrong with improving the neck?

If it fully moves what else can you do with it?

 

[Whack Arnolds]

Well if you want to look at it that way, sure. I just find it odd that we get absolutely no visual look at the cowl being able to do this. Even in the movie the cowl still comes across as looking stiff.

My question still stands. What's wrong with improving the neck?

Thats the thing, there is nothing wrong with improving it. The production said Nolan liked the flexible neck so much that he wanted it even more flexible next time...but its the fact that you guys act like its a huge deal and a key component to the movie, when it clearly isn't.

 

[Boom]

If it fully moves what else can you do with it?

Improve the material so it's even more flexible, more comfortable, and doesn't crease as much.