BR- Why does Batman rip the mask off?

[Mr. Socko]

In Batman Returns, the cowl and chest piece are shown to be two separate pieces that are placed on. So why in the final scene, with Max Shreck and Catwoman, would Bruce Wayne rip the mask from his face? Why didn't he just take the entire cowl piece off?

Maybe he just felt like ruining a batsuit?

 

[BubbaGump]

Because ripping rubber is sexy!

 

[BubbaGump]

...

 

[The Shredder]

He has a taste for the theatrical.

 

[The Joker]

More dramatic for the scene where he's trying to get thru to Selina.

 

[Two-Face]

I always wondered this but never paid any attention to it.

 

[fabman]

It's more of a symbolic thing. "Ripping his mask off," you know? Just taking off his mask wouldn't be the same.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Maybe, Michael Keaton didn't want to take that big heavy cape and all off at the same time and thought ...'AH, screw it!!!'

Much to Burtons dismay until keaton quickly said it was a metaphor for freedom and true honesty t: - as for the make-up.... ummmmmmmm

Guess i just wanted to see Michael 'panda bear eyes' Keaton for a sec

 

[Darkness Falls]

It's more of a symbolic thing. "Ripping his mask off," you know? Just taking off his mask wouldn't be the same.

that's how i always saw it

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Burtons bat-movies are filled with so much personifcation and metaphors, its truly one of the reasons that they are so re-watchable.

As an A2 english Literature student i find it fascinating to analyse these movies because there is so much depth to them.

Its not just a hero and two villians fighting... its so much more and i feel its fun to find the texture. The ripping of the mask is a perfect example.

The word 'ripping' evokes how difficult it was for Bruce, as if for a moment he questioned it. In doing so he was fighting his own 'demons' inside of him.

 

[Dr. Fate]

I always figured Batman ripping his mask off at that particular moment was just a desperate attempt to pull Catwoman back from the brink of utter madness and make her spare Shreck (even though the bastard had it coming) and save her from self-destruction. So it was meant to be a moment of "pure emotion", I think that's how Tim Burton pitched it in his audio commentary.

 

[El Payaso]

Symbolic thing.

If he merely removes his mask, the possibility of putting it back is certain. Taking the mask off is what he always do after the night's over. It's just mean he'll be Bruce Wayne during the day, but only to be Batman again.

By ripping it, he was making the act definitive. He was saying "I'm through with this Batman thing, as you see I don't even think of putting this mask back again; it's broken and that's that."

 

[ab38416]

Symbolic thing.

If he merely removes his mask, the possibility of putting it back is certain. Taking the mask off is what he always do after the night's over. It's just mean he'll be Bruce Wayne during the day, but only to be Batman again.

By ripping it, he was making the act definitive. He was saying "I'm through with this Batman thing, as you see I don't even think of putting this mask back again; it's broken and that's that."

 

[Mr. Socko]

Good way to look at it Payaso, yours as well Doc Fate.

 

[Nightwing1977]

Because Burton forgot the cowl can be remove from the bottom of the neck, so he told Keaton to rip it off. Slacker!!

 

[batmaluco]

It's a PLOT HOLE.


































joking
the question is answered already by other posters, imo.

 

[Mladen]

The rubber outfit takes at least a few hours to get on, and I'm guessing about the same to take it off.
The only way to have him unmask quickly is to rip it off.

Plus it means they can maintain a tight closeup.

 

[Darkfly]

its more Batman-ish, and its quicker to rip it than to take it off

 

[Cobblepot]

All the above!

 

[Mr. Socko]

The rubber outfit takes at least a few hours to get on, and I'm guessing about the same to take it off.
The only way to have him unmask quickly is to rip it off.

Plus it means they can maintain a tight closeup.

I highly highly doubt it takes hours just to take the cowl off his head

 

[BatMatt]

putting on a suit like that takes about 20 minutes (I have one) and taking off the mask is actually much quicker than putting it on because the sweat helps it slide off. As others stated here, it was symbolic, and a great scene at that

 

[AdamWestsGhost]

"Why does Batman rip the mask off?"

To show that he is not Adam West!

 

[El Payaso]

"Why does Batman rip the mask off?"

To show that he is not Adam West!

LOL

And btw, ****ing great nickname!!!

 

[GoogleMe94]

i agree with most of the answers so far. i love this scene. i love elfmans music in these scenes as well, very powerful. burton is the master of this kinda stuff. im looking at that keaton pic and im constantly thinking "perfect DKR batman". he just... IS the dkr batman.

 

[Spoarz™]

Symbolic thing.

If he merely removes his mask, the possibility of putting it back is certain. Taking the mask off is what he always do after the night's over. It's just mean he'll be Bruce Wayne during the day, but only to be Batman again.

By ripping it, he was making the act definitive. He was saying "I'm through with this Batman thing, as you see I don't even think of putting this mask back again; it's broken and that's that."

Well put El Payaso. That's how I've always looked at that scene.