The Dark Knight Rises Riddle Me This: The Riddler Characterization Thread

[rfU]

He dresses with impeccable standards. A sharp business suit,green,his favourite color...as geniuses pick that color.

Not sure about the green suit, not very subtle in Nolan-verse. Maybe only a green tie. Definitely a fedora hat though.

What about his face/domino mask? It does make him rather recognizable/identifiable especially if you expect he will a former employee at Wayne tech or a former cop. For some reason the reconstruction mask in Vanilla Sky resonated well with me: http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/vanilla-sky-mask.jpg

Or one of those transparent masks: http://www.clusterflock.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/cale_vintage-violence.jpg

Thoughts?

 

[Rodrigo90]

Not a bright green suit,but a dark one. An ordinary color that doesnt turn heads,just a normal suit I believe.

I dont think he wears the mask to conceal his identity,it was just his costume. Many people believe because he is called Riddler,that means he is a mystery,thats not it. He didnt and shouldn't have a story where he becomes Riddler to committ his crime then go back to his normal life. He came in with 1 single goal,to defeat Batman and Robin,he had no other life for him to go back too. He shouldn't be a mystery like the Joker or how even Jim Carrey worked as the Riddler in Forever.

Riddler in the comics had no intention of covering up his tracks to hide his identity. Like now,he still wears a mask,but everybody knows his identity?

In his first appearance,it was about discovering where he was,not his identity.

 

[regwec]

Why do we have to tone down The Riddler's green suit? Did The Joker have to wear grey? Is green unrealistic? Are people determined that these movies be as dull as possible?

 

[rfU]

Why do we have to tone down The Riddler's green suit? Did The Joker have to wear grey? Is green unrealistic? Are people determined that these movies be as dull as possible?

Personally, I found the Joker's scarred face so hideous and growl-like voice so terrifying I barely noticed his purple suit. But what's important is the shade of green used as Rodrigo pointed out, something like this isn't bad at all: http://io9.com/assets/images/io9/2008/08/Batman_3_Poster___Riddler_by_joshwmc.jpg

and this: http://fanartexhibit.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/riddler_teaser03.jpg

But please, not the Batman Forever Riddler with the reddish hair

@ Rodrigo, you say your Riddler just emerges or comes to be in the beginning of the movie. What did you have in mind for his grand entrance, i.e. when he announces/reveals his presence in Gotham?

 

[Rodrigo90]

@ regwec

I dont think Riddler should be as outrageous as Joker,thats why a realistic shade of color should be chosen.

@ rfU

I wanted him start as The Riddler originally,but Im now writing that he is just Edward by the start. He first appears in his apartment in Gotham,it looks fairly normal and clean,but he has a secret room behind his book shelf in the bedroom. Inside is a desk,computer,and wards of cash in bank notes. He has tons of driving licences and other identity cards with false details on them. He then prints out on the computer false resumè forms and forged handwriting from several employers. He seems to be plotting something concerning City Hall.

Which is later revealed to be his attempt to get close in order to kidnap the Mayor for ransom and sending the police the details,but of course he is captured by Batman. That event inspires his challenges,for when he becomes The Riddler.

During the time he spends with the kidnapped Mayor,he goes hyper and unpredictable, forcing him to play games,etc.

 

[breyfogle_rules]

I actually don't care for Gotham City as a title, but I would like to see the riddler as some effete, drug addled sadist as interpreted by Lewis.

 

[Avengers-Report]

^^ That is a good looking poster ^^

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

I dont think Riddler should be as outrageous as Joker,thats why a realistic shade of color should be chosen.

How is wearing a different colour unrealistic?

I saw a guy wearing a hot pink top the other day in town, is he unrealistic?

 

[Texas Zombie]

I want him to wear all black, with maybe a dark green tie and a light green shirt under.

 

[jmc]

How is wearing a different colour unrealistic?

I saw a guy wearing a hot pink top the other day in town, is he unrealistic?

The argument seems to be you generally don't find good quality suits coloured green. Personally I think it's nonsense.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

The argument seems to be you generally don't find good quality suits coloured green. Personally I think it's nonsense.

How could it be considered anything but? I guess that's why the Joker didn't wear purple in TDK though, you don't generally find those in good quality anywhere.

I mean, how could the Riddler possibly wear green? It's not likenless he'll be appearing in a big budget film with a costuming department that could make it at all.

 

[Rodrigo90]

You want to see something like that?

 

[jmc]

Lets not kid ourselves here with that image, green comes in a variety of different shades, tints and temperatures.

 

[Texas Zombie]

true, dark green would be much better.

 

[Rodrigo90]

People are fickle on the shade of green. I think it should be something thats respectable and ordinary,but Riddler does like to be center of attention,so maybe it will be an outrageous look?

But Riddler seems like a sensible character, thats distinguishable from other villains, So a sensible appearance perhaps?

 

[Dark Sentinel]

anyone think Paul Bettany would make a really good Riddler

Bettany I wouldn't mind personally, but I really want Ewan McGregor as the Riddler. he just has that naturally sophisticated poise about him that's spot on for a Riddler that would fit in the Nolanverse. plus McGregor's never played a true villain, like Neeson before he played Rā's in BB and Ledger in TDK. why not keep the streak going?

 

[regwec]

If the Riddler is a character who has chosen to wear a costume, then there is no point in toning that costume down. If he has made the choice to dress up, it will be for a reason. He will be wearing a costume to cause an effect of some sort. If the costume is muted so that it looks less like a costume, then the effect will be diminished, and The Riddler's decision to wear a costume will seem less logical.

Admittedly, we could just have a Mr Reese type character who just happens to wear a moss-coloured tweed suit; but then, instead of waching a Batman movie, we could all just go to see a government information film about tax credits and housing benefit. I hear rumours that that is Nolan's next big project, actually.

 

[Texas Zombie]

I wouldnt mind if he wore almost all green throughout the movie, although different suits and what not, and sometimes even if it is just a green tie wouldnt be a bad thing.

 

[Rodrigo90]

What I mean, regwec. If he wasnt wearing a costume,would you see a man walking down the street with a ridiculously bright green suit and not think "WTF"? I dont think it should be a costume,and therefore,not a ridiculously outrageous look and color.

 

[Texas Zombie]

I wouldnt think WTF......

if he had three women walking behind him and was holding baby powder(film How high reference, as he uses it before he smacks people).

 

[regwec]

What I mean, regwec. If he wasnt wearing a costume,would you see a man walking down the street with a ridiculously bright green suit and not think "WTF"? I dont think it should be a costume,and therefore,not a ridiculously outrageous look and color.

What I mean is that there is no point at all in preserving the green colour scheme unless it is worn as a costume. If you want nobody to observe or remark on your Riddler's appearance, then have him wear jeans and a hoodie. A green suit of any sort is a somewhat unusual sartorial choice. No matter how dull or washed out you attempt to make it, people would still look twice at it. If The Riddler is not to wear a costume, then he should just wear generic civilian clothes.

I think a better approach is to create a set of circumstances that explain why he wears a costume and adopts the "Riddler" identity, and then run with it.

 

[Texas Zombie]

I think he should jsut wear fine suits, with green and black prominent.

 

[Mistah K88]

You want to see something like that?

Even though I'd want Riddler in a darker green rather than this green that you posted...I must say, that's a cool looking suit...I'd wear it.

We've already have had Scarecrow, Ra's, and Two-Face in grey suits. I would hope they at least would give the Riddler a green blazer.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Hans Zimmer Wants The Riddler For 'Batman 3'

Posted 46 minutes ago by Larry Carroll in DC Comics, News

Before you read the following new item, there are a few things you should know: Hans Zimmer is not directing the next “Batman” film; Hans Zimmer has little to no input on who will be chosen as the villain in the next “Batman” film. But in his mind, there’s no doubt who’d be the best baddie: The Riddler.

“For me, I’d have an enormous amount of fun with The Riddler,” enthused the eight-time Oscar nominee (onetime winner for "The Lion King"), who composed the “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” scores. “There is such a wealth of fun to be had with a character like that.”

In Zimmer’s mind, Edward Nigma is the Batman villain most ripe with potential, in both musical score possibilities and elsewhere. Portrayed by Frank Gorshin and John Astin in the '60s TV series and Jim Carrey in “Batman Forever,” the riddle-obsessed, stick-thin madman doesn’t possess any super powers — which would seem to make him an ideal fit for Chris Nolan’s realistic take on Gotham City.

“The exciting thing about any of these movies Chris makes is that they are really based in a solid reality, in a solid psychology way,” Zimmer explained. “It wasn’t easy for me at first to write about a character who was wearing a rubber mask.”

Although “Dark Knight” was a massive hit with a memorable score, Zimmer told us recently that he considers it to be among his most controversial.

“We had a bit of a tiff,” Zimmer said of an argument with undisclosed members of the Academy, blaming it on the reason “Dark Knight” didn’t earn an Oscar nomination. “It’s very complicated. The stuff I am supposed to do, I’m supposed go ahead, set a new trend, and be a little bit ahead of the cuff. Sometimes it takes people a while to get it.”

Zimmer said it might also take “Batman” fans until the third film to fully comprehend his scores, which have been laying breadcrumbs throughout that follow along with Bruce Wayne’s storyline.

“Yes, absolutely,” he explained. “When you think about it, Batman ended up in a bad place in the last one; I’m hoping that his character will get a couple new things added to it.”

“Once I knew [the ‘Dark Knight’ villain] was The Joker, I started to get a sense of what it could be, more than what it shouldn’t be,” he explained, saying that Nolan usually gives him a villain heads-up early on in the decision-making process. “Chris and I have this interesting way of getting together, throwing ideas around causally, and then slowly one little Lego piece comes together and another falls off and another comes together.”

Recently nominated for another Oscar for “Sherlock Holmes,” Zimmer is hard at work on several upcoming movies for the likes of James L. Brooks and others. But he’s also keeping a close eye on “Batman 3” rumors, and hoping Nolan sees fit to let him create a playful, sinister score for The Riddler.

“He’s a character that gives you ideas,” Zimmer said of the green-clad baddie. “Maybe I should talk to Chris about that.”

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/03/18/hans-zimmer-wants-the-riddler-for-batman-3/

 

[Rodrigo90]

As I mentioned beforehand. On FBI Files there was a criminal called Hawksworth or Hawkson and he robbed a small bank in Illinois and was caught. The FBI were baffled by his obsessive need to be clean,and dress at his best. He stated that because his crimes were the finest,he must appear the very best he could. Jack The Ripper did the same. Their costumes are just normal, ordinary, finely tailored suits. Its a 'costume' to themselves.