THE BATMOBILE THREAD

[TheBattinson]

A tank is too loud and attracts attention

A bat themed car is too flashy and not practical


It's very evocative of the more incognito cars Batman has driven in the comics. Not a tank and not flashy with bat hubcaps and symbols everywhere

Yeah but I think the tank can literally destroy things and be the perfect vehicle for a war on crime. Not to mention, thankfully, the Tumbler had a dead quiet stealth mode. It was more a of an advanced military hybrid tank sports car anyway

 

[Kane52630]

 

[DKDetective]

I think they could open up like some lambo doors or even forg gt doors.

That could be a legit possibility, but I'm not even sure I see seams for side doors. The back bars look like part of a roll cage to me and roll cages typically block side doors, which are then welded shut for safety. Given the gritty style Reeves is going for, I really am starting to think Bats is going to hop in and out through the window. You see it with stock car racing and also stunt vehicles:

 

[Zorro]

Can't wait to see this car in action. Cruising around Gotham and in a car chase

 

[Fincher]

That could be a legit possibility, but I'm not even sure I see seams for side doors. The back bars look like part of a roll cage to me and roll cages typically block side doors, which are then welded shut for safety. Given the gritty style Reeves is going for, I really am starting to think Bats is going to hop in and out through the window. You see it with stock car racing and also stunt vehicles:

So this more grounded/realistic Batman is going to wear a cape and climb in and out the window of his car?

Not saying you're wrong, just that it doesn't make much sense conceptually. Unless he's not going to be driving much, and we never see the part where he gets in.

 

[TheVileOne]

A tank is too loud and attracts attention

A bat themed car is too flashy and not practical


It's very evocative of the more incognito cars Batman has driven in the comics. Not a tank and not flashy with bat hubcaps and symbols everywhere

Yes because nothing about this car attracts attention.

 

[weezerspider]

Yeah, but what about this betrays the comic books!?!

Sometimes I think people should read MORE comic books (and from different eras), because this definitely looks comic book inspired.

It's as if people only saw panels from about four or five comic stories and think they've got an idea on what looks faithful and what's not.

Not really directed at you, but I've seen similar arguments be made waaaaay too often.

Even with The Dark Knight, for example, many people would claim that it felt nothing like a Batman movie, but probably have no idea about many Batman comic stories having a down to earth, realistic style, with none of the gothic/stylized elements often attributed to the character, set in a Gotham City which looks like a regular, real world metropolis.

The comics, just like the movies, have had such vastly different styles, even if we're just talking about the ones which feature a "more traditional" Batman.

So how is this Batmobile not faithful to the comics, when I've seen plenty of similar Batmobiles in the comics over the years!?!?

I agree with you, I was more just expressing bright side for those who don’t find this style their cup of tea.

 

[TheVileOne]

There have been Batmobiles like this in the comics before, so yeah, it's nothing new.

 

[Invader Joker]

From the official Warner Bros press release on The Batman, literal first sentence:

Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Batman.” Director Matt Reeves (the “Planet of the Apes” films) is at the helm, with Robert Pattinson (upcoming “Tenet,” “The Lighthouse,” “Good Time”) starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.

This Bruce Wayne is a billionaire, but even a billionaire that's trying to do this stuff in secret all by himself would probably not come out with something super advanced in his second year on the job. This is a two men operation in which he has to maintain his identity a secret and make things that are practical for him. This suit, this batmobile, follow suit.

As great as the tumbler and many other Batmobiles were, it was also more than obvious they could only have been made by a rich person. Not to mention; you see the Keatonmobile driving around, you see the tumbler riding around, you immediately know something's up, police would immediately start chasing you, criminals would instantly recognize you.

This is a detective Batman, and as a detective, sometimes he's gonna have to enter crowded streets to investigates, sometimes he's gonna have to tail people silently, he's gonna have to patrol streets, spend hours and hours parked just looking at a single place without drawing too much attention. This vehicle is literally perfect for that. If you go out there to the streets at night right now and imagine this thing riding around compared to imagining the tumbler or other vehicles, this makes perfect sense for a grounded Batman.

 

[TheVileOne]

From the official Warner Bros press release on The Batman, literal first sentence:


This Bruce Wayne is a billionaire, but even a billionaire that's trying to do this stuff in secret all by himself would probably not come out with something super advanced in his second year on the job. This is a two men operation in which he has to maintain his identity a secret and make things that are practical for him. This suit, this batmobile, follow suit.

As great as the tumbler and many other Batmobiles were, it was also more than obvious they could only have been made by a rich person. Not to mention; you see the Keatonmobile driving around, you see the tumbler riding around, you immediately know something's up, police would immediately start chasing you, criminals would instantly recognize you.

This is a detective Batman, and as a detective, sometimes he's gonna have to enter crowded streets to investigates, sometimes he's gonna have to tail people silently, he's gonna have to patrol streets, spend hours and hours parked just looking at a single place without drawing too much attention. This vehicle is literally perfect for that. If you go out there to the streets at night right now and imagine this thing riding around compared to imagining the tumbler or other vehicles, this makes perfect sense for a grounded Batman.

He's also a scientist and a detective.

 

[Invader Joker]

Regarding the doors... the designer is a big Delorean fanboy, so maybe they open like the DeLorean?

Or maybe the roof does slide forward. Doesn't seem impossible.

I'm not sure about it the entrance being like a racecar... that seems like a pain in the ass with the cape that Batman wears and all his equipment.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

So glad we're getting a muscle car Batmobile, none of the Batman movies have given us anything remotely like this. I also just love muscle cars in general so I am admittedly biased.

 

[Astro13Zombie]

I like that it looks it could be a car that Bruce could’ve had in his collection and just took it down to the bat cave to chop up and modify with Alfred.
It makes sense for a Batman that’s still early in his career and likely doesn’t have a Lucius Fox.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm not going to get too emotional about this. Everything from the suit, the batcycle, the Batmobile, it's all early career Batman.

I prefer a muscle car design than the tank **** from the Nolan films and DCEU. Never liked those designs. I can deal with this.

That said, I hope if the films continue they are open to modifying things and improving on them in the future.

 

[Zorro]

That's why I really hope this becomes a trilogy and batman becomes more and more grand and high tech by the third one, which he may be by year 5 or something

 

[DOBSON10]

Looks like a 69 Charger with body kits and a rocket strapped to the back. Wish it was slightly more curvy and stylish but it's still awesome.

 

[DKDetective]

So this more grounded/realistic Batman is going to wear a cape and climb in and out the window of his car?

Not saying you're wrong, just that it doesn't make much sense conceptually. Unless he's not going to be driving much, and we never see the part where he gets in.

In real life, you are right that it is awkward as hell, but there are a lot of things in life that movies make look less awkward or even cool. I have a pretty distinct recollection of old action stars jumping in pretty dramatically through the window.

I also said gritty, not grounded or realistic. Things can be gritty, but necessarily realistic. We also have a Batmobile without side windows or a rear window. A rear window is quite important when you have villains chasing you and shooting at you from behind.

Regarding the doors... the designer is a big Delorean fanboy, so maybe they open like the DeLorean?

Or maybe the roof does slide forward. Doesn't seem impossible.

I'm not sure about it the entrance being like a racecar... that seems like a pain in the ass with the cape that Batman wears and all his equipment.

I considered those possibilities for the doors but there are no apparent seems. If the car had Gullwing doors like a DeLorean, there would be visible door seams on the roof. I considered whether the roof might pop up and the bars on the back are hinges, but there is no visible machinery and the bars look too solid, very much like a roll cage.

 

[Fincher]

In real life, you are right that it is awkward as hell, but there are a lot of things in life that movies make look less awkward or even cool. I have a pretty distinct recollection of old action stars jumping in pretty dramatically through the window.

I also said gritty, not grounded or realistic. Things can be gritty, but necessarily realistic. We also have a Batmobile without side windows or a rear window. A rear window is quite important when you have villains chasing you and shooting at you from behind.

I bring up realism because people say on here that this is supposed to be more realistic than the Nolan films and then use that to defend choices.

 

[Zorro]

I wonder if we'll see Bruce build the car or it'll already be established as existing as his batmobile.

Maybe the car was his father's and his just adds stuff then paints it black

 

[Nardz937]

I dug the Tumblr a lot, but after AK and BVS I was ready to see a more traditional Batmobile again. I'm happy with this and am looking forward to see how it likely evolves over time.

 

[Invader Joker]

I considered those possibilities for the doors but there are no apparent seems. If the car had Gullwing doors like a DeLorean, there would be visible door seams on the roof. I considered whether the roof might pop up and the bars on the back are hinges, but there is no visible machinery and the bars look too solid, very much like a roll cage.

I can kinda see how it could have a mechanism allowing the roof to go forward via some very intelligent mechanism.
God I wish the image was 4K, would be easier to analyze.

But it would be cool if it could. Kinda like an indication that the car is indeed much more than meets the eye, and that Batman is a genius

 

[jmc]

I'm not going to get too emotional about this. Everything from the suit, the batcycle, the Batmobile, it's all early career Batman.

I prefer a muscle car design than the tank **** from the Nolan films and DCEU. Never liked those designs. I can deal with this.

That said, I hope if the films continue they are open to modifying things and improving on them in the future.

In many ways I think they were forced to go in this direction. The only way you go a grounded route again that doesn't overlap with Nolan is if everything looks like it was pieced together from scraps, everything being 'homemade'. In theory it makes sense aesthetically, but something about it just looks too raw IMO. But again, what else can they really do? Begins more or less covered a 'year one' Batman who slowly but surely built up his arsenal over the first 45 mins of the film. I really don't envy this task the people in this film are doing. In some respect as much I can't stand Snyder take on Batman, it's a clear alternative that's set in a more fantastical world compared to other Batman incarnations. I think the risk with this one is that all the comic book elements are stripped to the point where it starts becoming only loosely based off the books. We'll know more in the coming months. I maintain that a Batman film set during the 1930's would have been a much better option as it would have allowed a more grounded route but one that would have been distinct from what Nolan did. Maybe in the future. I'd love a Batman film set in the 30's.

 

[Marvolo]

A tank is too loud and attracts attention

A bat themed car is too flashy and not practical


It's very evocative of the more incognito cars Batman has driven in the comics. Not a tank and not flashy with bat hubcaps and symbols everywhere

Trust me. Just by looking at the engine this Batrod is going to ROAR. 70 - 100 decibels easily. There wont be anything stealthy about it.

 

[Zorro]

Good let it roar, still a nice change over the tumbler type..which was nice for a while

 

[TheVileOne]

Nothing looks incognito about this car.