The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR Batsuit Discussion Thread

[KalMart]

They need to do something about the cowl as well.

That rigged lined neck didn't look very good. They can at least cover it up I hope in the new suit.

Yeah...something in between. In BB, it was too thick and made the shoulders seem narrower, in TDK it helped in that area, but made the head look too bulbous in comparison...although I did like the cheek/cutout area of the mask in TDK better..combined with a thinner face so it didn't make his cheeks look puffy at times like in BB. If there's some material that's thinner and more flexible that can be tighter and not make his neck look like a tree stump, but still look like a continuous piece from head to where it meets the shoulders, it could be ideal.

 

[meee]

 

[Mr. Earle]

I'd like them to add heels to his boots, RDJ style but smaller. I'd like Batman to be bigger and taller than the average joes around him and that would help a lot. I doubt anyone would notice in the darkness anway.

 

[KalMart]

t:t:

 

[craigdbfan]

I think this would be a fair compromise between both the BB costume and the TDK one for the new suit. Although they should still work to smooth out the neck area with a better cowl than we've seen in any Bat movie so far.

 

[KalMart]

What makes it tough is viewing it from different angles. From 1/4 or diagonal front, it looked fine in the movie. But straight on, like in the interrogation room...his head looked like a Bat-lollipop. So I'm thinking some sort of stretchy material that will stay relatively close to the neck, but still offer a continuous line from head to shoulder from various angles.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Use CGI on the neck. Problem solved. When everything about GL is CGI, why cant they use a little CGI on the batsuit?

 

[Boom]

Just make the cowl a prosthetic.

 

[KalMart]

Use CGI on the neck. Problem solved. When everything about GL is CGI, why cant they use a little CGI on the batsuit?

Yeah, I actually suggested that a while back regarding controlling the level of 'dark grey' if they were to use it on a suit. With mo-cap technology these days, and keeping things mostly in dark lighting, they could probably go a long way to not having it look like an effect.

Just make the cowl a prosthetic.

It's tough because so far they've had to leave at least some relief for the actor's ears within the headgear so as not to hurt him...then combine that with making the Bat-ears rigid enough without pivoting around, it's difficult not to make the head considerably wider unless they went with fabric kinda' like doh Adam West's Bat-costume. Maybe in the future they can come up with some kind of new composite fabric that you can control both how flexible and rigid you need it in one structure, but still keep it thin and form-fitting.

 

[cryptic name]

Just make the cowl a prosthetic.

agreed

 

[craigdbfan]

Whatever they use something should be done about it that much is for sure.

CGI/Mocap isn't a bad idea actually its a great one. I'd entertain the idea of even having just the mo cap equipment around his neck but Nolan might not want to go through the entire hassle although he has played around with the idea with Harvey Dent so its not out of the question.

Here's hoping.

 

[KalMart]

Whatever they use something should be done about it that much is for sure.

CGI/Mocap isn't a bad idea actually its a great one. I'd entertain the idea of even having just the mo cap equipment around his neck but Nolan might not want to go through the entire hassle although he has played around with the idea with Harvey Dent so its not out of the question.

Here's hoping.

I'm thinking more for future versions after Nolan is done. I'm sure he'll stick with what they've used, and for the most part, it works fine for these films. For a different, more fantastical and perhaps comic-like movie version with a different overall suit design, it could be worth looking into. Heck...maybe even 'lensed' eyes on the cowl, you never know.

 

[craigdbfan]

We'll see. Although for the new suit it'll probably just be more refined materials/design once again. Can't wait until we see it eitherway.

Interesting thing about the "lensed" eye look is that I used to really like the idea but thanks to both BB and TDK I now really dislike the idea of the white lensed/eyed Batman. So much emotion can be displayed through one's eyes, it may be enhanced in that Christian Bale is a special case because he conveys so, so much emotion through his piercing eyes with a very imposing and penetrating glare.

Not to look down on Keaton but he didn't have the advantage of having to work with Nolan who does more work in post production than some give him credit for. The way he maintains shadows around Batman are awesome and partly how he maintains that ninja motion through both BB/TDK it's a demonstration of him being a master visualist, also major props to Wally of course. Lighting and using proper shadows are so important in a Batman movie and this is something they nailed.

Bale has the famous Bat glare with his actual eyes. Now thats something that shouldn't be hidden. I'm definitely more keen to the idea of always showing his eyes in the movies because of the reason already explained above.

I'm much more keen to the TDK/Arkham Asylum idea of the white lens being part of his visualized radar system. That's way better.

 

[Bathead]

I'm much more keen to the TDK/Arkham Asylum idea of the white lens being part of his visualized radar system. That's way better.

I kinda like that idea, too. I was thinking it could also be something he uses to freak people out. I could imagine him turning them on and leaping out of the shadows at a thug with these glowing white pupilless eyes, Could be very scary.

 

[Godzilla2014]

We'll see. Although for the new suit it'll probably just be more refined materials/design once again. Can't wait until we see it eitherway.

Interesting thing about the "lensed" eye look is that I used to really like the idea but thanks to both BB and TDK I now really dislike the idea of the white lensed/eyed Batman. So much emotion can be displayed through one's eyes, it may be enhanced in that Christian Bale is a special case because he conveys so, so much emotion through his piercing eyes with a very imposing and penetrating glare.

Not to look down on Keaton but he didn't have the advantage of having to work with Nolan who does more work in post production than some give him credit for. The way he maintains shadows around Batman are awesome and partly how he maintains that ninja motion through both BB/TDK it's a demonstration of him being a master visualist, also major props to Wally of course. Lighting and using proper shadows are so important in a Batman movie and this is something they nailed.

Bale has the famous Bat glare with his actual eyes. Now thats something that shouldn't be hidden. I'm definitely more keen to the idea of always showing his eyes in the movies because of the reason already explained above.

I'm much more keen to the TDK/Arkham Asylum idea of the white lens being part of his visualized radar system. That's way better.

I agree. Not being able to see Batman's eyes, with the exception you mentioned, would make him look plain weird.

 

[BatScot]

I'm never going to understand the black and grey advocates... and I've never seen a manip or concept pic that has even remotely persuaded me that it would be workable on film.

It's really quite simple to understand... the effectiveness of Black and Grey, either separately or combined, is a scientific fact; no persuasion is necessary. Now you may not like Black and Gray but to say Black and Gray is not "workable" is clearly an opinion based on personal bias.

Jet black just looks awesome. The Batman Begins suit is my favourite suit by far, and the main problem I had with the change to The Dark Knight suit was actually less the segmentation/knight-armour style that people had such a problem with... for me, I didn't like the shift to grey.

The TDK suit is no more gray than the Begins suit is Jet Black. Both suits appear grayish under certain lighting conditions. The Begins suit is more consistent in this effect; the TDK suit less so due to the variation of 'material' used to construct the modular armor.

 

[D.P.]

I want lenses built into his cowl that don't resemble coke bottles, but that's a fruitless battle.

I doubt you guys will get gray in Nolan's series.

 

[Boom]

Oh no doubt.

Even if we get a new batsuit in TDKR, it will undoubtedly be another rubber/mesh combination.

 

[KRIM]

Not to look down on Keaton but he didn't have the advantage of having to work with Nolan who does more work in post production than some give him credit for. The way he maintains shadows around Batman are awesome and partly how he maintains that ninja motion through both BB/TDK it's a demonstration of him being a master visualist, also major props to Wally of course. Lighting and using proper shadows are so important in a Batman movie and this is something they nailed.

Hm. Now I find this strange, because I was fairly disappointed in how bland the lighting seemed for Bats. Nolan went for a natural approach in depicting the costume, rather than focusing on the contours and contrasting edges of the suit itself. I'd have to give credit to Burton for giving plenty more shots that accentuated Batman's eyes and outline:

I can't recall any scenes in either of Nolan's films that portrayed the suit in such atmospheric light. Though I will give credit to that beautiful profile shot of Batman standing on top of the wreckage. Though sadly this type of moody shot was all too rare.

Bale has the famous Bat glare with his actual eyes. Now thats something that shouldn't be hidden. I'm definitely more keen to the idea of always showing his eyes in the movies because of the reason already explained above.

I'm fine as long as there's a distinct impression from looking at Batman that gives you uneasiness. I thought the best cowl shot with Bale was in the interrogation scene. Nolan cleverly obscured most of his eyes there, only leaving ghostly pupils that sooner reminded me of a skull than a human being. I thought it was quite effective.

If it were up to me I'd opt for a medium between both worlds. Have human eyes so there's something to actually look at and interpret. But alter it to make it look like a spectre of sorts. Cloudy and soulless to enhance his mythical nature. Opaque contacts should do the trick. Could give this personal favorite a run for its money:

 

[Saint]

Hm. Now I find this strange, because I was fairly disappointed in how bland the lighting seemed for Bats. Nolan went for a natural approach in depicting the costume, rather than focusing on the contours and contrasting edges of the suit itself. I'd have to give credit to Burton for giving plenty more shots that accentuated Batman's eyes and outline:

I can't recall any scenes in either of Nolan's films that portrayed the suit in such atmospheric light. Though I will give credit to that beautiful profile shot of Batman standing on top of the wreckage. Though sadly this type of moody shot was all too rare.


I'm fine as long as there's a distinct impression from looking at Batman that gives you uneasiness. I thought the best cowl shot with Bale was in the interrogation scene. Nolan cleverly obscured most of his eyes there, only leaving ghostly pupils that sooner reminded me of a skull than a human being. I thought it was quite effective.

If it were up to me I'd opt for a medium between both worlds. Have human eyes so there's something to actually look at and interpret. But alter it to make it look like a spectre of sorts. Cloudy and soulless to enhance his mythical nature. Opaque contacts should do the trick. Could give this personal favorite a run for its money:

I agree with this post one hundred percent. Nolan seems to use a more subtle, natural approach, where Batman isn't deliberately painted with light and shadow in such a way as to scream "Behold how dramatic I am." At the same time, as you say, he does use light and shadow to great effect when he wants too--I am entirely with you on the interrogation scene; the way Batman's eyes were all but blacked out, peering in a sort of ghostly way at the Joker, I loved it to death.

That said, Burton was the master of light and shadow. Period. I mean, let's face it: that costume looked downright stupid under normal lighting. But under Burton, it looked unbelievable. The way Batman's eyes were so often obscured, and the way the light hid all the unpleasant realities of the rubber costume (such as where the torso piece ends)--Burton was the only director to date who ever convinced me that criminals could look at Batman and believe he wasn't human. Considering the guy has a mask that advertises his very human jaw, that's a goddamn accomplishment.

Now I have to watch B89.

 

[KalMart]

I agree with this post one hundred percent. Nolan seems to use a more subtle, natural approach, where Batman isn't deliberately painted with light and shadow in such a way as to scream "Behold how dramatic I am." At the same time, as you say, he does use light and shadow to great effect when he wants too--I am entirely with you on the interrogation scene; the way Batman's eyes were all but blacked out, peering in a sort of ghostly way at the Joker, I loved it to death.

They were able to maintain a sense of shadow and mystery on Batman despite the rather ambient lighting. Too bad Batman's head looked like a lightbulb from the front, though. That was unfortunately the scene where the cowl/neck looked the worst, in my opinion.

 

[The Red Hood]

A suggestion I don't think I've seen here yet: white contact lenses, a la Dead End.

This would be for sheer intimidation, kind of like what Paul Pope's Batman was doing in Batman: Year One Hundred with the fangs.

 

[craigdbfan]

Didn't mean to say Burton wasn't good with lighting he was but as much as I enjoyed that movie I still enjoy what Nolan did in TDK with working with shadows and Bats eyes.

I agree with you somewhat that Batman Begins doesn't really have a lot of good use of shadow to add a more air of "darkness" if you will to Batmans face let alone for the rest of his body in a bunch of scenes but there are a good amount of memorable play with good shading/shadowing.

I still really dug it, but in TDK thats not really the case for the exception of the garage intro scene and a few others. I also have to add that I still enjoy seeing shots where no shadows are present either in which the costume is almost fully shown with no obstructions. While Burton's Batman film is more stylized and does play well with the shadows and lighting based on the more fantastical side of tone he decided to go for and is fit for the setting it all took place in. Also to be fair there are plenty of shots in B89 where we get zero obstructions of any play with shadows or lighting as BB, TDK do in certain scenes so that isn't exclusive to one Batman movie.

Example:

Here are a bunch of examples of Nolan working well with shading/lighting/shadows, it can be missed if overlooked but yeah I would agree that the interrogation scene has some great little details that might be missed like parts of his shoulder looking almost gray which is hopefully a nod at the gray costume from the comics maybe I'm reaching but thats what I took it as and the eyes in this scene as KAW mentioned are pretty empty in a very never ending void:

Here's more what I was initially referring to when I said I fancied Nolans work with shadows with Batman:

 

[craigdbfan]

Here's one more:

 

[RoughNTumble]

that's a whole lot of blue text

but yeah wally has said he takes a natural approach to lighting

can't say I have many complaints

I actually hope snyder's superman cinematographer takes the same approach