The Dark Knight What does batman need most from his bat-suit?

[Lobster Charlie]

It's fun to discuss things we have no control over.

God that Dead End costume looks weird. I see now that by tapering in at the neck, it makes the head look too bulbous. That's probably why the neck was so wide on the Begins outfit.

 

[Lobster Charlie]

Only problem I see with this pic is:

-Its way too bright a locale for the Batman to be hanging out in

-I always found it weird that he's in front of Gordon's neighbor's window. Feels a little *too* casual to be chillin' in a bat-outfit, right outside someone's window.


Other than that, the suit looks great. I love it.

 

[afan]

.

This photo accents one of the main weaknesses of the design for me; the cowl. It incorporates to many curved edges and surfaces. The open area of the mouth and jaw, the eye slits, and the ears curve inward giving particularly in this shot an oval shape to the head.

It should be more angular in it's features. Visually curves are not threatening or intimidating and fundamentally the sole purpose of the suit is to that end. It's meant to instill fear.

Also the tonal differences between a grey body and black or very very dark blue cowl, cape, gloves with angled edges, trunks, and boots also with the angled tops along with the proper use of theatrical lighting could create visually striking angular compositions, something that an all black design simply can't deliver.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

This photo accents one of the main weaknesses of the design for me; the cowl. It incorporates to many curved edges and surfaces. The open area of the mouth and jaw, the eye slits, and the ears curve inward giving particularly in this shot an oval shape to the head.

It should be more angular in it's features. Visually curves are not threatening or intimidating and fundamentally the sole purpose of the suit is to that end. It's meant to instill fear.

That has to be the dumbest and pettiest argument against the batsuit I've ever read. I don't think the thugs he beats up are going to be less afraid of a oval cowl than an angular one.

Also the tonal differences between a grey body and black or very very dark blue cowl, cape, gloves with angled edges, trunks, and boots also with the angled tops along with the proper use of theatrical lighting could create visually striking angular compositions, something that an all black design simply can't deliver.

Tonal differences would make his costume look like pajamas and thus laughable.

 

[XCharlieX]

Tonal differences would make his costume look like pajamas and thus laughable.

lol agreed. If they ever had a batman with grey and blue tights on im seriously giving up on batman staying good.

 

[afan]

Originally posted by spidey Bat

That has to be the dumbest and pettiest argument against the batsuit I've ever read. I don't think the thugs he beats up are going to be less afraid of a oval cowl than an angular one.

Thanks for an objective discussion of the points
The thugs he beats up are actors, they react as the script calls for, but I'm sure you are aware of that.
I am referring to the visual effect of the design elements on the audience. Are you saying that visually the emotional reaction to curved shapes is the same as angular shapes?

Tonal differences would make his costume look like pajamas and thus laughable.

Just because of tonal differences?
Demonstrate if you can how tonal differences in an outfit make it look like pajamas.
Does a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, get get more different in tone than black and white(the commonly referred to power) transalate to sleeping apparel for you?

 

[Lobster Charlie]

Just because of tonal differences?
Demonstrate if you can how tonal differences in an outfit make it look like pajamas.
Does a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, get get more different in tone than black and white(the commonly referred to power) transalate to sleeping apparel for you?

No, but it doesn't seem particularly threatening.

I think when it comes to Batman: when he's drawn, the contrast works better for him. When in real life, the all black works better.

 

[da batman]

Wow. First of all, he just re-used the basic design of the rubber suits from the Burton/Shumaker films. Secondly, he gets millions of dollars to go through this "trouble", and we as fans pay to see the final product. That means we have the right to voice our opinions if we are not completly satisfied. Moreover, we should make it a habit to voice our criticisms so that the corporations who want are money know exactly what we expect to get for it. If fans didn't raise hell everyonce and a while, we would get worse comic films than we already do.



Firstly, there's no need to be rude. We are all fans here, and people want to discuss BEGINS. Sometimes their opinions are positive, sometimes they are negative. If you have trouble with that, perhaps you don't belong on a discussion board.

Secondly, I don't think it's too exacting to want a costume that looks like the original comic suit. What's wrong with Batman looking like Batman?



It is true that it ultimatley boils down to personal preference. But, to those who say that a comic accurate suit would not look good on film, I say again; you can't know until it's been tried. And no, Dead End doesn't count. Until a major studio sinks some real money into making an accurate costume the way the did for Spider-man, you can't say that it wouldn't work. "It's an unknown unknown".

Food for thought:

i pretty much agree with everything you said, that was just top notch. and with this new "metal cloth" or what ever you want to call it it makes sense for batman to have these plates of armour then put a cloth over it that will also keep him better protected. and since batmans suit in the movie will not stop a straight shot, wouldnt he want to be better protected? so now it works for the realism, the armour wouldnt be seen so we wouldnt have to use our imagination that rubber is actually this high tec spray painted armour, its more flexable, and then it could even look like the comic.

on a seperate note, does anyone else feel that the neck should be seperated from the cowl? i think this would work and if done right look great

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Thanks for an objective discussion of the points
The thugs he beats up are actors, they react as the script calls for, but I'm sure you are aware of that.
I am referring to the visual effect of the design elements on the audience. Are you saying that visually the emotional reaction to curved shapes is the same as angular shapes?

Yes. I don't know what the hell you're even talking about and I doubt it'd change my reaction anyway. When I look at the cowl, I see Batman. I don't see curved shapes or lack of angular ones.

Just because of tonal differences?
Demonstrate if you can how tonal differences in an outfit make it look like pajamas.
Does a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, get get more different in tone than black and white(the commonly referred to power) transalate to sleeping apparel for you?

Batman isn't wearing that. You're talking about different tones for the trunks, legs, arms, boots, and gauntlets. It'd look pretty silly. I think it looks fine all black.

 

[batmaluco]

edit
double post

 

[batmaluco]

It is true that it ultimatley boils down to personal preference. But, to those who say that a comic accurate suit would not look good on film, I say again; you can't know until it's been tried. And no, Dead End doesn't count. Until a major studio sinks some real money into making an accurate costume the way the did for Spider-man, you can't say that it wouldn't work. "It's an unknown unknown".

Food for thought:

Ok, You can't compare Dead End with a major studio film like SM but you also can't compare it with that crappy seventies version. Dead End was fairly better produced.
But it's okay, you actually had a point.
I just think that all this issue is not what really matters for a good film portray, I mean, it's not just the looks that counts.
And again, as a matter of personal preference, I love BB's suit and it's high tech look.
But it could be nice to see a comic accurate, high end version of the suit, just to see how it would be.

 

[The Only Woj]

there was a poster on BOF during pre-production that confirmed the rubber suit design before the Franken-Bat pics got leaked. I do remember him saying there was a spider-man like suit made and that, I believe, he favored this design heavily over the suit we got in BB. but, regardless of how it looks, the BB design ... the armor look, it works better for a guy in this situation. he's not avoiding bullets like in the comics, he needs that extra protection.

 

[BatScot]

^ Seriously!! I mean you people just don't stop whining. The movies are not going to match your every EXACT personal standard. Stop making new threads and SHUT THE F**K UP!

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Batman can move in his BB suit. Your blind if you think not.

And it protects him.

I personally think the gray pajamas would look bad. But, hey....who gives a ****. The black armor is here to stay.

 

[BatScot]

I personally think the gray pajamas would look bad. But, hey....who gives a ****. The black armor is here to stay.

Damn straight... rubber fetish suits forever

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Black rubber, thank you very much.

If the tights were black, I'd have an easier time dealing with them. But the gray in live action does make me un-easy is all. All black sounds like the best way to go, I think.

 

[Substance D]

I think it'll be cool to see the same armor designs but instead of rubber use the same textured material that they used for the Superman suit in Returns. Also, I think the cowl looks better when the shadows cover the wide jawline, making it appear thinner, more like Bale's natural bone structure. I think they should go ahead and shape it more like Bale's face for the sequel.

 

[Retroman]

that's why i metnioned the "middle ground" between the "rubber suit" and the spandex, which is what the SR suit is, its an improved version of the same material used for the BB suit-- it gives the actor amazing flexibility. now of course you still want it to look like armour, but you can achieve that with the right coloration and design without "teh puffy" effects that the BB suit has been criticized over

The SR suit is something we're supposed to believe CK wears under his normal clothes. Like Singer said bullest of his chest not his suit.
The BB suit is definetely more 'real'. Its his first year as Batman so i think he'll made some modifications here and there.

I'd love to see whats going on in 'The Garage' right now.

I think when it comes to Batman: when he's drawn, the contrast works better for him. When in real life, the all black works better.

Exactly.

 

[XCharlieX]

Damn straight... rubber fetish suits forever

Lets see... how good can you spin the idea of underwear over tights? YOU CANT. Talk about fetish. They solved that problem and people still complain. If the suit was shiny like patent leather id say something.

Is there any other costume look that looks like it can be fireproof, be not so easy to slice, and look like nothing in the shadow? Negative.

I correlate his suit more to a firemans coat more than fetish.

 

[XCharlieX]

And to the guy who posted spiderman...

spiderman is a different ballgame. Spiderman has super powers, and is an acrobatic type of character. Hes also in Raimis world which is more cartoonish and humor filled.

 

[kame-sennin]

I see now that by tapering in at the neck, it makes the head look too bulbous. That's probably why the neck was so wide on the Begins outfit.

I find this comment both ironic and eroneous. I find it ironic considering how bulbous the BEGINS cowl is (although, in a different area), and eroneous due to the fact that the Burton cowl had a tapered neck and yet was not bulbous. Again I say, the low-budget DE costume is not a valid counter argument against a comics faithful suit.

Yes. I don't know what the hell you're even talking about and I doubt it'd change my reaction anyway.

You don't understand what he is talking about... and yet you are certain he's wrong... Good logic.

 

[kame-sennin]

Is there any other costume look that looks like it can be fireproof, be not so easy to slice, and look like nothing in the shadow? Negative.

Nolan's suit doesn't look like armor, it looks like rubber. More importantly, I've seen business suits made out of Kevlar for diplomats in dangerous situations. The material exists, and could easily be worked into a Batman costume on film.

And to the guy who posted spiderman...

spiderman is a different ballgame. Spiderman has super powers, and is an acrobatic type of character. Hes also in Raimis world which is more cartoonish and humor filled.

You ignore two key elements. Firstly, Batman is also an acrobatic character. Not to the same extent as Spider-Man, but he needs a form-fitting and flexible suit to perform various martial arts and acrobatic feats. Secondly, you ignore that I advocate adding an armor element to the standard Spider-Man suit design. Whether that be a kevlar under-suit, or simply explaining that the material is high-tech armor (which is currently available in real life).

 

[CConn]

Y'know, I actually liked how the DE suit looked. Obviously for an actual movie it'd have to look a helluva lot better (and it probably would look a helluva lot better), I...just don't have enough of a problem with the current suit(s) to complain.

Sure, he's never worn an all-black rubber suit in the comics, but he has worn all black (or very close to it). He can move around, he does look good in it (IMO, at least), and I'm just not petty enough to go around cracking S&M and ***** jokes because I didn't get a literal adaptation of my favorite character's costume.

 

[XCharlieX]

Nolan's suit doesn't look like armor, it looks like rubber. More importantly, I've seen business suits made out of Kevlar for diplomats in dangerous situations. The material exists, and could easily be worked into a Batman costume on film.

The suit looks like armor. The rubber gives it a tough material look for the extremities, and the thickness gives the appearance that one could fit a good amount of protection for the torso. The thick cowl gives an impression of protection for the neck and head. I can see someone take a pipe to his back of the neck and him being uneffected.

And Batman is not wandering around with an idea someone got from a business suit sorry.

Batman is also an acrobatic character.

The best way to see batman is combat. Acrobatics doesnt take out crime, but agile fighting does. You lean more on batman the acrobat and he loses street cred lmao.

 

[E-Mack]

Acrobatics isn't just twirling around an open space. It can, and is, utilized by Batman in his combat. We just haven't seen it in live-action.