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How the Batsuit Works 379
An anonymous reader writes "Batman's outfit plays a much more prominent role in Batman Begins than it did in the previous films. And a lot of the technology actually seems plausible. This HowStuffWorks article explains all its features."
Hmm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hmm (Score:3, Funny)
Not all that hath nipples, hath beauty... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Not all that hath nipples, hath beauty... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Not all that hath nipples, hath beauty... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hmm (Score:5, Interesting)
The suit was made by a friend of mine, who happens to be a big fan, so he put the effort in to make the suit look right. Of all the batman films so far, it's probably the one that most closely mirrors the comics.
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
So is the bat suit supposed to be hard body armor or a shirt? Some of the Batman comics that I used to read years ago seem to indicate a shirt and he kept a spare shirt in the trunk. Then again, the criminal elements probably didn't have armor-piercing ammo back then.
Re:Hmm (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Hmm (Score:5, Interesting)
That's Superman. Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller shows Batman seriously getting seriously wounded during a confrontation.
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Re:Hmm (Score:3, Interesting)
No they don't. That Batman is a hero without superpowers is what makes him special.
Re:Hmm (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hmm (Score:4, Funny)
Who is your friend? The article specifically mentions, "The Batsuit for 'Batman Begins' was created by costume designer Lindy Hemming."
Lindy Hemming is either a woman, or one of the ugliest men I've ever seen. [google.com]
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
He didn't fabricate it alone. He has a work shop and employees.
Re:Hmm (Score:2, Interesting)
Sorry, I got to call BullSh*t on that one. No Batman comic ever suggested a batsuit anything like any of the movies. The comic suit was always a typical cloth, nothing fancy, foldup-stuff-it-in-a-sack spandex suit.
The closes thing to the movie batsuits was in the "NightFall" storyline whe
Utility Belt (Score:2)
When I was in kindergarten, I watched the Adam West series on television every day. I wrote a letter to our local television station, with my parents' help, asking where I could buy a Batman utility belt. Someone at the station must have thought it was cute, because they replied with a polite note saying, We're sorry, but we don't know where you can purchase a Batman utility belt.
I always thought that was a stupid, missed opportunity for merchandising Batman. It wouldn't have been expensive to manufacture
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
This is an improvement over the only noticable feature of "has nipples" from previous Batman films... I approve!
No no, the concept is good! The mistake was making Batman's visible. Maybe that explains this film's [imdb.com] creation...
Codpieces? (Score:3, Funny)
Baldrick: My Uncle Baldrick was in a play once.
Edmund: Really?
Baldrick: Yeah. It was called Macbeth.
Edmund: And what did he play?
Baldrick: Second codpiece. Macbeth wore him in the fight scenes.
Edmund: So he was a stunt codpiece?
Baldrick: Yeah.
Edmund: Was it a large part?
Baldrick: Depended on who was playing Macbeth.
Re:Batman and the bathroom... (Score:2, Funny)
That's the best I can figure...
Shark Repellent (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Shark Repellent (Score:4, Informative)
This very moment shows that about anything can be found on Batmans belt, anything that will get him out of trouble after the commercial break or at the beginning of the second part of a two part episode.
Contrary to what state the article the belt has about no fix equipement appart from the gun that fire something that let him climb -- nowadays they say magnetic, old times was a boomerang or grapling hook... how a magnetic thingy can attach to the stones of a building beats me but hey it's Batman, and How Stuff Works...
Re:Shark Repellent (Score:3, Insightful)
Batman (1966) [imdb.com]
But it might have been in an episode too?
Re:Shark Repellent (Score:2, Informative)
qz
Re:Shark Repellent (Score:5, Funny)
Ugh. I caught a Batman episode once where the dynamic duo were tied to a buoy out at sea. It really sucked for them because a torpedo was headed straight for them. *COMMERICAL* When the show came back, Batman and Robin were soaked. After a moment passed, Batman thanked the selfless porpoise that gave its life to detonate the torpedo before it hit them.
Our hero, ladies and gentlemen. You should see him at the roulette wheel.
Re:Shark Repellent (Score:3, Funny)
Don't think I saw that episode. Did he use the Bat-Cyanide Capsule?
Plausible (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Plausible (Score:2)
Given another 50 or so years with advancement in nanotech, I don't think it would be so far fetched.
Real Stuff (Score:5, Interesting)
--
Don't fight Firefox! Let FireFox fight YOU! [bobpaul.org]
Re:Real Stuff (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Real Stuff (Score:5, Insightful)
Yotto: *Yawn*
HowStuffWorks: Here are a handful of articles written for fun on technology seen in popular movies.
Yotto: OMG, HowStuffWorks sucks! They are teh sellouts! How can they do this to me?
It must be terrible to live in your serious, serious world.
Re:Real Stuff (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Real Stuff (Score:2)
I found this one particularly interesting:
"Batman Begins" Production NotesBefore Christian Bale was cast as Batman, many other actors were considered or read for the role. These actors include Guy Pearce, David Boreanaz, John Cusack, David Duchovny, Hugh Dancy, Joshua Jackson, Eion Bailey, Billy Crudup, Cillian Murphy, Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Imagine John Cusack as Batman!
Re:I really hope they do real articles too (Score:5, Insightful)
howstuffworks is useless now. Just another website where advertising has replaced content.
~Will
Re:I really hope they do real articles too (Score:2)
Re:I really hope they do real articles too (Score:2, Interesting)
Though how-to and how-stuff-works aren't exactly the same, but enough close for me.
Sponsor? (Score:2, Insightful)
Sponsored links should be declared as such to help seperate news from "news".
Re:Sponsor? (Score:2)
Batman (Score:5, Insightful)
Looking forward to the new Batman -- he's one of the deepest comic book heroes out there. Apart from his own turmoil, documented throughout the series, the madness, brooding insanity and general darkness of Gotham is still an interesting depiction of a vaguely 40s American Urban wasteland. It contrasts fairly starkly with today's forgettable, fluffy all-star heroes.
This Kuro5hin article [google.com] makes interesting reading.
Re:Oh definitely. (Score:4, Funny)
That better?
Be gentle. Cutting back on the cigarettes.... tend to be a little more edgy....
In the table of contents (Score:2, Funny)
If only...
What we really need; (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What we really need; (Score:3, Insightful)
Simple, really...
Notice the lack of a "..." step here... Slashdot has nicely answered that (apparently-not-so-)eternal question for us.
The only real skill involved occurs in step #1... In this case, I have to admit, getting geeks to read a description of what boils down to a fashion accessory really takes t
Re:What we really need; (Score:2)
p
I want it! (Score:2, Funny)
hehehe...
So is this movie actually good? (Score:4, Insightful)
After the last few Batman horrors I swore I would never go to another Batman-related movie, but this one seems to be faring well on Rotten Tomatoes, and Roger Ebert even gave it 4 stars (although he is admittedly something of a teenage boy when it comes to superhero movies). However, I'm sorely tempted to actually pay money to see this. Especially because Christian Bale is so much more interesting than run-of-the-mill action heroes. I had to kill a *lot* of people.
So, would it be worth it, or is this essentially more Hollywood crap? Are the good reviews merely a product of relief a the fact that it's not monumentally awful, or is it actually _good_?
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Interesting)
That is true. Ebert said that Spidey 2 should win a best picture Oscar! Not that I don't like Spiderman but I thought both movies weren't that great - as far as movies go.
It's my opinion, I'm entitled to be wrong though.
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Insightful)
But if you ask me, both Spiderman movies pretty much have it all. They're actually pretty deep and interesting on the emotional level, if you're willing to take the risk of taking them seriously. They're also
Getting O/T (Score:2)
I pretty much was let down by the Spiderman movies. The first one was pretty good, comical, action packed and featured Stan Lee (!!!). I think it was William Dafoe that ruined it for me, if not the entire Osborne family - both of them. It wasn't really that I hated the movies, but I'd take X2 over Spiderman any day.
Again, just my opinion. Maybe I just need to watch them both again?
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:2)
p
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Funny)
So, would it be worth it, or is this essentially more Hollywood crap?
As contrasted, say, by those fine, fine French superhero films? Or those magnificent big-budget Dutch action-adventure movies?
I mean, d00d, it's a Batman flick! The scale for movies adapted from comix goes from Corman's Fantastic Four at the crap end up through Spiderman 2 on the Tiffany side, but either way it's all Hollywood. Don't get all sniffy and European when you're discussing grand-scale superhero movies: nobody does them be
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Interesting)
I believe "Hollywood crap" can be contrasted with "Hollywood non-crap." There are a rare few action movies that are both smart, entertaining and well-made. For example: Ronin, The Matrix (I), The Crow, Aliens, arguably the first Spiderman (though I'm not totally sold on this). As for European action movies, I strongly recommend Enemy At the Gates, a very realistic and gripping war movie about Stalingrad. Watch it instead of assuming that nothing good
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Informative)
Japanese - manga anyone?
Russian - who do you think first made Solaris into a movie? And I recall an aquaman-type movie from the Soviet era (wish I could remember the name) that was amazing.
British - How many times has Robin Hood been made into a movie? Not to mention Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Sherlock Holmes, etc, etc, etc.
China - The Hong Kong film industry was built on the back of martial arts superheroes from Chinese history. And don't get me started on Bollywood
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:2)
You seem to be the only one here who doesn't understand what a 'superhero' is. Let me help, there are these things called comic books...
Roger Herbert a reference as a movie critic!!?? (Score:2)
1-Lotsa budget on the movie
2-Big names, awfull movie
3-He just made a few bucks
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Informative)
One thing: this is NOT an action movie. It's a drama with some comic-booky elements, but the action in it is really not done in a spectacular form. The fights are not very clear - it's really hard to make out what they're doing to eachother when people fight. Some people have been complaining about that because they expected this to be one of those spectacles.
I liked it as a movie and I liked it as a Batman sto
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:5, Funny)
???!
Did this just slip out, or what?
-- YLFI
Re:So is this movie actually good? (Score:3, Informative)
The Batmobile is much more interesting (Score:4, Interesting)
Some photos (Score:2, Informative)
It was featured on the BBC motoring program 'Top Gear' [bbc.co.uk] last week.
They had to build it from scratch instead of just modifying a base vehicle. It looks kind of like a big monster truck thing, pretty cool!
http://www.movieforums.com/news/277 [movieforums.com]
Re:The Batmobile is much more interesting (Score:3, Insightful)
Realistically, to my mind he'd want if not caterpillar tracks, then as close to all-terrain as tires could give him. That would mean all-wheel drive presumably, and it would also mean big tires like the ones we see there. He'd also presumably want it to be very heavily armoured; capable of withstanding anything short of rockets if
Good Investment (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Good Investment (Score:2)
Re:Good Investment (Score:2)
You have ninety minutes to tell your story. If something must be explained, you want to do it simply, quickly and in as strongly visual and entertaining a way as possible. Good examples of computer tech done right can be found in The Incredibles, amusingly, if you freeze-frame on a keyboard, you'll find the familiar Apple key and logo.
Not mentioned. (Score:5, Funny)
You're actually right about the kryptonite (Score:5, Informative)
Re:You're actually right about the kryptonite (Score:5, Interesting)
Batman: He [superman] is the best at what he does.
Catwoman: That's open to debate
Batman: I said he's the best at what he does, not at what I do.
And in the dark knight returns (Score:3, Informative)
(Yes, I know that's not *really* what Batman has planned, but I don't want to drop any spoilers...)
You're actually right about the Robin too. (Score:2)
That's true as well.
See here http://www.superdickery.com/seduction/5.html [superdickery.com] (safe for work). Be sure to click on the "Next" links for more examples that reveal the true relationships between Batman and Robin (and Superman too)!
Hhrmmm.. (Score:4, Funny)
From the Article (Score:5, Funny)
Re:From the Article (Score:2, Funny)
Re:From the Article (Score:3, Funny)
By the end of the movie he is the majority shareholder of the publicly traded company, but through the other 99% he has no legal relationship with the company.
Re:From the Article (Score:2)
To be fair, it's difficult to imagine that Wayne himself built the suit by hand in his off hours. Presumably, a team of people had to build the thing. It is rather distinctive. It makes one wonder how he was able to have it built at Wayne Enterprises and maintain his secret identity.
Re:From the Article (Score:2)
Re:From the Article (Score:2)
Re:From the Article (Score:2, Funny)
Way to ruin it for me ya jerk! How about a spoiler warning next time?
Warning!!! (Score:2, Funny)
Go go go Gadget Bat Belt (Score:4, Funny)
Worst. Sentence. Ever. (Score:2)
gear-attachment system?
easily... and easily?
gear-attachment system (Score:2)
Advertisement? (Score:2, Insightful)
Magnetic grappling gun good for (Score:3, Funny)
2. catching that elevator
3. Climbing those stairs
4. grabbing that beer from the fridge
5. getting to the seat in the middle of that crowded theatre
6. Getting to the front of the Batman rollercoaster line
7. Peeping from the 5th floor fire escape
Sign me up!
Re:Magnetic grappling gun good for (Score:2)
Except that aluminum is not magnetic....sigh
Plucky Duck.... (Score:4, Funny)
[Plucky Duck as Batman attempts to join the Justice League]:
Justice League: "We have incredible powers! [each displays genetic abilities]. What are your powers?
Plucky Duck: [Looks concerned and then draws attention to his waist] "Well
[Entire Justice League bursts into laughters]
And then Lex Luthor shows up and drains each hero's abilities making him singularly incredible, but then tries to drain Plucky's forcing him into a weakened state and thereby losing it all. Justice League lets Plucky in based on his success as a failure....
Doh! (Score:2)
How kind of Anonymous Reader (Score:5, Interesting)
Bat Belt (Score:2)
I must be the only one (Score:3, Funny)
On the Utility Belts (Score:5, Funny)
* Bat-antidote Powder (used to recover from any form of poison)
* Bat-cillin (also called Bat-acillin, available in lozenge form to prevent infection)
* Mobile Phone Bat-plugs (enable use of a portable Bat-phone)
* Bat-gas (also called Bat-sleep, used to put people to sleep)
* Bat-awake (counteracts effects of Bat-gas)
* Anti Bat-sonic device (deflects energy beams)
* Underwater Bat-sonar Device (can be attached to tracking devices to enable them to work underwater)
* Bat-homing Devices (can be rendered ineffective by some metal alloys)
* Emergency Bat-air Pumps (used for pumping up Batmobile tires)
* Bat-respirators (used for traveling underwater)
* Remote Batcomputer (allows access to the Bat-computer's databanks from any distance)
* Bat-detector (can be set to super laugh track sensitivity)
* Bat-plugs (go in nostrils, to prevent inhalation of poisonous fumes)
* Anti Short-circuiting Brain Bat-electrodes (also known as Anti Short-circuiting Bat-brain Electrodes)
* Mini-charge (puts out 5000 Volts)
* Remote Control Batcomputer Oscillator (activates Radio Frequency Bat-generator in Batcomputer, accepts Batman's voice commands)
* Bat-melter (for locks)
* Emergency Bat-communicator (fits on jacket lapel, or disguised as cufflinks)
* Anti Eavesdrop Bat-plug (placed on telephone mouthpiece)
* Remote Batmobile Control Phase Advancer (brings Batmobile to user's current position)
* Small Echoing Seal Pulsator (tracking device for seals)
* Super-thermalized Bat-skivvies (also known as bat-thermal underwear, protect against Mr. Freeze's freeze gun)
* Batrope (used in the Bat-climb)
* Anti Radioactive Bat-pill
* Bat X-ray deflector
* Special Exploding Batarang
* Bat-cuffs
* Bat-sound Amplifier
* Trusty Bat-deflector
* Bat-fan
* Small Batcave Improvement Loan
* Empty Alphabet Soup Bat-container
* Bat-negative Ion Attractor
* Instant Unfolding Bat-costumes complete with Utility Belts (add warm water)
* Shark Repellent Bat-spray
* Heel-and-toe Bat-rockets (experimental)
* Portable Ultra-violet Bat-ray (used to set off explosions)
* Bat-geiger Counter (detects radiation and indicates which direction it's in)
* Pipe of Fog Bat-reverser
* Anti Blast Bat-powder
* Insecticide Bat-bomb
* Bat-tweezers
* Bat-shield
* Miniature Bat-communicator
* Bat-ear Plugs (block out any sound over 14,000 decibels)
* Anti Thermal Bat T-shirts (provide protection from explosions)
* Anti Lethal Fog Bat-spray
* All Purpose Bat-swatter
* Reverse Thermal Bat-lozenge
* Ice Batarang
* Ice Batrope
* Bat-tools (for picking locks)
* Bat-synchronizer (moves lips of the Bat-dummy)
* General Emergency Bat-extinguisher (can remove fog from a room)
* Batmobile Bat-tracker Device (leads the user to current position of Batmobile)
* Bat-file (for escaping from handcuffs)
* African Death Bee Antidote Pill
* Bat-brush
* Laser Bar Cutter
* Bat-hooks
* Bat-chemical (makes metal 20 times heavier)
* Anti Alvino Ray Bat-disintegrator
* Steam Neutralizing Bat-pellets
* Three-Seconds-Flat Bat-vault Combination Unscrambler
* Anti-percussion Asbestos Bat-flax
* Bat-bomb Machine (defuses bombs)
* Bat-hook (attached to suction cup, allows things to be hung on wall)
* Bat-gauge (used to search for hidden doors)
* Laser-gun (can be used to melt things)
* Special Super Thermal B Long Underwear
* Universal Drug Antidote Pill
* Anti-freeze Capsule
* Anti-mesmerizing Bat-reflector (for deflecting Mad Hatter's Super Instant Mesmerizer)
* Bat-key (though likely highly illegal, can open
Utility Belt? (Score:3, Interesting)
On a somewhat related matter, the physician's vest in Event Horizon also seems like a good idea. I'm considering a 'Red Green' and modifying a fishing vest to accommodate the usual tools I use for PC repair for family and friends. Just slip it on and I'm ready to tackle hardware and software problems!
Re:Utility Belt? (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I mean, come on, "does it run Linux" ??? (Score:5, Funny)
Do you think for a minute he'd give The Penguin such satisfaction?
Re:Cyberpunk gear (Score:3, Interesting)
That's just one applicati
Re:Cyberpunk gear (Score:3, Funny)
Douglas Adams has prior art on that: "Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses, which had been specially designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. At the first hint of trouble they turn totally black and thus prevent you from seeing anything that might alarm you."
Restaurant at the End of the Universe [fatalmind.com]
Re:a howl of a cowl (Score:2)
Re:a howl of a cowl (Score:2)
Re:swarms (Score:2)
Re:hence... (Score:3, Insightful)
But then