#Batman #batfleck Today I'm going to be geeking out over how Ben Affleck was able to tun his head in the Batman cowl from Batman v Superman. This was achieved by the incredible crew over at Ironhead studios.. Enjoy!
I always liked the batman v superman suit. 1: classic grey and black. 2: it actually made him look like a creature to an extent. 3: it has 'scars" from where it's been slashed and possibly repaired. You see the history of the character.
Definitely the most bestial/creature of the night batsuit on film, which perfectly suits the character and the very idea behind the batsuit. Unfortunately, ZSJL suit kind of lost that menacing look that BvS one had.
@@frost1842 The ZSJL cowl had more angular lines and hence looked less organic. While the expression was actually more angry with a more pronounced scowl it didn't have the impact of the BvS cowl that looked more stern and animalistic. I'll take the BvS cowl over ZSJL one any day,
I agree to all that has been said in this thread. I was very skeptical about Batfleck but no other Batman live action movie has ever embodied the stylistic brawling that Batman is known for like BvS.
Thank you, I've always wanted to know how the engineers at Ironhead Studio managed to achieve this. It will be useful to plenty of Batman cosplayers. Fun fact: BvS's prototype title was "Sage and Milo", according to Zack Snyder and Chris Terrio.
Batfleck is also my favourite suit...and the irony being that despite its size and bulk, he's the most fluid and agile Batman we've ever seen on screen. Love this pure nerdery btw. When putting a suit together recently I ended up using a rugby head protector under the cowl to keep it flush with my head without it pressing into my eyes. A primitive skullcap if you will. Was a little bulky though, need to refine.
Maybe it's based on the Batfleck "Milo" technique? Just tweaked for the Pattinson Batman suit? Also - think about how far back the cowl is actually cut on Pattinson's suit. On most Batsuits, the line of the cowl opening for the jaw is a line from either the middle of the eye (Nolan Batman) or the outside line of the eye (Batfleck) straight down or slightly angled to a point right about the midpoint between the back of the jaw and the point of the chin. But on the Pattinson cowl, it's cut MUCH farther back - almost as far back as the ears! (The real person ears - not the Bat ears on top) and practically follows the full line of the jawbone and pretty much leaving the entire chin free. I'd bet that that full cutback on the Pattinson cowl jawline might have something to do with his overall flexibility in the neck area - along with a little of the technique's detailed in this video in regards to the Batfleck cowl.
@@mightyt-rex5634 Batfleck talks to people standing by his side without even turning his head towards them, just moving his eyes. Every cowl's movement is limited no matter what they say (unless you make it out of cloth or CGI)
@@mightyt-rex5634 In that specific scene he was injured and looked in pain when he shot it. I think that’s why he looked stiff in that specific moment.
One of my favorite moments from the Nolan/Bale trilogy was when they actually hung a lampshade on the whole "Bat Turn" neck stiffness issue by having Bale's Batman actually CALL IT OUT and ask Fox for the more flexible "Mk 2 Batsuit" that he first uses in Hong Kong. "I'd like to be able to turn my head." "Yes - would make backing the car out of the driveway easier."
True, but it also illustrates the problem. the Begins cowl looks much better because of the muscular neck, so changing it to make the head turn possible made the costume not look as good. Affleck's cowl solves this issue for sure.
@@peteg475 Cept that TDK cowl "solves" the problem in a simpler fashion. The BvS method, while cool, solves it in a Hollywood movie fashion. 😁 Makes me wonder how a real cowl would have to be constructed to offer protection and function to a "real" Batman.
I have been taking the work that goes into the designing of these movie costumes for granted my entire life. Thanks to your content I now have a much greater appreciation for the craftsmanship and ingenuity behind every little detail down to a simple "headturn" of Batman! Cheers!
I’ve heard about this many times, but I’ve never had it fully explained. People usually just said that Ironhead had made a revolutionary cowl for Batman in BvS. It’s even cooler knowing the studio was founded by someone working on the cowls from Keaton’s era. It’s a shame they haven’t reused the technology since. Awesome video!
Can you believe there's some people out there that don't believe that Batfleck's suit is the best? Just from the sheer mobility of the suit in action alone makes it the best Batsuit ever.
I’m honestly a huge fan of The Dark Knight suit, just for the sole purpose of the realism behind it. If Batman was a real person, hypothetically he’d need a mobile, lightweight, but armored suit. It’s almost reminiscent of samurai armor. Not saying I can’t see the beauty of Ben Afflecks suit, it’s comic accurate. But I feel like some thinks just work better on paper, rather than on film.
Aesthetically, I just prefer a leaner Batman. This is definitely the best live-action suit in terms of comic faithfulness. But Dark Knight Returns isn't my favorite Batman look.
Would you say that due to the thickness of the cowl Keaton had, he had necks to no chance of turning his neck....! Awesome video Chris, and you've answered a question that's been bugging me since 2016! Thanks man! Love geeking out about stuff like this!
Great video and info. I'm 6'3" and cosplay the BVS Batman and that suit is my forever suit. A shout out to Ninco Creations for making one of the best BVS suits available to the public.
Glad someone finally talked about it ! I’m gonna be honest I also had an idea that leaving the neck area a little more thinner and that was the way for him(Ben) to move his head around.
I liked that Keaton didn't turn his neck, it emphasized his eyes looking around and pushing his chest into his next direction, really had a unique presence
Amazing video, an thanks. No question that this Batman suit is, and will probably be, the best, and my favorite Batman suit, bar none. It’s an absolute joy to see it on screen as well as seeing Affleck’s portrayal and action sequences. I really wish WB would bring him back as the Bat for his own movie and recurring roles in other DCU movies.
Batfleck suit is the most beautiful looking Batsuit it’s just sooo simplistic and has a classic look to it almost like a creature in a way ykno not too technical Batman v superman (2016) Suicide squad (2016) Josstice league (2017) unfortunately snyder cut jL (2021) The flash movie (2023)
You probably also forgot to mention that the prop/costume department sorta HATED Clooney for the single reason of allegedly WRECKING a lot of the cowls used in his run as Batman for that one movie because he can't keep his head still - he supposedly keeps TEARING most of the cowls nearly every time he turns his head. Clooney has this physical tic where he's pretty much a bobblehead in most of his film and tv appearances - which worked against him when he wore the batsuit. He literally cannot keep his head still more often than not.
As a nerd I always love the background behind the scenes kind of stuff as a Batman fan I love learning the tech behind the costume. Thank you cosplay Chris for putting this together!
For whatever reason this vid popped up in my feed and I clicked on it curious what it was about. Gotta admit I didn't even know this whole Batman cowl thing was an issue and I've been watching Batman movies for over 30 years. lol Interesting piece of trivia tho so thx for the scoop!
For me that stiff turn was so cool I always thought, since a little kid, that Keaton's turn was just his own trademark for the movie, like Peter Weller's Robocop aiming moves for example Never crossed my mind until few years ago that was actually a costume issue improv that turned to be cool (for me at least :))
I still like how they put the leather texture on the BvS cowl but still made it look like one piece rather than several pieces stitched together like Battinson's cowl, which I also like, but the stitches do kind of hark bag to Adam West Batman though. The only thing I don't like about the BvS/Frank Miller cowl is the tiny, stubby ears. I always thought the longer sharper ears added to the menace of the overall look
This is By Far the BEST Look for BatMan that there ever was! After Years of battling tough street gangs and a multitude of supervillians... Of Course, it only Makes Sense that BatMan is forced to Forge his body into a Full-Fledged Battle Hardened, PowerHouse!!
LoL. I love it! José took it personally when they said they found the answer to allowing Batman’s head to turn, and their answer was to break the cowl into two parts.
Hey Chris can you do a video dedicated to your rundown of all the bat-suits. Plus your top 5 favourite bat-suits all in one videos. Like your looks of michael myers and jason. You would smash it.
Ben Affleck walked off the project on his own accord. If people want him to come back, they'll have to make him look past all the trauma he faced during the filming of JL and the alcoholism he faced afterwards when he was writing the script for The Batman. TLDR; It's not happening. Be happy with what you got, and who knows, maybe we'll get to see his Batman in some sort of animated project.
I'll be the first to admit design-wise I'm not fond of the costume but the technical prowess on display is legit impressive. It's amazing to see how far we've come from the days of the 1989 Batman movie where cowls were so restrictive Keaton had turn his whole body or when The Dark Knight basically had to solve that issue by having no cowl.
Grade A content. Always wondered this. But remember, Jose Fernandez designed the SpaceX helmets. His engineering literally protects lives, he’s the GOAT
Very informative. Amazing it took so many years of trial and error to get to Batfleck's cowl. The whole Trinity was dressed to impress in BvS (excuse the crappy rhyme there).
In a way, the collapsible core is in the movie itself. In Alfred’s first scene he’s conducting maintenance on a cowl-shaped helmet, and if you look on the desk you can see the mask itself. In-universe the cowl is a leather mask placed overtop of a metal helmet, just like how the costume is a foam latex mask overtop a plastic mask.
Imagine if they had figured this out before the dark knight sequels. I don't hate bales plated suit but he definitely would have gotten a better suit upgrade.
Lovely video as always Chris. Not to complain or anything but is it possible to tone down the background music? Id much rather just listen to you without anything as disruptive as that.
I've always thought *the MCU Daredevil costume* was the best basis for a believable-looking Batsuit, specifically having *material over armour padding.* The Batfleck suit gets this, at least aesthetically, 'cos I think obvious plating gets away from the Gothic horror notion of Bats trying to seem like a creature of the night, as opposed to *a Black Ops agent in a pointy hat.* *Re: the cowl;* I've never understood the need to make it _a one-piece feature._ I know it's the aesthetic in the comics, but that's intentionally simplified to be drawn repeatedly. (Side note: The under-frame in the mask is a great idea and actually shows up in the comics in the infamous _Batman: Odyssey_ by Neal Adams) What's even more befuddling is the insistence on using latex and rubber. Again, the DD suit does this well, having that division of _shoulder-neck-head_ with softer materials, but it totally works because the design is aesthetically well-considered *and* functions with the actor's build. I just find it funny that we can suspend disbelief with any other hero's costume, but Bruce Wayne can't invent a suit that's as flexible as thermal underwear, but as resilient as kevlar. _Believability over reality_ is what I'm trying to convey. Another thing that bothers me with Batsuits is movement: obviously that's always the major thing and good actors have worked within the limitations, but just once it'd be nice to see a graceful, acrobatic Batman instead of a chunky, clunky Dark Knight. I think I've ranted enough here. 😄 Good vid! Loving finding out the processes for these things.
Ya know, I went back and watched this and also watched the special features where the costume designer that was on set for Batman Begins the 1st film in the dark knight trilogy and she was talking about how they designed and made the one piece cowl flexible so Bale could turn his head 😮 so technically, BVS was not the first time an actor could turn their head in a one piece cowl! You learn something new everyday! Cheers 🍻