Batman v Superman

[BWPS]

I heard Ben Affleck is trying to LOSE weight because they're wanting a skinny Batman who gets enhanced strength, agility, and flight ability from the technology of the suit. The whole thing was Ben's idea and he's been making all sorts of demands like this and getting his way because he's such a big star because he wants to make sure Batman can go toe-to-toe with the Man of Steel.

[BentonGrey]

Gah!  These costumes need trunks!  They look good, other than the big piece of the costume that is missing.

[Jimaras8]

Trunks? You mean the undrewear Benton?

[thalaw2]

Benton is a gentleman.  He'd never mention the "unentionables"

[Tomato]

Benton, I've been thinking about the trunks issue since you made your post... and while I sympathise in the case of Superman (because the trunks add a balance of color I agree is missing from the modern Superman outfit) I don't think the same can be said for Batman, particularly since there has not been a single live action Batman film that's featured them since the Burton days.

That said, the reason the trunks were included in the first place was inspired by the Strong Men and Circus performers of that era. It made sense for these amazing characters to run around with outfits inspired by people who were doing similarly amazing things in real life. It served, in its own way, to make the outlandish abilities seem more real... and the fact that they were wearing outfits similar to real people gave their costumes a meaning beyond just being a normal outfit.

However, we've since moved away from that... Strongmen today are more likely characterized by Tank Tops and Shorts than by one piece spandex outfits, and circus performers... well, as they always have, they wear whatever grabs the most attention. It might have made sense for a Superman of the 1940s to design his costume based on these elements... hell, it could even make sense for one who appeared during the 1980s or 1990s to have created it because his parents (as seen in the Lois and Clark show) might have been inspired by the memory of those costumes the same way a Superman emerging in the 1940s might have.

But now, it's 2014. We've reached the point where most of a mainstream audience doesn't even remember when the trunks belonged to anything but Superheroes. The trunks have gone from being an element that ties superheroes to the real world, or even one that ties into the nostalgia people had for a bygone era, and has become something that ties them more to the fantastic. And don't get me wrong, that can be a good thing... but in the case of Batman, a character who is very much tied into realism and darkness... it doesn't make any sense.

[crimsonquill]

Ben has been on a major workout and diet since he was first signed on to be Batman so he would fill out the costume. That costume you see in the photo is a fabric costume there is no "extra padding" in that suit at all. Ben is VERY insistent that his Batman be exactly what he is supposed to be.. the peak of physical condition with no cheats until he absolutely needs them to be able to take on Superman. Now the Batman in this movie is supposed to be one that has mostly retired from being in his costume and focusing more on his business until everything that happened in Metropolis that caught his attention, so maybe he is supposed to start the film with a less "pumped up" look but by the time he reaches his battle with Superman he has been training non-stop and looking for anything that might give him an advantage.

- CQ

[Jimaras8]

CQ i don't want to rain on your parade but as Henry Cavill in Man of Steel i think Ben still wears a muscle suit underneath his bat suit. And that info comes from an insider in stunt indusrty who knows how this works 

[Shogunn2517]

Annnnnnd we have a title....  Annnnnnnnnd it isn't "World's Finest".



http://variety.com/2014/film/news/batman-superman-titled-batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-1201188157/

[steamteck]

Actually really pleased with Batman's look. I'm so over the armor plate look. With the crew helming this, I'm really hyped about this film.

[John Jr.]

I would like better a "World's Finest"  movie than a Batman vs Superman, but I can understand WB's reasoning.
I still wary of the movie, but I really liked Bats costume and it will be great to see the League on a movie.
A little more info about the movie:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/05/21/new-batman-superman-film-officially-subtitled-dawn-of-justice-starts-principal-photography-today/

[Starman]

Why is the double-barrelled title necessary? Are they planning more than one Batman vs Superman movie or something?

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

The second title is a reference to it leading up to the Justice League, like Captain America was subtitles "The First Avenger."

[thalaw2]

The title is whack...straight up booty whack.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

It took another look at the icon, and the Batman and Superman logos are completely different styles and do not blend well together, IMO.

The title's okay, but World's Finest would still have been my preference.  Perhaps Batman/Superman: World's Finest, just for the legions of clueless moviegoers who don't know what World's Finest is.

[Podmark]

I do find it amusing that Batman got first billing despite this technically being a Superman sequel. We all know who the more popular hero is.
The title is pretty blah but at least it's honest. That is what everyone has and will be calling this film forevermore.

Actually we should all step back a second, forget who's directing, the actors, past performances, the potential overfilled cast, and just think that we're actually getting a big screen Superman and Batman team-up. That by itself is pretty amazing.

[Shogunn2517]

Since I think I was just realizing two topics for two separate movies were bleeding(and derailing) one, I'm putting news of BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE here.  Yahoo is reporting FOUR villains and a Superman pic.  But in my opinion, I thought it was Ultraman for a hot second.  But see for yourself:

https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/batman-v-superman-first-look-supes-antagonist-rumors-155132879.html

Spoiler

So outside of the Kid Luthor, we have:

Victor Zsazs, a knife wielding killer
Morgan Edge, Lexcorp Publicist
David Cain, highly trained assassin
Amanda Waller, a powerful Senator(?)

Which begs the question:  How many extra DC characters can you squeeze into a "Batman/Superman"/Superman movie sequel?

[BentonGrey]

Hmm, I think you could tell a pretty excellent story with some of those characters, especially:

Spoiler

The Wall.  Here's hoping they actually cast someone who can play the classic version rather than a waifish type like the New 52 version.  It would be good to not have that negative aspect of comics show up in the movie.

Other than her and the obvious villain, the others don't really interest me, but I suppose they've got potential.

[Shogunn2517]

If their casting decisions so far is any indication, they'd likely get Nicki Minaj.

[Shogunn2517]

And before anyone starts, she's black, Nicki's black, I'm black = No racism here.

Move on.

[abenavides]

Those 4 extra characters don't bother me as I thought they might when I saw the headline. (I was thinking "4 extra villains? Darkseid, Brainiac, Grodd, and Sinestro? yeah that'd be too much" )

Zasz and Cain are basically skilled people (for Batman?) to fight. He needs to so something after all and I appreciate when they go with a character from the comics for this rather than , "John Doe, excellent fightin' dude"

Morgan Edge is an established part of the Superman mythos, and though I don't normally think of him as a "villain" he was often antagonistic and I think there was a link to Intragang, no?

Amanda Waller is just what they need to get the JLA rolling, IMO. She is either their govt liason or will watch them and build up her anti_JLA countermeasure team. (they are just setting the groundwork with her)

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

I would personally love for C.C.H. Pounder, who voice her in Justice League Unlimited to play her.  She looks right and can play that type of character perfectly.  She might be a bit older than they are looking for though.

[abenavides]

Yep, CCH pounder would be perfect casting, but you're right, probably not the way they're leaning.

[Shogunn2517]

Not that I'd be against CCH Pounder, and I know the movie wasn't well liked, but we've already seen Amanda Waller in a Hollywood feature.  Would it be too much to ask Angela Bassett to reprise that role?

[Talavar]

When did Angela Bassett play Amanda Waller?  I'm genuinely drawing a blank on that one.

[abenavides]

She did it in Green Lantern

And she was fine.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

I had to look it up, actually.  The Green Lantern.  Which explains why I'd forget it.  I also think she's too skinny.  Waller is called "The Wall" for several reasons, physical size being one of them.  She doesn't have to be grossly overweight or anything like that, but there is a certain look you'd expect.  Again, Pounder is perfect in this aspect.

Maybe Basset could play the role very well otherwise, but in spite of having seen Green Lantern, I remember nothing about her in that role.

[abenavides]

Vaguely recall she may have been a scientist in GL? (instead of a govt agt)

[BentonGrey]

Yeah, the GL one was pretty forgettable, like pretty much everything else about that movie.  CCH Pounder would, of course, be perfect.  I'd KILL to see a live-action adaptation of (part of) the Cadmus arc from JLU.

[abenavides]

Yes! The Cadmus arc is ideal fodder for a future JLA sequel.

re: the GL movie
- I'm a big GL fan (if you catch me in an unguarded moment, I would reveal things that might surprise about my fandom past with GL)
Surprisingly (given that), I didn't hate the movie as much as most seem to. Were there plot points/actors I would have changed, yeah, definitely. But it wasn't "Batman & Robin" or "Catwoman" levels of suckage. I also don't get bloggers who go on and on about how they can't have Green Lantern in a JLA movie due to that movie. Or that that it can't be Hal. Marvel's gone through 3 Bruce Banners and 1 unpopular Hulk movie and they're doing fine.

If I recall , Angela Basset was Waller, but she was in a scene or 2 (as a scientist or something) and didn't seem to have much to do other than be there. I remember thinking, what was the point in calling her Amanda Waller?

That being said, if she reprised the role (and it was more like the comic Waller), I wouldn't mind. It actually would help tie the DC movies a little closer together.

[Podmark]

If that article is accurate then the most interesting thing for me personally is

Spoiler

The use of David Cain. As I huge Batgirl fan, the use of her father piques my interest, but I'd expect they just picked Cain as a minor foe for Batman. I doubt it's a sign of an appearance by Cassandra.