Yesterday I decided to write an article about Catwoman's costume and how we shouldn’t judge it yet because the film isn’t fully filmed yet Etc. I received a few comments about Bane and his costume so I thought I’d make a separate article about his costume.
The first time I heard Bane would be in The Dark Knight Rises, not going to lie I was extremely happy. Finally one of my favourite villains would actually be done justice by Christopher Nolan, after all Bane is Batmans equal in terms of brain and brawn, it seems some people forget this and just think Bane is a hulking monster. Bane isn’t a monster he believes himself to be a protector, sure he may have broken Batmans back but he did it for a challenge and to prove himself. Anyway onto the costume.
The costume for Bane is purely story driven, the trenchcoat look for the snow scenes, the vest and brown shirt also for the snow scenes. Even if a musclebound man was to go out in the snow the human body can only withstand so much, he can’t go out just wearing a vest. Nolan being one for realism Etc. So whos to say hes only wearing the vest for a few snow scenes, we don’t know because we don’t have the script so stop complaining about the clothes.
Moving onto the mask or a Thong on the face as some people are saying. Banes mask is traditionaly a luchador type mask. Now have we had any word on his nationality, No. Do we know if his father is King Snake, No. And finally do we know if he was raised in prison, No. What do we know, rumours about the league of shadows and feeling no pain yet nothing is concrete. So what would be the point of Bane wearing a luchador mask if theres no reason or backstory for him too. Costumes generally depend on the story, that’s how a film works story first and costumes have to fit in with the plot. Case and point Green Lantern used a C.G.I costume to make it look more alien and fit into the story and people continuously bashed the first look to hell, and how did it look pretty damn good if you ask me.
Another thing I hear is that people are complaining about the lack of muscle mass on Tom Hardy. The only concrete thing I can say here is that we have only seen set pictures. Emphasis on the “SET” now most people know that C.G.I is added after filming is finished, it doesn’t magically happen during filming. People are saying that he should be having the effects of venom to make him taller and more muscled, well theres a little known fact that Tom Cruise is a short man, so how does he look tall in his films. From perspective shots and the use of tall shoes etc. Will we know if these are implemented on Tom Hardy until the film is released, probably not. So deal with it, if you have negative feelings on the film don’t kick off yet, because half the film will be done after filming.
Look if Nolan wanted us to see what Bane will look like in the film he would release an official picture, do we have a clear view picture of Bane stood up… No. What do we have in compensation, zoomed in fan pictures not taken by any film crew etc , we all know Nolan is a secretive man on his films so let’s wait till the first full body look before judging… And cue the hate comments now. =p