I think I'd have to see it in the movie...what happened directly before and after. Can you get a time for its appearance in the movie?
Based simply on how it looks, it could be some kind of caltrop. Batman was trained in the japanese martial arts, and that looks a bit like the japanese style of caltrop I've seen.
Caltrop? Are those those little things you throw on the ground hoping the guy chasing you steps on it and pierces his foot or something?
It occurs approx 1:46:20 into the film, according to my counter. Batman enters the bell tower, hot on the heels of the Joker. He hears the Joker's voice mocking him and then a flunky, the martial arts, Asian flunky does several flips toward Batman and then launches himself feet first at the caped crusader, knive springing out of his boots. batman calmly stands there and then raises his hand and then the padding on the surface of his palm springs forward on a metal arm below his wrist, adding a foot or two to the length of his arm, hitting the bad guy squarely in the nuts and he drops to the ground.
This device has been puzzling me since 1989 because it does not seem to have any purpose to it unless Battyman actually had the following train of thought:
"You know, if an Asian, martial arts flunky ever leaped at me feet first with knives on his boots, I'd be done for! Wait! I know! I'll put a device on my glove that causes the plam of my glove with the weird pebbly surface to extend out about two feet on a metal rod just under my wrist. then I could just hold up my arm between the fellow's legs and his own momentum will carry him into the device and crush his testical like an elephant on a Timex watch! Gad! How do I do it! Alfred, we shall need some materials from Builder's Square!"
I suppose technically, there is no answer to this question as it was just Burton, who doesn't really care about comic book heroes, added a real IITS moment, but it still bothers me like a cancre sore that just won't heal.
Are you sure we are supposed to be able to see it amidst all the darkness in the movie? I've seen this film God knows how many times and never noticed it... MTFBWY. Always.
Originally posted by: jack Spencer Jr Caltrop? Are those those little things you throw on the ground hoping the guy chasing you steps on it and pierces his foot or something?
Basically yes, but they're not always small. Larger ones could be used against horses or automobiles. The conventional European style was also refered to as Crow's Feet, because of its shape. The Japanese version that I've seen is a little different: However, after your description of its placement in the film, that couldn't be its function.
I went back to look at the movie, and I think I've seen that everytime and said "What was that?" but not given it much more thought.
I'm with Dayv, it looks like some kind of arm extension, but it also looks like it may also work as a brace. That was a pretty hard impact and you'd think it would buckle any man's wrist or elbow otherwise.
