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baronlaw October 24 2010, 00:21:35 UTC
I love the sets and costumes from those old serials.

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dr_hermes October 24 2010, 00:34:50 UTC
Yes. Filmmakers put today's super-heroes in black leather and rubber because they think literal costumes would look silly. But Tom Tyler in his Captain Marvel suit looked great. I think it has to do more with the actor's confidence and gravitas. Both Christopher Reeve and Lynda Carter never seemed embarassed and it showed.

In general, too, I'm fond of clothing styles in general from that era. Fedoras, in particular, are just cool but now few men could get away with wearing one around town.

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full_metal_ox October 25 2010, 05:45:53 UTC
So are black leather catsuits just supposed to be dark, edgy, and Not Your Father's Supersuit, or are they actually practical adventuring attire? (I recall Kate Beckinsale recounting how it took three people and a liberal application of talcum powder to shoehorn her into her UNDERWORLD costume.)

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dr_hermes October 25 2010, 16:26:27 UTC
A leather jacket certainly gives some protection, ask a biker and they'll tell you. But you don't have as much freedom of movement as you might want. Leather pants especially are restrictive and heavy, and tight-fitting leather is even worse. So it's a trade-off. Do you want protection against falls and scrapes more than you want comfort and range of motion?

I suppose moviemakers go with black leather because it Looks Cool. But (to me at least) part of the appeal of super-heroes is the bright colorful outfits that are not practical as much as they are dramatic.

I don't think Beckinsale's UNDERWORLD suit was leather (aside from the corset part, perhaps). It looked stretchy and rubbery, and she seemed able to move freely in it. I'd guess it was vinyl or a sort of latex, which is certainly not as comfy as a light cotton T-shirt but since the character is a nonhuman vampire, maybe she's not bothered by it and doesn't need to struggle out of it when her bladder signals it's full.

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