Training Montage!

[bolson]

Saw the new Batman movie last night. If I recall correctly, the training montage consisted mostly of pushups and pullups. I know that there should be a lot more to it than that, but maybe those two highly recognizable exercises worked as movie shorthand for 'did a lot of exercise to get in shape for beating up badguys'?
Also, just like Watchmen, sometimes superheroes are just regular guys who train harder and hit harder (and have really cool toys).

Comments

[clara-girl.livejournal.com]

Maybe it depends on what the aim is?

Shoulder injury-prevention exercises and somatics are not nearly as dramatic as pushups and pullups. Also, pushups and pullups are all very recognizable by the general population as "hard stuff most people struggle with." They're as important (to my own body) as somatics and yoga and shoulder exercises. Different people and different athletes have different training regimens. Some of it's badass. Some of it's boring to watch.

If you're making a summer movie, you want scenes that are immediately recognizable to as wide an audience as possible. We all were made to do pushups and pullups in gym class. Most of the population would struggle with it. So it works as a quick shorthand reference for "training really hard." Batman is not a training video. :)

Also, I'm pretty sure super heroes are just regular guys who train really hard and are really dedicated. Or naturally talented. But we like the ones who are naturally talented, train really hard and are really dedicated... and not jerks. :)

[genuinekfc.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with "movie shorthand." I've occasionally seen some funky positions to show off badass-ery or how hard a character is working*, but there's a general trend to show the exercises that are instantly recognizable as hard. Exercises that are difficult/important, but not impressive looking, don't make the cut.

*(Ethan Hawke's hanging sit-ups in Gattaca comes to mind.)