Man of Steel (Pre-release)

[misterfusion]

Oh, and James Bond has had the same theme music since 1962. The character has been played by multiple characters in films ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime and he's never changed his tune.

EVERYONE associates Wiliams' theme with Superman. There is absolutely no good reason, except job justification for the composer, to not use THE Superman Theme.

 

[Pauleysolo]

The William's Superman music-from end to end- is probably the best motion score ever--there I said it!

 

[Pauleysolo]

I loled.

Funny!

 

[JD]

Superman the movie was an example of a property being treated with respect. What Mank and Donner did probably couldn't be done again. Superman the movie was fortunate enough to not have studio execs around. It sucks that the Salkins got greedy and brought in Lester - ruining what what still be today looked at as the definitive book end Superhero movies.

You're entitled to your opinion. I never really understood the appeal of those Superman flicks... I love the character but still feel they didn't nail it - or come that close.

I can think of a few films that I think are much more the definitive superhero film.

 

[misterfusion]

You're entitled to your opinion.

Right back atcha

\S/

 

[ave4uevoli]

You're entitled to your opinion. I never really understood the appeal of those Superman flicks... I love the character but still feel they didn't nail it - or come that close.

I can think of a few films that I think are much more the definitive superhero film.

just out of curiosity, what films did you have in mind?

I thought Reeve's portrayal of Superman is still the best out of all the other Supermen. I don't think anyone is really disputing that there were other comic adaptations that were better - just that there have been no other Superman movies that can compare to Reeve's

 

[Solo4114]

That's rather damning with faint praise, though.

Plus, let's not forget that (A) the Superman character has changed a lot in the course of the comics, and (B) the comics weren't exactly immune to "Hey, let's sell out!" either.

Mulletman, anyone?

 

[Jet Beetle]

You gotta remember, the movie isn't being made for "us," it's being made for the widest possible audience.

Sure, we know Brainiac and Darkseid, but John Q. Popcorn knows Zod, and those same people who were mad at "Superman Returns" because Superman didn't punch nobody or break nuthin' will equate Zod with ass kicking and maybe give Supes another chance.

It's all Hollywood Dollars and Nonsense...

Agreed on the front of the bad guy - buut you have to remember Zod, before the Donner movies, was pretty much a bit player in the comics and very few people knew who he was - or even what the Phantom Zone was before the movies. But your point brings out the most important problem with how they handle these movies today. In Superman The Movie - the character of Superman was explored in the first act and even with the introduction of Clark (at the Daily Planet) they were still mining who he was and how his morals were as powerful as his raw strength. "Please see to it my mother gets half my paycheck". They really don't do that today. The bad guy takes front stage, battling it out with showcases of special effects and CGI nonsense.

As Zod is now known by everyoone - Brainiac or whoever could be handled in the same manner. Open on Krypton - show that Braniac caused it's destruction and launch the kid to Earth. Now, you don't have to make him the bad guy in the first movie - much like they are doing with Sinestro in gl - but bringing him out at sometime, matching Supes with an entire data bank of Kryptonian biology and schematics of their weapons and how to build them in a blink of an eye - hold on to your hat.

 

[Solo4114]

What is this thing you call "story"? Your words are strange to me. We need more 'splosions.

 

[MooMooEgg]

We need more 'splosions.

Baysplosions?

 

[Lost in Trek]

The William's Superman music-from end to end- is probably the best motion score ever--there I said it!

I couldn't agree more. :thumbsup

 

[JD]

just out of curiosity, what films did you have in mind?

I thought Reeve's portrayal of Superman is still the best out of all the other Supermen. I don't think anyone is really disputing that there were other comic adaptations that were better - just that there have been no other Superman movies that can compare to Reeve's

That's part of the problem for me, Christopher Reeve just doesn't fit for me as Superman. I think George Reeves portrayal of both Superman and Clark Kent just seem much more inline with the comics (although the comics did bend to the Chris Reeve portrayal in the late 70s/early 80s). I understand that people are enamored with his Superman, and to many folks he is their Superman - I respect that, I can understand it... I just don't agree with it.

I think the Superman TV show of the 50s is the iconic comic book in video form. It's episodic (or one-and-done), just like comics were back then (and really up until the last decade or so). I thing The Crow did amazing job of remaning faithful to the original comic - although, not a superhero movie, per se. Heck, I think 1989's Batman is much more the superhero/comic book film over Superman... I'll also mention The Rocketeer, Hellboy, Kick Ass, Iron Man (it's late the hockey game is on, I'm at a loss right now for others).

As I said, I'm biased. I'm still hopeful for the new film and I'm grateful that they appear to be moving away from the Chris Reeve films. Nothing against those movies and those that like them... the character's been through so many variations and gone through so many changes over the years, I just think it's time to move on away from those films.

(John Byrne's Man of Steel mini-series would be perfect place for the film to take some inspiration from).

 

[YenChih Lin]

That's ok JD… I think, it has to do with which time you grew up with which Superman. I wasn't grown up with George Reeves, I know the episodes, but I'm not "in it", if you know what I mean. What I like about Chris' portrayal is the destinction between his persona Kent/Superman, where he said himself, he want to flesh out more the camoflage, that wasn't so present in George's portrayal. Besides, Chris looked like out of the Curt Swan era, that's why he was so favourite - like out of the comics you know and read.

What Superman portrayal I like to see? Superman TAS by Tim Daly - a good compromise between George's and Chris' version. Not to bumbling, not to confident Clark, a more human Superman. And a adaption of an episode of TAS or a comic arc.

 

[JD]

I think might point is that there's so much to the character and some people tend to focus on four movies that are 30 years old. There's plenty of history and character over the 73 years that he's been around.

 

[Solo4114]

In fairness, NOBODY is focusing on Superman IV.

 

[Jet Beetle]

JD, You and all of my Uncles would get along perfectly when it comes to this. They all grew up on George and never really embraced Chris as Superman, until he got hurt. They all praised him for his efforts to get better and use his celebrity to shine light on paralysis. I will say, on the other hand, all of my younger cousins still see Chris as Superman and they grew up watching Lois and Clark and Superman Returns. Weird how Dean Cain never owned the role. Terri Hatcher (first season) is still the HOTTEST Lois there's ever been (including that Erica chic from Smallville) And as much as I love Chris as the Man of Steel, I never liked Kidder one bit as Lois Lane.

 

[nickytea]

Yeah, Kidder bugs my wife more than she bugs me. She can hardly watch the movies because of her. (If I ever want to annoy her, I do my best Kidder impression and say "Can you read my mind?" Inarguably the worst V.O. ever.)

There's a part of me that loves Chris as supie, and another that will always prefer George. I grew up with both, and the appeal of both still lives with me.

 

[Solo4114]

Yeah, I've heard she's a nice lady in person, but I was never much of a fan of Margot Kidder's Lois. Some of it is intentionally the writing, which turned her from a passionate do-gooder "anything you can do, I can do better" type, into a hard-drinkin' smokin' gal. I don't know what the rationale was for that -- maybe to keep with the times somehow -- but it just didn't do it for me, even as a kid.

I'd also say that I thought Brandon Routh did a pretty good job, but really he was just aping Chris. Aping him well, I thought, but still aping him.


With Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, my sense is that we're going to be getting a LOT more Superman and a lot less Clark Kent. While I can sort of see him as Superman, I have a very hard time seeing him as Clark Kent.

 

[misterfusion]

In fairness, NOBODY is focusing on Superman IV.

True! Consider yourself lucky that we're not getting Nuclear Man!

Hey Paul, the first Superman movie was...well...the first. They sold Superman (and Brando and Hackman). Now they have to cleanse the pallet and try to get people interested in Supes again.

Since the 1st Reeve film, they came back to the well with diminishing returns until S:IV effectively put the Kryptonite nail in the coffin.

 

[JD]

JD, You and all of my Uncles would get along perfectly when it comes to this. They all grew up on George and never really embraced Chris as Superman, until he got hurt. They all praised him for his efforts to get better and use his celebrity to shine light on paralysis. I will say, on the other hand, all of my younger cousins still see Chris as Superman and they grew up watching Lois and Clark and Superman Returns. Weird how Dean Cain never owned the role. Terri Hatcher (first season) is still the HOTTEST Lois there's ever been (including that Erica chic from Smallville) And as much as I love Chris as the Man of Steel, I never liked Kidder one bit as Lois Lane.

I can't say I really grew up on George Reeves (he was dead long before I was born), I definitely fit the Chris Reeve era age-wise.

My perfect movie Superman hasn't been filmed yet. If the could just film the mid to late 80's comics (I've already mentioned John Byrne's Man of Steel).