How about a Superman that can't fly?

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Jayson, Jul 24, 2009.

  1. Jayson

    Jayson Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Would this every work for you on "Smallville" or maybe as a movie. I remember when the last "Superman" movie came out they showed something about the orgins of the Superman comic and apparently, Superman in the first episodes didn't have the power of flight. That was actually something added later on.

    Is flying now well know when it comes to the Superman to ditch?

    Jason
     
  2. CorporalClegg

    CorporalClegg Admiral Admiral

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    I think it's a must.

    The ability to leap tall buildings just doesn't offer the same gusto as it used to.
     
  3. davejames

    davejames Vice Admiral Admiral

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    For better or worse, the ability to fly is now his most defining characteristic. I really can't see a future movie or TV show doing away with that (especially with all the other comic book movie competition out there).

    Personally I'd love to see a return to the early days, when he was basically just a super-strong alien who was used to a stronger gravity. But it probably won't ever happen.
     
  4. Dream

    Dream Admiral Admiral

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    Watch Smallville.
     
  5. Gaith

    Gaith Vice Admiral Admiral

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    If he were jumping skyscrapers, he'd be making huge, arbitrary craters with every landing. It just wouldn't be credible.
     
  6. Small White Car

    Small White Car Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    This is pretty much how they approached the Will Smith movie 'Hancock.'

    Yeah, he was actually flying, not jumping, but aside from that detail the spirit of that film was exactly what you guys are describing.

    My point being, I could enjoy a movie where a "super" man doesn't fly, but it has to be a new character. You can't do that with "THE" Superman anymore.
     
  7. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Wasn't Kal-L (the Earth-2 Superman) retroactively described as not being able to actually fly, but only to leap tall buildings...then he later *learned* how to fly?
     
  8. Captaindemotion

    Captaindemotion Admiral Admiral

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    In the abortive Superman Lives movie, to be directed by Tim Burton, starring Nic Cage, apparently producer Jon Peters had specified that he didn't want The Man of Steel to be able to fly. This was along other brainwaves like a Batman-esque suit and Superman fighting polar bears. Fortunately, this movie never saw the light of day.
     
  9. barnaclelapse

    barnaclelapse Commodore Commodore

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    Well, unless he could control his strength to that great of an extent.

    He is Superman, after all.

    I still can't imagine him not flying though.
     
  10. Broccoli

    Broccoli Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Nah...Flying is too connected with Supes. The only way I can see it working in a movie is if it is one of those cartoon DC animated flicks.
     
  11. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    "You'll believe a man can hop."

    Nah. Wouldn't work anymore. Not for Superman.
     
  12. Turd Ferguson

    Turd Ferguson Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Anytime he fights a villain, multiple skyscrapers come crashing to the ground and Metropolis ends up riddled in craters, so I don't think it makes a difference one way or the other.
     
  13. captcalhoun

    captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

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    i'd love to do an Ultimate Superman type thing where he can't fly. i'd ditch shit loads of his powers and (heresy of heresies) make him one of a few Kryptonian kids to wind up on Earth. Each would have different powers; one would be Supergirl, one would wind up in China, one in the MidEast and the other in an American trailer park and become the villain. give him some proper threats to face.
     
  14. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    How many years has Smallville been on?:lol:
     
  15. paudemge

    paudemge Captain Captain

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    Well it has worked on Smallville so far. If you mean how about he puts on the suit and becomes superman before he learns to fly, that would work for a short period of time, but flying is one of his basic most known powers so any version of superman must have him flying at some point.
     
  16. wamdue

    wamdue Admiral Admiral

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    no question Smallvillle is the answer to your question, but im not sure a Superman who cant fly would become a global hero, sure he could still protect Metropolis with his super speed and super jumping, but after, but it would limit the area of his heroics.

    it also would make it difficult for him to do things like rescue plans, sure he can super leap up to where the plan ism but after that he is going to have problems.
     
  17. paudemge

    paudemge Captain Captain

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    And if he doesn't fly, why waste the story on the superman character, use a new or different character.
     
  18. Too Much Fun

    Too Much Fun Commodore Commodore

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    I think Superman only being able to leap tall buildings for the duration of the movie and then maybe only learning to fly at the end for the money shot finish (kind of like James Bond only famously saying his name like he always does in the very last shot of "Casino Royale") could have been a cool idea for an origin story movie, but it's too late for that now.
     
  19. wamdue

    wamdue Admiral Admiral

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    does anyone actually want a Superman origin story?
     
  20. Broccoli

    Broccoli Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I don't think no one knows what they want.