Superman

[plynch]

Superman is really 3 films in one: icy techno-police state; warm/sepia Kansas; and primary colors, bustling Metropolis that avoids the NY-hellhole trope/vibe. Mr. Lu-thor and gang play a bit broad. But . . . the comics in the 30s through 50s are pretty broad. And Supes made a lot of joking asides/puns in the comics, even. So, yeah . . . fun. Again, what movies were generally lacking in the 70s.

 

[cooleddie74]

The 1978 Superman was a genius blend of dark sci-fi drama, period family interactions straight out of The Waltons, campy action and slapstick comedy. It worked. I can't think of any other superhero film that makes that combination of elements work except for, well, other Christopher Reeve Superman films.

 

[Mudd]

I still enjoy it but I'm not enthralled as I was. It's an odd period piece.

I prefer Supes post-Byrne reboot.

 

[The Realist]

It's an "odd period piece" only in the sense that any decades-old film bears markers of the time and circumstances of its creation. Doesn't change its status as a classic -- no, THE classic of the genre.

 

[Jayson1]

I still hold out hopes of a Tom Weiling Superman movie or something. I don't understand why he won't put on the dang tights. It's not a career killer like maybe it used to be. What is he worried about I wonder.


Jason

 

[Tosk]

I get the sense that Welling was petrified of looking foolish. Like, if he wore the suit someone might make fun of him.

No facts to back it up, just a feeling.

 

[cooleddie74]

It says a lot for Richard Donner and the production crew of Superman: The Movie that they shot the NYC scenes for Metropolis in the wake of the horrible, dirty summer of 1977, the notorious blackout and the Son of Sam murders and somehow managed to make the Big Apple of the late '70s seem almost...classy. That was no small feat given the crime rates and cleanliness issues in the city at the time.

 

[theenglish]

I get the sense that Welling was petrified of looking foolish. Like, if he wore the suit someone might make fun of him.

No facts to back it up, just a feeling.

I don't really remember clearly--but I think he might have been afraid that being typecast would hurt his chances of getting other roles.

 

[crookeddy]

I don't really remember clearly--but I think he might have been afraid that being typecast would hurt his chances of getting other roles.

And yet he took on a long term genre role. Hypocrite.

 

[Jayson1]

And yet he took on a long term genre role. Hypocrite.

That's true but when the show started he only wore regular everyday clothes and he had limited superpowers and the sort of teen romance, teen drama was no doubt seen as more important than the comic book elements. When you think about it he didn't even really wear his Blur outfit much in the later years either and also he didn't wear glasses because I think he was also thinking he needed to look sexy.


Jason

 

[Guy Gardener]

And yet he took on a long term genre role. Hypocrite.

The "not looking foolish" is an urban legend that is probably true, which is also why Clark Kent did not wear spectacles, for longer than a stunt episode here or there.

Here's why we forgive him.

Rosenbaum wouldn't do the last episode.

He demanded more money.

Welling gave up his pay check, to Michael for the final episode.

 

[Kirk Prime]

Superman is more than just an actor and who plays him. The actor does matter but far more important is the writing.

Superman is the most powerful force for good in the DC Universe. There are very few that can challenge him one on one, and when pissed off, he is virtually unbeatable.

That's how it should be.

But it's more than physical strength that drives Clark.

His story was a miracle in itself. Not only was he spared his planet's fate thanks to his brilliant father, fate guided him into the hands of the Kents, who raised him to be what he would become. Genetics made him super, but the Kents made him a super man.

Hurting him physically is hard, but you hurt him by reminding him that he can't save anyone. His heart is his biggest weakness.

But this is a guy that is not a reluctant hero. He does what he does because he believes in helping those that can't help himself.

He's not just a hero, he's an inspiration--a beacon of hope and light.

He does stand for truth, justice and the American way, and all of those are essential to the character.

He needs writers that get that. In the comics, it was recently revealed that Superman was essential to every universe. The Watchmen didn't have him, and their universe failed.

He is the hero that inspires other superheroes.

That doesn't mean a god, or never challenged, but in the end, Superman always wins because he has to.

Superman was the one that stood up to Doomsday when he took out the entire Justice League.

Superman would lead the fight against Darkseid. He will be the one to take the most punishment so others don't have to.

His biggest strength is that he cares. It's what makes him hold back, even against evil people he is fighting. It's what prevents him from killing.

He's the perfect superhero. He needs to be written properly or it will never work, and DC failing to write him properly is the biggest reasons their movies have not gone as well as they have hoped.

 

[Marc]

I don't really remember clearly--but I think he might have been afraid that being typecast would hurt his chances of getting other roles.

Have to admit when I read that Wellings had been cast as the main baddie for S3 of Lucifer my first thought was fuck no but while I'm no judge of acting performances in general I thought he did okay in the role.

 

[JD]

My biggest issue with the '78 movie, was the lack of big action scenes, but then my biggest issue with Man of Steel was to much focus on action. So I think if we could combine the best elements of the two movies we'd have the perfect Superman movie.

 

[crookeddy]

My biggest issue with the '78 movie, was the lack of big action scenes, but then my biggest issue with Man of Steel was to much focus on action. So I think if we could combine the best elements of the two movies we'd have the perfect Superman movie.

People were begging for someone who Superman can punch since Superman 2. Then they got EXACTLY what they asked for and complained.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Superman is kind of like James Bond -- we all have our favourite portrayer. To me, it's Christopher Reeve, backed by John Williams' iconic score. I never could really get into the others (though Brandon Routh did his best to channel Reeve).

Agreed. I always felt like Routh got a raw deal. I would have liked a few more outings with him in the cape.

John Williams Superman The Movie score is my favorite.

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Hell yeah! John Williams' career is full of so many legendary scores & themes. It's tough to pick a favorite. Superman is right up there with Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, & Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. But most composers would kill to even have one of Williams' lesser works on their resume, let alone a top-tier crowd pleaser like Superman.

Did we all get trolled by the OP's drive-by thread?

Eh. He started a thread about Superman and we're talking about Superman. Works for me!

My biggest issue with the '78 movie, was the lack of big action scenes, but then my biggest issue with Man of Steel was to much focus on action. So I think if we could combine the best elements of the two movies we'd have the perfect Superman movie.

For me, the issue with Man of Steel had less to do with action and more to do with the fact that I don't think that Zack Snyder & David Goyer really believe in Superman. Their movies keep giving side-eye to the whole notion, like they don't believe that someone this powerful could also be this noble & altruistic. The movie seems to keep elbowing the audience in the theater, saying, "You don't really believe this guy, do you?" To which my response is always, "Yes! I do! That's the whole point of Superman! He's a super man; i.e. the best qualities of mankind enhanced to super levels."

It's a shame because I love Henry Cavill's performance and it just kept getting better with each subsequent entry. Once we got into Joss Whedon's material on Justice League, I felt like the movie was finally 100% behind Superman. I really hope that Cavill gets at least 1 more movie to really give us the Superman film that we always deserved. Once he does, I doubt that we'll ever want him to leave.

BTW, I recently watched the extended 3-hour TV edit of the 1978 Superman movie that they put on Blu-Ray. My god, was that a waste of time! Mostly it's just a bunch of extra shots showing us a lot of the same stuff that we already saw-- more of Krypton exploding, more running around Kansas, more hiking north, more of the creation of the Fortress of Solitude, more random business of the various people working in the Daily Planet, more of Otis walking to their hideout with the police following him, more of Lois Lane interviewing the Indian who sold his land to Lex Luthor, more of the big earthquake at the end, etc. Yeesh, it's exhausting! Just about the only scenes that actually get more dialogue are stuff between Lex, Otis, & Miss Tessmacher. I'm sticking to the 2000 extended cut from now on! (The one thing I kinda liked about the 3-hour version was how we get a bit of a transition between the scene where Clark & Lois get mugged in the alley and then Otis' introduction. That was clever but still too long.)

 

[Roundabout]

That doesn't mean a god, or never challenged, but in the end, Superman always wins because he has to.

Speaking of god, it was interesting that the Donner movie made, what I thought was, a metaphor comparing Superman to Christ.

At the end of the Fortress of Solitude scene, Marlon Brando's Jor-El gave that inspirational speech in which he tells Clark "They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all -- their capacity for good -- I have sent them you. My only son."

Then the John Williams music plays. And Clark flys off in his Superman suit for the first time in the movie. I remember that scene well; it was another good scene in the movie that stirs the emotions.

It was a good speech. The metaphor seemed clear to me. I don't know if the comic books ever made such a metaphor prior to this movie, or if it is something that Donner created. Anyway, I had never thought of Superman that way.

Interestingly, Brando got top billing in the credits. I guess god should get top billing.

 

[Mysterion]

For my money. Christopher Reeve was, is, and shall always be the definitive Superman in my mind. And Margot Kidder the Lois Lane to his Kal El/Clark Kent. I accept no substitutes.

 

[Admiral2]

Superman has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember.

I never saw the theatrical serials, but to me, this is Superman:

George Reeves was my childhood Superman. In the early 60s, I had the Superman pajamas and I'd climb up on furniture to jump off and let my cape fly. I'm in Medicare territory now, and my family still ribs me about it.

To me, this is Superman:

In December 1978, Christopher Reeve renewed my belief that a man could fly.

To me, this is Superman:

In 2006, Brandon Routh did an awesome job of carrying the torch, and this year slammed it again.

To me, this is Superman:

2013's Man of Steel showed another take on the Superman story.

Not quite my Superman, but close enough:

Now, in the Supergirl continuity Superman is something else.

This is not my Superman:

Sorry, not sorry.

I see that the OP and the entire thread mostly ignored Dean Cain.

To me, this is Superman:

There. My two cents are in. Carry on.

 

[cooleddie74]

The only Superman movie ending that will be canon after the Cyborg Apocalypse:

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