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DC Cinematic Universe ( The James Gunn era)

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Because artists deserve to create their own art rather than just copying what people did decades before them. Williams himself was homaging Sammy Timberg's Superman cartoon/radio theme and Leon Klatzkin's Adventures of Superman TV theme. Those are just three entries in a rich tradition of Superman themes/marches that includes multiple other excellent, memorable themes such as Ron Jones's '88 cartoon theme, Kevin Kiner's syndicated Superboy theme (which he's revived for the different Superboy in Titans), Jay Gruska's Lois and Clark theme (a favorite of mine), Shirley Walker's S:TAS theme, Louis Febre's hero motif in later Smallville seasons, and Blake Neely's Superman motif from Supergirl.

If people stop trying to innovate and just copy the past over and over, then creativity dies and culture becomes stagnant. The way to honor the great creations of the past is to carry forward the spirit of innovation that created them. We wouldn't have the Williams theme if Williams had just quoted Sammy Timberg. He took the essence of the past and created something new from it, rather than just copying it. We shouldn't deprive today's composers of the chance to create the next great Superman theme.

But it is like Alexander Courage's Star Trek theme. It is still used, even in part with different arrangements. It is more or less the theme of the USS Enterprise now. The Superman theme could and should have a similar treatment. Much like the version in the teaser is an arrangement of the theme, not the direct theme. Artists can still be themselves while homaging the past, and such a strong theme like that from John Williams likely should remain with the character of Superman in some capacity.
 
Cavill set a body image for Superman that's probably going to be difficult to match with this new actor.

Granted the suit that he wore highlighted and somewhat enhanced his body, but what he started with, is several times greater than any actor that has played the character before.

That's probably why I get more of a 'SUPERBOY' feeling with what I've seen so far.
It may not matter in the long run, since this actor closely resembles the fan-fav Christopher Reeve version.
:shrug:
 
Cavill set a body image for Superman that's probably going to be difficult to match with this new actor.

Granted the suit that he wore highlighted and somewhat enhanced his body, but what he started with, is several times greater than any actor that has played the character before.

That's probably why I get more of a 'SUPERBOY' feeling with what I've seen so far.
It may not matter in the long run, since this actor closely resembles the fan-fav Christopher Reeve version.
:shrug:
I think he's doing alright.

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But it is like Alexander Courage's Star Trek theme.

No, because Courage's theme was the original one. The original Superman theme was the one Sammy Timberg wrote for the 1940s Fleischer cartoons, which was also used by the 1940s radio series. Williams's was at least the fourth distinct Superman theme, following Timberg, Leon Klatzkin for the George Reeves series, and John Gart for the 1966-8 animated series.

Also because all Star Trek is a single continuity (encompassing alternate timelines), while most screen versions of Superman are reinventions in new continuities. Also because the tradition of creating distinct, individual Superman themes was already around for decades before people started rehashing the Williams theme. The first non-Reeve production to reuse the Williams theme was the 1988 Ruby-Spears cartoon, but Ron Jones created his own Superman theme that continued seamlessly from the Williams theme in the main titles and was preferentially used within the show's incidental music. After that, I don't think anything else recycled the Williams theme until Smallville after 2000, and then Superman Returns in 2006. So it's not at all analogous to Star Trek, where almost everything post-TAS has quoted the Courage theme at least briefly. Historically, reusing the Williams Superman march is the exception, not the norm.


The Superman theme could and should have a similar treatment.

"Should?" You're pretending this is a moral issue instead of a matter of taste? So, what, you think Ron Jones, Kevin Kiner, Jay Gruska, Shirley Walker, Robert J. Kral, Blake Neely, Hans Zimmer, etc. committed some kind of sin by writing their own, often excellent Superman themes instead of just copying Williams? Hell, by your logic, John Williams "should" have been required to reuse Sammy Timberg's theme! "Should" is a word that makes no conceivable sense here.
 
But it is like Alexander Courage's Star Trek theme. It is still used, even in part with different arrangements. It is more or less the theme of the USS Enterprise now.

That is entirely different than a theme specifically written for an unrelated production / continuity such as Williams theme. Star Trek is one continuity / universe. Superman is not, so its is not some official theme for a character by any stretch of the imagination. Any new Superman production needs its own identity.



Meh, I preferred Cavill's suit over any other suit. It looked great, somewhat alien but also homages to classic suits.

Agreed; it was the most visually striking ever created for the character and you point out, alien in appearance, which was perfect for obvious reasons about the character. It matched the power and presence of Cavill as Superman, instead of looking like a loose diving suit, or rubber.



Cavill set a body image for Superman that's probably going to be difficult to match with this new actor.

Quite true. Superman should appear to be physically powerful no matter what he's wearing--you just know power radiates from the character. So very few Superman actors ever captured that successfully, but Cavill did, setting the standard for Superman's form.

Granted the suit that he wore highlighted and somewhat enhanced his body, but what he started with, is several times greater than any actor that has played the character before.

Without question.
 
"Should?" You're pretending this is a moral issue instead of a matter of taste?

<Ahem>


Because artists deserve to create their own art rather than just copying what people did decades before them.

"Deserve" is a judgment on fairness, and therefore necessarily taking a position on a "moral issue."

Let's keep a level playing field.
 
On the list of important things about Superman, how bulked up and shredded the actor playing him is probably hovers in the low to mid 500s for me.
Agreed. Snyder has a tendency to confuse strength or masculinity with macho imagery and behavior.

Contrast the climax of Donner's film, which focuses on acts of rescue, protection, and love with that of MoS - a prolonged slugfest ending in the death of one combatant at the hands of the other.
 
To me, and I'm sure to many, the Williams Superman theme is the definitive one. That's just the way it played out over time. I prefer for it to be used in some form (at least hinted at or adapted, not necessarilly fully rehashing it) as opposed to not being used at all. Honestly I'd love for one of the movie scores to use/adapt all of the prior themes - little bits of each here and there.

To each, their own.
 
Contrast the climax of Donner's film, which focuses on acts of rescue, protection, and love with that of MoS - a prolonged slugfest ending in the death of one combatant at the hands of the other.
But that death only happens because it's necessary to rescue/protect people. ( And Superman 2 did the superhero slugfest thing first back in 1980. )
 
But that death only happens because it's necessary to rescue/protect people. ( And Superman 2 did the superhero slugfest thing first back in 1980. )
Yeah, one reason I specified "the Donner film" rather than "the Reeve movies." Talking about what was actually finished and released.

"Superman had no choice but to kill Zod" is an argument I'm sympathetic to, but what really matters in comparing portrayals is that Snyder had an absolute free choice in deciding what story to tell.
 
Agreed. Snyder has a tendency to confuse strength or masculinity with macho imagery and behavior.

Contrast the climax of Donner's film, which focuses on acts of rescue, protection, and love with that of MoS - a prolonged slugfest ending in the death of one combatant at the hands of the other.

I think the point is, that different Supermen occupy different genres.

Reeve’s Superman was a whimsical fairytale. There were dangers, but the white knight always triumphed.

Routh’s Superman wanted so desperately to remind everyone of the good parts of Reeve’s take, that they didn’t give him his own identity. Props to the Arrowverse for making him the Kingdom Come version of the character. As sad as that outcome is for any version of Clark.

Cavil’s Superman is a man of action in a hostile world. The first thing we see him do is save those people on an oil rig and the last thing we see him do is defend Earth from an Apokolips invasion. Given more sequels, Cavilman would have transformed into the swashbuckling, gallant hero Superman.

Gunn’s Superman is said to be a mix of all the best elements of Superman. Highlighting Donner and Grant Morrison’s All Star (basically the Silver Age Supes filtered through a rose-tinted lens). With an actor who resembles Cavilman (they are 10 years apart in age and look like they could be brothers) and as yet to be determined elements from Snyder’s take. Super speed rescue of a girl in super slow-mo! Haha.


We’ll have to wait and see the full picture of Gunn’s take. Already I’m feeling the same dread of what happened to Cavilman. One movie, and the put on a back burner to make room for a series of spin-off movies. The DCU list of films is growing longer with solos that have nothing to do with Superman and more to do with Gotham.
 
Cavil’s Superman is a man of action in a hostile world. The first thing we see him do is save those people on an oil rig and the last thing we see him do is defend Earth from an Apokolips invasion.
Technically the last thing we see "him" do is the volcano thing in The Flash, despite the fact that it's an indistinct CGI double.
 
Technically the last thing we see "him" do is the volcano thing in The Flash, despite the fact that it's an indistinct CGI double.
And if one were to discount that for whatever reason, then the last thing he did was...talk to Black Adam?
 
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