Bryan Singer: "My personality meshes more with [X-Men]"

[JacksonArcher]

Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-Men films, as well as The Usual Suspects, Superman Returns and Valkyrie, had an opportunity to sit down X-Men producer Lauren Shuler-Donner (wife of Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner) and the Los Angeles Times to reminisce over the first X-Men film and talk about Singer's current endeavor, returning to the universe with the prequel X-Men: First Class.

On his special connection to the X-Men universe, as well as his association with the Superman character:

"I genuinely like the people, and my personality meshes more with this universe than it does with other universes, I think; I see that now at this point," Singer said, no doubt referring to his defection to the DC Comics universe to make the oddly lifeless 2006 movie Superman Returns. "I feel a connection to the X-Men characters and also the ensemble nature of the films. If you look at Usual Suspects or my last film, Valkyrie, I feel especially comfortable with ensemble juggling. In the space between all the characters you can disguise a central thought that's hidden in all the discourse. I missed that with the singular relationship story of Superman. And, well, it always gives you something to cut to..."

I think this is the first time that Singer has honestly and effectively communicated the noted disapproval for Superman Returns. Whenever anyone would bring up the film after the film's release, he would be (perhaps unintentionally) cryptic and confusing. So it's a bit refreshing to see his comments on the film and the character and start to talk about his return to the X-Men universe.

For more from Singer on the first film, as well as furthermore expounding on his plans for First Class (as well as some hints that Hugh Jackman wants him for Wolverine 2) hit the link above.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Would have been great had he realized this BEFORE screwing up 2 franchises.

 

[JacksonArcher]

^How did he screw up two franchises? He left X2, a critically acclaimed and highly financially successful film, to do something else. Now he's returning to that franchise upon demand. Are you seriously blaming Singer for X-Men: The Last Stand?

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

I agree with Singer completely. Don't get me wrong. I loved Superman Returns. It was a beautiful big budgeted Superman movie with modern day FX and was absolutely epic. The problem is that it was a tad too serious. Too dark. Too much of it happening in Superman's head than on the screen. It ignored the fairy tale aspect of the character and stuck with the psychological.

Superman is not a deeply psychological character. He's mythological. He's the modern day Hercules. He's bigger than life. Richard Donner understood this better than anybody and that's why his first Superman movie is an undisputed classic.

X-Men opens itself up to psychological and sociological examination in a way that Superman does not. In a way that Bryan Singer does exceedingly well. He's the perfect fit for X-Men.

Superman needs a JJ Abrams (not as the writer though). Superman needs a Brad Bird. Superman needs a Richard Donner. He needs somebody who thinks big and isn't afraid to blow up half the world for an epic fist fight.

Superman needs someone who can make LEGENDS come to life in a BIG way.

Bryan Singer's style lends itself to something more intimate.

 

[stonester1]

Excellent analysis. Agree with your breakdown all around, and I, too, really enjoyed SR.

 

[T'Baio]

I'm not sure if I pray for Singer to be in the director's chair for Wolverine 2 or not.

 

[JacksonArcher]

I totally agree with Admiral James Kirk, even though I loved Superman Returns as well. Another interesting tidbit is that Shuler-Donner pitched Singer an idea for X4, which Singer is actually keen on. He comments that he wishes he were four people, but he told Shuler-Donner to keep X4 "on hold" and that he promises to get to it eventually. I thought that was really cool.

 

[Aragorn]

Singer should pitch X3 to the studio.

 

[T'Baio]

It'll never happen, but I would totally be up for that.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I'm really looking forward to seeing "X-Men The First Class" and it seems that Singer really understands the X-Men franchise. I also totally agree with Admiral James Kirk's excellent analysis on Superman Returns. X-Men The Last Stand was not his fault. I think Matthew Vaughn would have done a terrific job directing X3 had he been able to remain aboard as the director. A Singer directed X4 and Wolverine 2 would be very interesting but my goodness does he have a lot of projects lined up.

 

[Trent Roman]

Superman is not a deeply psychological character. He's mythological. He's the modern day Hercules. He's bigger than life. Richard Donner understood this better than anybody and that's why his first Superman movie is an undisputed classic.

I'd dispute that. And getting wrapped up in nostalgia for Donner and the incestuous recursion of that mythology was one of the leading problems of Singer's film; the trouble certainly wasn't that it didn't cling more tightly to Donner's coattails, but that it failed to break away and forge a new (for the silver screen) vision of the character and his world.

Nor would I call Superman Returns a psychological film in any sense; it is a film with the depth--to say nothing of the characterization, and at times FX--of a Saturday morning cartoon. I'd agree that Superman isn't much of a psychological character in the first place; but I do think there is a sociological aspect to the character--issues of power and checks, law and morality, the immigrant experience, etc.--that Singer could have constructively explored but did not, in favour of a warmed-over, fixated narrative.

I hope he won't make the same mistake for First Class--his X-Men films were fine examples of superhero movies, but going the prequel route means he risks getting mired in the past again. Hopefully they'll borrow one of many interest X-Men arcs that haven't made it to the big screen and feature that, albeit with younger characters, instead of making another long, boring, glorified fanfilm.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Are you seriously blaming Singer for X-Men: The Last Stand?

No, I'm blaming him for X-Men The Last Stand and Superman Returns

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Superman is not a deeply psychological character. He's mythological. He's the modern day Hercules. He's bigger than life. Richard Donner understood this better than anybody and that's why his first Superman movie is an undisputed classic.

I'd dispute that.

And you'd be wrong. Superman is held up there as a classic alongside Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Just because you don't like that interpretation doesn't take away from it's historical status.

 

[sidious618]

Superman is not a deeply psychological character. He's mythological. He's the modern day Hercules. He's bigger than life. Richard Donner understood this better than anybody and that's why his first Superman movie is an undisputed classic.

I'd dispute that.

And you'd be wrong. Superman is held up there as a classic alongside Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Just because you don't like that interpretation doesn't take away from it's historical status.

I've never met anyone who would put Superman next to The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars.

 

[Harvey]

I don't think it would rank on lists that include films of all genres, but when isolated to those concerned solely with science fiction and fantasy, I tend to think that Superman: The Movie still generally finds its way to the top, or at least near it.

I'm not sure I agree with that assessment (I liked the movie a lot more when I was a kid), but there it is.

 

[Trent Roman]

And you'd be wrong. Superman is held up there as a classic alongside Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Just because you don't like that interpretation doesn't take away from it's historical status.

Ludicrous. Wizard of Oz and Star Wars are films most people have seen by their teens, whose images and scenes have become indelibly embedded in popular culture. Superman: The Movie, however popular amongst men of a certain age, does not hold a status remotly comparable in terms of presence; really, beyond circles of genre fans like ourselves, it is largely forgotten, or else remembered only for its risible ending. It is not a must-see movie like the other two; really, it's biggest contribution was probably in terms of FX, and those are, needless to say, massively outdated.

EDIT: Apparently I'm not the only one who finds that claim a tad hyperbolic; and out of curiosity, I checked the American Film Institute, which includes Wizard of Oz and Star Wars as part of its 100 Greatest Films list. Superman? Not so much... and I rather doubt it was 101, either.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[JacksonArcher]

I would view Donner's Superman right up there with Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. I remember watching it as a kid and it having that same effect on me as those films.

 

[Pauln6]

I really liked Superman Returns, apart from a mis-cast, far too young Lois, it was a note-perfect sequel to Superman II. It was a good film but sadly, it just didn't have enough action for a lot of people.

I didn't think that X-Men 3 was horrendous, just a bit empty-headed. The Beast was excellent, Cyclops' absence elevated Storm to where she deserved to be, and I really liked the dynamic of the X-men team. However, it was a mistake to stitch together two plots that could have held the movie on their own because neither was explored very satisfactorily. Phoenix was far too passive and barely a presence in the film, whereas the comic story was about her resurrection and her descent into madness, which would have been presented much better if Singer had been at the helm. Plus, after the excellent, realisitc red hair she had in the first film I don't know why they blew so much of the budget on special effects that they had to plop an orange fright wig on her in the third movie. Conversely, Storm got the good wig this time round.

I was less happy with X-men Origins: Wolverine because the plot was dumbed down a bit more, it was full of too many unnecessary cameos (much like X3), and they plumbed for special effects instead of any realstic characters.

I'm happy if they show some origins in First Class as long as it doesn't spell the end of the franchise. X4 has loads of potential. I think they should wrap up with another trilogy using new actors if necessary.

Start 4 with the Marauders Massacre which took out Angel, Colossus, and Shadowcat to make way for Dazzler, Havok, and Psylocke (British Sophia Myles would do!) and have Rogue's powers re-manifest when she touches a Ms Marvel-equivalent character so we can finally get our super-strong rogue. Possibly use Gambit to spark a love triangle with Rogue. Finish the film in Mr Sinister's lab where any Marauders who died are being rebirthed from cloning tanks and reveal two more frosted tanks containing a man and a woman.

In the fifth movie move on to Apocolypse and his 4 horsemen with the B plot being the recuperation of Kitty and Piotr (maybe Nightcrawler?) on Muir Island (cue romance) and revealing Professor X is alive. Big fight, Angel is released and Apocolypse wounded. Finish the film in Sinister's lab where Apocolypse tells him to construct him a new avatar. Reveal that Gambit was involved with the Massacre.

In the sixth film Cable comes back in time to fight the Sentinels (possibly followed by Nimrod?). Maybe Sebastian Shaw is working on the Sentinels with Forge's help? Bring in Magneto, Polaris, plus all the other recovered X-men for a big robo-battle while Nimrod goes after baby Cable. Gambit betrays Sinister and we learn that Scott and Jean are alive all along in order to produce the avatar Apocolypse requires.

The franchise ends on a high having featured pretty much all the classic x-men and a fair few of the major iconic Xmen stories.

 

[RandyS]

Singer should pitch X3 to the studio.

???

That movie is several years old.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

And you'd be wrong. Superman is held up there as a classic alongside Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Just because you don't like that interpretation doesn't take away from it's historical status.

Ludicrous. Wizard of Oz and Star Wars are films most people have seen by their teens, whose images and scenes have become indelibly embedded in popular culture. Superman: The Movie, however popular amongst men of a certain age, does not hold a status remotly comparable in terms of presence; really, beyond circles of genre fans like ourselves, it is largely forgotten, or else remembered only for its risible ending. It is not a must-see movie like the other two; really, it's biggest contribution was probably in terms of FX, and those are, needless to say, massively outdated.

EDIT: Apparently I'm not the only one who finds that claim a tad hyperbolic; and out of curiosity, I checked the American Film Institute, which includes Wizard of Oz and Star Wars as part of its 100 Greatest Films list. Superman? Not so much... and I rather doubt it was 101, either.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

If you're going to use the AFI as support for your argument I'm going to have to use critical and public acclaim for mine.

Rotten Tomatoes:

Superman: The Movie - 93% Fresh
Wizard of Oz: 100% Fresh
Star Wars: 94% Fresh

Not too shabby for such a poorly regarded film.

to.
On the IMDB...

Superman: The Movie - 7.3/10
Wizard of Oz: 8.3/1
Star Wars: 8.8/10

While movie fans hold Wizard and Star War a tad higher in regard than Superman it is quite clear that it's not the sludge in the eyes of the public you regard it as.

It should also be noted that Superman won a Saturn for Best Science Fiction Film. So that means it is also highly regarded in the sci-fi community.

It is also the benchmark movie that all other films in the superhero genre are compared to. That is FACT. If you don't believe me I can dig up reviews that support what I'm saying.

Superman: The Movie is pure and simply an incredible achievement that holds up to this day. It maintains the critical and popular public acclaim over thirty years after it's release.

If that doesn't mark Superman: The Movie as an absolute classic then nothing the AFI says will.