They've been married for fifteen years.
Bryan Singer: Why 'Superman Returns' Didn't Work
- Thread starter Dream
- Start date
All that was missing from Superman Returns was a sense of danger and a few more action sequences. Heck, Superman did not even seem taxed or pushed much. He certainly was never in much mortal danger.
Having said that, I actually loved Superman Returns for its exploration of Clark and Lois' relationship.
Having said that, I actually loved Superman Returns for its exploration of Clark and Lois' relationship.
Seconded
I'll always appreciate Ottoman for the theme music he wrote for the X-Men. On the "X2: X-Men United" DVD, he admits that he was trying to ape the John Williams Superman theme because he loved it as a kid.
As much I enjoy that theme, I like the one in "X2: X-Men United" even more. I'm probably the only person in the world, but I'm a fanatic about that movie, so I have this crazy bias towards it. I was surprised that Singer and his writers could get an X-Men movie so right and then get a Superman movie so wrong.
Dissented.
Seconded
Minor nitpick, but the late Michael Kamen composed the score for the original X-Men. John Ottman composed the score for X2.I'll always appreciate Ottoman for the theme music he wrote for the X-Men. On the "X2: X-Men United" DVD, he admits that he was trying to ape the John Williams Superman theme because he loved it as a kid.SecondedAgreed.
As much I enjoy that theme, I like the one in "X2: X-Men United" even more. I'm probably the only person in the world, but I'm a fanatic about that movie, so I have this crazy bias towards it. I was surprised that Singer and his writers could get an X-Men movie so right and then get a Superman movie so wrong.
He landed on an island composed of Kryptonite, then was stabbed with a Kryptonite shank and pushed into the sea. He later fell to Earth from space, having pushed the Kryptonite island into space and was seen in hospital, unresponsive to treatment. I'd consider all of that fairly dangerous.
I could see this scene in S:R, Lois goes up to the unconscious Superman in the hospital, she brushes back that curl and then steps back from him in shocked horror. It. Connects.
Agreed.
Seconded
I'll always appreciate Ottoman for the theme music he wrote for the X-Men. On the "X2: X-Men United" DVD, he admits that he was trying to ape the John Williams Superman theme because he loved it as a kid.
As much I enjoy that theme, I like the one in "X2: X-Men United" even more. I'm probably the only person in the world, but I'm a fanatic about that movie, so I have this crazy bias towards it. I was surprised that Singer and his writers could get an X-Men movie so right and then get a Superman movie so wrong.
Everyone calls him Ottoman but his name is Ottman. Sorry, personal pet peeve of mine. Don't mean to be trivial.
"holy fuck I never noticed this guy was Clark Kent? - I won a Pulitzer price but was fooled by a pair of glasses".
Yes, but in order for Superman's disguise to work, Lois has to be so stupid that she can't tell the difference when a guy is wearing a pair of glasses and when he's not.
That was something I really liked about Lois & Clark. That was the first time that idiocy was addressed.
Minor nitpick, but the late Michael Kamen composed the score for the original X-Men. John Ottman composed the score for X2.I'll always appreciate Ottoman for the theme music he wrote for the X-Men. On the "X2: X-Men United" DVD, he admits that he was trying to ape the John Williams Superman theme because he loved it as a kid.
As much I enjoy that theme, I like the one in "X2: X-Men United" even more. I'm probably the only person in the world, but I'm a fanatic about that movie, so I have this crazy bias towards it. I was surprised that Singer and his writers could get an X-Men movie so right and then get a Superman movie so wrong.
Yeah, I was referring to X2. I did mention him talking about the theme on the X2 DVD. I said he wrote it for the X-Men, not for the movie of the same name.
If Singer had a clue as to why Superman Returns didn't work... it would have worked.
Yes.
Oh dear God no.
Big mistake. Well, TPTB figured out it was a mistake to marry Spidey, to kill GL, to kill GA, to kill Barry Allen... they'll figure this one out to and restore Supes to his proper status.
Oh dear God yes!
Brandon Routh was not one of the problems "Superman Returns" had. I really don't understand people's problem with him. There were all kinds of other problems in the movie other than Brandon. Considering this film was his first major blockbuster I think he did more than an adequate job in the role. His Clark Kent was bang on.
J
Jetfire
Guest
Routh was fine and most of the casting was fine...the movie just needed action...replace Luthor real estate scheme with unearthing Doomsday and there is your movie...very little would need to be changed. 
I don't know if it need more action. I think it needed to balance action with the emotional core that Singer was trying to execute in his story. The plane sequence was one of the most intense and anticipated action sequences in a superhero film that I've ever seen. I remember the atmosphere in the theater my friends and I were in was palpable. We all cheered when Superman rescued the plane (yes we all marked out). Actually the atmosphere in the theater IIRC was awesome through most of the movie. It got amusingly uncomfortable when Clark used his X-Ray vision to spy on Lois's home life. Haha. You could hear the groans and a couple WTF's from people.
I'm sure they will, eventually. Superheroes comic books have become so ridiculously stagnant that everything is reverting back to the 1960's status quo (well everything but the sales numbers).
Routh was okay, but he just didn't embody "Superman" enough for me whom I always envision as a brawny, broad-shouldered, muscular type with a strong jaw. Routh, to me, just didn't quite fit the bill for the "Superman look" and wasn't a fan of the rubbery, corny-looking, costume with the boy panties.
Hell, I'd say aside from Spacey and the guy who played Perry White (whose name escapes me) I'd say the whole cast was pretty weak.
^^ That's partially because Dan DiDio and Geoff Johns are huge Silver Age fans. The restoration of characters and retconned origins are part of the reason why it seems this way.
