He was also very inexperienced and untrained compared to most other versions of Superman. That played into the choices he made.
Indeed. In the Donner movie, he had been training and learning for 12 years before he donned the cape. That wasn't part of the Snyder version of the character.
Which, ofcourse, will bring out the 'that means it's the wrong version of the character' crowd. Which is bullshit, because, again, there have been many reboots and versions of Superman in the comics.
The thing is.... he DID do some stuff, but as an undercover hero. For example, he did a version of the Super II Alaska diner scene, but Clark messed up the guys car rather than his body. And it seems like he was doing the TV Incredible Hulk thing of going from place to place, secretly doing good.... only it was his last act that got him a reporter following him
And really, the "not being trained" aspect was silly. The Donner version made more sense, in that Clark living on earth over 25 years allowed him to get control of things...as a matter fact they did ONE scene where his mom trained him, like a therapist....THAT should have been revisited, as a strength of how Clark has control where a whole army of newcomers would NOT, and Clark can take advantage.
The other thing ... based on Clark's parents later reactions.... it definitely did NOT build into why Clark would have felt guilty about killing someone he just met (and was killing innocent humans). That "anguish" would have made sense for JOR-El, not KAL-El, as we would have had a sense that Zod and Jor-El were friends at one point, and there was a reason to feel bad.
I mean we had one scene where Clark restrained himself form hurting a bully.... but that wasn't enough to demonstrate an upbringing of showing mercy...in fact, Costner's next big scene (after a good "What kind of man do you want to be " scene), was about Clark HIDING his abilities, and really, NOT showing mercy when he could.
I would never say that Snyder's version of Superman was "wrong" per se, but it did not resonate with me in the slightest or convey how I felt the character should be portrayed.
That said, I liked Henry Cavill and bemoan the fact that he was never given a decent script.
I don't think it was Cavill's portrayal that was the problem, but his set-up to become SUperman.
But you're right -- he was definitely a good fit for the role.
I watched it again the other week haven't not seen it in years - there are elements in here that I sort of like and some of the design is excellent but it leaves me cold overall.
All the actors are excellent with what they have to work with.
It’s worth noting, as always, that qualitative comments about movies, TV shows, etc., are always inherently subjective, so gently qualifying each and every one with “just my opinion” is pointless. I don’t take
Mudd’s statements as asserting “fact” any more than I do anybody else opining arrogantly about their personal tastes.
And in that spirit, I’ll just say without softening or apology that Snyder’s take on Superman fucking sucks, with its only major saving grace being Amy Adams’s splendid Lois Lane. Also that
Superman ‘78 remains a deathless classic for the ages, with precisely zero flaws of any consequence.
I would agree, for sure that the actors in Man of Steel were actually really good. ANd especialy Amy Adams portrayed Lois and both a gentle caring person that would make sense that "classic" Superman would fall in love with (as opposed to gruff Lois of the 70's), but also a strong, smart and "aggressive" (meant in a good professional way) reporter worthy of winning a Pulitzer.
I was younger than 10 when I first saw this movie, but I read Superman in Action Comics at the time and even I knew Luthor was portrayed incorrectly (and understood that the Earth spinning in reverse was just a representation of Superman flying back in time.
I was like 5, and yeah, Hackman's Luthor felt like a used cars salesman....definitely NOT the world's leading criminal mind.. And i too saw the "spinning backward" as merely a visual metaphor for going back in time.
