That is true. I just brought it up because I had heard that recent comics portrayed Superman as the disguise, which really doesn't appeal to me.
How I would film a Superman reboot.
- Thread starter Argus Skyhawk
- Start date
*whistles nervously* Um, yeah. I'll have to get back to you on that.
Yes, the story is what is most important, and no I don't have one in mind.
I am sure that is not why you thought of it, but the fact that you did not think of it as a problem speaks loudly as well. A lot of people would just as soon forget about that time period. It was not that great for us. A period piece missing the point of Superman, The Man of Tomorrow.
Would it be possible to do a merging? Have the aesthetics of the 1930s, but have the conveniences of modern day? Kinda like how The Spirit movie or Batman '89 did things?
Exactly!!!
Although I think the next one should be a period piece also. You could do this and still use Darkseid or Brainiac as the villain.
I don't want Superman films to be about political commentary, however.
I'm tired of that!
Lay 'em on us - treatment style (that is: Act one, Act two, Act three - major plot and character points only).
PS - Hollywood studio execs are not anymore stupid than the people in any industry (meaning, there are some stupid ones, but there are also some brilliant ones and most are middle of the road like the rest of us). They are producers. They have to balance ticket sales versus production costs and they have to deal with selling an entertainment product to a fickle public. Those are the realities of the business. It's easy on an internet BBS to criticize their work, but until you've walked a mile in their shoes, you don't know what you're talking about. I've worked with people who produce both theater and film - it's simply not an easy job to harness creativity at a realistic budget level and create something that entertains a lot of people.
A period piece Superman film set in the late 1930s could be great if you went back to Siegel and Shuster's original image of Supes as a champion of the oppressed fighting against corruption and exploitation. You could make a film that has the fun of the great style of the period together with weighty drama, which could include Supes taking a stand against racism. You have Luthor as the main villain - the city's richest businessman who controls the Tamany Hall-style political machine that runs Metropolis - and one or two super-powered henchmen villains to provide adversaries who can give Supes a run for his money in big action set pieces. Solomon Grundy would be especially good as a henchman villain for a period piece.
No I have them saved in a vault. You never know.
Well that is exactly what I do now on a small scale. Create something with no budget that will entertain a few people. I completely agree with you that producers are just as smart as the leaders of other industries, generally stupid which a few exceptions. So I have walked a mile in their shoes, just have less to work with. On a side note in some of my former professions I have helped them with other business issues and which is why I say they are generally stupid in all walks of their life but that is true of all creative people. Just because they are dealing with more zeroes does not mean that they are smarter and more insightful that just some random poster on the internet.
Apart from the very mildly political Quest for Peace, the Supes movies have been decidedly apolitical.
They had one where Supes landed in Soviet Russia.
What? It's a fascinating period and besides, just cast him as a guy struggling to be good in an imperfect world and you've got some compelling drama. Why hand in criminals to the lawman if he's the same guy who turns a blind eye to lynch mobs?
And if Inglourious Basterds proved anything, it's that the 1940s are a kickass time for excessive, comic book-esque movies.
And that it's okay to kill Hitler. Superman kills Hitler? Hey, it's a movie idea!
Hell - why not make it a period piece and make Superman black. I'm sure comic book fans hate me for that idea, but hey, it'd be something. He's an alien anyway, just conveinently a very waspish-looking one, so a degree of latent prejudice would make sense.
Yes, it'd probably be worth noting I'm not a fan of the character or comics so I'm not exactly coming at this with the respect of the source material that might be anticipated from a BBS poster, so... flame away!
Here's how a Superman movie would truly be a blockbuster. Stay with me here.
Opening Teaser, letters on screen.
"27 years ago a baby boy from the doomed planet Krypton was rocketed towards Earth where he crash landed and was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. They named him Clark. The boy gained extensive abilities and powers under Earth's yellow Sun and soon he became the greatest hero the world has ever known.
Superman."
CUT TO:
Slow rhythm of the Superman theme, as a still picture montage starts. We see a guy wearing a suit with his back to the camera, looking at a smiling woman. A little freckle faced guy is there too, a camera hanging from his neck. Then we see another picture from the sides of the people, with the suited guy touching his glasses. The smile of the woman fades away a bit, a slight frown on her face.
"For years, Clark Kent has disguised himself as a reporter for the Daily Planet whilst pining for the attention of one Lois Lane (Alana De La Garza). She was pining for Superman whilst having an untold crush upon Clark himself. He revealed Clark and Superman were the same person three years ago, not only to Lois but also to Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington), Superman's best friend and Clark's most trusted buddy."
We then pan the picture towards the chest of the suited man as he tugs at his shirt front, revealing the iconic "S" symbol. The next picture shows the jaw-dropped look on Lois and Jimmy's face, as we finally see the focus upon the suited man's face. Superman is revealed (Brandon Routh).
"Soon after, Lois and Clark were married. Their happiness was short lived however, as the megalomaniac businessman and scientist, Lex Luthor (John Hamm, balded), came out publicly to voice his concern about letting Superman, an alien with almost godlike powers be allowed to be the savior of mankind. On his side he has Amanda Waller (S. Epatha Markerson), a brilliant political strategist with a hatred for superheroes and together they put the case that there is no "regulatory body" that can hold superheroes responsible. They of course lose the case which only makes Luthor's resolve stronger."
**The Superman theme starts, actor, producer and director credits follow, finishing with the focus on the "S" shield shining from one side to the other. Movie starts.*
CUT TO:
Present day. We see a tall building. Then we see a sudden smash towards the camera coming from the tall building, a green bodied 'thing' has been shot through the building and it crash lands on the busy street bellow. It quickly stands up, gritting its teeth. Superman fans immediately recognize him as Brainiac. Movie fans recognize him as Vin Diesel in green paint. Just as he stands up, a "red blue blur" shoots to him at immense speed, again shooting him along with the blur through three different parallel buildings making the buildings shatter completely at the force of the impacts. As the buildings crumble the green thing is dazed and weakened, with the red-blue-blur levitating, eyes red.
Superman, his fist strong and his motion impacting he starts to pound at the chest of Brainiac till he is no longer capable of fighting back. Superman takes pity, his rule of no-kill holding him back as the shaken and scared crowd gathers, some chanting and soon many shouting for Supes to "kill this damned alien", "vaporize that murdering alien scum". We can clearly see Supes is losing his so called popularity with the blood-eyed crowd, wanting him to end this murderous lifeform that tried to encase Metropolis in a miniaturized form. But as expected, Superman stands down with a chorus and chant of "booos" from the crowd. He grabs Brainiac by his collar and pulls him to his face, about to say something when *ZZZZZFFFTT!* .. a laser shot through the alien's skull, with Supe's face looking confounded and somewhat shocked. He turns to see Lex Luthor, standing with a modified green and purple body armor, his hand pointing at Brainiac's skull with the laser gun sliding under the forearm casing. Lowering his shooting arm he looks at Supes with Superman's eyes starting to glow red with anger, but it is only accentuated with a gleeful cheer from the crowd ... towards Lex Luthor.
..TO BE CONTINUED..
So, what do you guys think so far?
If you guys like I'll continue towards the middle part of the story.
Opening Teaser, letters on screen.
"27 years ago a baby boy from the doomed planet Krypton was rocketed towards Earth where he crash landed and was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. They named him Clark. The boy gained extensive abilities and powers under Earth's yellow Sun and soon he became the greatest hero the world has ever known.
Superman."
CUT TO:
Slow rhythm of the Superman theme, as a still picture montage starts. We see a guy wearing a suit with his back to the camera, looking at a smiling woman. A little freckle faced guy is there too, a camera hanging from his neck. Then we see another picture from the sides of the people, with the suited guy touching his glasses. The smile of the woman fades away a bit, a slight frown on her face.
"For years, Clark Kent has disguised himself as a reporter for the Daily Planet whilst pining for the attention of one Lois Lane (Alana De La Garza). She was pining for Superman whilst having an untold crush upon Clark himself. He revealed Clark and Superman were the same person three years ago, not only to Lois but also to Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington), Superman's best friend and Clark's most trusted buddy."
We then pan the picture towards the chest of the suited man as he tugs at his shirt front, revealing the iconic "S" symbol. The next picture shows the jaw-dropped look on Lois and Jimmy's face, as we finally see the focus upon the suited man's face. Superman is revealed (Brandon Routh).
"Soon after, Lois and Clark were married. Their happiness was short lived however, as the megalomaniac businessman and scientist, Lex Luthor (John Hamm, balded), came out publicly to voice his concern about letting Superman, an alien with almost godlike powers be allowed to be the savior of mankind. On his side he has Amanda Waller (S. Epatha Markerson), a brilliant political strategist with a hatred for superheroes and together they put the case that there is no "regulatory body" that can hold superheroes responsible. They of course lose the case which only makes Luthor's resolve stronger."
**The Superman theme starts, actor, producer and director credits follow, finishing with the focus on the "S" shield shining from one side to the other. Movie starts.*
CUT TO:
Present day. We see a tall building. Then we see a sudden smash towards the camera coming from the tall building, a green bodied 'thing' has been shot through the building and it crash lands on the busy street bellow. It quickly stands up, gritting its teeth. Superman fans immediately recognize him as Brainiac. Movie fans recognize him as Vin Diesel in green paint. Just as he stands up, a "red blue blur" shoots to him at immense speed, again shooting him along with the blur through three different parallel buildings making the buildings shatter completely at the force of the impacts. As the buildings crumble the green thing is dazed and weakened, with the red-blue-blur levitating, eyes red.
Superman, his fist strong and his motion impacting he starts to pound at the chest of Brainiac till he is no longer capable of fighting back. Superman takes pity, his rule of no-kill holding him back as the shaken and scared crowd gathers, some chanting and soon many shouting for Supes to "kill this damned alien", "vaporize that murdering alien scum". We can clearly see Supes is losing his so called popularity with the blood-eyed crowd, wanting him to end this murderous lifeform that tried to encase Metropolis in a miniaturized form. But as expected, Superman stands down with a chorus and chant of "booos" from the crowd. He grabs Brainiac by his collar and pulls him to his face, about to say something when *ZZZZZFFFTT!* .. a laser shot through the alien's skull, with Supe's face looking confounded and somewhat shocked. He turns to see Lex Luthor, standing with a modified green and purple body armor, his hand pointing at Brainiac's skull with the laser gun sliding under the forearm casing. Lowering his shooting arm he looks at Supes with Superman's eyes starting to glow red with anger, but it is only accentuated with a gleeful cheer from the crowd ... towards Lex Luthor.
..TO BE CONTINUED..
So, what do you guys think so far?
If you guys like I'll continue towards the middle part of the story.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is what I am always saying. I am on the outside looking in, and it seems everyone that gets involved with Superman just doesn't get the character as is. There is always some aspect of the mythos that they don't like or don't buy. Be it Clark, Lois, Daily Planet, the glasses, or something else.
I know I sound like a broken record, but just get someone that can make a Superman movie that Joe Q Public would go yeah that Superman, not that writer, director, die hard fan, lifetime comic book collector would like. Considering that Superman keeps rolling in the comics, has a TV show, has two animated series, and direct to DVD animated movies means that someone knows how to tell a Superman story. If Bay can make two movies about alien robots that turn into cars, planes, and automobiles, then surely someone can make a Superman movie.
Nice job Star Trek1701 I wouldn't like it but that does what I said it would. Average person would be happy and it is cynical enough that the dark loving comic fan of today would like it. See Warners/DC it is not so hard. Hire this man. (and me too)
Thank you!
Maybe if we collaborate we can have a billion dollar movie in our hands. Hey, its good to dream!
Not quite. I'm fine with it as-is, I'd just like to shake it up or whatnot. I feel the whole Superman being-an-alien thing is something you'd want to address in a period piece. People have issues with non-whites coming to their country, what about people from other planets? Well, that 'otherness' doesn't quite come through when he looks like Clark Gable or Cary Grant, but if he's black it becomes palpably, even uncomfortably, obvious.
*shrug*
The important bit is probably more the idea that Superman beats the crap out of Nazis. That's something people would like, right?
Yes and the audience would flee just like they did with S:R. When people go to comic book movies, action movies or pure 'fun' movies, they want to disengage their brains, forget the hardships of life in general and just wants to enjoy a couple of hours. Hours they bought with their hard earned money. Hence why 300 made so much money but Watchmen fizzled away.
The Germans and Jewish people would.
Everyone else would just yawn.
The Dark Knight wasn't a "fun disengage your brain" type of comic book movie and it made over $1 billion dollars worldwide (and, no, that wasn't all down to Heath Ledger's death - that may have added some to the box office, but the film would've been huge regardless). A Superman film obviously shouldn't go that dark, but there's room to maneuver in creating a cinematic iteration of Superman that has good doses of humor and action together with some hefty drama and splashes of darkness. Superman: The Animated Series demonstrated that with its Darkseid arc.
The line between Clark Kent and Superman wasn't so clearly drawn in the early days of Action Comics, Superman, and the daily strips. Two drawings, one done around the time of Action #1 and another as a comic panel, have the caption: "Superman and Clark Kent one and the same." When Clark Kent wanted to get a story or go toe-to-toe with George Taylor-cum-Perry White, he was bold and mildly aggressive, like the George Reeves portrayal. It was only around Lois that Clark became the milquetoast.
Despite Mark Waid's assertion in his Birthright afterward that Siegal and Shuster came up with the "disguised as a mild-mannered reporter" line, it really came out of the radio serial and the Fleschier cartoons. In order to distinguish more clearly between Clark and Superman, radio actor Bud Collier pitched Kent's voice higher and the character was a bit more introverted than in the comics and newspaper strips. Collier also played the role in the animated shorts, carrying over the same performance.
This idea that Kent was more disguise than anything else really came to fruition in the Silver Age and as more of Superman's Kryptonian heritage got explored, making him more and more alien.
The Golden-Age Superman, including variations based upon him, like Earth-2 Supes and New Frontier Supes, is my favorite iteration of the character. And I'd love to see a period piece film based on that version. In fact, I'd love to see an adaptation of Tom DeHaven's literary novel It's Superman, which I think nails the period.
I must say, some of your ideas are interesting and seem to truly engage and challenge some of the core concepts of the Superman mythos while reinterpreting them at the same time but paying homage to what has come before. Not too dissimilar to what Geoff Johns has done in the comics.
Not entirely. The awkwardness is there, but it isn't a complete rehash of the pre-Crisis Superman. It is a marrying of the the two concepts, really. Clark is still a person, but so is Superman, and yet they are one and the same. After reading Superman: Secret Identity #1, Johns is playing with the dual identity, posing the questions of which is the real person and which is the facade and what if both are the real person.
In the same interview, this quote from artist Gary Frank is pertinent to this discussion of what people would do with the character.