Spoilers Superman (2025) Grade and Discussion

[Captaindemotion]

The original General Zod has died

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/actor-terence-stamp-star-superman-films-dies-aged-87-2025-08-17/?taid=68a1e9c68a7c3500011a6436&utm_campaign=trueAnthem+Manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[BillJ]

I have to be completely honest. The more I've seen things like Superman: The Animated Series, My Adventures with Superman, Superman & Lois and Superman (2025), the less enamored I've become with Man of Steel.

Comparatively, Man of Steel just feels drab and unimaginative.

 

[The Realist]

Its main problem is that it drains all charm, color, and personality from the character.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Its main problem is that it drains all charm, color, and personality from the character.

Now that we know that the General being an asshole to Clark might actually have been the Martian Manhunter, doesn't that take away all the jeopardy from at least half the movie?

 

[Mudd]

Why do we "know" that?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Why do we "know" that?

I did say "might".

I am aware that we don't know when J'onn adopted that personality, and whether it's an original character, or he replaced a real living breathing person with a full life and a military career, either temporarily or completely, but that's really overthinking it.

 

[Mudd]

I did say "might".

I am aware that we don't know when J'onn adopted that personality, and whether it's an original character, or he replaced a real living breathing person with a full life and a military career, either temporarily or completely, but that's really overthinking it.

MM has been a general named Swanwick.

This guy's name is Mori.

Not seeing a connection.

 

[The Realist]

I think Guy is talking about Swanwick from the Snyder films, not Mori from Gunn’s Superman. (He was replying to my post about Man of Steel.)

On the subject of Swanwick, I’m assuming he was J’onn all along, but he never seemed to be especially antagonistic to me, so not sure it really affects the film’s jeopardy.

 

[Mudd]

I think Guy is talking about Swanwick from the Snyder films, not Mori from Gunn’s Superman. (He was replying to my post about Man of Steel.)

On the subject of Swanwick, I’m assuming he was J’onn all along, but he never seemed to be especially antagonistic to me, so not sure it really affects the film’s jeopardy.

Ah, okay.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I think Guy is talking about Swanwick from the Snyder films, not Mori from Gunn’s Superman. (He was replying to my post about Man of Steel.)

On the subject of Swanwick, I’m assuming he was J’onn all along, but he never seemed to be especially antagonistic to me, so not sure it really affects the film’s jeopardy.

A thousand guys in camo with rifles used to mean something.

 

[The Realist]

A thousand guys in camo with rifles used to mean something.

Well, I mean, not to Superman.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Well, I mean, not to Superman.

Yes, and no.

Clark may sprain something while trying to make sure all those armed goons don't hurt themselves through misadventure.

 

[JD]

My evidence is that no one knew which streaming services they'd be on, or when. They certainly knew neither movie would be on a commonly known service in a month or less.

Barbie and Oppenheimer succeeded for several reasons, and one of them was simply that folks weren't sure when they'd be able to see either at home or on streaming compared to other longer series where they did know.

No, it was pretty obvious to anyone who paid attention to that kind of stuff that Oppenheimer would be on Peacock and Barbie would be on (HBO) Max since they're Universal and WB movies respectively, and I find it hard to believe that many people saw them in theaters just because they might not have known when they were going to be streaming. It was pretty obvious they were going be streaming eventually since they were big studio movies, and besides it's not like we always know exactly when movies will be going to the streaming service for their studio, so I find it hard to believe that really had that much of an impact.
So where exactly are you getting this from? I'm more than happy to admit, that this is all guesses, based on nothing more than my own feelings, but it just feels a lot more likely to me than what you're saying. If you have real evidence from articles or interviews or something I'm more than happy to admit I was wrong.

Not unsubstantiated at all, as stated above both Nolan and Gerwig deliberately delayed both going to VOD and streaming precisely to draw more to the Cinema. Praise and interest simply aren't enough.

But it sounds like these were decisions that were made after they were already huge hits, so that wouldn't explain their initial success.
Even though I'm a huge MCU fan, I'm willing to admit, that people just don't seem to be interested in seeing the movies in the theater any more, and obviously were a lot more interested in Barbeheimer.

 

[BillJ]

…that people just don't seem to be interested in seeing the movies in the theater any more…

It is a warped world that sees movies making four, five, six hundred million dollar movies as failures.

 

[JD]

Yeah, it's insane to me too.

 

[Mudd]

No, it was pretty obvious to anyone who paid attention to that kind of stuff that Oppenheimer would be on Peacock and Barbie would be on (HBO) Max since they're Universal and WB movies respectively, and I find it hard to believe that many people saw them in theaters just because they might not have known when they were going to be streaming. It was pretty obvious they were going be streaming eventually since they were big studio movies, and besides it's not like we always know exactly when movies will be going to the streaming service for their studio, so I find it hard to believe that really had that much of an impact.
So where exactly are you getting this from? I'm more than happy to admit, that this is all guesses, based on nothing more than my own feelings, but it just feels a lot more likely to me than what you're saying. If you have real evidence from articles or interviews or something I'm more than happy to admit I was wrong.

But it sounds like these were decisions that were made after they were already huge hits, so that wouldn't explain their initial success.
Even though I'm a huge MCU fan, I'm willing to admit, that people just don't seem to be interested in seeing the movies in the theater any more, and obviously were a lot more interested in Barbeheimer.

You know, only a tiny percentage of moviegoers pay attention to anything other than the movie itself and who the actors themselves are.

They don't know who the director is, certainly not who wrote it, and no way in Hell can they tell you the studio that produced it.

That's right, most people couldn't give you a correct Trivial Pursuit answer to "Who directed Jaws?"

Goes for classic films, too.

 

[Mudd]

It is a warped world that sees movies making four, five, six hundred million dollar movies as failures.

The people counting the money know better.