Superman (casting, rumors, pix till release)

[Gojira]

From a random person on another website:

"Man of Steel. What a piece of crap. I walked out of the midnight show a little more than halfway through."



I mean, people have different tastes, I can see some people thinking it's bad, but walk-out bad???

I walked out on Superman III when it came out years ago.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

A lot of the reviews, to me, seem like they're complaining that MoS isn't enough like the old movies. And yet Superman Returns got blasted for being too much like the old movies. I think the movie's going to do just fine.

I really feel, and forgive me for saying this again, it seems like much of the negative criticisms are coming from critics that do not like summer blockbusters or superhero movies.

Most of these critics are in love with kitchen-sink flicks from Sundance Film Festival and England, that's why. Check out the reviews in the entertainment section of tomorrow's paper (The New York Times and any major daily in any big city-the print editions, mind you) and you'll see four and five stars, sometimes even ten, given out to every foreign movie and independent American flick by people like Todd Solenz, Judd Apatow, Paul Thomas Anderson, and anybody else who comes out of and has had movies screened/premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and whose movies appear on the Sundance Channel and IFC. To them, superheroes suck or are anti-intellectual, or the movies aren't that good (with a few exceptions.) I really have nothing against those movies or the directors that make them (I loved The Master from last year), but I think that these critics are in love with those movies (and foreign films) way too much.

 

[Greg Cox]

From a random person on another website:

"Man of Steel. What a piece of crap. I walked out of the midnight show a little more than halfway through."



I mean, people have different tastes, I can see some people thinking it's bad, but walk-out bad???

DC versus Marvel rivalry can reach insane levels on the internet. I wouldn't trust that every random person posting about a superhero movie is on the level.

You know, I've never understood that. It's not like they're sports teams or something. Why can't you enjoy Superman AND Spider-Man? Batman AND Wolverine?

 

[kirk55555]

I never get why some people would just like DC or just Marvel. I like a lot of characters from both, personally.

I'm not posting to start an argument, just to say that I find it funny that the negative reviews are bascially all agreeing with my thoughts on the movie. There are a few specific critics I agree with a lot in various places online, and they hated it, so for me atleast I'm sure when it comes out on DVD I'll feel the same, especially after reading spoilers that honestly make me more sad than angry about what Superman became.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Which is what exactly?

 

[kirk55555]

I already said I don't want to start an argument and I meant that (and posting the spoilers I read is probably not something that I should do either). If you know the ending (or have read spoilers like me) then what I'm talking about is obvious. I'm not going to create another big thing in this thread, I just felt like posting my raction to the reviews and spoilers for the movie.

 

[davejames]

Most of these critics are in love with kitchen-sink flicks from Sundance Film Festival and England, that's why. Check out the reviews in the entertainment section of tomorrow's paper (The New York Times and any major daily in any big city-the print editions, mind you) and you'll see four and five stars, sometimes even ten, given out to every foreign movie and independent American flick by people like Todd Solenz, Judd Apatow, Paul Thomas Anderson, and anybody else who comes out of and has had movies screened/premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and whose movies appear on the Sundance Channel and IFC. To them, superheroes suck or are anti-intellectual, or the movies aren't that good (with a few exceptions.) I really have nothing against those movies or the directors that make them (I loved The Master from last year), but I think that these critics are in love with those movies (and foreign films) way too much.

Well to be fair, they have liked quite a few superhero films in the past (Donner's Superman, Raimi's Spider-Man, Iron Man, etc). I think they just have an expectation that these movies should all be fun and comic booky like the comic books of the 60s that they probably grew up with.

True the Nolan movies took themselves very seriously, but those were almost more like crime dramas than superhero movies, so I'm not sure you can really include those in the equation.

 

[Phily B]

Seen it.

Wasn't very good, great fight scenes in the last half but not enough to make up for the dull plot, dull characters and it really has no substance to it. I did nearly walk out half way through, I was that bored - the Krypton scene and origin were like a rejected idea from the prequels - but I'm glad I didn't as the fight scenes were admittedly spectacular. I would summarise it as Transformers but without cheesiness, self awareness and that takes itself very seriously. There is very little humour or cheesiness. It was a big dumb action movie without any redeeming features outside of the impressive action set pieces.

Henry Cavill was fine as Superman though, even though I thought he was too angry and whiny.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I really feel, and forgive me for saying this again, it seems like much of the negative criticisms are coming from critics that do not like summer blockbusters or superhero movies.

It's perfectly reasonable not to like either of those at all - there are sound reasons of taste and aesthetics to find both genres lacking.

I don't happen to have that kind of taste, though. I'm thoroughly enjoying watching much of what the studios emit while their execs keep riding these dinosaurs to Hell.

 

[Phily B]

Though it should be noted that I loved Superman Returns and the Reeve movies.

I'm really pretty angry with it actually, I went in with no expectations and it was still really bad. Everytime I type something or post something, I think of something else that pissed me off. The music was really terrible, it was just war drums the entire time. There was nothing impressive or inspiring about it.

 

[sojourner]

As someone who liked parts of Superman Returns (the Alex Ross influenced scenes) I thought Man of Steel was great!

 

[Gojira]

I really feel, and forgive me for saying this again, it seems like much of the negative criticisms are coming from critics that do not like summer blockbusters or superhero movies.

It's perfectly reasonable not to like either of those at all - there are sound reasons of taste and aesthetics to find both genres lacking.

I don't happen to have that kind of taste, though. I'm thoroughly enjoying watching much of what the studios emit while their execs keep riding these dinosaurs to Hell.

I am with you there! I do not mind them at all either.

 

[JarodRussell]

Though it should be noted that I loved Superman Returns and the Reeve movies.

I'm really pretty angry with it actually, I went in with no expectations and it was still really bad. Everytime I type something or post something, I think of something else that pissed me off. The music was really terrible, it was just war drums the entire time. There was nothing impressive or inspiring about it.

Hans Zimmer is simply no John Williams, and the wrong choice for Superman. He makes rhythmic noises, not music. He was a good choice for The Dark Knight trilogy, because that low key stuff worked there. But still, the best parts from the Dark Knight trilogy soundtracks come from James Newton Howard.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I already said I don't want to start an argument and I meant that (and posting the spoilers I read is probably not something that I should do either). If you know the ending (or have read spoilers like me) then what I'm talking about is obvious. I'm not going to create another big thing in this thread, I just felt like posting my raction to the reviews and spoilers for the movie.

I've seen the movie and the ending is something that has been used in Superman stories before. Notiably in Byrne's run. Superman's reaction to this event was totally in character.

You do get that posting anything will get a response, right? It's kind of why this format exists. If you don't want to start an "argument" or engender discussion and debate, you might consider not posting.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

From BoxOffice.com:

Sources tell BoxOffice that Man of Steel is on pace for at least $45 million on Friday. The final Friday figure will likely end up closer to $50 million, which means that Man of Steel's first weekend in North America could bring in $120 million or more.

WB clearly decided to hinder expectations by saying that the film would end up in the $90 million range this weekend. The recent announcement that a sequel is already moving forward shows that they knew they had a massive film on their hands. The global potential of Man of Steel is massive. Keep in mind that the much-maligned Superman Returns made nearly $400 million globally back in 2006. A true crowd-pleaser like Man of Steel could end up doubling that sum.

Man of Steel may become one of the biggest examples of a critic-proof film in quite some time. The superhero flick currently has a mediocre 58% approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com. Audiences around the country are clearly shrugging off the critical consensus.

 

[RoJoHen]

Just got back, and I thought this movie was wonderful.

 

[sojourner]

Is it time to start the Superman sequel (casting, rumors, pix till release) thread yet?

 

[Skywalker]

Fantastic movie. Off to the spoilers thread.

 

[Neroon]

Is it time to start the Superman sequel (casting, rumors, pix till release) thread yet?

In a word, "No". Give this one more time to ferment. Perhaps after MoS has been out a bit and we have some concrete word on a sequel, then the time would be right. For now... take it easy and enjoy this one.

 

[sojourner]

^I thought we did have concrete word on a sequel?