This weekend I Watched the Classics Superman and Superman II w/ Chris Reeve, Now this is just my opinion but I don't think they've made a finer "Comic On Film" Movie yet (Well Spider Man Was real close!) To be honest I really liked Supes II more than the First Although I coulda' done without that 20 minute scene of General Zod & Co. Using their Super Breath to Blow Metropolis Citizens All over the Place. (I felt it was Corny) But aside from that I just loved that one.

So That being said, Of course I know it's Waaaaaay to soon to have an opinion on a yet to be released Movie,But I just can't help but have a few questions based on JUST the Images I've seen sofar and the Interviews I've seen with Cast and Crew. Questions Such as, If this film takes place "Five Years" after Supes II,then how is it The Man Of Steel looks Ten Years Younger than Reeve? So the wife sez 'Well He Can Go Out In Space And Turn Time Back..." Yeah Okay True but Then Why Is Lois Younger as well? I can't say anything bad about Lex yet,Ya' see For me I always liked Marvel's Heroes and DC's Baddies So you can imagine the Woody I got when Marvel and DC Put out that "Superman VS Spiderman" Oversized Edition right? lol Then Imagine my delight when They had decided to Team My all time Fave Villian Lex Luthor (Lex is number 1 Even above the Joker for me! don't ask me why) with one of the Few Marvel Foes I kinda Liked Doc Ock! (The Lizard being my fave of the Marvel Rogues Gallery) So anyhoo I Enjoyed Gene Hackman's Luthor with all the Conciet and Swagger and even the Humorous Stuff with Luthor and Otis "Otisville?...OTISVILLE?" or in SII,Lex asks of Superman "Why doe's He Always Fly North?" to which Otis replies "To Ski?" lol BUT my only beef with Hackman's Version was HAIR! I know it's a small thing but Lex Luthor Is Folicly Challanged (at least in the Comics) and in the first film ya' don't get the Bald Luthor till the Very end! and a little at the Begining of Supes II. So just for Baldness Kevin Spacey already has my Vote! lol And Anybody here have a clue why Kal-El is wearing a Black and Silver Costume at some point in this new Film? I was freakin' Cause I thought they were Actually gonna Go with that Stupid "Every Superhero Must Be In Black Cause It Looks Cooler" Mentallity! lol But Obviously This new guy does have on the ol' Familiar Blue & Red (Although I don't care for the new French Cut Speedo's But that's another whole Post:freak: ) So In Summation I gotta say Without Having seen the Whole Film yet, I plan to be there just for Luthor (But I hope to be Pleasently Surprised by the rest of the Content) Sofar I know I'm not digging that New Lois Lane nor Jimmie Olsen (Although Jimmy doesn't really matter Who plays him IMHO) I hope I don't sound to Mean Spirited I just feel like it's gonna be Disapointing. Whadda You think? Hope I have a chance to come here and read your reactions AFTER we've all Actually seen it.

John/Lonfan

"Superman: The Movie" has essentially been the template for almost every good superhero movie that has followed it. It would be difficult for me to state how much I admire that movie, and in how many different ways. I would say that it's nearly perfect (Lois's spoken word "song" when Superman takes her flying was just a bad idea that should have ended up on the cutting room floor). Will "Superman Returns" match it? I don't think so and I don't think that's even the goal (director Singer obviously has great respect for the original). Of course the effects will be amazing. But as always, it all gets down to the story and how well that story is told. I have no real predictions but I do think Spacey will make a great Luthor.

Questions Such as, If this film takes place "Five Years" after Supes II,then how is it The Man Of Steel looks Ten Years Younger than Reeve? So the wife sez 'Well He Can Go Out In Space And Turn Time Back..." Yeah Okay True but Then Why Is Lois Younger as well?In the words of Joel Robinson -- "Hush, child -- you'll anger the overlords!"

Seriously, these questions just fall into the category of those things you must simply ignore. Just like Batman being active in the 1940s, or James Bond having been active in World War II, or the Millennium Falcon's exterior versus its interior, there's no way to reconcile these things perfectly. There's always a point where you have to say, "Okay, we're ignoring this fact -- because if we don't, the whole thing grinds to a halt."

Look at it this way -- it makes no less sense than the idea that glasses and a business suit make the perfect disguise.

Qapla'

SSB

"Look at it this way -- it makes no less sense than the idea that glasses and a business suit make the perfect disguise"

AW DUDE Ya' Got me Blowin' Lipton's Tea thru my Beak! lol I guess you're right but what's the deal with the "Super Space Suit"? it's even in the Books that are already Availible.

John/Lonfan

So far everything looks great to me as far as the movie goes. I am not concerned with explanations for costumes and such as long as they keep the blue and red as the main suit.

The main thing that I am looking forward to is the score. John Ottman has done an incredible job of blending John Williams' score with the new stuff to create what seems to be a perfect blend. You can check out snippets of it for yourselves at the following link.

http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=196

I think that to hear the Superman theme in REAL good surround in a theater will be the coolest.

I am also curious about the Imax 3D version. Singer says that 20 minutes of the film have been done in 3D. I imagine that a lot of that will be the airplane rescue scene from the trailers.

I can't help but compare every Superman movie to the George Reeves version. It will be awfully hard for any movie to compete with that classic. I'm still enjoying it on cable.

I can't help but compare every Superman movie to the George Reeves version. It will be awfully hard for any movie to compete with that classic. I'm still enjoying it on cable.
Both George Reeves and Christopher Reeve are my favorite Supermen. Even today, I think it was cool how George Reeves Would hit the floor at a run to "fly" out the window. I "ll reserve my judgement about Superman Returns after I see it. It's great that they were smart enough to use the theme from Chris Reeve's Film.

I really want Singer's version to work, but I'll admit I'm worried about the casting. From what I've seen there's more sexual chemistry between Supes and Lex Luther than between Supes and Lois. Call me old fashioned, but I'm not sure that's a good thing for the characters.

It'll be interesting to see how audiences react to the "gay thing," because God knows that's a 900 lb. gorilla that ain't gonna go away. An overdose of homoerotic subtext damn near killed off the BATMAN franchise (nipples on the batsuit? Please...), and I'm hoping that won't be the case with Singer's SUPERMAN.

I'm not generally prone to Queer Fear, but in this case it's a question of dramatic credibility. Clark Kent's longing for Lois is a huge part of the character's motivation, and if it doesn't play the film could be in big trouble.

...I really liked Supes II more than the First Although I coulda' done without that 20 minute scene of General Zod & Co. Using their Super Breath to Blow Metropolis Citizens All over the Place. (I felt it was Corny)

John/Lonfan

I could have done without all of the talking that went on while the trio were on the moon with the astronauts. So let me see.......there is no air, but the astronauts can carry on a conversation with the Kryptonians while wearing their suits and helmets....and the Kryptonians understand? What were they thinking???

I could have done without all of the talking that went on while the trio were on the moon with the astronauts. So let me see.......there is no air, but the astronauts can carry on a conversation with the Kryptonians while wearing their suits and helmets....and the Kryptonians understand? What were they thinking???

SUPER HEARING Phrank lol


John/Lonfan

Just read that "Superman Returns" was shot on 24p HD (like the recent Star Wars movies) which means that it will look amazing on DVD - especially in the HD format.

I'm not a big fan of Superman II--bad effects, bad music adaptation, and too much cornball, slapstick humor undermining the proceedings. Sure, Zod is a great villain and Sarah Douglas is cool, but most of the sequel lacks the charm and majesty of the original.

I'm seeing Superman tomorrow night and I do hope it's good. I'm not overly worried about the "gay" factor which seems to be getting overhyped by the media; I've heard both Routh and Kate Bosworth are terrific in the movie. Two disappointments: they've cut out the expensive opening sequence that had Superman returning to the remains of Krypton, and they're not opening with the "curtain" prologue from the original like they'd planned. But aside from that, I do have faith in Singer's affection for the 1978 movie and that alone gives me high hopes for Superman Returns. It's true it's a sort of elastic "sequel"--you can't have Lois Lane be in her 50s so the timespan between Superman's departure and return has to be cut down and obviously the new Superman is not Christopher Reeve--although if you've been in the same room with him, he's remarkably Chris Reeve-LIKE. So we'll see...

An overdose of homoerotic subtext damn near killed off the BATMAN franchise (nipples on the batsuit? Please...), and I'm hoping that won't be the case with Singer's SUPERMAN.Actually it was Joel Schumacher's bad directing and two terrible scripts that nearly killed the Batman franchise. Frankly, I didn't notice any homoerotic subtext in Batman Forever or Batman & Robin, but that may have been simply because I was too busy trying not to vomit.

I could have done without all of the talking that went on while the trio were on the moon with the astronauts. So let me see.......there is no air, but the astronauts can carry on a conversation with the Kryptonians while wearing their suits and helmets....and the Kryptonians understand? What were they thinking???Super-eavesdropping and super-loud talking! :D

Qapla'

SSB

Actually it was Joel Schumacher's terrible direction and two terrible scripts that nearly killed the Batman franchise. Frankly, I didn't notice any homoerotic subtext in Batman Forever or Batman & Robin, but that may have been simply because I was too busy trying not to vomit.Never saw Batman & Robin, but I could see it in the costuming for Batman Forever, though I didn't notice it in the performances. There were a lot of things I liked about Batman Forever, though I thought it made things a little too bright and garish.

Qapla'

SSB

It'll be interesting to see how audiences react to the "gay thing," because God knows that's a 900 lb. gorilla that ain't gonna go away. An overdose of homoerotic subtext damn near killed off the BATMAN franchise (nipples on the batsuit? Please...), and I'm hoping that won't be the case with Singer's SUPERMAN.


As Jon Lovitz would say, imho it's the acting that will determine how well it works. I thought one of the problems with Beyond the Sea was I never bought Spacey's Bobby Darrin was interested a bit in Sandra Dee, in fact he seems to steel himself to even kiss her. On the other hand I believed Spacey's character in American Beauty had it bad for Mena Suvari, and AB worked (though I do think it's overated).

Spacey's a great example as well because there have been whispers about his orientation since Usual Suspects, personally I couldn't care less, and it's never crossed my mind either watching one of his films or contemplating seeing one. Except when he seemed to have zip attraction to Kate Bosworth in BTS. Hopefully Routh can do a better job convincing audiences he's hot for Kate Bosworth.

:p C'mon guys ................................
Lets just relax and wait fer da movie. :p

they've cut out the expensive opening sequence that had Superman returning to the remains of Krypton...

Wouldn't Superman be Affected by the Remains of Krypton just like the Fragments he's exposed to on Earth? Although it sounds like it woulda' been a cool scene.




John/Lonfan

Well, he goes to Krypton in his crystal spaceship...obviously not ALL kryptonite crystals are harmful to Superman as he handles one and builds the Fortress of Solitude with it during the first half of the original film...

Wouldn't Superman be Affected by the Remains of Krypton just like the Fragments he's exposed to on Earth?Maybe only the pieces that travel to earth become kryptonite per se.

Qapla'

SSB

Well, he goes to Krypton in his crystal spaceship...obviously not ALL kryptonite crystals are harmful to Superman as he handles one and builds the Fortress of Solitude with it during the first half of the original film...


Ah, Well perhaps that explains the Black Suit I've seen him in and it appears as though "Ma' Kent is helping him from out of a Crashed Ship



John/Lonfan

Hey, John! You're at the Space Odessey number now!

Hey, John! You're at the Space Odessey number now!

My God..... He's full of Stars!

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?

Dai-i-i-s-s-y-y-y-y-y, D-a-a-a-i-i-i-i-i-s-s-s-s-y-y-y-y-y-y-y...

Oh, we're geeking out now, aren't we? :jest:

My God..... He's full of Stars!He's full of something, that's fer sure. . . :p

LOL! Oh Yeah! You must know my Wife! lol

Okay, I saw Superman Returns last night. The Gay issue wasn't a factor at all; the movie's ABOUT the love story entirely and Brandon Routh commits to it fully--he fills Chris Reeve's boots better than I would have thought possible and Kate Bosworth is good too. Fantastic visual effects, beautiful flying sequences, a great takeoff of the original 1978 title sequence, lots of fun stuff. Kevin Spacey and the whole Lex Luthor thing was kind of so-so and Bryan Singer has a fetish for shooting people from 8 inches a way that undermines things a bit, particularly in the opening scenes.

This is really a love letter to the 1978 film, almost too much so at some points. But you will feel the Man of Steel is given respect, and you will believe a man can fly...

Thanks for the "lowdown'' but aren't ya supposed to give a spoilers warning? :p

Glad you liked it, Jeff.

I'm hearing mixed reviews from friends who've seen it, but am keeping my mind open and fingers crossed.

The Variety review is an out-and-out rave...

You can't me there isn't at least one guy at the Topps Card Factory with a sense humor:
http://www.ks1075.com/pageImages/superman_closet_400.jpg

I sure hope the actor isn't really being outed by Topps.

I can't imagine what effect that would have on ticket sales if it turned out he was gay.