Superman Returns

[Absinthe_1900]

I'd rather see them make a feature length animated Superman, in the same style as the old Max Fleischer cartoons.

 

[Feraud]

SUPERMAN SPOILER INCLUDED!!!

SPOILER INCLUDED! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!


I totally agree that Superman was better than King Kong & X-Men III.
I saw no reason for a new Superman film. The flying effects were good but that does not carry a movie. The story was such a "homage" to the 1978 version it contributed very little to the genre. The son of Superman angle was...meh. It did not thrill me.

The only good thing about the new Kong was the original film released on dvd!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The 1977 Superman is dated. Christopher Reeve's performance is not.

I really think that they should have retired Reeve's number, or at least waited a few more years after his death to make, well, what they made. Why not simply make a film about Superman's boyhood, or his middle age, or simply (as Absinthe 1900 suggested) a cartoon version? These options wouldn't monkey with the memory of Reeves' performance.

Great guy, Christopher Reeves. Few know (and Reeves never promoted the fact) that he went to Chile during its dictatorship in order to speak out for Chilean actors who were being threatened with imprisonment or worse. Reeves received a rather dark warning from the Pinochet government not to speak to the press about it on live television, but he did it anyway. To this day, Chileans speak of Reeves with respect and gratitude.

.

 

[Serial Hero]

...imagine what he would have said about Germans or Asians back then!

I take it you haven't seen the Fleischer cartoons.

 

[Serial Hero]

If Superman did not say "The American Way" because it was not a popular sentiment 1930s imagine what he would have said about Germans or Asians back then!

I take it you haven't seen the Fleischer cartoons.

 

[jamespowers]

I couldn't agree more! Bruce Campbell would have made a great Superman.

Chad

Ok, I have to agree with that. But I just think it would be like Army of Superman instead of Superman.

Regards,

J

 

[jamespowers]

I think the phrase, "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" was mangled not because it predates the 1950's anti-Communist chest thumping but because of the $$'s.
Singer & Co. are thinking about that juicy foreign dvd market.
To some folk, that is the American Way. [huh]

Now this is more likely the reason pandering to the bucks. :rage: Superman is an American icon. Duh! What would he be for the Communist way?!

Regards,

J

 

[MudInYerEye]

Now this is more likely the reason pandering to the bucks. :rage: Superman is an American icon. Duh! What would he be for the Communist way?!

Regards,

J

Actually, the original Schuster/Siegel Superman circa 38-41 was seemingly a commited socialist. Many of his adventures involved righting social injustices which were invaribly commited against society by robberbaron warbuck-types. He was a one man anti-trust act delivering the New Deal with steel fists. Most early superheroes, which were mostly created by a large pool of urban left-wing artists and writers, expressed a similar message. Of course, things changed as the cold war approached.

 

[MudInYerEye]

You're crazy, X-Men III was great! Much better than Superman Returns. (No love for King Kong though.)

You got that right, I am crazy.

 

[jamespowers]

Actually, the original Schuster/Siegel Superman circa 38-41 was seemingly a commited socialist. Many of his adventures involved righting social injustices which were invaribly commited against society by robberbaron warbuck-types. He was a one man anti-trust act delivering the New Deal with steel fists. Most early superheroes, which were mostly created by a large pool of urban left-wing artists and writers, expressed a similar message. Of course, things changed as the cold war approached.

Quite true. I mentioned this before in fact. Superman is a symbol of how Big Government will take care of everything. It has a very leftist approach. Maybe the Communist Way would be more correct.
Batman is the other side of the coin. He is the one man can make a difference when government and everything has gone crazy. Someone remind me the issue of the comic book where Batman and Superman go after each other. Batman is older but he eventually wins and KOs Superman. He walks away leaving Superman out, flat on the ground, bleeding. That's my kind of allegory. :eusa_clap

Regards,

J

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Superman is a symbol of how Big Government will take care of everything. It has a very leftist approach. Maybe the Communist Way would be more correct.

You'll enjoy the movie V for Victory.

.

 

[jamespowers]

You'll enjoy the movie V for Victory.

.

[huh] [huh][huh] ------

 

[Marc Chevalier]

[huh] [huh][huh] ------

Its lead character fights against a dictatorial British government. He spectacularly blows up London's Houses of Parliament at night.

.

 

[jamespowers]

Its lead character fights against a dictatorial British government. He spectacularly blows up London's Houses of Parliament at night.

.

Like Jefferson said: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." :cheers1:

Regards,

J

 

[Benny Holiday]

The world's a smaller place now

In the movie, Superman helps people all around the world. After all, he was sent to Earth ( not the U.S.A.) by his father to help mankind, not Americans.
The upholding of the ideals of truth and justice don't only apply to one nation.

As for the movie, I got what I wanted to see. The effects were spectacular (those who want to complain about digital imperfections can return to watching old claymation films and enjoy how realistic they look . . . not)
and I enjoyed Routh's portrayal of Superman/Clark Kent. He had Chris Reeve's gentle-natured Man of Steel down pat, a person of amazing strength and abilities who is at the same time a calm and restrained presence.

I'll complain about Routh's physique when I can look that good in a skin-tight blue and red suit.

 

[Serial Hero]

Ok, now for the controversy. Remember the Truth, Justice and the American way slogan? Well it got axed down. Truth and justice are still there but the American way is gone. Is Superman now a PC character?

Regards,
J

This is a through back to the original Superman comics and the Max Fleischer cartoons of the 30's and 40's. The fraise, "American Way" wasn't added until the 1950's George Reeves' TV show, as a way of going against Communism.

In the 30's people believed that the "American Way" was broken. The country was in the midst of a depression, Gang violence was out of control, the rights of workers and fair wages were a very hot issue, the police and local governments were corrupt and the Federal government seemed unwilling or unable to do anything about it. During this time Superman represented the everyman, standing up for truth and justice, taking the law into his own hands, in a world that had let him down.

This new movie is trying to get Superman back to his 1930's roots (just a note that I haven't seen it yet, but that is what I have read and been told)

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Just saw it. Very spare.
But, while somewhat disappointing, it was much better than KING KONG or X-MEN III.

You're crazy, X-Men III was great! Much better than Superman Returns. (No love for King Kong though.)

 

[Matt Deckard]

I don't think they thought that deeply about Superman's character. They like the looks of the 30's and 40's, though when it came to character they were going to reproduction Chris Reeve and ended up with a McCalls retro pattern that has larger than life armholes

 

[Chad Sanborn]

To me the definitive Superman was that drawn by Curt Swan during the 50's and 60's. His Superman was husky, square-jawed, and unmistakeably middle-aged. Bruce Campbell looks like Superman.

I couldn't agree more! Bruce Campbell would have made a great Superman.

Chad

 

[Serial Hero]

They did use the Fleischer cartoons for reference. The "American Way" was omitted because Superman didn't say it in those original cartoons. The rest I just added as a little Superman history lesson for those that didn't know.