Gene Hackmans "Lex Luthor" is NOT the definitive version of the character

[NotFadeAway]

I would like to take this time and place to say that the Gene Hackman portrayal of Lex Luthor in the beloved Superman: The movie(1978) was far, very far, from the definitive version of Lex Luthor, and should NOT be used as a template for any Lex Luthor, including Kevin Spacey in the upcoming Superman Returns(2006). God willing he won't be campy, that he truly is a sadistic sociopath, and there is an ownage thread with my name on it.

Hackman, although a fine actor in his own right, portrayed perhaps the worst villian in super hero film history, tied with the Green Goblin performance from Willem Dafoe and any of the villians from Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. That is NOT Lex Luthor, it might have been in the 70's, but it isn't now, and it should never be again. When referencing Lex, everyone should refrain from using Hackman's Lex as an example. Michael Rosebaum, Sherman Howard, and John Shea's version of Lex Luthor have far exceeded this horrible portrayal. Do not base what Lex Luthor should be off the 78 film. Its irritating and insulting.

Thats my opinion, and I wanted to share it. Close the thread if you will, or feel free to bash Hackman's Lex right here in this thread. And don't even get me started on Lois Lane from the 78 film.

[BrollySupersj]

Did you just say Lex Luthor is the worst Villain in Superhero FILM history???

[Mr. Thing]

John Shea's Lex > Every other Lex, and you know it. ;)

[The Incredible Hulk]

I cant agree more. Luthor's come along way since 1978. Hackman's campy, over the top Luthor is a thing that should stay in the past. I just hope Spacey felt the same way, though judging from some of the trailers, I'm not so sure.

[Strgts]

STAS - Best Lex ever

[The Incredible Hulk]

John Shea's Lex > Every other Lex, and you know it. ;)

I liked Shea's and Rosenbaum's portrayals much better than Hackman's.

[Nivek]

No kidding. Lex has been played so many different ways, more so than anyone who has played Clark and Superman, which has pretty much remained constant.

Hackman was a huge star when this movie came out, and played the role a bit too comedic for some tastes. But his role came out wayyy before the whole "Trump Hitler" evil buisness tycoon version of his character. The guy used to be a bald Mad Scientist who thought he was the worlds smartest man, who hated Superman because he made him bald. After 78, Lex got a sharper edge in the comics, then his later portrayals.

I'm sure SR's Lex will be Kevin Spaceys version of Lex, not Hackmans role revisited.

[Steelsheen]

i dont think Hackman's portrayal should be taken seriously period.

he was playing for camp. it wa the 70s. everybody knew that.

[NotFadeAway]

Did you just say Lex Luthor is the worst Villain in Superhero FILM history???

No I didn't.....I said he is TIED for worst with The Green Goblin and any Joel Shumacker(sp) Batman villian.

And Clancy Brown in TAS rules, while Michael Rosenbaum is the best live action Lex, and he has barely touched the surface of his evil. Screw Tom Welling in a movie, I want fully evil Rosenbaum.

[Mr. Thing]

I think Mr. Spacey's Lex is a mixture of the humour from S:TM and some bitter twisted evil that's never been shown on screen before.

[Nivek]

I mean come on, Spacey doesn't put a peice of Kryptonite on his neck and drop him in a swimming pool in this film. He lures Superman to a toxic kryptonite laced Island, where he is weakened, beats the s#!t out of him, taunts him, grinds a Kryptonite shiv in his back, then dumps him into kryptonite laced waters to drown. I dont know about you, but that doesn't sound campy.

[Tron5000]

I think we should probably see the film before judging Spacey's portrayal of Lex. Guessing there will probably be Lex scenes that we haven't seen yet in trailers. Just a hunch.

[Lightning54SC]

Remember this when your a genious on the verge of madness all i can say is that you might be a little bit of a smartass plus you WILL HAVE A CHIP on your shoulder so yea i think Spacey is gonna nail this perfect

[Kane]

Im all for Spacey defining himself as the best Lex Luthor so far...

Just wait for it.... :)

[Steelsheen]

Im all for Spacey defining himself as the best Lex Luthor so far...

Just wait for it.... :)


i agree with you there 100% :up:

[Thunder Emperor]

the main problem i see with spaces lex is the fact through the trailers is that lexs want billions to die, lex has been more about control than kill people unncessarily. i think the comic lex luthor man of steel defines lex best. he see himself as the pinnacle of what man should be and superman as a threat to that idea of his. also the fact that lex swindles a woman for her billions is more of a hackman lex than say the comic lex, i would have rather lex use the crystal tech to rebuild lex corp from the ground up and sway people that he is helping everyone with his new found freedom. As for a definte lex version smallvile lex and the cartoon lex come off as best.

[The Kid]

Hackman was great as lex luthor. it's otis that was the problem. Stop bashing hackman or I'll show you my long arm.

[NotFadeAway]

It isn't just Hackman Im bashing, Im also bashing how the character was written.

[NotFadeAway]

the main problem i see with spaces lex is the fact through the trailers is that lexs want billions to die, lex has been more about control than kill people unncessarily. i think the comic lex luthor man of steel defines lex best. he see himself as the pinnacle of what man should be and superman as a threat to that idea of his. also the fact that lex swindles a woman for her billions is more of a hackman lex than say the comic lex, i would have rather lex use the crystal tech to rebuild lex corp from the ground up and sway people that he is helping everyone with his new found freedom. As for a definte lex version smallvile lex and the cartoon lex come off as best.

I also share your views.......

[Nivek]

i would have rather lex use the crystal tech to rebuild lex corp from the ground up and sway people that he is helping everyone with his new found freedom. As for a definte lex version smallvile lex and the cartoon lex come off as best.


But Lex can't "rebuild himself from the ground up" in this continuity, despite his crystals. He's notorious ex-con with a reputation for being a loon. And he's got an obvious overwhelming hatred for Superman.

[NotFadeAway]

But Lex can't "rebuild himself from the ground up" in this continuity, despite his crystals. He's notorious ex-con with a reputation for being a loon. And he's got an obvious overwhelming hatred for Superman.

Thats the main problem I have with using the old conitinuity, they have to fit everything within those guidelines.

[The Kid]

Well we won't be getting the three stooges Lex luthor, I hope. Clowning around with some doofus like otis isn't what I like to see. lex is very serious and evil. I think everyone but me misconcieves how hackman portrayed his lex luthor. They call him car salesman, or campy, but he's not. He's extremely self-absorbed and power hungry, and has no mercy for anyone and a nasty temper. That and he's a master con-man and a genius type of villian who enjoys a good challenge while making history that will be remembered forever. nothing wrong with that.

[Hunter Rider]

There is no definitive Lex only which one you like best

[Thunder Emperor]

But Lex can't "rebuild himself from the ground up" in this continuity, despite his crystals. He's notorious ex-con with a reputation for being a loon. And he's got an obvious overwhelming hatred for Superman.
yes he can use krytonian tech, to help rebuild metroplois to win peoples favor back, then it will be really a world without superman .when you have lex taking care of the everyday problems with his tech nology and his billions from there. but i guess you do have a point and with sticking with the continuity lex cannot full progress to the character he really is. a guinus of epic proportions who doesn't need to swindle you for you billions. reemebr this is a man that maed a deal with darkseid in the comics. I mean DARKSEID.

[NotFadeAway]

Well, if they were really going to rehash Hackman's crappy Lex, how funny would Jeremy Piven have been. I mean, Hackman was trying to be funny, but he just wasn't.

[Jlandsw]

Michael Rosenbaum is the DEFINITIVE Lex Luthor!!! His Lex has the intelligence, the wit, the baldness, and best of all....the evil!!!

[NotFadeAway]

Superman/Lex Luthor = Batman/Joker

Batman/Ra's Al Ghul = Superman/Darkseid

[NotFadeAway]

Michael Rosenbaum is the DEFINITIVE Lex Luthor!!! His Lex has the intelligence, the wit, the baldness, and best of all....the evil!!!

Rosenbaums Lex does have the " wit " for Lex I agree. The guy just flat out puts you down to your face. I loved it when he called Lois a " muffin pedaling drop out ".......And by the way, do you have banana blueberry.

[dark_b]

what i think is good about this lex is that he is ****ing insane. and the adults know that. on the other hand the kids think he is an evil funny guy. do you understand where i am coming from?

this is superman. it is lighter than any other superhero. and it has to be for kids. we can nto have a to serious villain. and i think that this lex is good for adults and kids.

[KaptainKrypton]

I like each Lex Luthor portrayal for its own specific differences. Rosenbaum and Glover are the only bright spots on an otherwise dismal show. This is mainly based on the strength of their acting, and also due to the character development done for each. I enjoy Rosenbaum's Luthor because he portrays him in a very articulate and calculating manner. I felt indifferent about Shea's portrayal in Lois and Clark because he never seemed like a true threat. He more or less came across as an uppity wiener who belonged on Sex and the City. Hackman's portrayal is also one of my favorites because it masked undertones of an inherently sociopathic nature, but they painted it up to look all nice by '70s standards. Rather than being deadpan cold like Rosenbaum's character, Hackman's Luthor was a smartass who never showed an ounce of fear at a man who could squash him 36 ways to Sunday. Take for example, the scene at Luthor's lair. Superman breaks down the door, and rather than hiding, Luthor quips: "my attorney will be in contact with you about the door." If I had a metahuman demigod shatter a steel door coming after me, I'd have pissed myself before he even looked at me. Lex just spends time hanging out with Superman before he tricks him into dropping the rock on himself. The only flaw is that they saddled Lex with absolute morons as sidekicks. But if you ask me, that's the only way they could make it so Superman could escape the clutches of someone who is leagues smarter than he is. I'd like to see Spacey's Luthor be a marriage of Rosenbaum, Brown's, and Hackman's performance and just play off the strengths of each.

[Jlandsw]

Rosenbaums Lex does have the " wit " for Lex I agree. The guy just flat out puts you down to your face. I loved it when he called Lois a " muffin pedaling drop out ".......And by the way, do you have banana blueberry.

HAHA, that was the best. I love how Lois and Lex don't like each other, that's awesome.

[The Kid]

I like each Lex Luthor portrayal for its own specific differences. Rosenbaum and Glover are the only bright spots on an otherwise dismal show. This is mainly based on the strength of their acting, and also due to the character development done for each. I enjoy Rosenbaum's Luthor because he portrays him in a very articulate and calculating manner. I felt indifferent about Shea's portrayal in Lois and Clark because he never seemed like a true threat. He more or less came across as an uppity wiener who belonged on Sex and the City. Hackman's portrayal is also one of my favorites because it masked undertones of an inherently sociopathic nature, but they painted it up to look all nice by '70s standards. Rather than being deadpan cold like Rosenbaum's character, Hackman's Luthor was a smartass who never showed an ounce of fear at a man who could squash him 36 ways to Sunday. Take for example, the scene at Luthor's lair. Superman breaks down the door, and rather than hiding, Luthor quips: "my attorney will be in contact with you about the door." If I had a metahuman demigod shatter a steel door coming after me, I'd have pissed myself before he even looked at me. Lex just spends time hanging out with Superman before he tricks him into dropping the rock on himself. The only flaw is that they saddled Lex with absolute morons as sidekicks. But if you ask me, that's the only way they could make it so Superman could escape the clutches of someone who is leagues smarter than he is. I'd like to see Spacey's Luthor be a marriage of Rosenbaum, Brown's, and Hackman's performance and just play off the strengths of each.

a bloody men.

Co-sizzled on this. :eek: Finally someone else who appreciates the great Hackman's work.

[dpm07]

The best interpretation of Lex (IMO) was in STAS/JL/JLU.

[The Kid]

best indeed, but not the end all be all of lex luthors inmyopinion

[Jlandsw]

http://usera.imagecave.com/under_the_pink/Smallville_Promos_Caps/Onyx_Alexander16.jpg

The only live action Lex to wear the Kryptonite ring!!!!!:up:

[Spare-Flair]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDJSQNlIn4k

This is so Hackman. He's hamming it up again. I really can't stand this version of Luthor' He isn't sinister at all.

[Lead Cenobite]

I just love how the post crisis Lex makes the Hackman Lex wrong retroactively, and that Kidder's Lois sucked because she wasn't some eye-candy sex symbol like Terri Hatcher.

[NotFadeAway]

Kidder's Lois also sucked based on performance.

[arty2]

Clancy Brown/Timmverse LEX OWNS ALL!!!!!

[SUPERSEBAS]

Hackman is a very good actor, but his interpretion of the character was horrible, and his look thosen look good! to me Telly Savalas should be Luthor, he was a great actor, and have the personality and the charisma to made a Great perfect Luthor, see him in The Dirty Dozen madeing an amazing work as a crazy fanatic religious!

[captain_jimbo]

IMO I thought Hackman's Luthor was terrific, and I've still to see a better version. I personally liked the way he played it, because he was evil, yet comical and in some ways likeable. :up:

[NotFadeAway]

The villian shouldn't be likable in a super hero film.........thats what the hero is for.

[captain_jimbo]

The villian shouldn't be likable in a super hero film.........thats what the hero is for.

Yes, in your opinion, but a lot of people like it when the villain isn't just a
2-dimensional baddie, like they were in the old silent movies, where there was a very defined good guy and a very obvious bad guy.

[The Question]

The villian shouldn't be likable in a super hero film.........thats what the hero is for.



Of course the villain should be likable, or at least somewhat sympathetic. A good villain should have depth and a reason for doing what they do.




Anyway, I liked Hackman's Luthor. I personally like Luthor having a bit of a sense of humor.

[The Batman]

wow....most of you have no understanding of hackmans luthor at all

[Jlandsw]

wow....most of you have no understanding of hackmans luthor at all

And you do????

[The Batman]

yes...i do....because i realize that, aside from the wigs, there was NOTHING CAMPY about Hackmans luthor.

[Lead Cenobite]

"it might have been in the 70's, but it isn't now,"

Hold it right there. So you're saying just because Lex has been changed in the comics since then, that makes Superman: The Movie's Lex wrong? So what if they decided later on to make Superman female and human, would that make all past versions wrong too?

[The Batman]

thats another problem i have with people criticizing hackmans lex...

they compare him to a version that wasnt made until 1986.

[Lead Cenobite]

That's the problem unfortunately. A lot of people's criticisms are "it isn't like post crisis" even though that era didn't exist until years after Superman: The Movie. And Lex IS a sadistic sociopath. Are all sadistic sociopaths not allowed to have a sense of humor? I mean, that's more realistic isn't it? That they don't go around acting all grim all the time.

And Kidder's performance didn't suck. She might not have been attractive to you, but she was a good Lois.

[The Batman]

people dont like kidders lois because she isnt hot to them.

people dont realize that hackmans lex was just an arrogant, cold hearted bastard with a witty sense of humor. The problem was otis and Ms. T, not lex.

The only other kind of lex we wouldve gotten was the guy in the purple in green suits who cackled like a madman.

[The Question]

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with Lex having a sense of humor. And really, his humor was almost entirely sarcastic. People with a superiority complex (like Lex is often written as having) tend to be very sarcastic towards others.

[The Batman]

exactly.

The main problem with hackmans lex were the wigs, and thats because hackman didnt want to cut his hair