John Shea, best Luthor to date?

[Matt]

I gotta admit, evem after seeing Spacey (whom I toook for granted would be great)...I still believe John Shea of Lois and Clark is the best Lutor to date. While granted, he was a bit flamboyant, No other actor has nailed Luthor's personality, sense of entitlement, motivation or untouchable nature so well. He was a damn fine Luthor indeed.

[Kevin Roegele]

I gotta admit, evem after seeing Spacey (whom I toook for granted would be great)...I still believe John Shea of Lois and Clark is the best Lutor to date. While granted, he was a bit flamboyant, No other actor has nailed Luthor's personality, sense of entitlement, motivation or untouchable nature so well. He was a damn fine Luthor indeed.

Shea was good, Spacey was good, Hackman was good, Michael Rosembaum is the best.

[Matt]

llYou know, I really haven't watched enough Smallville to judge

[Bad Superman]

I gotta admit, evem after seeing Spacey (whom I toook for granted would be great)...I still believe John Shea of Lois and Clark is the best Lutor to date. While granted, he was a bit flamboyant, No other actor has nailed Luthor's personality, sense of entitlement, motivation or untouchable nature so well. He was a damn fine Luthor indeed.

http://www.visimag.com/xpose/images/x73_feat01.jpg

Self Explanatory

[Soundwave88]

Id like Kevin as Lex more then anything right now!

[Mr. Walters]

Shea was good, but Hackman was great. Spacey was a travesty. I also took it for granted that he'd be great.

[Parker]

It's difficult to decide which actor portrays Luthor the best, but I would definitely say Michael Rosenbaum has it beat in terms of looking the part.

[Mr. Walters]

/\ Agreed. Shea would have been better bald. I mean for more than one episode.

[War Lord]

I like Rosenbaum's interpretation very much, because he doesn't see himself as evil, but as a businessman, who doesn't let things like people's lives get in the way of making a good profit.

However, I really like Hackman's interpretation because he couldn't care less, but dreamed big.

[Mr. Walters]

I like Rosenbaum's interpretation very much, because he doesn't see himself as evil, but as a businessman, who doesn't let things like people's lives get in the way of making a good profit.


You don't think that was the way Shea did it?

[War Lord]

You don't think that was the way Shea did it?

I wasn't all that convinced of Shea's performance, though moreso than Spacey's.

[Mr. Walters]

Spacey had a performance???

No, I was just wondering because that is how I saw Shea, a shrewd businessman who doesn't let anyone get in his way of making a buck.

[War Lord]

Spacey had a performance???

No, I was just wondering because that is how I saw Shea, a shrewd businessman who doesn't let anyone get in his way of making a buck.

Rosenbaum is better at this than Shea, in my opinion.

[Matt]

Spacey had a performance???

No, I was just wondering because that is how I saw Shea, a shrewd businessman who doesn't let anyone get in his way of making a buck.

Luthor's speech on the episode 'House of Luthor' sums it up perfectly. Luthor never saw himself as an 'evil' man. He saw himself as someone who was doing what was necessary.

[Mr. Walters]

Luthor's speech on the episode 'House of Luthor' sums it up perfectly. Luthor never saw himself as an 'evil' man. He saw himself as someone who was doing what was necessary.

House of Luthor? That's the season one fianale, right? I'll have to rewatch it now.

[mathhater]

I don't want to be too rough on Spacey. He has the potential to be the best Luthor ever, but unfortunately, Singer had him portraying a version of the character that's been buried for 20 years...so it's more Singer's fault than Spacey's.
But between Shea and Rosenbaum...it's real close, but I may have to give the edge to Rosenbaum...but barely.

[BH/HHH]

1. Clancy Brown
2. Michael Roasenbaum
3. Gene Hackman
4. Sherman Howard
5. Kevin Spacey

[Superfan]

1. Rosenbaum
2. Spacey
3. Hackman
4. Shea

[Sawyer]

1. Clancy Brown

Oh yeah, Brown's voice was AWESOME. Even looking at him in person, he could play a live action Luthor. I stilll like Rosenbaum best.

[kal-el1990]

1. Rosenbaum
2. Spacey
3. Hackman
4. Shea

i agree:up:

[DarKush]

1. Rosenbaum
2. Brown
3. Hackman
4. Howard
5. Spacey

Unfortunately I would like to put Shea over Spacey, who was totally flat in the role, but I didn't see much of Lois & Clark, so it wouldn't be fair for me to judge.

[retconned]

Michael Rosenbaum OWNS!

[Silver Lad]

llYou know, I really haven't watched enough Smallville to judge

Consider yourself lucky. While Rosenbaum is a great actor, the writers turned his Lex into such a dumb tool.

[Payle Gray]

The best Luthor on Smallville is John Glover. The best "live acted" Lex is Rosenbaum. Clancy is deffinately the voice that pops in my head when I read Lex in a comic.

[lujho]

Oh yeah, Brown's voice was AWESOME. Even looking at him in person, he could play a live action Luthor.

He would have been freaking perfect.

And I'm not even basing that on STAS. I never seriously considered him as a live-action Lex just because of STAS. But when I saw him in Carnivale I knew he'd be brilliant. His character is just so sinister and charismatic... man, it saddens me to think he'll never play the role in live action.

[Catman]

You guys will disagree, but I felt Kevin Spacey was the best. It was the writing and Singer's direction that ruined the character. I think thats what also messes up Michael Rosenbaum. On Smallville it really gets ridiculous sometimes. I think thats why John Shea (from Lois & Clark) has an edge over Rosenbaum. Both characters were pretty much the same. Shea was just lucky that he didn't have to deal with the whole teen soap opera nonsense that Rosenbaum has to put up with. As for Gene Hackman. . .when it comes to pre-crisis Superman. . .he is the BEST. You can't deny it!

[R_9]

I think Shea has been the best Luthor, but Rosenbaum is still in the process of becoming the real Lex and I like very much how he is handling it.

Spacey could have been the best if Luthor hadn't been so badly written in Superman Returns. :(

[captain_jimbo]

I thought Spacey was great, a much more vicious Lex than we've seen before, but my favourite is still Hackman.

[Catman]

Spacey could have been the best if Luthor hadn't been so badly written in Superman Returns. :(

My point exactly! Chris Reeve gave an amazing performance in Superman III and IV but he had a crappy script to work with. I think thats what happened with Kevin Spacey. Great performance but crappy material to work with.

[Catman]

Spacey could have been the best if Luthor hadn't been so badly written in Superman Returns. :(

My point exactly! Chris Reeve gave an amazing performance in Superman III and IV but he had a crappy script to work with. I think thats what happened with Kevin Spacey. Great performance but crappy material to work with.

[casketmouth]

I gotta admit, evem after seeing Spacey (whom I toook for granted would be great)...I still believe John Shea of Lois and Clark is the best Lutor to date. While granted, he was a bit flamboyant, No other actor has nailed Luthor's personality, sense of entitlement, motivation or untouchable nature so well. He was a damn fine Luthor indeed.


nah, I give it to Hackman. He nailed the luthor I wanted to see. The flamboyant rich guy is a rip off of tony stark and Bruce wayne. I'd rather just a mad scientist who happens to be wealthy.

[Catman]

I think the mad scientist worked in pre-crisis, but the business Luthor works well today since corporations practically own America! I think that works better because it makes Superman's mission more difficult. Superman likes sticking to the book and its hard to prosecute Luthor if he has the power to protect his ass.

[DrMylesOBoogie]

Shea was amazing and really well written. Lois & Clark doesn't get the credit it deserves. Season 1 is still the best live action interpertation of the the Superman mytho's.

[Happenstance]

I definately this Shea and Rosenbaum are the best Lex's, probably Rosenbaum just ahead as my favourite though.

[ReeveFan1978]

I agree--John Shea played him most like he is in current comics. Rosenbaum IMHO is too young to be a super villain.

Gene Hackman was funny--but not as Lex. I enjoyed his performance. Didnt enjoy Spacey too much. Nothing very original unless you call brutality original. It probably was just the script he had to work with I didnt like in SR.

EL

[Spoarz™]

I thought Spacey was great, a much more vicious Lex than we've seen before, but my favourite is still Hackman.

Just what I was thinking.

[captain_jimbo]

I thought Shea was Okay, but nothing great.

[ReeveFan1978]

I tend to agree with you--L&C doesnt get the resepect and credit it deserves. For a weekly series, stuck in an unholy hour on ABC where the daytime programming always ran into it--Half the time the first 10 minutes of L&C was 60 minutes conclusion.

EL

LOLShea was amazing and really well written. Lois & Clark doesn't get the credit it deserves. Season 1 is still the best live action interpertation of the the Superman mytho's.

[captain_jimbo]

I don't know, I just found it too cheesy. Dean Cain's Clark was too similar to his Superman, Teri Hatcher really used to annoy me as Lois, and I couldn't stand Perry White constantly saying: "Great shades of Elvis" all the time.

...And I hated the second Jimmy Olsen.

[ReeveFan1978]

I didnt like either Jimmy Olson from L&C to be perfectly honest but I did like Perry. LOL

Great Shades of Lane Smith!!!

EL

[mathhater]

Well, Perry always has an overused saying of some kind. If you watch the old "Adventures of Superman" you'll hear "Great Ceasar's Ghost!" approximately 1,000 times...per episode.

[captain_jimbo]

Personally, I still think Jackie Cooper has been the best Perry White to date.

[Frodo]

IMO

Best Supes: Chris Reeve ,rest his soul
Best Clark : Dean Cain
Best Lois : Teri Hatcher
Best Lex : Michael Rosenbum
Best Kents : O'Toole and Schnider
Best Perry : Lane Smith , may he rest in peace as well
Best Jimmy : Jack Larson
Best young CK : Tom Welling
Best Lana : Tie between O'Toole and Kreuk

[captain_jimbo]

IMO:

Best Superman: Christopher Reeve, God rest his soul
Best Clark : Christopher Reeve
Best Lois Lane: Margot Kidder
Best Lex Luthor : Gene Hackman
Best Jor-El: Marlon Brando
Best Perry White: Jackie Cooper
Best Jimmy Olsen: Marc McClure
Best Lana Lang: Annette O'Toole

[ReeveFan1978]

Jim I also liked Jackie..But the quintessential perry for me, is John hamilton--He just embodies the "chief". LOL

Next came jackie..Really thought he did the role proud.

Not a fan of Langella in the new one. Just didnt have enough bluster. LOL

EL

http://members.aol.com/modfrancie1966/chris.jpg (Not linked)

[Retroman]

Shea was a pretty damn good Lex not sure if he's THE best. He had charm and when needed he was funny and/or evil (perfect eyes for that).

One of my favorite scenes is after he comes out of prison and has a great confrontation scene with Superman where declaring wars on ol blue tights, during the whole Lois-amnesia saga. He then detonates bombs on buildings across metropolis.Great scene:up:

[SERPICO]

I am with CATMAN on this one. Kevin Spacey is a quality actor, he had no control over who Lex was in Superman Returns, he played a badly written character as best as he could. John Shea was lucky enough to have writers that understood the character, but lets face it, playing that role next to the sunbed tanned, squeaky voiced Dean Cain would've made anyone look good! Who does everyone else think the worst Superman has been? I think in order of the best to the worst it has to be C. Reeves then Routh, G.reeves, everyone else that has ever worn the costume for fancy dress and then Cain!!

[ReeveFan1978]

Can't agree on your assessment of Dean but hey, you're entitled to your opinion too.

:)

I think I enjoy his performance second to Reeve...with George almost tied with Dean. Especially his Clark kent. The Superman he played suffered from "imperfect special effects" much like Superman Quest For Peace quality. But I still enjoyed it and loved that new spin they put on the Superman legend.

Routh next. He was good in an imperfect movie and I look forward to seeing him again as Superman.


EL
http://members.aol.com/modfrancie1966/chrisgc.jpg

[captain_jimbo]

Just out of curiosity, what didn't you like about Superman Returns?

[ReeveFan1978]

JIM are you asking me.

I liked the opening credits that looked like our movies.

The original theme.

That some of the dialogue was from our movies.

That it was dedicated to Chris and Dana.

AS for the plot, I thought some of it was good but the further I get from seeing it (saw it twice. First time I left weeping over the loss of Chris--2nd time I enjoyed it as a movie.) the more I think was wrong with it.

What did I like? Routh honored the memory of Chris in his portrayal. The plane scene was wonderful. A few of the flying scenes like in the elevator, was good.

And saving Lois and family was good.

What I didnt like would take more room.

LOL

http://members.aol.com/modfrancie1966/chrisgc.jpg

EL

[captain_jimbo]

Oh that's a shame, I really enjoyed it, but obviously it will never beat the movies with Christopher Reeve. :)

By the way, I love how you called them "our movies". :)

[ReeveFan1978]

My main gripe in SR is how dark it was. Even Krypton and NK, were dark instead of bright white like in the original movies.Both visually and storywise.

The suit was dark, too.

And when Superman got brutalized, I couldnt even bear to watch it. Plus I wasnt happy with the ending..it was kind of flat..

OH and Lois was a complete dud ---no personality, or spunk..

JMHO

I will buy the dvd if it has deleted scenes but not if it's just the movie.


EL
http://members.aol.com/modfrancie1966/chrisgc.jpg


"Once a girl's seen Superman in action, Niagara Falls kinda leaves you cold."

[captain_jimbo]

My main gripe in SR is how dark it was. Even Krypton and NK, were dark instead of bright white like in the original movies.Both visually and storywise.

The suit was dark, too.

And when Superman got brutalized, I couldnt even bear to watch it. Plus I wasnt happy with the ending..it was kind of flat..

OH and Lois was a complete dud ---no personality, or spunk..

JMHO

I will buy the dvd if it has deleted scenes but not if it's just the movie.


EL
http://members.aol.com/modfrancie1966/chrisgc.jpg


"Once a girl's seen Superman in action, Niagara Falls kinda leaves you cold."

I must admit when I first saw the suit, I was really disappointed by it, but now I've actully grown to like it.

As for the scene where Superman gets beaten up, I know what you mean, it reminds me of watching the Passion of the Christ, but it was good acting by Routh.

And yeah, Lois didn't really show much spunk, she wasn't bad, but she's certainly no Margot Kidder. :super:

[The Kid]

1. Clancy Brown
2. Michael Roasenbaum
3. Gene Hackman
4. Sherman Howard
5. Kevin Spacey

you win


Wesyeed Out - Love and Kisses http://elouai.com/images/icq/rose.gif

[SUPERSEBAS]

Kevin Spacey is the best yet!!!!!!!!