METROPOLIS-The City's "Portrayal"

[project13]

How should Metropolis be in the Superman reboot? What city should it be molded after and what should be its atmosphere and its enviroment should be?

I'll start:

LOS ANGELES

http://bpdupdateonline.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/LosAngelesSkyline.jpg



Description:
Despite its reputation as a clean,warm and wealthy city, Metropolis is filled with tragedy, loss and despair. Forever linked to the frightening reality of terrorism because of the attack on 9/11, the city is slowly rotting in crime. It's a city filled with dangerous and psychotic criminals and corporate sharks (i.e. Luthor). This is a time when the world needs a savior, someone to believe in, someone who can stand up for humanity. Few businesses that are not owned by Luthor are not somehow involved in illegal activity(LexCorp would own most major and local businesses in Metropolis),straight cops (i.e. Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer) who fight for justice are rare (the rest of the cops are corrupt and working for Lex) and newspaper companies (i.e. the Daily Planet) will do whatever it takes to get a good story, even if it means getting into dangerous situations. Supeman represents hope not only for the city, but for the entire planet as well. He represents the idea that justice is still present and alive and becomes the first symbol of true hope.

[Compi716]

I loved Singer's Metropolis. Add a very modern LexCorp building and we're good.

[Webhead2006]

yea a mix of nyc/la looks for metropolis would probably be a good look for the city. Make it bright, modern, and grand looking. We dont want it to be do dark and rotting since thats more gotham then metropolis.

[CLARKY]

I do not like the idea of Metropolis/Los Angeles. I'm more into Metropolis/Vancouver.
I suppose my very personal idea of the subject would not it in the realistic approach of the films we have today, but for me, as Gotham is dark and Gothic and the perfect place for batman, Metropolis should be the perfect place for Superman ; I mean, it reflects everything the hero needs to live in. So I would do Metropolis as the city of Tomorrow, gigantic, white everywhere and very light colors, futuristic, like a city for the Gods. I'm not saying this should be the reboot, I'm saying this is how I would do it.

But from a "realistic" point of view, I would choose the smallville/Vancouver Metropolis, and the Bryan Singer's suits me fine too.
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/smallville/images/5/51/Metropolis.jpg

[DavidTyler]

Since I consider Metropolis as a 'character', this could be merged into the already existing 'Character Portrayal' thread.

But I think this is an important discussion.

[AnorexicBatman]

Chicago... for thematic reasons obviously

[RachelDawes]

Chicago... for thematic reasons obviously

As long as it didn't look too much like Gotham.

[Double Down]

I loved Singer's Metropolis. Add a very modern LexCorp building and we're good.

I agree.

[Webhead2006]

What if the next film if it is a reboot if they do what they did in the batman begins/tdk where they mix a couple different cities to make a new metropolis.

[StorminNorman]

Description:
Despite its reputation as a clean,warm and wealthy city, Metropolis is filled with tragedy, loss and despair. Forever linked to the frightening reality of terrorism because of the attack on 9/11, the city is slowly rotting in crime. It's a city filled with dangerous and psychotic criminals and corporate sharks (i.e. Luthor). This is a time when the world needs a savior, someone to believe in, someone who can stand up for humanity. Few businesses that are not owned by Luthor are not somehow involved in illegal activity(LexCorp would own most major and local businesses in Metropolis),straight cops (i.e. Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer) who fight for justice are rare (the rest of the cops are corrupt and working for Lex) and newspaper companies (i.e. the Daily Planet) will do whatever it takes to get a good story, even if it means getting into dangerous situations. Supeman represents hope not only for the city, but for the entire planet as well. He represents the idea that justice is still present and alive and becomes the first symbol of true hope.

Okay, lets try something:

Despite its reputation as a clean,warm and wealthy city, Gotham is filled with tragedy, loss and despair. Forever linked to the frightening reality of crime because of recession, the city is slowly rotting in crime. It's a city filled with dangerous and psychotic criminals and mob bosses (i.e. Falcone). This is a time when the world needs a savior, someone to believe in, someone who can stand up for humanity. Few businesses that are not owned by the mob are not somehow involved in illegal activity(Falcone would own most major and local businesses in Gotham),straight cops (i.e. Gordon) who fight for justice are rare (the rest of the cops are corrupt and working for the mob) and news companies (i.e. the GCN) will do whatever it takes to get a good story, even if it means getting into dangerous situations. Batman represents hope not only for the city, but for the entire planet as well. He represents the idea that justice is still present and alive and becomes the first symbol of true hope.

Metropolis should be a shining city, not Gotham.

[Webhead2006]

yea i agree with you normie gotham is the dark rotting city were metropolis is the bright signal for hope. It does have it bad areas and crime/gans/mobs but it isnt as dark and twisted as gotham.

[Mistah K88]

Metropolis should be a bright shining "city of tomorrow" as people mentioned. The city itself is one of the top contenders in technology. This is a curtain for all of the illegal activities that are going down, Luthor bascially owns a good chunk of the city and 1/3 of its people work for him whether they know it or not. Unike Gotham, where the corruption is so bad it is VERY visable, Metropolis suffers more from white collar criminals like Lex Luthor or Bruno Mannheim and the city is shown in a positive light. Intergang is the prominent crimnal organization in the city appearing with futuristic weapons with unknown origins. That is my rendition of Metropolis, it has to be somewhat futuristic city, but not too bizarre that it wouldn't fit in our world.

[NeoRanger]

I used to be in favor of an NYC-esque visual, but that's been done to death and unlike Gotham, Metropolis always had issues with locking onto a defining look. The most memorable Metropolis, for better or worse, was Timm's futuristic take and Brainiac 13's upgraded version in the comics.

Not that I would either want them or expect them to pull something like that in a movie, but I'm hoping they can make it memorable and defining enough. Singer's Metropolis was just like any other city.

[Webhead2006]

yea i agree it would be cool to see bright shiney city of tomorrow look next go around. Though i dont want the city to be a total cgi created fest, i would like to have a real city or cities used for different elements and have them combined.

[Compi716]

There also shouldn't be any ties to 9/11 with Metropolis. That was New York. As stated above Metropolis is the shining City of Tomorrow, the peak of human civilization. The design of the city in TAS is pretty much perfect.

[Webhead2006]

yea the tas look was pretty sweet looking.

[protocida]

Metropolis should be like New York, but twice as big.

[Webhead2006]

yea what about like a mix of nyc/tokyo?

[Changeling]

Los Angeles does sound good. But they should just shoot where Bryan Singer shot.

[thorstone]

New York, New York.
Present day 1984.

[Webhead2006]

well yes it should be the same if the next film is a direct sequel but if its a total reboot then yea it should be a totally different look.

[\S/JcDc\S/]

yea what about like a mix of nyc/tokyo?

Indeed. Minus the karaoke bars...

[Nightwing1977]

I loved Singer's Metropolis. Add a very modern LexCorp building and we're good.

Same here. I love how Singer made Metropolis look in SR. Much better than Donner using NYC for the first Superman film, which didn't look right IMHO. I personally prefer to not use a US cities as filming for Metropolis. You want to make it something you don't see in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. How about a city that has lots of art deco style buildings?

[Webhead2006]

Ya may have not liked/hated alot of the things in singer's film but i did think the city and the planet looked great.

[Ultimate_Superman]

As others have already said I think they should keep Singer's look for Metropolis. He nailed it perfectly.

[Webhead2006]

what ever it is as i said before if its a director sequel yes keep all the looks/ change the suit a bit atless for superman. But if its a whole new take its all up to the director on how he would like the world in his film be shown. There is so many different ways they can go about it.

[Nightwing1977]

As others have already said I think they should keep Singer's look for Metropolis. He nailed it perfectly.

Word. I even like the look of Daily Planet building too. :up:

[Ultimate_Superman]

The reason why I say keep Singer's Metropolis is because he brought to life the Metropolis we've seen in the comics pre and post B13 era. I mean as it has been said by many comic writers and artist "Metropolis should look timeless!" and that is what Singer did. He made it timeless. The only thing really changed from the comics was the Daily Planet and for the better IMO.

[Webhead2006]

Yea it will probably all be up to who ever is in charge with the next film and if they will be shooting down under again like singer did with SR or if production is in us/canada. Like i said before singer's metropolis i did like in the film.

[8wid]

To me, an entire fictional city dosen't need to exist because Metropolis basically is New York City. It's nothing to have the Daily Planet appear in a real major American city.

[Sawyer]

I want a Metropolis that is sort of like Gotham was in B89. But thats just me.

[RachelDawes]

I want a Metropolis that is sort of like Gotham was in B89. But thats just me.

You mean dark and gothic? I would prefer a city that is bright, shiny, and modernistic, an anti-Gotham.

[Sawyer]

You mean dark and gothic? I would prefer a city that is bright, shiny, and modernistic, an anti-Gotham.

B89 Gotham wasnt dark and gothic. Batman Returns Gotham was dark and gothic. I dont really know how to describe B89 Gotham, but it was just sort of perfect. Somewhat dark, but not quite as much as BR. Not quite as dark as Burton's average stuff.

[RachelDawes]

Hmm. I need to go back and watch B89 sometime. Anyway, I imagine Metropolis as being more sleek and futuristic, kind of like Hong Kong.

[GreenKToo]

Metropolis should be this grand, bright city. I say a mix of New York, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Tokoyo.
As for Singer's Metropolis, I never got an epic feel or sense of scope of the city.

[Webhead2006]

yea metropolis needs to be a bright, cheerful, technological wonders of a city.

[project13]

How should Metropolis be in the Superman reboot? What city should it be molded after and what should be its atmosphere and its enviroment should be?

I'll start:

LOS ANGELES

http://bpdupdateonline.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/LosAngelesSkyline.jpg



Description:
Despite its reputation as a clean,warm and wealthy city, Metropolis is filled with tragedy, loss and despair. Forever linked to the frightening reality of terrorism because of the attack on 9/11, the city is slowly rotting in crime. It's a city filled with dangerous and psychotic criminals and corporate sharks (i.e. Luthor). This is a time when the world needs a savior, someone to believe in, someone who can stand up for humanity. Few businesses that are not owned by Luthor are not somehow involved in illegal activity(LexCorp would own most major and local businesses in Metropolis),straight cops (i.e. Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer) who fight for justice are rare (the rest of the cops are corrupt and working for Lex) and newspaper companies (i.e. the Daily Planet) will do whatever it takes to get a good story, even if it means getting into dangerous situations. Supeman represents hope not only for the city, but for the entire planet as well. He represents the idea that justice is still present and alive and becomes the first symbol of true hope.


I gave that description because WB wanted a "darker and edgier" Superman movie. You should not make Supes grim and lonely for the darker reboot, you have to make his whole world dark instead. He would realize that he totally "not in Kansas anymore" and has to face the reality of the big city.

[RachelDawes]

^Yes, Metropolis should be sleek and beautiful on the outside, but rotting on the inside. Perfect.

[Webhead2006]

Well who knows how things will turn out for next film. As for the look of the film/city it should totally be up to the writers/director.

[Nightwing1977]

^Yes, Metropolis should be sleek and beautiful on the outside, but rotting on the inside. Perfect.

Rotting on the inside? Sound like Gotham City there. Are you sure you're not talking about your home? :oldrazz:

[Webhead2006]

the main thing for metropolis is it needs to be a bright shining beacon.

[Mentok]

Some of you people have gone batty.

[Christmas]

I always loved the shot of the Daily Planet Globe breaking off of it's base and slowly rolling on top of the Water Tower. Beautiful stuff. Wish I had a screen cap to share.

The one aspect from the comics and TAS that was missing is the pseudo-new age tech that could be around, like bullet trains suspended between skyscrapers and futuristic architecture.

Metropolis seemed to have been based pretty openly and completely on New York. Makes sense in a way. So many city shots looked like downtown Manhattan. Whenever I drive over or walk over the Brooklyn bridge I think of SR. Lots of shots seem to be based on the geography and architecture of downtown NYC.

[sepharih]

Timeless is a good word to use for Metropolis. My preferred look for metropolis is essentially a blend between a modern day city and what people in the 40's thought a modern day city would look like.

[RachelDawes]

Rotting on the inside? Sound like Gotham City there. Are you sure you're not talking about your home? :oldrazz:

I will not have you put down my hometown! :cmad: Sure, Gotham has its problems, but there's a lot going for it like...uh...well just look it up for yourself. There are too many wonderful things to list about it here.

And as for the rotting comment, I meant that Luthor should be a controlling force in the city and be taking it down slowly from within. Metropolis is beautiful but there's a rot there as a result of Lex and only Superman can see and stop it. :supes:

[I Am The Knight]

How should the city be portrayed?

"Realistic" of course. Um, I mean...Like in the comic books, with lots of Kryptonians flying around.

[DavidTyler]

How should the city be portrayed?

"Realistic" of course. Um, I mean...Like in the comic books, with lots of Kryptonians flying around.

LOL


Yeah, that's pretty awful in the comix. Are the writers just putting up a white flag and saying "We just don't have any worthwhile ideas anymore."?

[BatFitz]

As much as I loved Batman Begins and Dark Knight, it kinda sucks that Nolan essentially has dibs on Chicago now. As Shuster/Siegel based the city of Metropolis heavily on Chicago.

[Webhead2006]

yea but there is many wonderful cities in the us/world wide that could make a nice metropolis. It would be neat if they mixed and matched a few cities into one like bb did with gotham as i said before.

[SuperDaniel]

http://davidszondy.com/future/city/Metropolis%2001.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2438840316_363e64169e.jpg?v=0

[Webhead2006]

cool pics.

[dru-zod2501]

^Yes, Metropolis should be sleek and beautiful on the outside, but rotting on the inside. Perfect.
jesus, this isn't Gotham; Metropolis should be brighter in general. There's a reason it's called the "City of Tomorrow"

But that's not to say it's not without superman-sized problems, Intergang and Suicide Slum for example

[NeoRanger]

We don't have to be that rigid; Metropolis has never had a very distinct look or structure. Siegel's original Metropolis was pretty much rotting, a byproduct of the era of the Great Depression. It kind of bugs me that the creation of other heroes had to make Superman adjust to them, instead of the opposite. Metropolis needs to be brighter than the mess of Gotham, but it doesn't need to be particularly bright. It's a busy place, it's an impressive place and it's a place that needs a lot of cleaning up.

[Jay#1]

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss55/_May09/sydney-city-lights.jpg

this is metropolis nuff said

[CFE]

Metropolis

The Jewel of the Midwest. A Bright, Shimmering fusion of the Industrial Revolution and the Art Deco period of the 1930s/1940s, with a giant streak of the future runing through it. Elevated Highways run through a combination of the brassy, burley buroughs of stone and smokestacks that make up Suicide Slum to the utopian citadels of glass, steel and marble that make up Midtown and the Hi-Tech Financial District. Rather than being a melting pot of cultures, the city is almost utilitarian in appearance...but it's main drag (Think Times Square), Informational Row (where the Daily Planet is located) and it's inner city neighborhoods give it a human touch and a breath of life. Even at night, the city is lit to the hilt...almost giving off a sense of perpetual daylight. The vast majority of the city has been constructed via Lexcorp and rests on an elevated plateau of fertile earth, giving it even more cause to reach for the heavens as the 'City of Tomorrow.'

--------

That's how I'D personally see Metropolis...just my two cents.

[Webhead2006]

dont u mean jewel of the east coast.

[Ultimate_Superman]

Metropolis

The Jewel of the Midwest. A Bright, Shimmering fusion of the Industrial Revolution and the Art Deco period of the 1930s/1940s, with a giant streak of the future runing through it. Elevated Highways run through a combination of the brassy, burley buroughs of stone and smokestacks that make up Suicide Slum to the utopian citadels of glass, steel and marble that make up Midtown and the Hi-Tech Financial District. Rather than being a melting pot of cultures, the city is almost utilitarian in appearance...but it's main drag (Think Times Square), Informational Row (where the Daily Planet is located) and it's inner city neighborhoods give it a human touch and a breath of life. Even at night, the city is lit to the hilt...almost giving off a sense of perpetual daylight. The vast majority of the city has been constructed via Lexcorp and rests on an elevated plateau of fertile earth, giving it even more cause to reach for the heavens as the 'City of Tomorrow.'

--------

That's how I'D personally see Metropolis...just my two cents.Seems like someone been watching to much Smallville:cwink:

[Webhead2006]

yea that is one thing about metroplois i didnt like that smallville did. Though it makes sense they did that cause if it was on the east coast it would have lead to so many problems with the luthors going from smallville and metroplois daily and all that.

[CFE]

True I got it from Smallville, but at least it makes it unique, as opposed to being just another big city on the coast..like every other one of them.

[RachelDawes]

jesus, this isn't Gotham; Metropolis should be brighter in general. There's a reason it's called the "City of Tomorrow"

Gotham is rotting on both the outside and inside. I do want Metropolis to at least be beautiful and modern on the outside.

But that's not to say it's not without superman-sized problems, Intergang and Suicide Slum for example

Basically this is what I said in a later post:

And as for the rotting comment, I meant that Luthor should be a controlling force in the city and be taking it down slowly from within. Metropolis is beautiful but there's a rot there as a result of Lex and only Superman can see and stop it. :supes:

[Sverdlovski]

I like the art-déco styled city they had for Returns, so I want to see more of it.

[mjbull23]

I really like this particular cityscape image I came across, although I have no clue where it was taken from. But this would be very much in line with what I imagine Metropolis to look like.

Almost looks like it draws on some of the modeling used for Blade Runner.
http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/cityscape_480.jpg

[I Am The Knight]

I really like this particular cityscape image I came across, although I have no clue where it was taken from. But this would be very much in line with what I imagine Metropolis to look like.

Almost looks like it draws on some of the modeling used for Blade Runner.


Yeah, that's what I thought when I first saw it. As nice as it may be, I think it's too futuristic for Metropolis as I'd like to see it. The city should look a tad bit above modern, but not unreasonably so that it seems like we're in the future.

[NeoRanger]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a better Krypton than Metropolis? Actually, it's one of the better looks for Krypton I've seen.

[I Am The Knight]

Yup. That could pass for Krypton just fine.

[Nightwing1977]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a better Krypton than Metropolis? Actually, it's one of the better looks for Krypton I've seen.

Nope. I think that how the city of Krypton should look, while Metropolis should have some modern buildings with some old art-deco style one as well.

[Closerframe]

Make it seem endless with no boundaries. Meaning take Nolan's idea of a famous city (Chicago) and add cgi buildings. So I'd say a combination of Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia.

[DavidTyler]

I really like this particular cityscape image I came across, although I have no clue where it was taken from. But this would be very much in line with what I imagine Metropolis to look like.

Almost looks like it draws on some of the modeling used for Blade Runner.
http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/cityscape_480.jpg

Metropolis during the Legion's time maybe.

Actually, if the studio were to go with Millar's trilogy, this would be a concept that would work in the bracketing sequence of the older, retired Superman.

[mjbull23]

Here is another capitivating image I stumbled upon.

This may not be in line with Metropolis but perhaps this would be a nice wide pan shot of krypton (not to deviate, but since the topic of krypton was broached).

http://www.marcobauriedel.com/PICHTM/IMAG/cityscape.jpg

[NeoRanger]

^^ Actually, I could see a futuristic Metropolis in this =P

[mjbull23]

^^ Actually, I could see a futuristic Metropolis in this =P

LOL. It's a common problem. Apparently I suffer from Krypton - Metropolis reversal syndrome. :grin:

[Webhead2006]

yea that is a pretty great looking picture, though i agree would be better for a kryptonian city or a future metropolis. I say metropolis should look classic yet with many modern building in there to to get it a new/old look. But dont go to futuristic.

[super-t]

thats not alien enough of krypton i dont think...thats metropolis everyday of the week...minus maybe a few things lol

[Webhead2006]

yea maybe drop that dome building.

[super-t]

ahhh idk maybe the dome could be like a sports complex lol...id say drop the the LOTRs tower by the sun lol

[super-t]

ok and cut the bubbles on the side of the big towers lol

[sabetoonth]

Here is another capitivating image I stumbled upon.

This may not be in line with Metropolis but perhaps this would be a nice wide pan shot of krypton (not to deviate, but since the topic of krypton was broached).

http://www.marcobauriedel.com/PICHTM/IMAG/cityscape.jpg


dude wat is this?

[Webhead2006]

yea good question what was it from?

[Doctor Doom]

I would make it an all seasons city, bright and clean. It should have a feel for "this is what the world will be like in five years, if everything was prosperous."

Criminals should be very high tech, and disasters should happen regularly. The city is almost under the complete rule of Lex Luthor, with him controlling businesses and the law, until Superman comes along and gives people the hope and strength to fight and take it back.

[sabetoonth]

maybe not high high tech but with the latest weapons and maybe a prototype jetpack, and yeah lexurian rule should be how clark finds metropolis

[Webhead2006]

yea i totally agree their doctor doom.

[Timstuff]

My take on the whole "dark Metropolis vs. light Metropolis" is as follows:

Basically, there's a key difference between Superman and Batman: Superman's job is not to just fight crime, but to do things that the police and emergency workers cannot. Remember how in the Max Fleischer cartoons, he would say "this looks like a job for Superman?" His goal was not to replace the people who were already keeping Metropolis safe, but to intervene when something happened that they couldn't handle. Most of the conflict in Metropolis is external, and Superman is there to keep the city from being ruined by it.

With Batman, on the other hand, he is living in a city that is already rotten. The evil in Gotham City is coming the city itself, and Batman is trying to cut it out like a surgeon with a scalpel. Wheras Superman is protecting the purity of Metropolis from those who would exploit it, Batman is trying to weed out the dark elements of a city that is already corrupted.

Also, something to remember is that Superman is a symbol of hope, and taking on tasks like weeding out corruption is not something he can approach the same way as Batman. Batman is unapologetically a vigilante, and he'll do whatever it takes to bring down Gotham's crooks just short of killing or maiming them. Much of the public already has an unfavorable view of him, so it doesn't matter to him if he's liked or not. Perhaps it's better that Superman is in a cleaner city, because if he was forced to resort to anti-corruptive measures the way Batman is, he'd also be labeled a vigilante and his effectiveness as a symbol would be reduced.

Some might argue that Batman's city is a more compelling one, and one could certainly make the argument that it is. However, that does not mean that Superman's city needs to emulate it, because Superman and Batman are not supposed to be the same. Superman by nature is supposed to be a lighter character who lives in a world of light and color, whereas Batman's world is one of darkness and grit.

[GreenKToo]

I would want it to be something similar to this.


http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7624/72703488.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/72703488.jpg/)

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1538/image20025.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/image20025.jpg/)

[Jochimus]

Eh, visually, I'd probably depict Metropolis as a fusion of New York City, Tokyo, and Dubai that's more Fritz Lang's Metropolis than any previous incarnation, with the Lexcorp building standing in for the Tower of Babel; to do this, I'd probably shoot live-action plates on location and add CGI buildings (a la Wayne Tower for Nolan's Batman). Most of the technological elements we'd see would be culled from the most advanced stuff that exists today, peppered with stuff that's presently on the drawing board.

[GreenKToo]

Have a blend of all the best cities, but make it vast, huge.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4496/guangzhou.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/guangzhou.jpg/)

[Compi716]

I would make it an all seasons city, bright and clean. It should have a feel for "this is what the world will be like in five years, if everything was prosperous."

Criminals should be very high tech, and disasters should happen regularly. The city is almost under the complete rule of Lex Luthor, with him controlling businesses and the law, until Superman comes along and gives people the hope and strength to fight and take it back.
Exactly. Just like TAS.

[Dark Knight]

Metropolis in the next film should look like a mix between NY, Sydney, and Dubai IMO all looking more sleeker and futuristic.

[Dark Knight]

Here is another capitivating image I stumbled upon.

This may not be in line with Metropolis but perhaps this would be a nice wide pan shot of krypton (not to deviate, but since the topic of krypton was broached).

http://www.marcobauriedel.com/PICHTM/IMAG/cityscape.jpg




Yeah, I can see Krypton looking something like this in the next film....

What image is this of?

[Octoberist]

that's why i love concept art of cities. it's so surreal looking.

[SuperAl]

I like the way Smallville depicts Metropolis, not sure what city they are using. Obviously i would like a more realistic looking Daily Planet, the one from SR was great. I also like the bluish tint they give to Metropolis in Smallville.

[Fresh Prince]

My take on the whole "dark Metropolis vs. light Metropolis" is as follows:

Basically, there's a key difference between Superman and Batman: Superman's job is not to just fight crime, but to do things that the police and emergency workers cannot. Remember how in the Max Fleischer cartoons, he would say "this looks like a job for Superman?" His goal was not to replace the people who were already keeping Metropolis safe, but to intervene when something happened that they couldn't handle. Most of the conflict in Metropolis is external, and Superman is there to keep the city from being ruined by it.

With Batman, on the other hand, he is living in a city that is already rotten. The evil in Gotham City is coming the city itself, and Batman is trying to cut it out like a surgeon with a scalpel. Wheras Superman is protecting the purity of Metropolis from those who would exploit it, Batman is trying to weed out the dark elements of a city that is already corrupted.

Also, something to remember is that Superman is a symbol of hope, and taking on tasks like weeding out corruption is not something he can approach the same way as Batman. Batman is unapologetically a vigilante, and he'll do whatever it takes to bring down Gotham's crooks just short of killing or maiming them. Much of the public already has an unfavorable view of him, so it doesn't matter to him if he's liked or not. Perhaps it's better that Superman is in a cleaner city, because if he was forced to resort to anti-corruptive measures the way Batman is, he'd also be labeled a vigilante and his effectiveness as a symbol would be reduced.

Some might argue that Batman's city is a more compelling one, and one could certainly make the argument that it is. However, that does not mean that Superman's city needs to emulate it, because Superman and Batman are not supposed to be the same. Superman by nature is supposed to be a lighter character who lives in a world of light and color, whereas Batman's world is one of darkness and grit.

Agreed. Superman should only fight things who the cops cannot take down. Like aliens for example.

[Webhead2006]

I agree it wouldbe sweet to see a new metropolis be a merger of a few big cities around the world, cgi it up a bit so it cant get peged at any one of the places that are used.

[The Englishman]

Have a blend of all the best cities, but make it vast, huge.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4496/guangzhou.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/guangzhou.jpg/)
What Cities are these??

[Fresh Prince]

Have a mix of NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Tokoyo, Sydney, Toronto, and London.

[sabetoonth]

Have a blend of all the best cities, but make it vast, huge.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4496/guangzhou.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/guangzhou.jpg/)
that actually looks like a city, more scyscraprs and it wouls really look like metropolis

[CLARKY]

I would make it an all seasons city, bright and clean. It should have a feel for "this is what the world will be like in five years, if everything was prosperous."
Criminals should be very high tech, and disasters should happen regularly. The city is almost under the complete rule of Lex Luthor, with him controlling businesses and the law, until Superman comes along and gives people the hope and strength to fight and take it back.
Completely agreed.
I would want it to be something similar to this.
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7624/72703488.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/72703488.jpg/)
Same here. Something along this.

[sabetoonth]

I would make it an all seasons city, bright and clean. It should have a feel for "this is what the world will be like in five years, if everything was prosperous."

Criminals should be very high tech, and disasters should happen regularly. The city is almost under the complete rule of Lex Luthor, with him controlling businesses and the law, until Superman comes along and gives people the hope and strength to fight and take it back.
as long as they still use bullets, im all fort his man

[Ceb-Man]

I liked Singer's Metropolis, I could see the designs that were posted on the Ratner's Superman thread being used.

[Ceb-Man]

Completely agreed.

Same here. Something along this.

Hey I like that!!

[Ceb-Man]

I would want it to be something similar to this.


http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7624/72703488.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/72703488.jpg/)

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1538/image20025.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/image20025.jpg/)


I like that!

[GreenKToo]

What Cities are these??
This one is Guangzhou China.

[Ceb-Man]

I really like this particular cityscape image I came across, although I have no clue where it was taken from. But this would be very much in line with what I imagine Metropolis to look like.

Almost looks like it draws on some of the modeling used for Blade Runner.
http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/cityscape_480.jpg

I like that for Krypton.

[GreenKToo]

I think Coruscant from Star Wars has the perfect look for what I imagine Krypton would look like.

[AmazingStardust]

Metropolis:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Clevelandskylinefromcsu1.jpg

LexCorp.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Key_tower.jpg

Daily Planet
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/FirstMeritTower.jpg


I put the images in Spoilers because they're so freaking big! Sorry guys.

[Timstuff]

With an extra layer of CG buildings to disguise and build it up to more NYC-esque levels, it could work.

[GreenKToo]

I agree. I want this Metropolis to look like a ''Metropolis", not just any run of the mill city.
I never got the impression that the Metropolis we got in SR was huge.

[BigCityBoy]

I think Metropolis should look more like the city of Houston,Tx. Anybody thats been to that city would know that Houston would make a good Metropolis: its incredibly large, fairly clean and many part of Houston has a very futuristic look to it.

[sabetoonth]

Metropolis:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Clevelandskylinefromcsu1.jpg
more beefed up
LexCorp.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Key_tower.jpg
three has to be an L somewere
Daily Planet
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/FirstMeritTower.jpg
it needs the "planet"!

I put the images in Spoilers because they're so freaking big! Sorry guys.
theres what i would change

[Webhead2006]

I agree i would really like to see a mixture of city plates used for sfx with shooting at some real location compared to back lots u know. But mix it up a big with cgi and all that so it couldnt be peged for just one city like nyc or chicago or la.

[Dark Knight]

I agree i would really like to see a mixture of city plates used for sfx with shooting at some real location compared to back lots u know. But mix it up a big with cgi and all that so it couldnt be peged for just one city like nyc or chicago or la.




Exactly! I would like to see Metropolis in the next film be a mix of Sydney, NY, and Dubai with some CGI thrown in as well.

[Webhead2006]

Yup i think that would help make the city become a character all in its own and so it couldnt be pegged for any one place. Just remove any famous landmarks or alter buildings and all that. Well as i said actually film on real city streets be that la/toronto/vancour/europe/aus/etc...... Where ever they can do it for on the cheap and all that.

Also i was thinking for krypton if they do and i really hope we get to keep krypton and origin stuff in the future for future comics/movies/tv shows...... Well if next film will be having origin/krypton stuff(i hope they can) i was thinking mix a bit of blade runner city and that star wars city planet the one that starts with a C were the empire ran things. I am lousy at spelling that start wars city name. Or maybe a Naboo like look for krypton i think that would be simular in style to STAS take on krypton.

[Blackman]

I would like to see Metropolis as technologically advanced but not like Blade Runner/Minority Report level. Just a few things that ppl can see why it's called "The City of Tomorrow"

[Webhead2006]

no blade runner city for krypton regular cities mixed together with some high tech buildings for metropolis for me.

[Mr. Earle]

I loved Singer's Metropolis. Add a very modern LexCorp building and we're good.
I second this post. Nolan's Gotham suffered from looking too much like Chicago. Obviously they could use an actual city as a place to shoot and base their Metropolis on, but they should use CGI to enhance it and make it more "comic booky".
I also liked how Singer used a tint on his camera. It gave that special Superman feel to the city and the movie itself. By shooting in a real city, without CGI and no tint you wont get that atmosphere.

[Webhead2006]

personally i would like to see a real city used as the bases for the comic cities. Then maybe mix a few elements from other cities, and some cgi building to get out of looking just like a nyc or a la and there you go.

[Thundercrack85]

Really getting pretty sick of every superhero being in New York City (or a city which might as well be New York City).

Having said that, I would enjoy a less obviously New York inspired design for Metropolis.

Having it be based on a West Coast city like Los Angeles would be refreshing.

[Webhead2006]

totally i agree that is why even if say it was specifically shot in nyc or la to do some plate shots of other cities, and some cgi work to remove/alter real life famous buidling to make it its own look and all that.