Superman's power level - Part 1

[DarthAlani]

We know he can fly into space, survive re-entry and walk around on fire unscathed so far.

[afan]

The trailer also shows us a bearded and shirtless Clark with a look of exertion on his face as he pushes against what I assume is the beam on the oil rig that we've seen in previous set videos. IMO that look translates to a difficult feat of strength........an indication of a Superman quite a bit less powerful than Reeve or Routh?

[Mad Love]

Originally Posted by DarthAlani

We know he can fly into space, survive re-entry and walk around on fire unscathed so far.

and push a bus as a kid

[Zionite1]

Originally Posted by afan

The trailer also shows us a bearded and shirtless Clark with a look of exertion on his face as he pushes against what I assume is the beam on the oil rig that we've seen in previous set videos. IMO that look translates to a difficult feat of strength........an indication of a Superman quite a bit less powerful than Reeve or Routh?

Yes it is-one im very happy for

[ElDuderino]

Pretty sure the face is just for effect. If he had a bored look on his face it wouldn't be as dramatic.

[Zionite1]

Originally Posted by ElDuderino

Pretty sure the face is just for effect. If he had a bored look on his face it wouldn't be as dramatic.

If he had a bored look it wld mean he wasnt even trying-hinting him to be far more powerful-thats dramatic.
A strained look lets us know he isnt as powerful as most other movies.

[elgaz]

I was thinking today about the major differences between this upcoming film and Donner's 1978 classic, and one of them would be our modern technology. We have the means nowadays to track a being like Superman as he moves around - via satellites, face recognition, heat signatures, and so on. Superman Returns - despite being only 6yrs old now - didn't really touch on this issue.

Does anyone think Snyder will focus on any of these issues, and if so, will Superman's powers be shown to circumvent technology?

For instance, in the Birthright comic series, Superman's supervision is shown to be able to detect satellite transmissions, radio waves, electromagnetic radiation and other types of radiation waves ..................... thus he is able to avoid detection in certain ways. Too far-fetched for MOS? Or is it more far-fetched to think someone like Superman could move around in 2012 and not be tracked or detected by those who are trying to find him?

[metaphysician]

I think that risk, at least, is exaggerated. Satellites are good, but something as small, fast, and relatively low in infrared and radar signature as Superman? I doubt it'd be easy to track him via such.

Now, ubiquitous surveillance plus facial recognition software? *That* is the elephant in the living room.

[TX85]

I can totally see Snyder&Nolan go iwith government&public technology's presence in the world!

[The Sage]

Originally Posted by craigdbfan

Yup. He's definitely over 9000.

I got the reference.

[Tacit Ronin]

Originally Posted by craigdbfan

Yup. He's definitely over 9000.

Would prefer it if he was over 8,000 instead. More faithful.

[G.Godfrey]

Similarly to the red trunks, will the other (slightly) less famous red part of Superman also be the victim of this new interpretation? Im talking about heat vision. No indication of it so far and I have a hard time picturing how it could look - and look good - with this visual style that Snyder went for. I say, if it's not present in the next trailer, it wont be included.

[elgaz]

Heat vision is one of Supe's more iconic powers, along with his flight and superstrength. I'd be very surprised if Snyder didn't include it. There's lots of stuff to come and still 6 months before the film is out, so don't assume absence of heat vision from this 2min trailer means it won't be there

[G.Godfrey]

Originally Posted by elgaz

Heat vision is one of Supe's more iconic powers, along with his flight and superstrength. I'd be very surprised if Snyder didn't include it. There's lots of stuff to come and still 6 months before the film is out, so don't assume absence of heat vision from this 2min trailer means it won't be there

Oh you are right and I'm not assuming anything just yet, but I have in fact had this feeling for a long time now (even discussed it here a few months back I think). Hopefully Im wrong. But the red trunks weren't less iconic than heat vision so I wouldn't assume that they would not get rid of it just on the premise of it being iconic. It's also more iconic to the CB readers than the GP. This movie could change that. But I won't get my hopes up. We'll see...

[Zionite1]

Heat vision is in.Beacuse it looks cool

[G.Godfrey]

Originally Posted by Zionite1

Heat vision is in.Beacuse it looks cool

But Zack's new philosophy is that you can't do things just because they look cool.

[elgaz]

I'm taking a looooooong shot here .................. but ..................... if young Clark's line in the trailer about the world being 'too big' (showing him sitting crying with his eyes closed) is an indication that he does indeed have super powered vision, then I suspect they'll also give him the other powers his eyes normally have - X-ray vision, etc. And since heat vision is essentially a supercharged burst of radiation (a much more potent form of his X-ray vision), it would stand to reason he has that too.

But then again, I could be talking BS

[G.Godfrey]

He is covering his ears so I'm guessing it's super hearing. Which is a cool power since it costs 0.00$ to utilize.

[TDK elbowstrike]

I think he'll definitely have heat vision. We didn't see it yet, but I'm confident its there.

It's iconic as far as I can tell. What other well known superheroes have heat vision? Unlike strength, speed and flight, laser eyebeams are pretty much exclusive to Superman, meaning its the one power he doesn't have in common with another superhero.

This alone makes it a worthy addition in any movie. I can't wait to see how Snyder handles it.

[SuperMike335!!]

Originally Posted by Zionite1

If he had a bored look it wld mean he wasnt even trying-hinting him to be far more powerful-thats dramatic.
A strained look lets us know he isnt as powerful as most other movies.

And... Now you're over thinking it.

Superman will have the most impressive power level of all.

That is drum roll please.... PLOC

Power Level Of Convenience.

That means if he lifts up a tank, he might show effort in doing so, or if he is going to push a small planet out of its orbit, he will show the same level of effort.

The mysterious power level is a direct result of the cosimic rays from Directors and writers who don't pay attention to, or even give much thought to Superman's power level, so they keep it vague as it needs to be for any given scene to work.

This is similar to scale in Transformers cartoons, this is size on convenience.

Same concept.

[Lead Cenobite]

Originally Posted by Zionite1

Yes it is-one im very happy for

Good for you. I prefer a Superman who doesn't strain lifting a few tons.

[Heat Vision]

Originally Posted by Lead Cenobite

Good for you. I prefer a Superman who doesn't strain lifting a few tons.

Same here. As far as superheroes go, Superman should be the benchmark for power feats (both in comics and movies), imo.

[elgaz]

If he can move/lift a schoolbus as a child, I don't see why he would be straining that much under a steel girder when he's a fully grown and more powerful adult. Perhaps he's not straining at all and his expression is for a totally different reason.

[ThePowerCosmic]

Lol, Superman is definitely going to have heat-vision. Jeez.

[DKDetective]

Originally Posted by elgaz

If he can move/lift a schoolbus as a child, I don't see why he would be straining that much under a steel girder when he's a fully grown and more powerful adult. Perhaps he's not straining at all and his expression is for a totally different reason.

I don't think it is just a steel girder. Based upon the set photos, it looks likeClark is holding up the base of a large structure that will be extended in post.



I bet he will be holding up something much larger like the entire central steel tower on this oil rig.



Arguably, it seems like Supes won't be moving planets or lifting continents this time around, but I think that is a good thing. I'd prefer a Superman who struggles with lifting things that much larger than a jumbo jet.