Does it bother anyone else that Superman's heat vision is nerfed?

[bigboss]

Every time he uses heat vision in the movie, he can't hold it as it seemingly hurts him and he has to blink away. This is most noticeable in the fight against Zod when he melts the metal beam but gets hit anyways because he had to close his eyes. What gives? Why would Snyder & co. decide to rewrite this power? Makes one of Superman's coolest abilities not look so cool anymore

This "nerf" isn't even consistent because Zod for whatever reason doesn't have this problem, which is especially notable at the end.

[Batmannerism]

Originally Posted by bigboss

Every time he uses heat vision in the movie, he can't hold it as it seemingly hurts him and he has to blink away. This is most noticeable in the fight against Zod when he melts the metal beam but gets hit anyways because he had to close his eyes. What gives? Why would Snyder & co. decide to rewrite this power? Makes one of Superman's coolest abilities not look so cool anymore

This "nerf" isn't even consistent because Zod for whatever reason doesn't have this problem, which is especially notable at the end.

I'm okay with the change. I liked the fact that he had to concentrate, and
blink, he may have indestructible eyeballs, but it makes sense that if he's going to shoot enough energy to instantly liquefy steel out of them, it
might make him blink. But this is just IMO.

Personally, one of the things I liked best about MOS was that everything Supes does requires an effort. When he lifts the oil rig, smashes Faora through the dump truck, heat-blasts Faora and Nam-Ek, flies up the gravity beam, all of those require a lot of effort and an audible grunt.
You get the feeling he's giving it all he's got, which makes him a bit easier to relate to. Again, that's just IMO.

I think Zod does actually show quite a bit of pain, when he cuts that building in half (from the inside). In fact he kind of shoots his beams off everywhere, because he lacks the control or experience that Kal has with them.

[InJustice]

To be fair, they presented the Kryptonian body as indestructible but still having to feel a degree of pain/physics in relation to their environment. For instance, heat vision is probably similar to crying, where we can feel the liquid come out but it doesn't because...it's tears. However, for heat vision, you're feeling the heat of upwards of God knows what degrees...of course it's gonna be jarring to feel.

Also, they didn't change the power itself. They just changed how a person would feel using heat vision in a realistic setting. I don't think it's that big of a deal, nor did it make me think any less of the power.

[sf2]

Love it! Very nice detail they given.

[BH/HHH]

Yeah its nice to add that detail, I imagine it would hurt if it were real. The heat vision in MOS was the best I've seen.

[smallville fan]

Originally Posted by bigboss

Every time he uses heat vision in the movie, he can't hold it as it seemingly hurts him and he has to blink away. This is most noticeable in the fight against Zod when he melts the metal beam but gets hit anyways because he had to close his eyes. What gives? Why would Snyder & co. decide to rewrite this power? Makes one of Superman's coolest abilities not look so cool anymore

This "nerf" isn't even consistent because Zod for whatever reason doesn't have this problem, which is especially notable at the end.

I don't think Clark uses heat vision that often and using that metaphorical "muscle" is a strain for him. It's like hitting the gym for the first time, it hurts. Over time I think he'll get better at it. Let's all remember that Clark's very new to everything, that's the main message.

[Fizicks]

Yea, as Batmannerism said, Zod was also in quite a bit of pain; he was actually yelling out in discomfort as he was using his heat vision to destroy the building.

And I suspect they not only feel pain, but the heat vision also makes them slightly dizzy/disoriented, as seen when Clark was in the arctic, shaking his head after using his heat vision.

I actually really liked this addition, don't really know why, but I thought it was a nice touch.

[sf2]

And it was like they will unleash the heat vision when they r in anger.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Yeah I am in the camp that liked this change as well, it now makes more sense when Superman doesnt use it very much because it throws him off for a second. I'm sure the more he develops it over time it will get easier to use as well.

Also, Zod did feel pain when he used his, and fear, you see the look on his face and he wants to get out of that building as quickly as possible.

[bluearth]

Remember though when he used his heat vision to stop Lois' internal bleeding, or when he used it to dig the tunnel to the ship under all the ice. He even used it effectively to heat the door knob as a kid.

He has more control over it then many may think, but I dont think hes quite mastered it yet.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^He has more control over it as an adult but it still disorientates him each time he uses it, I think this will go with time and use over the course of the movies.

[KRYPTON INC.]

How can Superman being shown to melt a steel I-beam in SECONDS be thought of in any way as a "nerf"?

[Tanin]

Originally Posted by KRYPTON INC.

How can Superman being shown to melt a steel I-beam in SECONDS be thought of in any way as a "nerf"?

Because he can't hold it for super long times like in the comics and it causes him disorientation which gives his opponent a chance to hit him after he uses it.

Just like bigboss mentioned in the very first post.


I am starting to think people only ever read the Thread titles anymore.

[KRYPTON INC.]

Originally Posted by Tanin

Because he can't hold it for super long times like in the comics and it causes him disorientation which gives his opponent a chance to hit him after he uses it.

Just like bigboss mentioned in the very first post.


I am starting to think people only ever read the Thread titles anymore.

Oh I read it. Again... he did something right out of a comic book in using his power. That they decided to, in the presentation of said power, show that the immense heat he produced caused some physical pain is immaterial to me, really. He used his power, in a way I as a long time fan was totally impressed by. I don't see the nerf at all.

[Tanin]

To me that means they toned it down properly and didn't slap him about with the nerf bat. They made it painful and a plausible reliability so he can't one shot everyone with it.

So I am quite happy.

[DrCosmic]

Indeed. They explained why he doesn't use it to solve all his problems. It was smart.

[Lord]

He isn't completelly accostumed to his powers, in least not those he barelly uses

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Originally Posted by Tanin

To me that means they toned it down properly and didn't slap him about with the nerf bat. They made it painful and a plausible reliability so he can't one shot everyone with it.

So I am quite happy.

Same here, it was actually a clever little addition to the character. This way he only uses it in desperate situations, like when he is pinned down by Zamek and Faora in Smallville (Possibly my favourite scene in the movie).