Superman Returns Brandon Routh. Great Casting Choice or Bad?

[bootspark]

Brandon had potential, i just wish he wasnt pegion-hold to be just like Chris Reeve. He should have had the opportunity to create his own original interpretation of the character.

 

[Deadman666]

There were similarities to Chris' Superman, but noticeable differences. Routh played Superman alot more darker and jaded; reflecting modern times. He barely cracked a smile and was pretty serious.

Routh's Clark wasnt slapstick screwball comedy like Chris Reeve, he was quiet, shy and faded into the background like CK should.

I dont see how he could have made the role anymore divergent without compromising the intergrity or believeability of the character.

 

[bootspark]

Brandon had the "look" of the character, but he had no presence and his line-delivery was off.
Honestly, after seeing the film a 2nd time last week, i thought all the performances were terrible. Everyone was too "serious", which made it unintentually funny. The effects and production design and cinematagrahy were great. and the music was the best part of the film (Oscar-worthy even)

 

[Deadman666]

I like serious. Given the storyline, I didnt expect Superman and Lois to be joking around like the 70s days.

Then again, Superman, Clark and Lois were the only serious ones. Jimmy was anything but serious and Lex had an interesting twisted sense of humor; he enjoyed being bad.

 

[Superman \S/]

Routh IS Superman. Simply put he had the look ever since he first appeared on screen. He had the voice and presence ok Clark Kent and he for sure nailed Superman with the deep voice and showing off the powers. From begining to end he definetly did a great job and did his best with the character. I can't wait for the sequel and what else Routh has to bring. The scene when he confronts Lex in New Krypton and is beaten after getting stabbed showed me that he was the Supeman i knew when reading the comics. I say it again, Routh is Superman.

-\S/

 

[Alpha and Omega]

Why is this a debate?

SR was underwhelming for me, but it wasn't Brandon's fault. He could only work with what the director gave him. He did a good job.

Singer and the WB screwed up imo.

 

[The Game]

The guy has potential but his Superman he lacks presence and substance.

 

[Matt.S99]

brandon IS my superman

 

[hurley711]

Brandon Routh did a fantastic job, my only complaint with the entire movie was that he didn't have enough lines.

+1 which makes me worry that he didn't do so well in all of the footage that they edited out

 

[Steelsheen]

+1 which makes me worry that he didn't do so well in all of the footage that they edited out

that's assuming a lot dude. i could make an equally ridiculous claim as those cut footages containing Routh's best work.

 

[Deadman666]

The footage was cut for time. Idiot audiences couldnt sit through a 3 hour film.

Everything that was left in was essential to the film, the smallville scenes may not have really added much. The flashbacks may have just retreaded on STM's covered ground too.

 

[I Am The Knight]

He IS Superman, he nailed it. And I can't wait to see those deleted scenes. I hope the DVD is much better than the one for Begins, especially considering we didn't get a commentary for that one, as Nolan thought it was ''too soon'' basically. Oh well, they'll get my money again when they re release the movie with a commentary by Nolan.

Anyway, Routh did great, he had the look, the voice, and the presence.

 

[Superman \S/]

-\S/

 

[Hunter Rider]

He did a good job

 

[Zaphod]

He would've been so good...in 10 or 15 years.

He TOtally looked like "SUPER-BOY".

He did not have the paternal, "M.A.N." part of "Superman" in any way.
His voice was freaking PERFECT! Especially as Clark.
But he just didn't have the whole package.
( btw, if you make a "package" joke? You're Gay. )

I agree with Wilhelm-Scream. Routh simply did not have an imposing enough presence on-screen to make me truly beleive that this was Superman, and when I say 'imposing', I mean that Routh was unable to instill the charisma Reeve managed to while playing the part, as both Superman and Clark Kent.

The film as a whole makes clear that Singer wanted to give 'Returns' the feel of the classic-Donner movies, right down to the casting of Routh as Superman, since he does at least resemble how I would imagine a younger Reeve to look in part; however, Routh's Clark had none of the bumbling-essence that Reeve's portrayal did so well, to make us suspend disbelief into beleiving that people might actually be fooled into not seeing through the 'mild-mannered reporter' facade.

Alot of the problems with how Superman looked in this movie I feel are a result of the costume, but I wont get into that here...i'll just repeat what I said before: As Clark, Routh was underwhelming, as Superman, he was seldom truly believeable.

 

[melfangiel]

I like Brandon, he seems to have the potential to be a great Superman/CK but I really felt like he was sort of restrained in this movie. There were parts of the film where I was completely sold with his performance as Supes. But at the same time he was slightly off with certain bits of the dialogue as though he was holding back , which is weird because he could deliver other lines with suitable conviction.


For now, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was restricted by the script and maybe the direction. Hopefully there'll be a sequel and he'll give a more impressive performance.

 

[dark_b]

he was born to become the man of steel.

 

[Captain Villa]

I think the torch was passed well to him.

He played Clark, Kal-el and Superman great in the 3 characters.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

I think the kid has potential. Maybe with a few acting lessons and a director that allows him to break away from Reeve's performance and he could be great

Bingo. All in all, Routh did what Singer allowed him to. He did his job well, but as an up and coming actor, you're only allowed to do so much.

I still think that he did a great job, and he wasn't really smaller than Christopher Reeve, so why are people still complaining about the bulking issues?

 

[Spare-Flair]

Routh was born to look like Christopher Reeve - not be the man of steel. That's Singer's downfall. Routh reminds you of Reeve but lacks the features that made Reeve remind you of Superman.

That said, I still think it's a damn good choice if in this case, your plan was indeed to make a semi-sequel to the old franchise. So I'll say this:

Routh = Good Choice.
Costume + Writing for Routh = Disgustingly Bad.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I thought Routh was great in this movie, the only time he didnt truly convince me was when he was stabbed on New Krypton, he didnt show the true pain of someone being stabbed for the first time for me. But other than that, i thought he war super(pun intended).

 

[persiancat]

what could be your choice?

 

[bootspark]

bootspark: tom?
knight: you have chosen.....wisely

 

[dark_b]

Routh was born to look like Christopher Reeve - not be the man of steel. That's Singer's downfall. Routh reminds you of Reeve but lacks the features that made Reeve remind you of Superman.

That said, I still think it's a damn good choice if in this case, your plan was indeed to make a semi-sequel to the old franchise. So I'll say this:

Routh = Good Choice.
Costume + Writing for Routh = Disgustingly Bad.

ok i admit that sometimes he looks like him. but not always. but routh looks like a lot of people. so i dont think that he looks like reeve. we had a thread where we saw that in different pics he looks like different persons.

 

[Mentok]

I didnt think Routh ended up looking like Reeve that much during the film. As for his performance... I really wanted to see alot more of him in the film. I feel like I realy only saw half of Rouths performance.