World Dean Cain vs Brandon Routh

[charl_huntress]

He did such an amazing job that I don't hardly hear anything about him when people mention superman. You call Routh a "terrible" actor but praise Cain in the same sentence. Let me ask you something name something else Cain did that was "amazing work"?



YOU CAN'T!!!

Actually, I can name several things he was on. The first time I seen him was on Beverly Hills 90210, where is a popular fan favorite. I used to watch Ripley's Believe it or Not when he was the host. I also enjoyed FutureSport. Yes, I know know one else did, but there you go!

You should watch the Laci Petersen story. He was pretty good in that.


Cain has been and is primarily a TV actor and he has been in a lot of TV. So you saying he hasn't been in anything is ridiculous. I'm not as familiar with Routh, but from what I have heard he is only known for being on a soap opera and in Dylan Dog. Also, I don't see how comparing their portrayal as Superman suddenly turned into comparing their acting careers.

 

[Elevator Man]

Actually, I can name several things he was on. The first time I seen him was on Beverly Hills 90210, where is a popular fan favorite. I used to watch Ripley's Believe it or Not when he was the host. I also enjoyed FutureSport. Yes, I know know one else did, but there you go!

Very impressive! Superman has definitely open doors a lot of doors for his career.

You should watch the Laci Petersen story. He was pretty good in that.

Though I haven't seen that. I'll give you that since he got a lot of critical acclaim for his performance in it.

Cain has been and is primarily a TV actor and he has been in a lot of TV. So you saying he hasn't been in anything is ridiculous.

I know Cain's been primarily a TV actor. He's mostly had guest spots, been in canceled tv shows, and been in cheesy tv movies. And I wonder why he isn't in many big screen movies.

I'm not as familiar with Routh, but from what I have heard he is only known for being on a soap opera and in Dylan Dog. Also, I don't see how comparing their portrayal as Superman suddenly turned into comparing their acting careers.

DogofKrypton started it by saying Routh is box office cancer. He doesn't even back it up. The point I was making is that what makes Cain anymore successful. He hasn't had a film that made 200 million dollars. Or has been in many films on the big screen. He's been doing tv and is currently on some silly reality game show. He's pushing 50 and he still hasn't been that successful besides playing Superman 15- 20 years ago, imo.

 

[charl_huntress]

Very impressive! Superman has definitely open doors a lot of doors for his career. Though I haven't seen that. I'll give you that since he got a lot of critical acclaim for his performance in it....
I know Cain's been primarily a TV actor. He's mostly had guest spots, been in canceled tv shows, and been in cheesy tv movies. And I wonder why he isn't in many big screen movies.

You know, I think the fact he was Superman on TV is why he hasn't been in more movies. He is not all that bad of an actor and in his prime he was very handsome. I think he may have suffered from being type-cast which is a shame. I also think this is one of the main reasons Welling refused to don the suit in Smallville.

DogofKrypton started it

t: Shame on you two...be nice.

He's pushing 50 and he still hasn't been that successful besides playing Superman 15- 20 years ago, imo.

I do agree he hasn't been in anything as successful and I'm really disappointed he's on that stupid reality show Stars earn Stripes. I would have rather he went on Dancing with Stars. That might actually give me a reason to watch that show. Yet, the fact he's still pushing 50 and is still quite well known for that role does say something about his longevity in that role. Obviously no one can look into the future, but I wonder how I wonder if Routh will be as remembered...and if he will be remember as fondly.

 

[chamber-music]

Dean Cain for me.

Brandon Routh was a Christopher Reeves tribute act.

 

[DogofKrypton]

Very impressive! Superman has definitely open doors a lot of doors for his career.

As opposed to Routh, right?

DogofKrypton started it by saying Routh is box office cancer. He doesn't even back it up. The point I was making is that what makes Cain anymore successful. He hasn't had a film that made 200 million dollars. Or has been in many films on the big screen. He's been doing tv and is currently on some silly reality game show. He's pushing 50 and he still hasn't been that successful besides playing Superman 15- 20 years ago, imo.

I "started it" by replying to SOMEONE ELSE'S POST. Remember what I said in the other forum, about insecurity and a persecution complex?

I give you Exhibit A.

But here, for those of you who already knew how much of a box-office cancer Routh is, I'll remind you of his 2 failures post-SR failing:

"Dylan Dog"
Domestic Total Gross: $1,186,538
Foreign: $3,447,524
Worldwide: $4,634,062
Production Budget around $8 million.

"Crooked Arrows"
Domestic: $1,832,541

And I'm not even counting him being in the flops "Zack & Miri" OR "Scott Pilgrim". Routh will never, EVER, headline another big-budget motion picture again.

Any questions?

 

[elgaz]

Looks-wise? I think Routh was - physically - not a bad looking Superman. He didn't have the perfect body shape for it, but I still think his height, face and general look were an improvement over Cain's.

Acting-wise? Definitely Cain. Routh's Superman was like a monotone replica of Christopher Reeve's full stereo portrayal. It was just too bland, too expressionless, too stiff. He managed to mimic some of Reeve's mannerisms pretty well ................ but the guy's an actor, that's the very least he should be able to do. I was a bit of a Routh apologist but having watched him in pretty much everything he's appeared in since, I've come to the sad conclusion that he's just not a great actor. He has very little range in terms of showing emotion, expressions, and line delivery.

I wasn't a fan of the way Cain's Superman was written, or that whole show in general, but I never had any problem with his acting. And whilst he may not have had a glittering career since, I think that's more due to being typecast than lack of ability. I was on holidays lately and ended up watching a DTV special in the hotel room with Cain playing a father who's son goes missing - it was a bit of a cheesefest to be honest, but Cain played the role very well and show much more emotion in that cheaply made film than Routh did in the $200m+ blockbuster. I was really rooting for his character by the end.

Just to throw something else into the argument - I'd place Tom Welling somewhere in between Cain & Routh. Yeah, I know technically we never got to see him play Superman (in the suit) until the last few mins of Smallville, but he was pretty much playing the character without the costume for the last few years anyway. I think looks-wise he was pretty perfect for Superman, and whilst his acting could be questionable at times, he also had some pretty good moments where he really shone. I'd like to see the guy do more TV or movies so I could see him tackle something different, I think a lot of his portrayal in the show was hampered by the cheesy lines and Dawson's Creek-esque approach to how they filmed it. Whenever he didn't have to play good old boy scout Clark and got to play an evil or uninhibited version, he was actually pretty good and looked like he was having some fun with the character.

 

[Elevator Man]

As opposed to Routh, right?

The point I was making is Cain's career really isn't any better than Routh's right now.

I "started it" by replying to SOMEONE ELSE'S POST.

Yeah you said Routh was "Box Office Cancer" when the thread is about who was the better Kent/Supes between Cain and Routh. Not who has the better career. I was simply disagreeing with you. And making a point that Cain's career isn't much better than Routh's when you look at it. Routh still has time Cain on the other hand.

Remember what I said in the other forum, about insecurity and a persecution complex?

Yeah I remember you were practically stalking me and basically adding nothing about Hans Zimmer scoring MOS in a thread dedicated to that topic. The only reason you posted comments in that thread directly to me and nobody else b/c you wanted to start a beef with me. All b/c you were ticked off I was defending Routh over Cain in an unrelated thread. Also get that bug out of your butt. You're not going to get anywhere in life with that attitude seriously.

I give you Exhibit A.

But here, for those of you who already knew how much of a box-office cancer Routh is, I'll remind you of his 2 failures post-SR failing:

"Dylan Dog"
Domestic Total Gross: $1,186,538
Foreign: $3,447,524
Worldwide: $4,634,062
Production Budget around $8 million.

"Crooked Arrows"
Domestic: $1,832,541

Yeah both low budget independent films that were in select theaters and hardly and not to mention poorly advertised. Yeah Routh is "Box Office Cancer" all right. He really puts Taylor Kitsch to shame as "Box Office Cancer".

And I'm not even counting him being in the flops "Zack & Miri" OR "Scott Pilgrim". Routh will never, EVER, headline another big-budget motion picture again.

Yeah i'm sure "Zack and Miri" flopped b/c of Routh's surprise cameo in it. None of Kevin Smith's films were box office hits to begin with. "Scott Pilgrim" was aimed at the video game/ comic book crowd which doesn't make up most of the mainstream audience. It only makes up a quarter of the audience. But of course you believe those movies flopped b/c of Routh. Eventhough he had small parts in both. And people say I have no logic in my arguments. Btw, Cain has yet to headline a big budget motion picture.

Any questions?

For a guy who has it in for Routh. You sure follow his career like some avid fan.

I apologize to those who actually want to debate who's the better Superman/Kent between Cain/Routh and for getting off topic about who has the more sucessful career between the two. I'll drop it here.

 

[DogofKrypton]

The point I was making is Cain's career really isn't any better than Routh's right now.

Which means NOTHING.

You're just trolling.

Yeah you said Routh was "Box Office Cancer" when the thread is about who was the better Kent/Supes between Cain and Routh.

And what does me saying that have to do with YOU, genius?

Nothing, that's what. So next time you want to be childish and say "but-but-but HE started it!!", make sure I was talking to YOU.

Yeah I remember you were practically stalking me and basically adding nothing about Hans Zimmer scoring MOS in a thread dedicated to that topic. The only reason you posted comments in that thread directly to me and nobody else b/c you wanted to start a beef with me. All b/c you were ticked off I was defending Routh over Cain in an unrelated thread. Also get that bug out of your butt. You're not going to get anywhere in life with that attitude seriously.

Persecution complex running rampant in you, eh?

By the way, how old are you anyway? I'm curious, and have some of my own ideas...

[/BYeah both low budget independent films that were in select theaters and hardly and not to mention poorly advertised. Yeah Routh is "Box Office Cancer" all right. He really puts Taylor Kitsch to shame as "Box Office Cancer".

Any facts to back up the statement in bold? Or just more conjecture and hyperbole on your part?

Here, here's a FACT for you:

Dylan Dog ACTUALLY had a $20 - $35 million dollar budget. Making it's PALTRY $4,000,000 taking even WORSE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Dog:_Dead_of_Night

The film grossed $4 million worldwide ($1.2 million domestically) on a $20 million production budget. The film currently holds a 6% "rotten" rating on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus stating: "An uninspired, feebly-acted horror/comedy that produces little scares and laughs."[5]

And Taylor Kitsch WILL be in big-budget films in the future. When Routh's doomed sitcom gets cancelled before the end of season 1, his days in Hollywood are O-V-E-R.

Yeah i'm sure "Zack and Miri" flopped b/c of Routh's surprise cameo in it. None of Kevin Smith's films were box office hits to begin with. "Scott Pilgrim" was aimed at the video game/ comic book crowd which doesn't make up most of the mainstream audience. It only makes up a quarter of the audience. But of course you believe those movies flopped b/c of Routh. Eventhough he had small parts in both. And people say I have no logic in my arguments. Btw, Cain has yet to headline a big budget motion picture.

Try reading and comprehending next time before you decide to respond.

For a guy who has it in for Routh. You sure follow his career like some avid fan.

Yes, someone who knows more than you at every level should "apologize" for it, right Mr. RunOnSentence?

I apologize to those who actually want to debate who's the better Superman/Kent between Cain/Routh and for getting off topic about who has the more sucessful career between the two. I'll drop it here.

Nah, people who troll can't stay away. He'll be back.

And yes, Dean Cain is FAR superior to Routh in every way. He surpassed Routh after episode 2 of season 1 as far as time in the suit goes.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Asking the average person in the street you'd find more people who know who dean cain is then brandon routh.

Dean Cain has indeed had a better career than routh post super-man. Routh is on the verge of being a trivia question at this point.

This does raise a point though that playing superman really seems to type cast you. I mean look at christopher reeve he was a talented guy by all accounts but he really didn't have much success either after superman.

I have a feeling henry cavill is hoping to break this trend hopefully for his sake.

 

[DogofKrypton]

Asking the average person in the street you'd find more people who know who dean cain is then brandon routh.

No doubt. Unfortunately, you are going to have a pitiful few bring up "Chuck" as a counter to what you said.

Even though he was only a semi-regular and nothing more.

Dean Cain has indeed had a better career than routh post super-man. Routh is on the verge of being a trivia question at this point.

The fact that he still gets asked to do projects into his 50's says a lot. Routh will be a distant memory before he hits 40.

This does raise a point though that playing superman really seems to type cast you. I mean look at christopher reeve he was a talented guy by all accounts but he really didn't have much success either after superman.

Actually, Reeve turned down some VERY big-name roles, so his type-casting was almost self-imposed.

He could have been the one winning an Oscar for "An Officer And a Gentleman" instead of Richard Gere...

I have a feeling henry cavill is hoping to break this trend hopefully for his sake.

If Johnny Depp can avoid being typecast after Jack Sparrow, Cavill will have zero problem doing the same, methinks.

 

[charl_huntress]

Just to throw something else into the argument - I'd place Tom Welling somewhere in between Cain & Routh. Yeah, I know technically we never got to see him play Superman (in the suit) until the last few mins of Smallville, but he was pretty much playing the character without the costume for the last few years anyway. I think looks-wise he was pretty perfect for Superman, and whilst his acting could be questionable at times, he also had some pretty good moments where he really shone. I'd like to see the guy do more TV or movies so I could see him tackle something different, I think a lot of his portrayal in the show was hampered by the cheesy lines and Dawson's Creek-esque approach to how they filmed it. Whenever he didn't have to play good old boy scout Clark and got to play an evil or uninhibited version, he was actually pretty good and looked like he was having some fun with the character.

I would agree with that assessment. I think Welling could tackle some very heavy TV roles. Yet, he has to come to the realization Dean did. Meaning, he is suited for TV and not for movies.

Again, in the scheme of things, it is my contention Cain will be remembered more fondly, but Routh will not. Also, for as hard as Welling tried to not be remembered for wearing the \S/, he will be mostly remembered for being a young Superman without the costume. For all his indecision to not don the suit, he will be remembered for not donning it at all. More the reason he should have donned it and been done with it. NOW, all he has is endless manips to say how he should have looked.

 

[redrover]

Welling is a joke, sub par as an actor is being kind. His acting is at best laughably bad, and his one chance to cry on the show led to laughs of derision all across the internet.

Routh may be bad, but Welling is dismal

 

[Micromind]

The thread should be about comparing the performances of two actors in TV series.

Dean Cain Vs Tom Welling would have been a better topic as both had a long running series.

Personally speaking, I think all actors who played Superman /Clark Kent were great, they all had strengths and weaknesses.

 

[DogofKrypton]

Welling is a joke, sub par as an actor is being kind. His acting is at best laughably bad, and his one chance to cry on the show led to laughs of derision all across the internet.

Routh has NEVER even attempted to stretch his acting muscles that far.

I'll talk an actor who HAS and "failed" over one who HASN'T EVEN TRIED.

Routh is dismal

Fixed.

And all his reviews post-SR confirm this.

 

[bonoferox]

I'll take an actor who HAS and "failed" over one who HASN'T EVEN TRIED.

Fixed

 

[redrover]

So Dog of k, are you TW mom, cause seriously, like wow.

Welling is the embaressement of the Supes world. The show was a failure,, move on.

 

[Odneyson]

 

[mjbull23]

I think Cain may be the slightly better actor. However, I never watched Lois & Clark and accepted that I was watching Superman on my television screen. It was always ,Oh look, here's Dean dressed up as Superman, playing opposite Terri's wonderful Lois adaptation.

Routh on the other hand, has natural attributes, the height, the voice,..I accepted him as Superman while I was watching Returns.

So... quick answer is, Routh is the better of the two choices for the role of Superman. However, if I have to cast for a general role in any television Movie, I'm probably calling Cain first.

 

[charl_huntress]

Routh looked like Reeve. That was the only thing he had going for him. I don't think he had the acting chops to pull off the role. Cain brought something fresh to Superman and truly put his own stamp on the character. That's something Routh will never be able to claim.

 

[charl_huntress]

Just saw this over at Supermanhomepage.com

It's an interview with Cain dicussing his time as Supeman.

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=11871

 

[BH/HHH]

Look I like Dean Cain what an awesome guy but I don't think that he was a good Superman, his CK was good but he failed as Superman. I much preferred Brandon Routh who is also an awesome guy.

 

[charl_huntress]

I feel the exact same...except about Routh...lol.

 

[Matt]

Look I like Dean Cain what an awesome guy but I don't think that he was a good Superman, his CK was good but he failed as Superman. I much preferred Brandon Routh who is also an awesome guy.

I always feel like it is unfair to criticize Cain's Superman as the writing did not really lend itself to him being Superman. It was called Lois and CLARK after all. Superman's entire role in the series was to be a foil to his alter ego and then cross his arms at the end of an episode. Cain never really got to play Superman to his fullest extent, because Superman was very much a background character on Lois and Clark.

 

[chamber-music]

I always feel like it is unfair to criticize Cain's Superman as the writing did not really lend itself to him being Superman. It was called Lois and CLARK after all. Superman's entire role in the series was to be a foil to his alter ego and then cross his arms at the end of an episode. Cain never really got to play Superman to his fullest extent, because Superman was very much a background character on Lois and Clark.

I agree

Lois & Clark wasn't really made to show off the strengths of the character of Superman.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I disagree with you guys in fact i'd say cain played superman as much any modern actor plays any superhero.

The actual superhero is always the side factor. Look at toby maguire and peter parker or christian bale and batman. Is anyone going to deny they played the individual first and foremost and the superhero later?

You can say superman was the foil but the other superheroes have become the action sets. Most of the heavy drama or acting is almost always done as the real person.