Henry Cavill IS Superman: - - - - - Part 14

[TheNextNolan22]

The great thing about Superman is that he's such an iconic character, if you do something even slightly different with him it's even more jarring for the audienced. That's why I think the teaser poster of Supes in handcuffs was so effective.

I never understood the hate for that poster. I always thought it was one of the more visually striking teaser posters in a long time and seeing that image in trailer #2 made it even better.

 

[Axl Van Sixx]

Not only was it refreshing; it was closer in many respects to the way Superman is historically portrayed in the comics. For instance, while I very much appreciate what Christopher Reeve brought to the role, the way his Superman interacted with the infamous diner bully (in Superman 2) was completely out of character. First off, Superman isn't vengeful. Secondly, no matter how bad or slighted he felt, Superman would never use his powers against a normal human being the way he does in Donner's script. Don't get me wrong, I personally loved the scene when I first saw it, and I certainly don't think less of that particular version of the character because of the choice he makes. It's just that, if people are heavily scrutinizing Cavill's performance for whatever reason, it's important to point out that Reeve's version wasn't as squeaky clean as they would like to believe.

The interesting thing is, the way Supes dealt with the bully at the end of Superman II is actually closer to the way that most of us would react. Anyone would want to deck the bully who humiliated us, and that's exactly what Christopher Reeve's Superman does in the end. It's an awesome, cathartic moment for the audience - but is it Superman?

I've brought this up before, but the fact that Cavill's Clark takes his anger out on the bully's truck rather than the bully himself is ultimately more Superman-ish. The entire point of Superman is that he's better than us - because he doesn't use his power for personal gain, but for selfless reasons. Cavill's Clark may deprive the audience of that moment of vengeance, but he provides us with something more: An ideal to aspire to (to quote the latter-day Jor-El).

 

[Bruce Malone]

When people bring up how "un-superman" cavill's take was they always seem to glance over that diner scene.

I think people are so accustomed to super-hero's showing off their powers on film now, they actually expected clark to toss that guy or actually physically humiliate him but he didn't and audiences were actually by surprised by that and that's why it was so superman.

The truck scene made for a good comedic touch as well, another thing people glance over a lot.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

The interesting thing is, the way Supes dealt with the bully at the end of Superman II is actually closer to the way that most of us would react. Anyone would want to deck the bully who humiliated us, and that's exactly what Christopher Reeve's Superman does in the end. It's an awesome, cathartic moment for the audience - but is it Superman?

Exactly. Superman represents the very best of us. He doesn't succumb to base desires as easily as we do.

I've brought this up before, but the fact that Cavill's Clark takes his anger out on the bully's truck rather than the bully himself is ultimately more Superman-ish. The entire point of Superman is that he's better than us - because he doesn't use his power for personal gain, but for selfless reasons. Cavill's Clark may deprive the audience of that moment of vengeance, but he provides us with something more: An ideal to aspire to (to quote the latter-day Jor-El).

Right.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

 

[Jaxon]

When people bring up how "un-superman" cavill's take was they always seem to glance over that diner scene.

I think people are so accustomed to super-hero's showing off their powers on film now, they actually expected clark to toss that guy or actually physically humiliate him but he didn't and audiences were actually by surprised by that and that's why it was so superman.

The truck scene made for a good comedic touch as well, another thing people glance over a lot.

But what you see now is how Kal-El will become Superman. Right now he isn't because he hasn't learn't to be. The killing of Zod and the pain that it caused him is going to put him on a path to the iconic values people know him for, and we now see a really good reason why he would want to do that.
It is very obvious to him now that fully unleashed he can do harm. That notion was never placed on him from the Kents.

 

[AnneFan]

Cav-El didn't beat the bully up as a kid, he held himself back. Pete Ross helping him out showed how he can inspire humanity, who went from a bully into grateful decency. He didn't beat up the 'tough guy' in the bar, though he smashes up his equipment - the truck.

 

[sf2]

hmmm... can Henry sing? lol

 

[titansupes]

I never understood the hate for that poster. I always thought it was one of the more visually striking teaser posters in a long time and seeing that image in trailer #2 made it even better.

It was because 1) They really built it up to be some big reveal 2) Tampered with the count number on the viral 3) After all that, revealed an image we'd pretty much seen before, making it feel cheap 4) Made it even more cheap feeling by making it all blurry.

I like the image, too. But those things tainted the heck out of it for a while.

 

[Stoic]

Looks like an ad for Double Mint gum. And yes I know I'm dating myself with that reference.

 

[AnneFan]

Cavill looks nice and warm in that jumper.

 

[BlackFox]

Henry was decent in the role, needs more to work with in the sequal tho.

 

[Project862006]

he had plenty to work with in mos

 

[Tra-El]

he had plenty to work with in mos

....and he nailed it. Hands down, a GREAT performance.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah... I'm not really sure why people are saying that he wasn't given much to do or that he didn't have any lines. I didn't feel that way at all. I felt very much like MOS was a character study of Superman. We see him his character evolve from good-hearted but scared kid who doesn't understand why he is the way he is to courageous man compelled to always do the right thing. Much like Batman Begins, we take the journey with our hero as he seeks out his destiny.

And believe me, I know a movie that doesn't know what to do with Superman; a movie where he has almost no lines and no personality. Superman Returns is that movie. It's almost a night and day difference.

 

[MydnightPhoenix]

I didn't get a few complaints about this movie, one of which is Henry didn't have a lot to do. I know he was silent during the beginning of the film, but that didn't last long. IMO he carried the movie and did it quite well. He was better than all the other actors with the exception of the Faora actress.

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah... I'm not really sure why people are saying that he wasn't given much to do or that he didn't have any lines. I didn't feel that way at all. I felt very much like MOS was a character study of Superman. We see him his character evolve from good-hearted but scared kid who doesn't understand why he is the way he is to courageous man compelled to always do the right thing. Much like Batman Begins, we take the journey with our hero as he seeks out his destiny.

And believe me, I know a movie that doesn't know what to do with Superman; a movie where he has almost no lines and no personality. Superman Returns is that movie. It's almost a night and day difference.

Yeah it was light years ahead of that!!

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Yeah... I'm not really sure why people are saying that he wasn't given much to do or that he didn't have any lines. I didn't feel that way at all. I felt very much like MOS was a character study of Superman. We see him his character evolve from good-hearted but scared kid who doesn't understand why he is the way he is to courageous man compelled to always do the right thing. Much like Batman Begins, we take the journey with our hero as he seeks out his destiny.

And believe me, I know a movie that doesn't know what to do with Superman; a movie where he has almost no lines and no personality. Superman Returns is that movie. It's almost a night and day difference.

I agree. For me, it's nearly a really great characterisation to me (bar the ending, but that's my personal issues).

The only thing I really feel was missing was a sense of actually caring about JUSTICE.

The whole way through the film, it's made quite clear he cares about people and can't sit idly by and watch them get hurt when he can do something about it (other than his own father , but again, my issues).

But he never does anything but respond to a crisis. We never really see any passion towards injustice.

 

[STARMAN]

According to Armie Hammer, Man from Uncle with Henry Cavill starts shooting in August.

 

[MrMaooz]

According to Armie Hammer, Man from Uncle with Henry Cavill starts shooting in August.

Yup and even though there is no release date, I'm thinking it'll probably be released in late 2014.

 

[DACrowe]

I understand Lois not having enough to do (though I love what she is given) and I really UNDERSTAND the complaints about excessive violence and destruction at the end (I agree), but what I do not get is that Cavill does not have enough to do or enough lines.

Do we need him to monologue all his thoughts? I have my problems with the film, but it is clearly a film (at least for the first 2/3) focused on a man at struggle with his two identities and what they mean. Every time he is onscreen, so is this struggle. And Cavill brings it to life with a great performance. Dialogue is not needed in every moment to explain his emotions.

 

[manofsteel4life]

Kind of beating a dead horse....but I think that's what his maturity will bring in the sequel. Like someone pointed out, caring about the little guy. I hope we see Clark tackle a problem similar to the new 52 when he was writing about fair housing.....I think that's what he was doing...been while since I read it.....but In fairness, he had much on his plate to do that in MOS. I wouldve loved for that rumor to be true during filming that Clark was dealing with injustice issues with the oil rig crew or something along those lines.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

....and he nailed it. Hands down, a GREAT performance.

You speak the truth! Anyone who said (like one poster I won't name) that Henry's acting was wooden, is just looking/grasping for anything to justify their dislike or indifference for the movie IMO. Henry "crushed it" to quote Snyder.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

According to Armie Hammer, Man from Uncle with Henry Cavill starts shooting in August.

Cool!

 

[Spider-Who?]

Loved Cavill's superman. Funny, I caught Superman 2 on TV this morning, and while Chris Reeve will forever be known as Supes, justifiably so, I feel Cavill absolutely made the character his own. That being said, we have yet to see his "Clark Kent", the dichotomy of kent and superman is what really makes the performance. Really makes me interested to see what he does with Clark Kent in the future.

Reeve nailed both roles and while his movies are laughable to watch these days, his performance is still entertaining as hell.