How long can Clark hide his identity?

[spund]

Exactly right..

I have no problems with movies being campy, or totally out of whack or illogical so long as that's their premise.. but when they try to sell something as 'realistic' then do a 180 on it, that's when i think many people have a problem with it..

Take Fast 6 for instance.. people were flying around like superman.. it's just absolutely ridiculous.. but then they never tried to be realistic to begin with.. so, we go in for the pure entertainment value...

But after that have been said, i think it's near impossible to write a movie or even book with zero inconsistencies (asimov does the best job of it)... so, a little forgiveness is given here and there... and what bothers some may not bother others.. like the disguise bothers me because i think if they tried a bit harder they could have come up with a better idea, but then it's not going to ruin the show for me..

Right, the key word you have there is "premise"..

In the old Superman, the reaction to seeing a flying man is to just compliment his suit.

In the new Superman, a flying man shows up and tanks get pointed at him.

I'm thinking a secret identity definitely needs to be handled differently in these 2 situations

And I agree, inconsistencies won't ruin it for me....but I'm nerdy like that, I like things to make sense lol.

 

[Senator Pleasury]

It was always a stretch that you can hide your secret identity just by putting on glasses and acting 'differently'... Just look at how difficult for famous people to avoid detection with all their 'disguises'... you think Michael Jackson could evade detection by putting on some glasses?

I agree.

And MOS added more problem to the same thing. Before it was unconvincing that glasses could disguise Clark's identity but it was part of the character and at least tried to make Clrk look different from Superman. Now he simply doesn't disguise it. Those glasses didn't work, were more like an ornament, and for MOS' tone, I don't think they'll go and pretend Clark disguise just works.

Superman, arguebly would be even more famous than Michael by a huge margin.. and with today's everyone has a camera phone, there'll be tons and tons of photos of superman, especially since he's saving people on a daily basis...

Not to mention that Smallville knows he is super-powered and it only takes a good reporter to find out his identity.

As much as Goyer/Snyder wanted to ground this new franchise into reality, i think the 'clark disguise' isn't one of them.. that part still requires us audience to just 'play along'...

I really have no problem with that... It's not a big issue for me...

If the disguise doesn't work, then why did they include it? How is he now going to keep hios secret identity a secret?

 

[TDK elbowstrike]

Its weird how many clues Superman himself gives the military to his identity. Lines like, " I've been here 33 years and havent infected anyone" or, "I grew up in Kansas, it doesnt get much more American than that" were very telling. From that alone, the military knows Superman is 33 years old and grew up in Kansas. Then you have Zod and co. stop their spaceships on the Kent farm for an extended amount of time. Surely the military has satellite images of that, right?

 

[N7 Joseph Shepard]

there are plenty of scenarios that can be explored to help pull off the fact that Clark Kent can simply be someone who looks a lot like Superman, but really it all comes down to just how active will this version of Superman be?

By that I mean, like Ma Kent said "What are you going to do when you're not saving the world", we dont know if he's going to be the Superman who shows up to save a kitten thats stuck in a tree, or if he does anything like putting out fires and what not, if he's going to just stick around for people to take pictures of him.

 

[BestGirl]

there are plenty of scenarios that can be explored to help pull off the fact that Clark Kent can simply be someone who looks a lot like Superman, but really it all comes down to just how active will this version of Superman be?

Not really, unless you're referring to the nonmilitary population of the world. There have been more than enough hints dropped that Clark Kent is Superman that it's really impossible for the military not to figure out that it's him.

 

[Hammer!]

My fear is that Goyer may have wrote himself into a corner by grounding the Superman mythos so much into reality, that the novelty of having Clark hide his identity with glasses might not work in this universe.

 

[Thundercrack85]

It seems to almost be an open secret in Smallville, so, yeah. One of the reasons I found [BLACKOUT]Pa Kent's death so stupid.[/BLACKOUT]

I don't think it will really affect Clark that much.

I never bought the notion that someone like Lex Luthor didn't know who Superman really was. I actually think it would be more interesting if he did.

As for his alien foes (i.e. most foes besides Lex), they already know too.

 

[Shikamaru]

I never understood why Clark doesn't just put on a fake beard and fake wig on top of the glasses. It might sound silly but if you think about it, that puts him at a really high chance of keeping his identity a secret realistically speaking. Clark's personality and the fact that not too many people would expect Supes to have a secret identity in the first place bring those chances even higher.

 

[Hammer!]

Or he could just wear an eye-covering when he's Superman. Seemed to wok for Robin and Bucky.

 

[S. Grundy]

They should take a cue from Morrison and Quitely's All-Star Superman, and bit of the bumbling nature Chris Reeve brought to the character.

Posture, and a change of hairstyle; in addition to the right mannerisms, could make him seem like a completely different person.

 

[Axl Van Sixx]

OK, worst case scenario: They go the George Reeves/Dean Cain route where Clark Kent and Superman look and act completely the same except one wears glasses. Then what? Fans still seem to hold the George Reeves Superman in pretty high regard.

 

[SpitCurl]

I doubt everyone in Smallville knew at the time of Johnathan's death. Why would they? Lana & Pete saw Clark save the bus but no one else did, and we clearly see him get teased later (we know it's after the crash because Pete is now cool with him), which is not something you do if you know the kid you're taunting can incinerate you with his eyes or slap your head off. So Johnathan's sacrifice isn't really negated.

Would most of them know now? Sure. I could see few of the jealous ones (like the bullies) trying to out Clark for money in a sequel, but this is actually why having Lois, Perry (likely) and the military/government be aware of his identity helps. Do you really think if that trucker who's rig Clark shredded tries to go to a local paper or calls CNN to out him, that someone high-up isn't going to hear about it and kill the story?

The military is going to be just as invested as keeping his whereabouts a secret as anyone else, as he's clearly a valuable asset and you really don't want some nutter who thinks Superman's existence threatens his beliefs to try blowing the DP off the map (I doubt it's common knowledge that Superman's invulnerable to everything). Other countries might also be a little squeamish about having this guy essentially going to bat for 'Murica and go through all sorts of horrible lengths to gather info on him. There could be a joke where someone tries to drop dime on Clark by calling the paper and as we hear them smugly tell their story, the phone cuts out and the power goes off and moments later it comes back and there's a text message reading "you didn't see what you thought you saw. PS: careful with all those tax deductions..."

As for Clark giving hints, there's really nothing to suggest that he'd given any thought to a secret identity before his talk with Martha near the end, not to mention that his comment to the general ("I'm from Kansas, it doesn't get any more American than that") felt more like a reminder. Like, "seriously? I grew up on a friggin farm! Remember?"

 

[Joeyjojo72]

After the final scene at the Daily Planet, I give it about 30 seconds before he's identified as the alien who, if every citizen pretends not to recognize him, might not snap your neck and/or destroy the REST of the city.

Metropolis' new mantra? "Don't look at his glasses. Don't look at his glasses..."

 

[sf2]

people are ready to accept the glasses as a disguise. i don't see problem here. of course clark will have to act differently in each personality.

 

[Shikamaru]

You can also make the argument that no one would believe Superman is stupid enough to walk around in public with just a pair of glasses on. Reverse psychology basically.

 

[Shazam]

Its weird how many clues Superman himself gives the military to his identity. Lines like, " I've been here 33 years and havent infected anyone" or, "I grew up in Kansas, it doesnt get much more American than that" were very telling. From that alone, the military knows Superman is 33 years old and grew up in Kansas. Then you have Zod and co. stop their spaceships on the Kent farm for an extended amount of time. Surely the military has satellite images of that, right?

You nailed it

 

[blumatic]

Well I don't totally agree with you, especially in that last part Cavill oozed charm in this film

I thought he very commanding as Superman when talking to General Swanwick.

"Don't play games with me General ".

When Hardy says " This man is not our enemy" Superman looks at him and says "Thank you Colonel" and flies away.

Damn, I'm seeing this movie again tomorrow.

 

[blumatic]

Its weird how many clues Superman himself gives the military to his identity. Lines like, " I've been here 33 years and havent infected anyone" or, "I grew up in Kansas, it doesnt get much more American than that" were very telling. From that alone, the military knows Superman is 33 years old and grew up in Kansas. Then you have Zod and co. stop their spaceships on the Kent farm for an extended amount of time. Surely the military has satellite images of that, right?

Well the whole military doesnt know that. Pretty much Swanwick knows. Not really anyone else. It would be very classified information.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I would imagine Swanwick will figure out who he really is soon enough.

But, since it's safe to say that this won't be the last time the world / America faces a real threat, Swanwick will need Superman's help in the future, so I see no reason for them to be enemies.

 

[InJustice]

If he does this on the film...

It's gonna be hard for Clark to even keep his identity.

 

[Sundancer]

Or he could just wear an eye-covering when he's Superman. Seemed to wok for Robin and Bucky.

It's called a domino mask. English major out.

 

[Axl Van Sixx]

If he does this on the film...

It's gonna be hard for Clark to even keep his identity.

Way I see it, despite that subtle visual homage in MOS when Jor-El explains what the symbol means, Snyder still owes us a proper shirt rip.

 

[sf2]

You can also make the argument that no one would believe Superman is stupid enough to walk around in public with just a pair of glasses on. Reverse psychology basically.

and oh ya... shirt rip-off!!!

 

[robot]

Its weird how many clues Superman himself gives the military to his identity. Lines like, " I've been here 33 years and havent infected anyone" or, "I grew up in Kansas, it doesnt get much more American than that" were very telling. From that alone, the military knows Superman is 33 years old and grew up in Kansas. Then you have Zod and co. stop their spaceships on the Kent farm for an extended amount of time. Surely the military has satellite images of that, right?

Exactly. Anyone who thinks Superman can keep his identity based on this movie's facts will just have to be delusional.

First, people who basically have seen him or with a few minor 'thinking' can arrive at the conclusion who he is:

1. His entire school. Look, maybe only a couple kids saw him pushing the bus out of the water.. and kids talk. Apparently they did just that because they showed the bully trying to get him to expose himself and parents already know... and even if they are not sure, the moment Superman revealed himself to the world, they would have thought back to that day.

2. Anyone in the Oil Gas Rig.... They saw his face.

3. The priest.

4. Plus, god knows how often he exposes himself growing up that's not in the movie...

5. If it's so easy for Lois to track him down, it'll be just as easy for the 1000s of journalists who will be trying to locate superman after the fight with Zod...

6. Like you said, the clues he gave the Military, will take them about a day to figure out who he is..

----

So, after all that have been said, he let his dad die for NO REASON whatsoever... that scene is beyond pathetic... it borders on abuse of movie goer's intellect... even my nephews (kids) thought it was stupid. I have yet to find anyone who's not a die hard fanboy who finds no wrong with the movie that thinks that Tornado scene made any 'deeper meaning' or such nonsense...

 

[Project862006]

Exactly. Anyone who thinks Superman can keep his identity based on this movie's facts will just have to be delusional.

First, people who basically have seen him or with a few minor 'thinking' can arrive at the conclusion who he is:

1. His entire school. Look, maybe only a couple kids saw him pushing the bus out of the water.. and kids talk. Apparently they did just that because they showed the bully trying to get him to expose himself and parents already know... and even if they are not sure, the moment Superman revealed himself to the world, they would have thought back to that day.

2. Anyone in the Oil Gas Rig.... They saw his face.

3. The priest.

4. Plus, god knows how often he exposes himself growing up that's not in the movie...

5. If it's so easy for Lois to track him down, it'll be just as easy for the 1000s of journalists who will be trying to locate superman after the fight with Zod...

6. Like you said, the clues he gave the Military, will take them about a day to figure out who he is..

----

So, after all that have been said, he let his dad die for NO REASON whatsoever... that scene is beyond pathetic... it borders on abuse of movie goer's intellect... even my nephews (kids) thought it was stupid. I have yet to find anyone who's not a die hard fanboy who finds no wrong with the movie that thinks that Tornado scene made any 'deeper meaning' or such nonsense...

they saw this

not this