Superman Returns Lex Luthor's True Characterization Expanded On (Hes not doing a homage to Hackman)

[Jakomus]

Kevin Spacey's Lex isn't campy because none of the silly moments are sincere. The character of Lex was acting silly to get a reaction out of the other characters. Basically, he was mocking them. Now if Lex was acting silly because that's the way he is, then that would be campy.

Hackman's Lex is the same.

 

[Octoberist]

I've read the novel and it's hard to tell how Spacey will be like. Honestly, half of the stuff in the book was proabably made up by Wolfman (the author and comic king). I don't know.

I'll list the things that I liked in the novel and the novel ONLY where he wasn't 'campy':

1. When he's talking about Gods (a big theme with Lex) to Kitty and other numerous times.

2. His first encounter with Supes.

 

[bosef982]

I think the confluence of this scarier, darker Lex with the more psychotic Lex creates a dynamic, nuanced character capable for really move in the audience and scaring Superman.

That's what is needed.

This movie will be the definitive Superman movie. I have no doubt.

 

[Kane]

It will be the definative Superman anything... next to the comics.

 

[Captain Kirk]

It will be the definative Superman anything... next to the comics.

I think SR will put the recent comics to shame. That is to say, it will reinvigorate the Superman character! I have no doubt about it!

 

[NotFadeAway]

You know, while the film might be good, I highly doubt it will put Man of Steel or Birthright to SHAME.

 

[Fatboy Roberts]

The entire interview is also up over at www.culturepulp.com. The guy who did the interview is a pretty good friend of mine, and appears weekly on our show. Culture Pulp is his site, go check it out and give his page some hits since he scored a real nice interview.

Plus, he's got a really cool comic about x3 up on his site.

 

[Kane]

It was a great interview. Cleared up alot of details.

 

[dpm07]

Why do so many people misunderstand Hackman's Luthor. There was nothing campy about him. It was the people around him.

Having read the novelization of SR, that really hasn't changed much with the exception of Stanford. Everyone around Luthor is pretty campy. Luthor's got a guy who carries a camera to preserve every moment of Luthor for prosperity, including bathroom breaks.

Kitty and her dog are a pretty useless addition to the film and Luthor's two goons evoke images of tweedle dee and tweedle dum. Stanford's about the only who in the novel who plays it straight and doesn't have buffoonery attached to him. Lex has some good lines, but he does have enough cheesy moments having read the novel that really remind me of the S:TM Luthor which I was really disappointed with.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I don't like hearing that he has a dimwitted goon squad....A man as intelligent as Lex Luthor doesn't need a bunch of dimwits running around.

 

[Kurosawa]

Lex has always had a sense of humor about him, however. If he wasn't evil, he'd probably be a fun guy.

 

[Jakomus]

I don't like hearing that he has a dimwitted goon squad....A man as intelligent as Lex Luthor doesn't need a bunch of dimwits running around.

Lex Luthor has a superiority complex. He loves having people less intelligent than him around him.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Lex Luthor has a superiority complex. He loves having people less intelligent than him around him.

But going by that token, Lex is smarter than 95% of the people out there, why would he bring in complete morons when he can bring in a harvard grad and still be superior.

 

[Kane]

Umm Stanford is a genious in the novel; he's Lex's scientist and quite smart.

The other men are just muscle (they dont need to be smart; just be able to fight).


And Kitty is just his woman; she doesnt need to be smart either, just satisfy him.

 

[Morgoth]

I didn't think spacey was doing an homage to Gene in the first place. Gene wasn't Lex, Spacey seems to get it, he'll be fine I think.

 

[Jakomus]

I didn't think spacey was doing an homage to Gene in the first place. Gene wasn't Lex, Spacey seems to get it, he'll be fine I think.

Just because Gene didn'[t play your cold, boring Lex does't mean he wasn't Lex

 

[Cinemaman]

Umm Stanford is a genious in the novel; he's Lex's scientist and quite smart.

The other men are just muscle (they dont need to be smart; just be able to fight).


And Kitty is just his woman; she doesnt need to be smart either, just satisfy him.

Agreed

 

[charl_huntress]

Good article. What I read in the novelization made me LOVE Lex. He is ruthless in his hate for Superman, and I thought that made him much more kick ass and less campy. I can see some of the folks thinking Hackman when the see things like him dancing around saying Krrrryyyypppptonnniiitteee....but from the way I see it totally works with him. From the novel, he seems crazy, ruthless, and sort of comically funny because he thinks he's sane and functioning normally.

I loved his characterization, and I think a lot of the naysayers are going to backtrack on this one point more heavily than any other. They'll probably still hate Routh and Bosworth, but I think everyone is going to end up loving Spacey's Lex.

 

[Cinemaman]

Good article. What I read in the novelization made me LOVE Lex. He is ruthless in his hate for Superman, and I thought that made him much more kick ass and less campy. I can see some of the folks thinking Hackman when the see things like him dancing around saying Krrrryyyypppptonnniiitteee....but from the way I see it totally works with him. From the novel, he seems crazy, ruthless, and sort of comically funny because he thinks he's sane and functioning normally.

I loved his characterization, and I think a lot of the naysayers are going to backtrack on this one point more heavily than any other. They'll probably still hate Routh and Bosworth, but I think everyone is going to end up loving Spacey's Lex.

 

[lujho]

If Hackman is campy, then so is Spacey.

I certainly can't disagree with that.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

If Spacey isn't playing a campy Hackman-isk Lex, why is he campy in all the clips I've seen?

 

[Cinemaman]

If Spacey isn't playing a campy Hackman-isk Lex, why is he campy in all the clips I've seen?

His "gods are selfish..." and "cute kid" sounds very serious and psythiotic.

Even his funny "wait for it" sounds with another humour. "Kryptonite" has black humour's part.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

His "gods are selfish..." and "cute kid" sounds very serious and psythiotic.

Even his funny "wait for it" sounds with another humour. "Kryptonite" has black humour's part.

Every line you just wrote pretty much proves my point.

 

[Cinemaman]

Every line you just wrote pretty much proves my point.

Prove this

 

[NotFadeAway]

You know this whole insane, pyschotic, and unstable, yet comical and witty, even in the face of our hero and heroine, reminds me of one character from comic book lore...........................................

THE JOKER!!! You guys are describing the Joker.