Superman Returns Man of Steel: The Official Brandon Routh Thread

[mercureyx]

It really is too bad he won't get to be Superman again ...

 

[stargazer]

It really is too bad he won't get to be Superman again ...

I know, especially now that he is bigger and looks more mature and has also grown as an actor. Such a shame. I'm sure he'd be spectacular if given another chance and meatier material to work with.

 

[KalMart]

If I were a businessman, I'd make plenty of it. Not just the cost, but the time and manpower that had to be mobilized, only for it to end up being completely for naught in the end. I've not a single doubt that the other stuff nixed from the final cut cost them time and money as well. Unnecessary dialogue sequences and stuff like that being trimmed are commonplace in any movie. Not saying that the RTK sequence was this all-important thing, but how many employers do you know of that would be thrilled to know you pissed ten million down the commode because you didn't have the foresight during the scripting phase to realize a scene of that magnitude was just plain unnecessary? That's all I'm saying, I guess.

Again, in the grand scheme of things, it's really no different than any other movie that gets scenes cut whose costs in time and manpower can easily amount to 5% of the overall budget like the RTK stuff did. heck, if you look at the scenes that were cut out of Terminator 2 and Aliens, they were pretty substantial...and you didn't hear these kinds of gripes about those.

With SR, it just adds to the sting of the movie itself not turning out very good for a lot of folks.

And in terms of 'foresight', things can still change during editing that you really can't foresee until you start putting things together up on screen. It happens all the time, and really, we should credit Singer for at least having the artistic integrity to cut such an expensive scene for the sake of helping the overall movie viewing experience.

This is purely a fan issue (and quite frankly, a rather selfish one), not a movie/business one.

I'm willing to bet they chewed Singer a new one and yanked the choke chain on his leash so he threw a fit and took his ball and went home.

Maybe if they wree there during the whole editing session and told him to keep the scene no matter what. But chances are they weren't. So if it made it to screen, then it means that if they saw the final cut and 'approved' it already, it happened well before it even got to the box office....so they can blame themselves as much as anyone else for not 'stepping in' sooner.

And really....would an extra 15-minutes or so of slow, depressing but albeit visually striking time in the beginning of the film have made the difference between it being a disappointment, and a record-setting zeitgeist? Probably not. There were more problems with what DID make it to screen than what didn't. Pointing to the RTK sequence is just rubbing salt in the wound...when the wound itself is the real issue.

I mean, that money could've at least helped to bolster the underwhelming finale sequence with Superman in the city. I liked the movie, but I'll be the first to admit that the plane sequence was the true finale...for me, at least. Anyways, sorry to ramble. I miss Routh...blah, blah, blah...

Or they could have just written a more exciting story to begin with...instead of the one we got which, by the way, was also approved by the studio before it even got to shooting. But alas.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

TO MOSTPOWERFUL:^He was born to play the role, I think. He only looks more and more like it now that he's aged a bit more. It's a bummer-and-a-half that they won't give him the nod. I think it's a shame even though he's pretty much waiting on deck to sport the cape and is more about being Superman than the others who've been mentioned (mainly Hamm who couldn't come off any less indifferent if he tried). Also, I still think he did the role justice, even though he was given much less to work with script-wise than his predecessor.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

Again, in the grand scheme of things, it's really no different than any other movie that gets scenes cut whose costs in time and manpower can easily amount to 5% of the overall budget like the RTK stuff did. heck, if you look at the scenes that were cut out of Terminator 2 and Aliens, they were pretty substantial...and you didn't hear these kinds of gripes about those.

With SR, it just adds to the sting of the movie itself not turning out very good for a lot of folks.

And in terns of 'foresight', things can still change during editing that you really can't foresee until you start putting things together up on screen. It happens all eth time, and really, you shodul credit Singer for at least having the artistic integrity to cut such an expensive scene for the sake of helping the overall movie viewing experience.

This is a purely fan issue, not a movie/business one.


Maybe if they wree there during the whole editing session and told him to keep the scene no matter what. But chances are they weren't. So if it made it to screen, then it means that if they saw the final cut an 'approved' it already, it happened well before it even got to the box office....so they can blame themselves as much as anyone else for not 'stepping in' sooner.


Or they could have just written a more exciting story to begin with...instead of the one we got which, by the way, was also approved by the studio before it even got to shooting. But alas.

I hear you about the editing. The one thing I always figured, though, was that Warner saw Singer's track record with the X-films, and particularly working under Tom Rothman. My guess is that they figured Bryan would make a great movie for peanuts that would be a hit (basically an exec's wet dream). No doubt that the studio got final cut. That's generally the way of things. The cornfield flashback sequence was another time-waster that instantly comes to mind. It's such a bummer, but I just hope the new film can succeed where SR didn't. Mainly because, if Snyder drops the ball, it won't get picked up for a long time, methinks. I can't wait another 19 years between Superman movies. I'll lose what's left of my mind!

 

[KalMart]

I hear you about the editing. The one thing I always figured, though, was that Warner saw Singer's track record with the X-films, and particularly working under Tom Rothman. My guess is that they figured Bryan would make a great movie for peanuts that would be a hit (basically an exec's wet dream). No doubt that the studio got final cut. That's generally the way of things.

Singer said that he got final cut ,and that the studio put no pressure on his editing decisions. You can believe him or not. I do believe him, and I generally agree with his decision not to take up the extra time in the beginning with the RTK stuff, based on what did make it to screen. If it was actually an action scene, then it'd be another ball of wax.

The cornfield flashback sequence was another time-waster that instantly comes to mind. It's such a bummer, but I just hope the new film can succeed where SR didn't. Mainly because, if Snyder drops the ball, it won't get picked up for a long time, methinks. I can't wait another 19 years between Superman movies. I'll lose what's left of my mind!

Oh, I though Singer was a good choice in theory based on his XMen movies as well. I figured he'd do with Superman what he did with Xmen...put a fresh and unique spin on it, etc. But it's like he went backwards and undid what made him so good before, ultimately coming up with something rehashed and unoriginal...not to mention pretty boring. It was a bit of a shock, really.

As for WB, they probably figured that Singer's resume and just the brand name of Superman would be enough...especially after so many years of prior aborted developments.

 

[BH/HHH]

Its a bad shame that Routh probably won't be back. He looks so much like Superman now.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

Its a bad shame that Routh probably won't be back. He looks so much like Superman now.

I know. Moreso than any of the others who've been rumored for the role...by a mile.

 

[Wilde]

No question in my mind, Routh SHOULD continue to be Superman:

He really deserves it.

 

[sf2]

There isn't anything wrong with loving Routh in the role but it's just silly to believe that re-casting the role will confuse audiences more than keeping him on and making a completely different other Superman movie.

Unfortunately for him they are going a different direction and they have obviously realized that they can't fully go that direction with him onboard. It would be too confusing and the moviegoing public is confused enough as it is so it's dumb to confuse them anymore than you have to.

It's a wrong place at the wrong time situation for Routh. He played in a movie that made some money but was recieved in a meh fashion by atleast half of the audience and then the director started having problems with the studio after they signed him for a sequel. It's just one of those situation where things don't work out.

what to confuse about? it's been 6 years. the general public mostly couldn't recall what SR about. but they might still know that routh is the new superman after reeve. furthermore, most media use routh images for any superman news.

so i still stand with my point; give routh the audition chance.

 

[Gianakin_]

He was being cheeky Giankin, he and I have had some pretty deep Bond conversations.

Whoops! Sorry about that, then.

 

[daywalker2007]

on the one hand people say SR was a forgettable film which made no impression on people.

by that view, then that means most people will not remember Routh being in SR.

Therefore that nullifies the argument that because Routh was in SR, that he shouldn't be Superman in the new film.

When audiences go to see the new Superman movie, Routh with his new look and style should br perfectly accepted by audiences.

It will have been more than 6 years since SR.

Lets go WB, give Routh the cape and lets get it on now please.

Don't mess us about.

 

[BH/HHH]

No question in my mind, Routh SHOULD continue to be Superman:

He really deserves it.

On another note thats what the suit should have looked like aswell if anything just to keep better continuity with the Donner films

on the one hand people say SR was a forgettable film which made no impression on people.

by that view, then that means most people will not remember Routh being in SR.

Therefore that nullifies the argument that because Routh was in SR, that he shouldn't be Superman in the new film.

When audiences go to see the new Superman movie, Routh with his new look and style should br perfectly accepted by audiences.

It will have been more than 6 years since SR.

Lets go WB, give Routh the cape and lets get it on now please.

Don't mess us about.

I agree with that, and its true that I dont think that many people will notice that its the same guy from Superman Returns. Although equally you will also get people not knowing that it isn't a sequel, it happens unfortunately.

 

[Timstuff]

on the one hand people say SR was a forgettable film which made no impression on people.

by that view, then that means most people will not remember Routh being in SR.

Therefore that nullifies the argument that because Routh was in SR, that he shouldn't be Superman in the new film.

When audiences go to see the new Superman movie, Routh with his new look and style should br perfectly accepted by audiences.

It will have been more than 6 years since SR.

Lets go WB, give Routh the cape and lets get it on now please.

Don't mess us about.

This argument is silly. If they make ANOTHER movie with Routh, people will believe it's Superman 6, because Routh will be there to remind us all of the last Superman film. If they make a movie with no connections with a previous Superman film at all thoguh, then Superman Returns will become a footnote in the Superman franchise, the same way George Lazenby was for James Bond. Maybe people would remember Lazenby played Bond if he'd been in more than one film, but he wasn't, and thus was pretty much forgotten by the general public.

The same will happen with Routh-- if he comes back as Superman, people will see the movie as being tied to SR and it will create brand identity confusion, just like if it was Tom Welling. If they go in a new direction with the casting though (which they should and will), then people will forget about Routh because he's only been in one forgettable Superman movie. What about this is so difficult to understand?

 

[stargazer]

I think it's funny that it's the haters who say SR is a forgettable film.. like if there were so many Superman films to choose from. lol

Like I said, a lot of people loved the film, the film got mostly good reviews when it came out and made some $$. Do you want to talk forgettable? Daredevil, FF4 films, Electra, Batman and Robin, etc; those are forgettable films. SR was a sequel to the Reeve movies, which are considered the most popular version on Superman in the world.

 

[Gianakin_]

I don't think people will ever forget B&R.

 

[Timstuff]

Batman & Robin is like a big scar on the Batman franchise. It's not like you can easily forget such a horrible film. I'm sure George Clooney would love for us all to forget about it, though...

 

[LadyVader]

I wish people would stop making comments like: "Oh, poor Brandon Routh... he's in that one forgettable Superman movie"

Poor my ass. For an entire year he had the most awesome job in the world. He got paid, he got the recognition, and he got a lot of people liking him. He's had more good fortune than anybody on this board and I don't feel sorry for him one bit. Let's keep things in perspective.

He got to be Superman, he had his shot. Was it a perfect movie? No, But I liked it and Routh is proud of the work he did on it. Hollywood doesn't owe him a second chance at the Superman suit or anything.

 

[Eze]

I wish people would stop making comments like: "Oh, poor Brandon Routh... he's in that one forgettable Superman movie"

Poor my ass. For an entire year he had the most awesome job in the world. He got paid, he got the recognition, and he got a lot of people liking him. He's had more good fortune than anybody on this board and I don't feel sorry for him one bit. Let's keep things in perspective.

He got to be Superman, he had his shot. Was it a perfect movie? No, But I liked it and Routh is proud of the work he did on it. Hollywood doesn't owe him a second chance at the Superman suit or anything.

Couldn't agree more, well except liking SR...but ya he had his shot, time to move on.

 

[Timstuff]

The other weird thing I find, is that whenever people want to hype up Routh's qualifications for playing Superman with the roles he's done, they never point to his performance as the character in Superman Returns. Why is that? Is it that in order to accept him returning as Superman, we have to be sold on the notion that he'd play Superman differently now than when he was in SR? If you don't even a repeat of Routh's Superman from SR, then why want him back so badly in the first place?

 

[Lighthouse]

I don't think Superman Returns was a forgettable film, but I think the transition to the new film will go over a lot smoother then people think. Anyone who is confused will get over it in about 30 seconds, and even if the general public liked Routh as Superman, it doesn't mean they'll be angry or won't accept a new one.

 

[al35077]

Didn't the director say no Routh anyway?

 

[nintendo nerd]

The other weird thing I find, is that whenever people want to hype up Routh's qualifications for playing Superman with the roles he's done, they never point to his performance as the character in Superman Returns. Why is that? Is it that in order to accept him returning as Superman, we have to be sold on the notion that he'd play Superman differently now than when he was in SR? If you don't even a repeat of Routh's Superman from SR, then why want him back so badly in the first place?

Go troll somewhere else. Cavill Fanboy.

 

[Red Cherry Lips]

I wish people would stop making comments like: "Oh, poor Brandon Routh... he's in that one forgettable Superman movie"

Poor my ass. For an entire year he had the most awesome job in the world. He got paid, he got the recognition, and he got a lot of people liking him. He's had more good fortune than anybody on this board and I don't feel sorry for him one bit. Let's keep things in perspective.

He got to be Superman, he had his shot. Was it a perfect movie? No, But I liked it and Routh is proud of the work he did on it. Hollywood doesn't owe him a second chance at the Superman suit or anything.

This.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

The other weird thing I find, is that whenever people want to hype up Routh's qualifications for playing Superman with the roles he's done, they never point to his performance as the character in Superman Returns. Why is that? Is it that in order to accept him returning as Superman, we have to be sold on the notion that he'd play Superman differently now than when he was in SR? If you don't even a repeat of Routh's Superman from SR, then why want him back so badly in the first place?

Perhaps because the writing in said movie didn't give him more than a blip's worth of actual dialogue to properly gauge his performance on? This is one of the main complaints I've heard from the SR haters since day one. So which is it? Singer, Harris and Dougherty's fault for writing a bad role or Routh for playing it as asked? It's like saying George Clooney is a worthless actor because he starred in the worst Batman ever made and that he couldn't have made a better impression in a better rendition of a Bat-film. I personally found Routh to be one of the film's bright spots and also feel he did a lot with a little.

Most of the reason half of us who are pro-Routh speak our piece in this thread is because we don't feel any of the rumored contenders for the role are anything to write home about, by comparison. If the new Superman isn't Routh (probably), and is great, I'll be the first to sing his praises. If it ends up that we feel he's subpar, you can bet you'll probably read all about it on here in another thread kind of like this one.