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Man of Steel vs Superman: The Movie

Superman 1265

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Seeing how there's a MOS vs. SR thread, I thought it'd make sense for this to exist.

My opinion on the subject... I enjoy both films greatly. I don't really prefer one over the other.

Not much of a OP, but I've never been that great at that sort of thing tbh.
 
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Reeve movies are from different times. i see alot of new SHH members and i see that they a lot of times writte that they are under 20 years old. they dont understand the 70's and 80's.
 
Both are great films IMO, but very different approaches. And that's a good thing, from the perspective of MOS; Singer tried to emulate Donner's approach with SR and it just didn't strike the right chord with the audience, so Snyder and his team took a very different angle in terms of tone, aesthetics, and so on.

I can't really say one film is 'better' than the other. We've had the benefit of 30+ years and repeated viewings of the 1978 movie, but MOS has only been out for a month.

What I will say is that each film feels like a perfect film for it's time. The 1978 Superman was bright, bold, campy at times, and had plenty of farcical humour. It worked perfectly in 1978. At the other end of the line, MOS works perfectly in 2013; darker (without being 'dark') and more serious, it takes the subject matter (an alien living amongst us) more seriously, which is really a necessity with the more savvy modern audience.
 
I think The Man of Steel had serious flaws that makes it just an ok film of modern times, so i give the points to Superman: The movie, even if where entertainment goes i'd most likelly rewatch The Man of Steel more
 
I think The Man of Steel had serious flaws that makes it just an ok film of modern times, so i give the points to Superman: The movie, even if where entertainment goes i'd most likelly rewatch The Man of Steel more

Yeah I feel the same.

Judging it as a film, I think STM is much better quality.

But I've just never been a fan of that portrayal of the character, and prefer the one we got in MOS even if I don't think it was a well made film.
 
I think The Man of Steel had serious flaws that makes it just an ok film of modern times, so i give the points to Superman: The movie, even if where entertainment goes i'd most likelly rewatch The Man of Steel more

Superman:TM is a bigger film event film than MOS. MOS MIGHT be uneven, but I'd argue that it's even LESS uneven than Superman:TM, which shifts from seriousness to romanticism and camp in a jarring fashion.

That being said, Chris Reeve nailed the "feel" of Superman. John Williams is one of the best film composers, and I actually feel like this is his best theme (or near it. I fluctuate between Superman and The Raider's march as my favorite.)

Donner's subtle direction shows the scope of the Superman legend in ways that probably haven't been topped, going from the countryside, to the desert, and space. SURE MOS might have more locations, but MOS doesn't really let itself breathe in its second half, so it doesn't feel as sweepingly epic.

I think MOS will probably be vindicated in history by a younger generation, but I don't think it will have the critical acclaim or fanbase of Superman:TM.

Having explained all this, I like MOS more on first viewing, though I'll have to rewatch both.
 
I know that my opinion is a highly unpopular one, but keep in mind that I did not grew up with Reeve's Superman.

I really never liked the old Superman movies. I always found them cheesy and kinda boring. The same goes with the almost universally loved John Williams theme, which I always found annoying and pompous.
I don't mean to diss anyones taste and I understand that many of you love those movies, but they never were for me (as a big Batman fan, I have to admit that I also disliked the Bat movies until Nolan came around. Even with 8 years I frowned upon the goth-homicidal Batman of the Burton movies)

Sure, I watched Superman the movie when I was small, but it did not connect with me at all and was partly responsible that I disliked Superman as a character up until my late teens. I discovered that Superman was a much more exciting character than I had given him credit for through the comics themselfes and found the movies to be a very poor representation of him. Sure, that has more to do with technical restrains at the time than anything, but still. What I have to give StM is Chris Reeve. He did a wonderful job as that version of Superman and was perfect for that time.

MoS however, is really everthing I ever wanted to see in a Superman movie. It does the same thing for me with Superman, that the Dark Knight Trilogy did with Batman.

As a big time comicbook reader, I always loved the comics that took the story hyper serious and therefore those serious and "darker" movies (which I don't see as that dark at all) are absolutely made for me! I like that they aren't played like comedies and that they don't wink at you. I love that they take themselfes so serious, because I can only take a movie as serious as it takes itself. For me thatraises the stakes and the tension of it all a lot, which is why I never really connect with the Marvel movies on a deep level like with MoS or the TDK trilogy.

So, yeah, I love MoS, Henry IS Superman for me and I cannot wait to see him again in the role.

And for all MoS haters and Donner movie lovers... MoS doesn't take your movie away from you. You can still enjoy it. It just wasn't for me, just like MoS apparently wasn't for you. So please, why don't we let everyone enjoy what they love and be happy?
 
Too different films two different era. I love both but move in with MOS... MOS is the new movie and take of Superman for me...
 
STM is still my definitive superman movie. MoS didn't quite work for me but it has shown me enough to feel that the sequel can potentially surpass STM.
 
I have watched both more than a couple of times and I wish I can get over Man of Steel. Really sad that it's gonna be taken out from IMAX here in our country later today. Need my weekly fix!
 
Never bought that whole "Different Time" rational.
Look at a list of the greatest movies to come out of the 70's, no one really says anything about "a different time" for many of those(particularly the Scorsese pictures).

Just seems like an odd situation. Would Nolan's Batman films be failures of the time had they been released in the 70's?

Is a deus ex ending acceptable during any era of story telling?
outside of homer:)
 
I love both films. They are different and that's a good thing. STM was poetic and magical. And the sincerity of Reeve was breath taking. But the film got old after 25 years. And that's an amazing run. Watching the cartoons, and reading a few comics, I ask myself when is this take on Superman be on the big screen.

MOS, explores a side to Superman that I really don't see. They expand more on Clark's journey North. During that journey they go through flashbacks.

MOS is not as triumphant as STM (don't know if you call reversing time triumphant) but it ends on a more interesting note.

Both films were flawed but both delivered.
 
The irony is that all the flaws that are present in Man of Steel are also Present in Superman the Movie only to a much greater extent. The only difference is that Superman the movie can always claim that it was a product of it's time.
 
Man of Steel is the better film for me, it's just a version of Superman I've always wanted to see who was in that Byrne/ STAS mould. I love Superman the Movie but I find the ending seems weaker everytime I see it. Turning back the time or the earth is such a cop out whereas by the end of Man of Steel I'm so satisfied. The ending filled me with such hope for the future. STM is now my second favourite superhero film of all time because for me MOS did it better.
 
The irony is that all the flaws that are present in Man of Steel are also Present in Superman the Movie only to a much greater extent. The only difference is that Superman the movie can always claim that it was a product of it's time.
Because it was, you can take Citizen Kane and say it was very flawed, that doesn't change its impact and value.
 
I thought both films were great and I am a big fan of both of them. I don't really think they can be compared due to being from two entirely different eras and thus being completely different. Both do a great job at what they're trying to be. They both have their respective flaws but overall, they're both great Superman films.

However, although I really enjoyed both films, MOS is the Superman film that I prefer. It is not only the type of Superman film that I want to see but it also has the Superman characterization that I always wanted to see. The Superman in the film is very reminiscent of John Byrne's Superman. Clark and the Kryptonians are uber powerful gods, but are still mortal. They can take an explosion to the face at close range, but it will stagger them a bit. They can lift impossibly heavy objects, but not to a ridiculous degree (i.e. a continent or planet). Most importantly, the film has a balance between Superman the God and Clark Kent the Human. It establishes Superman as a larger-than-life God and a Christ figure sent to bring hope to humanity while still remembering that at the end of the day, Superman is human before he is a Kryptonian at heart and is a moral man from Kansas who was formed by the morality bestowed upon him by the Kents.
 
I just watched S:TM again about a week ago and I still think its a great movie and may be close to perfect....if it weren't for that stupid ending. That ending just gets me soo mad, it makes absolutely no sense even by comic book standards. Not to mention, Superman turning back time completely invalidates the previous 15 min of the movie....what was the point if he could just manipulate time? Even worse was how Donner used the same ending in his sequel. If the rest of the film werent so dang charming it would've practically ruined the movie for me.
 
Because it was, you can take Citizen Kane and say it was very flawed, that doesn't change its impact and value.

Yep. I put forward that STM will turn out to be the more memorable movie of the two. As great a spectacle as MoS is, I don't think it'll be as fondly remembered after 35 years the way STM has been.

The difference to me is that MoS has cool scenes; STM has iconic ones.
 
I just watched S:TM again about a week ago and I still think its a great movie and may be close to perfect....if it weren't for that stupid ending. That ending just gets me soo mad, it makes absolutely no sense even by comic book standards. Not to mention, Superman turning back time completely invalidates the previous 15 min of the movie....what was the point if he could just manipulate time? Even worse was how Donner used the same ending in his sequel. If the rest of the film werent so dang charming it would've practically ruined the movie for me.

That's the worst thing about it really but it was in line with the comics at the time Superman could travel through time at the drop of a hat.

Also Donner didn't use it in the sequel that was Michael Thau's decision, he edited it together. Personally for me I think they should have left it open ended.
 
That's the worst thing about it really but it was in line with the comics at the time Superman could travel through time at the drop of a hat.

Also Donner didn't use it in the sequel that was Michael Thau's decision, he edited it together. Personally for me I think they should have left it open ended.

Yeah, I can safely say everyone will agree on this!
 
It truly depends on your viewpoint and feeling of who and what Superman is.

There's something more wholesome and nostalgic about the Superman from the 40's through the 80's...the "truth, justice, and the American way" Superman, the "boy scout". The icon. That Superman was never only a superhero. But in MOS it seems like now he is. This iteration of Superman doesn't feel iconic. He's just a superhero no different than Iron Man, Spider-man, Batman, etc...

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe this day and age we don't need icons and heroes, maybe that sappy "hero of truth and justice" stuff is a thing of the past. He still saves people, no different than other heroes, is a good guy who wants the right things...

But both movies are fine, but people will lean towards the sort of Superman they want to see....the iconic "big, blue boy scout", or a two-fisted, super-strong action hero.
 
Yep. I put forward that STM will turn out to be the more memorable movie of the two. As great a spectacle as MoS is, I don't think it'll be as fondly remembered after 35 years the way STM has been.

The difference to me is that MoS has cool scenes; STM has iconic ones.

I don't think STM has iconic scenes. In fact they were blah. It was Reeve's charm that carried the film.
 
It truly depends on your viewpoint and feeling of who and what Superman is.

There's something more wholesome and nostalgic about the Superman from the 40's through the 80's...the "truth, justice, and the American way" Superman, the "boy scout". The icon. That Superman was never only a superhero. But in MOS it seems like now he is. This iteration of Superman doesn't feel iconic. He's just a superhero no different than Iron Man, Spider-man, Batman, etc...

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe this day and age we don't need icons and heroes, maybe that sappy "hero of truth and justice" stuff is a thing of the past. He still saves people, no different than other heroes, is a good guy who wants the right things...

But both movies are fine, but people will lean towards the sort of Superman they want to see....the iconic "big, blue boy scout", or a two-fisted, super-strong action hero.

"iconic "big, blue boy scout", or a two-fisted, super-strong action hero."

Can't we have BOTH? :huh:
 
I don't think STM has iconic scenes. In fact they were blah. It was Reeve's charm that carried the film.

We obviously have to agree to disagree then. Mario Puzo's screenplay was pure genius here. Coupled with John Williams' timeless score and Christopher Reeve's winning performance.

In STM you get magical and mythical scenes like this

[YT]7ujuOikKgAE[/YT]

I don't find any comparable scenes, this sense of wonder and glory, in MoS.
 

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