Mark Millar's Many Thoughts On Superman

[The Guard]

Millar's ending is way too bleak, and could very well be pointless. If the third movie shows how the Earth gets depopulated leaving Superman as its last living being, that's horrible and not Superman. Superman is a character of hope, humanity's savior. Just as importantly, he's not Batman and should be fun for all ages. He can't fail like that.

Exactly.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

LOL. I love how MP keeps bringing up how SR got a 77% on RT like it's such a huge accomplishment. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent score but would you really be bragging if you or your kid got a 77 on a test?

It's not that it is a "huge" accolade per se. However, it's VERY solid evidence that the film isn't as universally reviled as some of the revisionist historians around here like to make everyone believe. If I used this site as a gauge on whether SR is a good film or not, some of the drama majors around her make it sound like Gigli. After all, I can still remember the initial reviews on here coming back as mostly positive until some people even changed their tune and most of SR's supporters left.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

Millar doesn't get Superman. I'm sorry. This idea is more akin to Rob Liefield's early depressing version of Supreme (particularly his proposed "Superman by his lonesome" ending). Finishing off a Superman film should at least be semi-uplifting. Hell, for as much depressing subject matter as SR had, Millar's idea makes SR's ending look like a Tony Robbins informercial by comparison. I mean, where's the logic in Superman just waiting around to die by losing his powers? You'd figure that by that time (million years in the future or so), humans would've migrated elsewhere and Superman would've been smart enough to I don't know...FLY TO ANOTHER YELLOW STAR?!? Talk about a piss-poor contingency plan. Uggh.

 

[Dark Jaguar]

LOL. I love how MP keeps bringing up how SR got a 77% on RT like it's such a huge accomplishment. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent score but would you really be bragging if you or your kid got a 77 on a test?

I would be if your kid got 77% on a test!

MP has a valid point. The movie was not as bad as people want to make it out to be.

Superman is the only superhero that has ALWAYS been connected to movies. Dating all the way back to serials of the 40's.
Donner kept that going with Superman: The Movie in the 70's.
Singer tried to keep those roots alive today with Superman Returns.

Instead of remaking an icon. He made tweaks, updating the character. But he kept the look and feel of Superman essentially the same.

We're not supposed to relate to Superman. He's supposed to relate to us. We might be watching him, but he's the one looking up to us.

We don't need a story about Krypton, or the end of the world. Because the world can't end, because The Man Of Steel is supposed to save us...

But we need a story that pushes the limits of our imaginations. Pushes the limits of CGI, so we can forget about politics, wars, and recessions for a couple of hours.

Darkseid, Doomsday, Brainiac... whoever... Just make it full of action and special effects. Let Superman be a little too busy to worry about paying child support.

And make it enough that I have to send one of my friends to refill my popcorn 'cause i don't want to get out of my seat!

These are the things crucial to the next superman movie... not some 8-hour epic.

 

[KaptainKrypton]

I would be if your kid got 77% on a test!

MP has a valid point. The movie was not as bad as people want to make it out to be.

Superman is the only superhero that has ALWAYS been connected to movies. Dating all the way back to serials of the 40's.
Donner kept that going with Superman: The Movie in the 70's.
Singer tried to keep those roots alive today with Superman Returns.

Instead of remaking an icon. He made tweaks, updating the character. But he kept the look and feel of Superman essentially the same.

We're not supposed to relate to Superman. He's supposed to relate to us. We might be watching him, but he's the one looking up to us.

We don't need a story about Krypton, or the end of the world. Because the world can't end, because The Man Of Steel is supposed to save us...

But we need a story that pushes the limits of our imaginations. Pushes the limits of CGI, so we can forget about politics, wars, and recessions for a couple of hours.

Darkseid, Doomsday, Brainiac... whoever... Just make it full of action and special effects. Let Superman be a little too busy to worry about paying child support.

And make it enough that I have to send one of my friends to refill my popcorn 'cause i don't want to get out of my seat!

These are the things crucial to the next superman movie... not some 8-hour epic.

Word.

 

[MadVillainy]

I would be if your kid got 77% on a test!

MP has a valid point. The movie was not as bad as people want to make it out to be.

Superman is the only superhero that has ALWAYS been connected to movies. Dating all the way back to serials of the 40's.
Donner kept that going with Superman: The Movie in the 70's.
Singer tried to keep those roots alive today with Superman Returns.

Instead of remaking an icon. He made tweaks, updating the character. But he kept the look and feel of Superman essentially the same.

We're not supposed to relate to Superman. He's supposed to relate to us. We might be watching him, but he's the one looking up to us.

We don't need a story about Krypton, or the end of the world. Because the world can't end, because The Man Of Steel is supposed to save us...

But we need a story that pushes the limits of our imaginations. Pushes the limits of CGI, so we can forget about politics, wars, and recessions for a couple of hours.

Darkseid, Doomsday, Brainiac... whoever... Just make it full of action and special effects. Let Superman be a little too busy to worry about paying child support.

And make it enough that I have to send one of my friends to refill my popcorn 'cause i don't want to get out of my seat!

These are the things crucial to the next superman movie... not some 8-hour epic.

your my net hero. my thoughts exactly

 

[Pablo Parker]

Why is everybody assuming Millar´s ending would be sad?

If handled rigth, i think it could be a pretty beautiful and powerful ending, something kinda like he did in Red Son. An old Superman realizes that he has put us in the right track and he knows that we are ready to make our own destiny... The human race doesn´t need him anymore... At last he can rest and meet his final destiny... Reunite, in a way, with his great love Lois Lane, dead centuries ago...

I think that´s better than constantly having to save our asses for all eternity.

I have to say, though, that I´m not the biggest Superman fan... But as a moviegoer, i would rather watch an epic story about the struggle of Superman to protect the human race... Than just another generic superhero movie with "Powerful Superhero" kicking "Evil Supervillian Ass". I don´t care if Superman actually "fights" this time. It would (probably) end up being no different than most superhero films out there.

Anyway... That´s just my opinion, of course.

 

[블라스]

I like Dark Jaguar's ideas, but I also like Millar's ideas.

 

[Dark Jaguar]

Why is everybody assuming Millar´s ending would be sad?

If handled rigth, i think it could be a pretty beautiful and powerful ending, something kinda like he did in Red Son. An old Superman realizes that he has put us in the right track and he knows that we are ready to make our own destiny... The human race doesn´t need him anymore... At last he can rest and meet his final destiny... Reunite, in a way, with his great love Lois Lane, dead centuries ago...

I think that´s better than constantly having to save our asses for all eternity.

I have to say, though, that I´m not the biggest Superman fan... But as a moviegoer, i would rather watch an epic story about the struggle of Superman to protect the human race... Than just another generic superhero movie with "Powerful Superhero" kicking "Evil Supervillian Ass". I don´t care if Superman actually "fights" this time. It would (probably) end up being no different than most superhero films out there.

Anyway... That´s just my opinion, of course.

Sure, I don't disagree... it could be a very beautiful and moving ENDING. But this is the problem: You can't give the Superman sagas an ending. Not until there's an ending in the comics. If you do that then imagine the poor reboot that our grandchildren will be forced to sit through!
Look at what "ending" a story has given us: X-3.
The only justifiable way to kill Superman would be to do it mid-story, al a Doomsday (i'm not calling for them to do it, it's just an example of where that action would be ok)...

And to do movies about Krypton & Earth and how Superman relates to the timelines of both... would ultimately detract from -Superman-. The main subject matter.

And yes, people have been saying these things all thread long... And I would like to thank them for that. Because, as has been stated, Miller's ideas seem good for a comic book... but would ultimately damage the Superman movie franchise permanently.

 

[Pablo Parker]

Sure, I don't disagree... it could be a very beautiful and moving ENDING. But this is the problem: You can't give the Superman sagas an ending. Not until there's an ending in the comics. If you do that then imagine the poor reboot that our grandchildren will be forced to sit through!
Look at what "ending" a story has given us: X-3.
The only justifiable way to kill Superman would be to do it mid-story, al a Doomsday (i'm not calling for them to do it, it's just an example of where that action would be ok)...

And to do movies about Krypton & Earth and how Superman relates to the timelines of both... would ultimately detract from -Superman-. The main subject matter.

And yes, people have been saying these things all thread long... And I would like to thank them for that. Because, as has been stated, Miller's ideas seem good for a comic book... but would ultimately damage the Superman movie franchise permanently.

I understand what you´re saying. You have a valid point. Not only that, but i believe the next Superman film will fit that point your making. After all, as you say, Superman is a "franchise". But that´s exactly what i don´t like about many superhero films. It´s all about doing new installments of these propierties and making more money out of them.

And that´s where we disagree... While you see the ENDING as something bad, i see it as something good t:
It´s just like these new Batman films. If they never make another Batman, i would be happy, because they just did two great films. And my grandchildren could just watch those films. I wouldn´t want them to sit through a reboot o a remake at all.

And X-men wasn´t really an "ending". It was just an unnecesary film that only served as a bridge between the X-men franchise and the X-men spin offs...
See? It´s all about the goddamned money!

Anyway... At the end it´s all about what you like the best. An ending saga, or a bond-like franchise. We just have to wait and see!

 

[Sam]

I would be if your kid got 77% on a test!

MP has a valid point. The movie was not as bad as people want to make it out to be.

Superman is the only superhero that has ALWAYS been connected to movies. Dating all the way back to serials of the 40's.
Donner kept that going with Superman: The Movie in the 70's.
Singer tried to keep those roots alive today with Superman Returns.

Instead of remaking an icon. He made tweaks, updating the character. But he kept the look and feel of Superman essentially the same.

We're not supposed to relate to Superman. He's supposed to relate to us. We might be watching him, but he's the one looking up to us.

We don't need a story about Krypton, or the end of the world. Because the world can't end, because The Man Of Steel is supposed to save us...

But we need a story that pushes the limits of our imaginations. Pushes the limits of CGI, so we can forget about politics, wars, and recessions for a couple of hours.

Darkseid, Doomsday, Brainiac... whoever... Just make it full of action and special effects. Let Superman be a little too busy to worry about paying child support.

And make it enough that I have to send one of my friends to refill my popcorn 'cause i don't want to get out of my seat!

These are the things crucial to the next superman movie... not some 8-hour epic.

Nice post, BUT i really think reboot is what they should do now. Im not here supporting Millar ideas or anyone ideas.

I just think that reboot is the best way to go, and the way u will be able to develop the story as u want, with a clean path.

Thats why Nolan is brilliant.

 

[블라스]

I want a "Red Son" TV mini-series.
IMO, that's one of the best Superman stories ever written.

 

[Dark Jaguar]

I understand what you´re saying. You have a valid point. Not only that, but i believe the next Superman film will fit that point your making. After all, as you say, Superman is a "franchise". But that´s exactly what i don´t like about many superhero films. It´s all about doing new installments of these propierties and making more money out of them.

And that´s where we disagree... While you see the ENDING as something bad, i see it as something good t:
It´s just like these new Batman films. If they never make another Batman, i would be happy, because they just did two great films. And my grandchildren could just watch those films. I wouldn´t want them to sit through a reboot o a remake at all.

And X-men wasn´t really an "ending". It was just an unnecesary film that only served as a bridge between the X-men franchise and the X-men spin offs...
See? It´s all about the goddamned money!

Anyway... At the end it´s all about what you like the best. An ending saga, or a bond-like franchise. We just have to wait and see!

Sure, it's all about the money. That's why comic book companies are making the jump from paper to celluiod. They realize that adults aren't typically interested in comic books. But everyone loves movies...

And when it comes to translating comic books to movies... You take those ... oh... i dunno.. graphic novels... sagas... and they become a franchise... trilogy.. what have you.

But if being in it for the money is the bad, and being in it to make movies, like Nolan, Singer, and Favreau is the good... I'll take the good and the bad, and sort it out on DVD!

 

[Marvin]

lets face it if Millar released a TPB right now about what he's thinking without all this movie hype

it would fly off the shelves and go down as another must read book like most of the others he's done(red sun was wonderful)

the fact that this could be a movie and not just another in community book is such an amazing opportunity...not just one movie by thee movies in 3 years...

i really can't believe ppl are dreading this...especially after Returns(which was the perfect donner sequel done by the perfect story first subtle director)

millar took avengers and made them the top selling ish in the industry and not just cause they were dying for no reason and replaced by flag ship characters(ahem bendis)
he did the same with ultimate xmen and pretty much everything he touches
(civil war was more gimmick based i'll admit)

I really i'm rooting for him to do the same with superman

...cause honestly another singer film will be the final nail in the coffin mark my words.

 

[Anita18]

him standing there waiting to be blown the hell up is stupid.

It could be very powerful, actually, but definitely not anywhere close to optimistic! It would be a gazillion times more overwrought and operatic than what TDK offered.

So he basically wants to make The Fountain, only with Superman. Gotcha.

That film didn't make a lick of sense logically, but I loved the concept and emotional beats anyway. And space was so purty...

The Sun will last millions of years. Have humans not been able to invent spaceships or any other way to survive in millions of years? At that time we should be as technologically advanced as kryptonians. And Superman didn't use kryptonian technology to help? In millions of years Superman hasn't met other aliens in other planets that could help human kind? Green Lantern Corps? New Gods? Anybody? Are we humans so ******ed that we'll die in this planet because we couldn't find a way to leave it in millions of years, even knowing that there is life in other planets, knowing a super-powerful alien with advanced technology who could help us and surely knows other planets with life, or just inventing something by ourselves? Because colonizing other planets is being studied today in "real life", and in 100 years we passed from riding horses to travel to use rockets to go to the Moon, technology has hugely advanced in around 1 century, so I think that after millions of years we should get something to survive to a dying Sun...(In millions of years we could have an artificial Sun or something similar, we could even not need a Sun at all, who knows).

P.S.-Sorry if my english is not good enough.

You never know, Luthor might just eff something up just so......and then the sun will start to expand.

If it was advanced physics I would.

I'd be celebrating if I got 77% on an organic chemistry test....

 

[Wams]

Millar will NEVER have his Superman movie made.....Period.
Trust me on that.

 

[roach]

lets face it if Millar released a TPB right now about what he's thinking without all this movie hype

it would fly off the shelves and go down as another must read book like most of the others he's done(red sun was wonderful)

the fact that this could be a movie and not just another in community book is such an amazing opportunity...not just one movie by thee movies in 3 years...

i really can't believe ppl are dreading this...especially after Returns(which was the perfect donner sequel done by the perfect story first subtle director)

millar took avengers and made them the top selling ish in the industry and not just cause they were dying for no reason and replaced by flag ship characters(ahem bendis)
he did the same with ultimate xmen and pretty much everything he touches
(civil war was more gimmick based i'll admit)

I really i'm rooting for him to do the same with superman

...cause honestly another singer film will be the final nail in the coffin mark my words.

being able to write a great comic isnt the same as being able to write a good movie. Remember Frank Miller wrote Robocop 2 in his hey day.

 

[nintendo nerd]

Millar will NEVER have his Superman movie made.....Period.
Trust me on that.

I don't want Millar at all, buy I just couldn't resist:

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Wams is not the average board poster; he's someone who worked and probably will wotk again for DC and Warner on the comic-book movies.
I wonder if he's doing designs for some Superman movie right now and if he happened to see the designs or the photos of the Justice League costumes by Weta.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

It's not that it is a "huge" accolade per se. However, it's VERY solid evidence that the film isn't as universally reviled as some of the revisionist historians around here like to make everyone believe. If I used this site as a gauge on whether SR is a good film or not, some of the drama majors around her make it sound like Gigli. After all, I can still remember the initial reviews on here coming back as mostly positive until some people even changed their tune and most of SR's supporters left.

True. But MP can bring up 77% on RT until she is blue in the face. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter it got a B on Yahoo movies. Part of why MP likes to bring those scores up is because she believes SR is worthy of a sequel. But what matters is what the top dogs at WB feel in terms of whether or not SR is worth following up with a sequel. If 77% on RT and a B on Yahoo movies are so important in proving SR's worth there would be no guessing or debating of whether or not we would be getting SR2. Obviously it goes beyond that at WB, and thankfully so, which is why "reboot" and "reintroduction" are now being thrown around.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

After all the BS Millar has fabricated over the years, I honestly don't know why some are still taking him at his word and/or refusing to call him out...

 

[I Am The Knight]

He should make his story into a graphic novel, since he's not likely to realize his vison onscreen.

 

[Showtime]

Somebody mentioned that to me this morning over the phone, that is a great idea.

 

[The Sage]

I'd be compelled to buy it if Millar does.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Um hum *nods*