Superman: The Movie Off topic: Donner's Superman

[Fudgie]

Was Donner's Superman the movie that started the superhero genre and make audiences take superheros and comic books seriously?

A few people try and claim Batman 1989 did that even though they forget Superman was the first comic book flick to be highly praised and well received by the audiences.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Superman: The Movie is probably what inspired Warner Bros. to try and make a blockbuster Batman movie with an all-star cast. Tom Mankiewicz even wrote a script for it. History repeating itself really, since Batman's creation was an attempt to recreate Superman's success too.

 

[Fudgie]

That's what I figured.

 

[CaptainSpunk]

It went Superman, Batman, Spiderman, NewBatman and then NewSpiderman, New Superman....
Hopefully about those last two. But thats pretty much the order that they were done and the success of the previous Superhero Franchise brought on the next.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I think X-men should go before Spiderman personally

 

[El Payaso]

Was Donner's Superman the movie that started the superhero genre and make audiences take superheros and comic books seriously?

A few people try and claim Batman 1989 did that even though they forget Superman was the first comic book flick to be highly praised and well received by the audiences.

And B89 did that. Doesn't mean it was the first.

STM was the first one, the one that started everything. That's fact. B89 got to the next level and did it while being completely different from STM which was the absolute highest referent at the time.


Now, one 'superhero' movie that came first and was far more serious than STM and B89 was The Incredible Hulk TV pilot (1977) but it will never get the credit it deserves. Plus, it wasn't a "superhero" movie as we understand it.

 

[Godman]

burton's batman revolutionized it all though and proved a gritty and serious tone was what people had been wanting for decades. after that...everything became leather, black, gritty,violent, dark...comic book movies for adults.

then somewhere down the road Disney takes over marvel and we start getting movies for 10 year olds with a more dazzling effect

 

[Lead Cenobite]

What Donner's movie did wasn't necessarily give us a gritty, serious superhero movie, but they took it seriously in the sense that they spared no expense, they gave us a script written by an award winning writer, a star studded cast, big budget. A lot of work was put into it. The Incredible Hulk wasn't a bad show, but I never really felt like it was groundbreaking as a superhero tv show. The Adventures of Superman was serious and comedy free, for the most part aswell.

 

[Ponyboy]

Was Donner's Superman the movie that started the superhero genre and make audiences take superheros and comic books seriously?

A few people try and claim Batman 1989 did that even though they forget Superman was the first comic book flick to be highly praised and well received by the audiences.

I think rather that people started taking comic book movies seriously, not so much comic books themselves.

I think people started taking comics more seriously in the mid to late 80s with Moore and Miller doing their thing.

And who's the prat who voted no?

 

[Indy Flash]

Yes it did.

 

[Man of Steel]

Yes.

 

[El Payaso]

What Donner's movie did wasn't necessarily give us a gritty, serious superhero movie, but they took it seriously in the sense that they spared no expense, they gave us a script written by an award winning writer, a star studded cast, big budget. A lot of work was put into it. The Incredible Hulk wasn't a bad show, but I never really felt like it was groundbreaking as a superhero tv show. The Adventures of Superman was serious and comedy free, for the most part aswell.

Well it was the first one focusing on the drama and not the powers or the colorful spandex. Adults could take it serioiusly as they couldn't do with Batman66 or Wonder Woman. So it was certainly groundbreaking.

Now, I was refering only to the pilot.

 

[Fudgie]

The poll results please me.

 

[El Payaso]

That's all we wanted for you. 16 people doing the trick.

 

[Fudgie]

17 voters and counting.

I'm pleased even more.

 

[El Payaso]

Well the answer was pretty obvious to start with. I'm amazed you needed to ask.

 

[Fudgie]

Tell that to the opposing posse in that Misc Batman forum.

 

[El Payaso]

Tell that to the opposing posse in that Misc Batman forum.

In fact I did. And in fact I did mention how obvious the answer to that was. And in fact it was like one person who said otherwise. And in fact people can vote whatever they want but facts are facts. If someone told me that Marlon Brando wasn't in STM, I doubt I'd make a poll to confirm it.

 

[Comics N' Toons]

Without Superman in 1978, Hollywood wouldn't have made nearly as much $$$$$, because without Superman the comic book movie industry wouldn't be as fondly or seriously thought of.

 

[Fudgie]

Right you are.

 

[Dozerman]

So I don't know if this has been touched on before but why is called the Donner style of superman Lester had more say on the style and tone of what the movies came to be I like what Donner did better but he only had a little part of what we call superman He got the ball rolling but dint get to finish so should we really call it the Donner style

 

[Micromind]

1. Many flying effects (wire work) still look good after 34 (?) years.

2. the Crystal tech still doesn't look dated (watch the first Alien movie for dated tech, it has Atari style computers)

3. The Suit still looks good (better than George Reeves or Dean cains suit.) IMO.

 

[El Payaso]

So I don't know if this has been touched on before but why is called the Donner style of superman Lester had more say on the style and tone of what the movies came to be I like what Donner did better but he only had a little part of what we call superman He got the ball rolling but dint get to finish so should we really call it the Donner style

It's called the Donner style because he created and shaped it. As simple as that. Anyone can come later and replicate it to no end. Style isn't defined by how many movies you make but the tone and feeling of them.

And basically Lester came to: a) finish what Donner had started (SII) and b) ruined what Donner had started (SIII). So basically Donner created the style and Lester style is to screw it up. I'm not sure hopw that is having more say on the style.

 

[wondergirl]

i loved the donner superman films christopher reeve was perfectly cast as superman and clark kent he had the look the charm the charisma otis might have been really campy but i can get past him. yes i will admit superman 3 and superman which were not directed by donner were pretty silly and ridiculous but the first two supermans were amazing and still are. hackman was a good lex . I think superman 2 would have been even better if they salkinds allowed him to finish superman 2 instead of richard lester. then superman 2 would have been even better i still prefer his unfinished superman 2 to richard lester's version of the film. Margot kidder was a great lois lane very reporter like .

 

[Ultra Lantern]

Yes it did.