Please, no "Superman Begins"

[I3atMan]

I've never seen Superman's origin. I wasn't alive in 1978.

I was alive in 78 but I still want to see an updated origin story told on the big screen.

I think there is so much that can be done with the Superman origin that has not been done yet. I'm positive that SM:TM isn't the end all be all of SUPERMAN!

 

[mjbull23]

I don't know what the grand plan is for the next Superman movie. One thing I do know is that this is a great time to be a Superman fanboy. Particularly here on the internet forums, where fear, rumors, lies and action are all about to collide in the coming months.

Some of you are apprehensive, others are downright stressed, maybe even panicking, as for me...I find it extremely entertaining.

I think a reboot would be fine, but If the origins are retold, Id rather that the movie only dedicate a 20-30 min max time allotment for that.

This next Supes flick has to come right out of the gate and imediately set the tone for the rest of the movie. So if your going to start at the beggining, then show me how volatile, and unstable the political and ecological climate on krypton was. What drove Jor El to such extreme measures that he felt he had to send his infant son into the vastness of space. What did he see that terrified him so much? That filled him with such foreboding doom certainty.

Lots of character conflict, and here's something else I rarely see mentioned, but howabout a fight sequence showing Jor El squaring off against one or two counsel members (Kryptonian fisticuffs).

Do they fight differently than humans do? How do they interact with each other as a society? Are their motivatons different than humans?...I want some insight into Kryptonian Civilizaion. But again....20-30 mns max. This next movie has a lot of ground to cover, and I don't want the entire first half of the film bogged down with a retelling of the origin.

 

[Nirvana]

I don't know what the grand plan is for the next Superman movie. One thing I do know is that this is a great time to be a Superman fanboy. Particularly here on the internet forums, where fear, rumors, lies and action are all about to collide in the coming months.

Some of you are apprehensive, others are downright stressed, maybe even panicking, as for me...I find it extremely entertaining.

QFT.

 

[ClarkLuther55]

I completely disagree with the OP. A "Superman Begins" is absolutely necessary if Superman is to become beloved by a whole new generation. "Everyone already knows Superman's origin" is a common catchphrase, but I'm not so sure anymore. Fewer people under 20 nowadays have watched the Donner movies. Bruce Timm's animated series from the 1990s, seen as "recent" by people here, is before the time of a twelve year old today (the show ended and went off the air when that kid was 4).

For many people, especially the young demographic who a superhero movie should try to grab, Superman Returns was their FIRST exposure to the character. They didn't know anything about him, yet the movie started off by telling everyone that they already missed the character's greatest adventures, everything that made him Superman. That alienates newcomers right there. It alienated ME, and I'm familiar with the character. However I wanted to see a new big screen Superman for MY generation, reinterpreted to fit current styles but still remaining faithful to the source. Instead we got a sequel to the Donner movies, in a weirdo post-Superman story that came across more like a bookend to the series than a new beginning.

BB was a success because it reintroduced Batman right from the beginning and made him cool. People were brought on board for the journey. SR was a disappointment because it was made primarily to satisfy Singer's fanboy love for Donner's old movies. People just didn't connect to Brandon Routh's Superman as much as they did to Bale's Batman, because they were left on the outside.

 

[kalelkilla]

100% agree with CL55...they need to get back to the comics and away from Donner...Like BB they need to go back to the comics and fill in the blanks of Clark Kent's origin, just Like Nolan and Goyer did for Bruce Wayne. Waid's "Birthright" arc is a great place to start, as is Jeph Loeb's Superman for All Seasons. A mix of the two stories I think makes a great backbone for a terrific Superman movie...These are great "starting points" to grab new fans and to update Superman for the new generation...you sure as hell can't assume that "everyone knows Superman's origin," Cuz most people don't. Do you know how many times I was asked, "When did Superman bang Lois?" You have to start from the beginning.

 

[BULLITT]

I've never seen Superman's origin. I wasn't alive in 1978.

Reading helps. Reading + images = Comic(s) - 'Seeing'.

 

[NeoRanger]

LOL @ all the people who still quote my first -sarcastic- post, when two posts after that, I explain it.

 

[I Am The Knight]

So you were alive in 1978?

 

[NeoRanger]

No. But

I've seen the movie, I've seen the Adventures of Superman, I've seen L&C, Smallville, TAS and read a buttload of comic books from all three origin eras, plus stand-alones.

What I've never done is walk into a theater and watch a Superman film I can call my own. Watching Returns was like going to my dad's high school reunion in his place. What do I have to say with these old guys?

 

[DavidTyler]

100% agree with CL55...they need to get back to the comics and away from Donner...Like BB they need to go back to the comics and fill in the blanks of Clark Kent's origin, just Like Nolan and Goyer did for Bruce Wayne. Waid's "Birthright" arc is a great place to start, as is Jeph Loeb's Superman for All Seasons. A mix of the two stories I think makes a great backbone for a terrific Superman movie...These are great "starting points" to grab new fans and to update Superman for the new generation...you sure as hell can't assume that "everyone knows Superman's origin," Cuz most people don't. Do you know how many times I was asked, "When did Superman bang Lois?" You have to start from the beginning.

What I like from Birthright is Clark traveling the world trying to find his destiny. I don't like Waid's Krypton. I would like to see a film that bases Krypton on either Byrne/Wolfman's MAN OF STEEL, or the Timm/Dini animated Superman. Give me a blend of those and I'll be happy.

Oh, and I'd much rather see a blend of Dean Cain's and George Reeves' Clark.

As for Supes... maybe a blend of Chris Reeve and George Reeves.

BTW, I was watching a terrible movie last night that starred Josh Hartnett (August - the movie's title) and thought he has a great look for Superman.

 

[Reebee52]

What I like from Birthright is Clark traveling the world trying to find his destiny. I don't like Waid's Krypton. I would like to see a film that bases Krypton on either Byrne/Wolfman's MAN OF STEEL, or the Timm/Dini animated Superman. Give me a blend of those and I'll be happy.

Oh, and I'd much rather see a blend of Dean Cain's and George Reeves' Clark.

As for Supes... maybe a blend of Chris Reeve and George Reeves.

BTW, I was watching a terrible movie last night that starred Josh Hartnett (August - the movie's title) and thought he has a great look for Superman.

Birthright was the first Graphic Novel I read and is still one of the best. It captured Superman's character and origin really well, and would be a great place to start. Though what was wrong with his Krypton? I thought it was great, and was in-tone with Bruce Timm's (also great). I really loathe the icy planet that was in SM:TM and Smallville. It needs more character.
Krypton's problems could be a perfect trope for Earth's today, if done right. Politcal unrest globally, a dangerous environmental catastophe that is controversial... It's perfect, and should be shown.
And if I recall: wasn't Josh Hartnett once up for the role? In one of the canceled scripts like Superman Lives?

 

[DavidTyler]

Birthright was the first Graphic Novel I read and is still one of the best. It captured Superman's character and origin really well, and would be a great place to start. Though what was wrong with his Krypton? I thought it was great, and was in-tone with Bruce Timm's (also great). I really loathe the icy planet that was in SM:TM and Smallville. It needs more character.
Krypton's problems could be a perfect trope for Earth's today, if done right. Politcal unrest globally, a dangerous environmental catastophe that is controversial... It's perfect, and should be shown.
And if I recall: wasn't Josh Hartnett once up for the role? In one of the canceled scripts like Superman Lives?

Try to get your hands on a copy of Man Of Steel. It's quite a bit different from Waid's Krypton. In fact, it's different in look and tone from all of the other versions ... and I think it would be awesome on the big screen.

 

[Brian Braddock]

I agree.

I always felt Man of Steel literally screamed to be adapted cinematically.

 

[Double Down]

What I like from Birthright is Clark traveling the world trying to find his destiny. I don't like Waid's Krypton. I would like to see a film that bases Krypton on either Byrne/Wolfman's MAN OF STEEL, or the Timm/Dini animated Superman. Give me a blend of those and I'll be happy.

Oh, and I'd much rather see a blend of Dean Cain's and George Reeves' Clark.

As for Supes... maybe a blend of Chris Reeve and George Reeves.

BTW, I was watching a terrible movie last night that starred Josh Hartnett (August - the movie's title) and thought he has a great look for Superman.

Sure, if you like your Superman to have a unibrow and greasy hair.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Hartnett looks like a village idiot in that pic.

 

[OwlBoy]

What? How?

 

[Brian Braddock]

The mono-brow and 'I cut it myself' haircut.

Dude looks as simple as a person can get.

 

[Double Down]

I have never seen the appeal:

 

[kalelkilla]

Krypton is the least important aspect of the origin...and should be maybe 10 minutes of the movie...it is true that the parallels of Krypton and Earth can be made and should be shown like Reebee52 said, but what is more interesting is what a young adult Clark Kent did on EARTH between leaving Smallville and arriving to Metropolis as a journalist. That has never been shown on the big screen and should make Superman more "human," as we understand his motivations to becoming the world's savior...what DROVE him to be SUPERMAN?...what inspired him? This has to be shown. The traveling the world aspect as a freelance journalist is a good one that Waid establishes in Birthright...he is trying to fit in...trying to find his mission in life, much like Jesus wandering the desert...trying to figure out, "What the hell should I do with all this power!?"

 

[kalelkilla]

p.s. Hartnett is the worst choice for ANY role...

 

[Brian Braddock]

Even in a film where he's playing himself.

 

[stargazer]

Sure, if you like your Superman to have a unibrow and greasy hair.

WTH?? That's no Superman. Even though I think he is cute, not here but in some movies. t:

 

[stargazer]

I have never seen the appeal:

I can't see it either.

 

[DavidTyler]

Krypton is the least important aspect of the origin...and should be maybe 10 minutes of the movie...

And here we go again.


Yeah, it's the least important aspect of the origin if all you think it's about is Jor-el decides the planet is going to blow up and sends his baby off to Earth.

 

[kalelkilla]

Yeah well...that's pretty much what happens...there have been different versions, but in the end, they all have "Jor-El decides the planet is going to blow up and sends his baby to Earth" in common...the only reason to expand on Krypton scenes is to establish the origin of the possible villain...