Superman Returns Quality of writing in SR

[ervann]

The writing didn't stand out for me at all. There were hardly any memorable lines, and there could have been so much more for Superman to say to everyone else, especially Lois. The best bits were all taken from the original movie.

After seeing it for a second time, it became clear to me Singer did a very good job, but the film suffered from its writing.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

The best bits were all taken from the original movie.

Totally.
I liked the little dog that ate the other dog...they didn't have to do that and it's cool that they did, but, the writing (dialogue and concept-wise) was,......NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

It seems like Singer thought that his love for Superman and the Donner movies would be enough to carry himself through.

This.....it had,....what?, the henchman had a clown tattooed on the back of his head? He played a duet with Superman's Bastard?

Not good enough.

 

[charl_huntress]

It seems like Singer thought that his love for Superman and the Donner movies would be enough to carry himself through.

I definitely think he thought the Donner homages would carry his weak execution through.

The dialogue seemed a bit stilted in some areas, but I still don't think the plot is bad though...something just lacks in the delivery.

 

[Galactical]

These guys can't write comedy.

Every joke felt forced or predictable... Like that one with jimmy about the coordinates. I rolled my eyes at that one.

the slow droning music and singer's bland directing didn't help matters really.

The best lines from the whole film actually came from Marlon Brando...

 

[Chris M]

At least we didn't get pearlers like:

"God help us all!!!"
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!"
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??!!"
"WHAT HAVE I DONE??!!"

 

[CConn]

It was a character-driven film like Burton's Batman movies rather than a plot-driven one like STM or BB are. I had no problem with it.

Superman: You say the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear the world crying for one.

Luthr: Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes and don't share their power.

Clark: Thanks for giving me my old job back.
Perry White: Don't thank me, thank Norm Peterson for dying!

Kitty: Wow. This is frigging Gone with the Wind, Lex.

Those are just a few quotes are the top of my head I quite enjoyed.

 

[Action ACE]

Totally.
I liked the little dog that ate the other dog...they didn't have to do that and it's cool that they did, but, the writing (dialogue and concept-wise) was,......NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

It seems like Singer thought that his love for Superman and the Donner movies would be enough to carry himself through.

This.....it had,....what?, the henchman had a clown tattooed on the back of his head? He played a duet with Superman's Bastard?

Not good enough.

Superman's Bastard? Dude, that doesn't make sense.

 

[Action ACE]

It was a character-driven film like Burton's Batman movies rather than a plot-driven one like STM or BB are. I had no problem with it.

Superman: You say the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear the world crying for one.

Luthr: Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes and don't share their power.

Clark: Thanks for giving me my old job back.
Perry White: Don't thank me, thank Norm Peterson for dying!

Kitty: Wow. This is frigging Gone with the Wind, Lex.

Those are just a few quotes are the top of my head I quite enjoyed.

Couldn't agree with you more.

Your post pretty much just owned the guy who started this thread!

 

[Matt]

It was a character-driven film like Burton's Batman movies rather than a plot-driven one like STM or BB are. I had no problem with it.

Superman: You say the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear the world crying for one.

Luthr: Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes and don't share their power.

Clark: Thanks for giving me my old job back.
Perry White: Don't thank me, thank Norm Peterson for dying!

Kitty: Wow. This is frigging Gone with the Wind, Lex.

Those are just a few quotes are the top of my head I quite enjoyed.

I find the most memorable quotes aren't movie quotes at all, but more realistic dialogue (such as Han Solo's 'I have a bad feeling about this' and 'I know'). The ones you cited all scream fake. To cite another Harrison Ford classic, its not really a line, but still emphasizes the point. What is the most memorable part of Indiana Jones? When the guy with the sword shows off and Indy just shoots him. It is more real...and that is what makes it memorable. I often find 'movie quotes' (to cite Star Wars again) "Are you an angel"? to be the worst dialogue in movies.

 

[Matt]

Superman's Bastard? Dude, that doesn't make sense.

It makes perfect sense. Jason is the bastard child of Lois and Superman by definition.

 

[Chris M]

"Are you an angel"? to be the worst dialogue in movies.

"Are you and annnnnnngel???"
Oh come on! That was cinema GOLD!!!

 

[Action ACE]

It makes perfect sense. Jason is the bastard child of Lois and Superman by definition.

It doesn't make any sense because it was never stated to whom the child belonged. Granted, I think it's his as well. It very well could be Richard's bastard child. I KID YOU NOT.

 

[Raiden]

It doesn't make any sense because it was never stated to whom the child belonged. Granted, I think it's his as well. It very well could be Richard's bastard child. I KID YOU NOT.

Well, when Jason tossed that piano into the bad guy who attempted to kill his mom, his heritage is no longer a secret.

 

[Galactical]

did you watch the movie, ace? seriously...

 

[Action ACE]

did you watch the movie, ace? seriously...

Yes, I did. Seriously. And trust me, I'm not one to deny. I just said I believed that it was. I am simply and clearly stating that is was never blatently stated that Jason is Supey's son. And, just to add, I'm not saying that it needs to be. I'm just sayin...

 

[Raiden]

Yes, I did. Seriously. And trust me, I'm not one to deny. I just said I believed that it was. I am simply and clearly stating that is was never blatently stated that Jason is Supey's son. And, just to add, I'm not saying that it needs to be. I'm just sayin...

What, do you think Superman would've given that father-son speech to Jason at the end if he wasn't sure that Jason is his own son?

 

[Action ACE]

What, do you think Superman would've given that father-son speech to Jason at the end if he wasn't sure that Jason is his own son?

Ha, I know what your saying man. And I'm on board with you. I though I made that clear. I'm just saying that it is never CLEARLY STATED that it is Superman's son by anyone. It is, however, clearly implied.

 

[Matt]

Ha, I know what your saying man. And I'm on board with you. I though I made that clear. I'm just saying that it is never CLEARLY STATED that it is Superman's son by anyone. It is, however, clearly implied.

Then calling him Superman's bastard son makes perfect sense.

 

[LadyVader]

I am very grateful they stayed away from corny or cheesy lines. Except for that crack about flying being the safest way to travel, the movie felt modern, and I didn't roll my eyes constantly like when I was watching X-men 3.
I swear, every other line in that movie feels like it's taken out of the "Action Movie Cliches" handbook.

 

[Chris M]

I'm just saying that it is never CLEARLY STATED that it is Superman's son by anyone.

Yes, that's called "subtlety".

Good directors use it occasionally on intelligent audiences.

 

[Action ACE]

Yes, that's called "subtlety".

Good directors use it occasionally on intelligent audiences.

Ha. I hope you're not insinuating anything.

Good to hear your opinion my friend.

 

[Paul-el]

Well, I just read the entire JJ Abrams script and as a screenwriter, I can say it had better writing and characterization, even if some of the major plot lines were bad. It just seemed to flow better from start to end than Returns did.

There was more action, more characterization, and more emotion it seemed.

 

[ChickenScratch]

I wrote a whole thing on this in the Batman Begins Vs. Superman Returns thread but I can't seem to find it. I'll paraphrase what I remember.

Batman Begins stands on a better footing because everything Batman does has a concrete ethical base, he does what he does for a reason that is presented explicitly to the audience through his exposition. Superman has been away from the movie screens for quite some time and Singer can't take for granted that the audience will come in accepting he's a hero and does what he does without establishing what in his ethical make-up makes him want to do what he does.

Having powers/ability does not mean you "have to put it into the service of humanity. If it were then non of us would own the right to choice for the meer fact that I'm strong doesnt mean I should pull a plaugh to feed the weak. I'm going to use an extreme example here but Marx oft said "From each according to his ability, to each acccording to his need." We know that Superman's not a sacrificial animal for the sake of having powers so why within his make-up does he see fit to do this? It's a simple thing to establish a hero's moral base for what he does but this was not tackled, we are just left to accept that he's a hero and go with it.

Yes,I know this has all been dealt with in the comics and other movies but a work of art is a self contained whole and with all this time away I think that needed to be said.

So yes, the movie looked pretty but fell apart in establishing why he is who he is in a deeper sence.

 

[ChickenScratch]

I wrote a whole thing on this in the Batman Begins Vs. Superman Returns thread but I can't seem to find it. I'll paraphrase what I remember.

Batman Begins stands on a better footing because everything Batman does has a concrete ethical base, he does what he does for a reason that is presented explicitly to the audience through his exposition. Superman has been away from the movie screens for quite some time and Singer can't take for granted that the audience will come in accepting he's a hero and does what he does without establishing what in his ethical make-up makes him want to do what he does.

Having powers/ability does not mean you "have to put it into the service of humanity. If it were then non of us would own the right to choice for the meer fact that I'm strong doesnt mean I should pull a plaugh to feed the weak. I'm going to use an extreme example here but Marx oft said "From each according to his ability, to each acccording to his need." We know that Superman's not a sacrificial animal for the sake of having powers so why within his make-up does he see fit to do this? It's a simple thing to establish a hero's moral base for what he does but this was not tackled, we are just left to accept that he's a hero and go with it.

Yes,I know this has all been dealt with in the comics and other movies but a work of art is a self contained whole and with all this time away I think that needed to be said.

So yes, the movie looked pretty but fell apart in establishing why he is who he is in a deeper sence.

 

[LadyVader]

People are crying out for a savior.

What more reason could he need to do what he does?