Reboot: Character Portrayal

[Crook]

The problem is there was nothing in that portrayal that remotely indicated he would be a capable reporter. I remember Routh was asked how far the film would delve into that part of Clark, and he couldn't even properly answer. He knew that aspect was void.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Because the film didnt focus on the reporting aspect as heavily with Clark.

If they wanted to, they could have easily shown that version of CK in the bullpen.

Just because he's quiet and withdrawn, doesn't mean he'd be a bad reporter.


Not to mention, the whole thing is an act. He could just as easily write amazing stuff while pretending to be humble, unassuming and shy on the exterior as Routh did with CK.

 

[Crook]

That's missing the point. You don't assume something is there without probable reason or proof.

Theism aside.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

All I'm saying is it's not impossible to focus on Routh's DP Clark's reporting skills.

All it requires is writing and the will to do so (on the part of the writers).

There's nothing about Brandon's DP Clark that limits him from being a capable journalist.

 

[Nathan]

Bingo.

Public Playboy Bruce and Daily Planet Clark are the same thing.

They are invented personas designed to throw people off.


Both invented personas are the antithesis of Batman and Superman respectively.

It's basic superhero 101.

Why does it need to be a complete antithesis? He should dial the act of the mumbling Clark down and up the act of the Superhero boyscout. Peter Parker does it with acting like a complete wisecracking smartass as Spidey, but as Peter Parker he is an average person, that still jokes around and is actually competent at his job by delivering amazing photos. Hell, he actually sometimes raises his voice against Jonah.

Clark Kent shouldn't be the act. It's who he grew up as.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Spider-man wears a mask. The Peter Parker analogy doesn't apply.


It's all about practicality and logic; and making the reporter disguise work in a believable manner.


That's why having reporter Clark be the antithesis of Superman is smart; they should be a complete dichotomy.

It's easier to believe Lois and the rest don't realize Clark is Superman under those conditions... than if DP Clark AND Superman both appear extroverted, confident and assertive.

 

[Nathan]

Spider-man wears a mask. The Peter Parker analogy doesn't apply.

Yet comparing him to Batman works. Alrighty then.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Considering Wayne is one of the few people in the world who has the money and resources to fund something like Batman.

Yes, he needs the Playboy facade to make people think he isn't capable of being the caped crusader.

 

[Nathan]

The bumbling Clark is simply outdated. He can be competent at his job and actually be recognized by his peers without them immediately thinking, "Hey, that guy could be Superman." He doesn't need to completely vanish into the background and be Mr. Nobody that no one would start to miss when a bus would suddenly crash on him.

Like I said before Superman should be the act. He can still act a little clumsy as Clark. Occasionally trip, drop his hotdog, whatever, throw in some little human imperfection. Maybe make him somewhat of a Mr. Knowitall. Constantly correcting Lois's spelling when she types an article. You just don't have him play the hero in dangerous situations or pick fights. He plays things on the safe side, which maybe makes him appear cowardly or overly cautious.

He's also got a life as Clark Kent and it's not interesting to watch him mumbling and tripping throughout the Movie.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

He can be competent at his job

Again, there's nothing in the film that insinuates that Brandon's DP Clark wasn't competent at his job.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Like I said before Superman should be the act.

It's a lot easier to make DP Clark into the act.

How can Superman believably be the act?..... if DP Clark Kent is already the confident, extroverted, assertive real person (Kal-el's true personality)


See, the thing is Kal-El is a brilliant, confident, assertive and extroverted person naturally.

We see that through Superman; but not through DP Clark (intentionally).

If you reverse things where you see those defining qualities through DP Clark and not Superman.. Superman isn't a supehero anymore.


And then you have Lois and Clark and Superman TAS; where you see all of that in both personas; and the end result is they're hardly distinguishable... and the believability and logic behind it is lost.

 

[Nathan]

As I've said in the rest of the post that you skipped, Clark can still be somewhat of an act. But dial it down. There can still be a bit of clumsiness, but not to the point that you'll always want to avoid him at all cost. Instead of making him a mumbling idiot and withdrawn, make him a Mr. Knowitall, a smarty pants, correcting spelling, annoying Lois with worldly facts, etc. Try to breath some freaking life into the character instead of having him fly below the radar 24/7. He works for the Daily Planet and got a desk near Lois Lane the ace reporter. Show how he earns his keep, let him find some major scoop, show that he could be Lois rival, make him a character that can be taken seriously.

 

[DrMylesOBoogie]

John Byrne, Dean Cain and Superman TAS Clark all the way. Lois should fall in love with the man and not the celebrity Superman.

 

[DrMylesOBoogie]

Jokes like that aside,

There's really nothing in Routh's portrayal of DP Clark that conveys stupidity or being too inept to be a reporter.

I mean the silliest thing he did was say "swell!" and that was barely anything.

You mentioned how there was no difference between Cain's Clark/Superman when Routh was equally as mild mannered when playing Superman and Clark. The guy is naturally awkward looking and didn't convey any confidence as Superman.

 

[Alien Anal]

I really enjoyed Routh as Clark and wish we got to see more of that but his Superman didnt do it for me. I want my Superman to look slightly intimidating and he never did..and his voice is a little too nasaly for me

 

[Ultraman Nexus]

I'm looking for a kind of middle-ground really. Basically, I would want to see him portrayed as mild-mannered more so than clumsy or GQ macho or whatever.

He doesn't do a whole lot of acting like a different person (and I tend to view him as someone who think and feels as a human being but has a strong connection to his alien roots while looking at those roots from a human perspective). I see it as he purposely doesn't do things to draw attention to himself. He's not gonna be the guy cutting it up at the office party, you know. I guess in some respects he'd be a bit of a wallflower.

I think of how they did it in the Bruce Timm animated series where Clark just kinda seemed very average but at the same time not agressively dorky. He would occasionally flash this knowing grin at the joke that the audience is in on with him.

The one thing that does stand out about Clark Kent is his writing which leaves some folks scratching their heads because with all the passion that is in his work they wonder how that comes from a guy who seems so painfully average and unassuming.

Which would further go to re-enforce the basic point of the Clark Kent persona which is that underneath there is always more to who we are than what people see on the surface. In life we're awkward or quiet or whatever but just behind our glasses lies our true potential. The most positive aspects of everything we are. A Superman (or woman) waiting to be revealed.

This disguise works because it represents the basic human tendency to judge a book by its cover. People don't find Superman in Clark Kent because they aren't looking for him to be there. They aren't expecting the guy they chat with at the water-cooler to be the last son of an alien race and the greatest hero of all time. That's basically where both the functionality, the character, and yes the humor of the disguise comes from.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Besides, I think it is safe to say that today's general audience doesn't care for the Donnerverse-esque Superman. It's that version that has caused the general public to consider Superman a boring, one note character. The TAS/Byrne version, written well, is the perfect way to prove them wrong.

You may not like the movies, but don't act like they're the reason Superman's unpopular these days. The comic book Superman of the time was far more ridiculous than the Reeve Superman. The Reeve Superman wasn't flying around and saying crap like "Great Krypton" and "Great Rao" while towing an entire chain of planets.

Besides, how is the Byrne version inherently better? Why does Lex have to be a business mogul? Why does Clark have to be the real person? Why do the parents have to be alive? Especially the second one. I mean, Batman fans all champion the fake, playboy Bruce, why do Superman fans hate the fake, geeky Clark?

Anyway, I'm all for changes. I don't mind going for a reboot that's different from the Donnerverse, but I'm sick of all the hate. I mean, why blame the Reeve movies for Superman Returns being bad, or the current writers choosing to take cues from it? An actual sequel to the Reeve movies could have been good. Donner's Lex isn't necessarily a one trick pony who only cares about land schemes. Even Superman IV showed that.

 

[The Englishman]

Spider-man wears a mask. The Peter Parker analogy doesn't apply.


It's all about practicality and logic; and making the reporter disguise work in a believable manner.


That's why having reporter Clark be the antithesis of Superman is smart; they should be a complete dichotomy.

It's easier to believe Lois and the rest don't realize Clark is Superman under those conditions... than if DP Clark AND Superman both appear extroverted, confident and assertive.

Spider-Man wears a mask so the public know he has a secret Identity, Superman does'nt so people assume he is Superman all the time so they arent going to be looking over their shoulders wondering who Superman is.

 

[stargazer]

Again, there's nothing in the film that insinuates that Brandon's DP Clark wasn't competent at his job.

Agreed. We just didn't get to see it.

Oh, and remember, Reeve's Clark was 'the fastest typist ever'.

You mentioned how there was no difference between Cain's Clark/Superman when Routh was equally as mild mannered when playing Superman and Clark. The guy is naturally awkward looking and didn't convey any confidence as Superman.

I disagree. His Superman was not very comfortable in front of Lois BECAUSE he fell bad he didn't say goodbye! She was pissed at him for a reason. But his Superman was a lot more confident in front of everybody else: plane rescue, bank robbery, Metropolis rescue, when he first faced Lex ("I see and old man's sick joke", his voice was very firm and supermanish. He definitely sounded pissed.) He was a more serious and quiet Superman overall. It was the nature of the story.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

As I've said in the rest of the post that you skipped, Clark can still be somewhat of an act. But dial it down. There can still be a bit of clumsiness, but not to the point that you'll always want to avoid him at all cost. Instead of making him a mumbling idiot and withdrawn, make him a Mr. Knowitall, a smarty pants, correcting spelling, annoying Lois with worldly facts, etc. Try to breath some freaking life into the character instead of having him fly below the radar 24/7. He works for the Daily Planet and got a desk near Lois Lane the ace reporter. Show how he earns his keep, let him find some major scoop, show that he could be Lois rival, make him a character that can be taken seriously.

If DP Clark is loud and annoying as you suggest, he will draw attention to himself.

That's the opposite of what Kal-El is trying to achieve through the DP Clark disguise, so it's pretty illogical.

That was the main flaw with Reeve's version (and they corrected it with Routh). Reeve's CK antics drew attention to himself.


And Clark being withdrawn and fading into the background doesn't mean he can't get major scoops. That's the charm of it; no one (including Lois) would expect it.

The Daily Planet is a workplace; and there's loads of people in a workplace that go unnoticed but still provide great work.

You mentioned how there was no difference between Cain's Clark/Superman when Routh was equally as mild mannered when playing Superman and Clark. The guy is naturally awkward looking and didn't convey any confidence as Superman.

Have you seen Routh lately?

The dude could break you in half. He looks like Superman.

 

[Panthro]

The bumbling Clark is simply outdated. He can be competent at his job and actually be recognized by his peers without them immediately thinking, "Hey, that guy could be Superman." He doesn't need to completely vanish into the background and be Mr. Nobody that no one would start to miss when a bus would suddenly crash on him.

Like I said before Superman should be the act. He can still act a little clumsy as Clark. Occasionally trip, drop his hotdog, whatever, throw in some little human imperfection. Maybe make him somewhat of a Mr. Knowitall. Constantly correcting Lois's spelling when she types an article. You just don't have him play the hero in dangerous situations or pick fights. He plays things on the safe side, which maybe makes him appear cowardly or overly cautious.

He's also got a life as Clark Kent and it's not interesting to watch him mumbling and tripping throughout the Movie.

Exactly.

 

[stargazer]

The guy is naturally awkward looking and didn't convey any confidence as Superman.

Hey, I somehow missed that part. No he wasn't. He was a big man even back in 2005,

http://www.brandonrouth.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/EW_000.jpg

Have you seen Routh lately?

The dude could break you in half. He looks like Superman.

totally,

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4834/routh.jpg

From last month,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7kBZcFe7AM&feature

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Yeah, I can understand the build criticisms in Returns. Warners wanted him to have a lean swimmers build.

But now, the guy is turning himself into a truck. I'm guessing he wants to break into action movies.

 

[Nathan]

If DP Clark is loud and annoying as you suggest, he will draw attention to himself.

That's the opposite of what Kal-El is trying to achieve through the DP Clark disguise, so it's pretty illogical.

That was the main flaw with Reeve's version (and they corrected it with Routh). Reeve's CK antics drew attention to himself.

Because being recognized means raising a red flag and announcing to the world he's Superman. Gotcha.

And Clark being withdrawn and fading into the background doesn't mean he can't get major scoops. That's the charm of it; no one (including Lois) would expect it.

Maybe, but it's boring to watch a Clark that mumbles and stumbles his way through the Movie. He's got two lifes as Clark and as Superman. His life as Clark is pretty disappointing though because he plays the role of an unsocial and withdrawn human being. What does he do as Clark besides go to work and maybe go to a bar with Jimmy, the only person that actually hangs out with him?

Is that how you want him to be? To be a Superhero with pretty much a nonexisting social life?

 

[Superwoman Prime]

totally,

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4834/routh.jpg

From last month,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7kBZcFe7AM&feature

Poor guy just can't keep a low profile these days. If I ever see Routh in public, I'll smile to myself and leave it at that.