Superman SPOILER Review Thread (NO TAGS NECESSARY)

[SwordOfMorning]

Who's execution this time, Falafel guy #2?

Everyone knows I'm not a fan of the movie but I do almost love that scene. It feels like if Spider-Man had a scene where the YOU MESS WIT ONE OF US YOU MESS WIT ALL OF US New Yawk guy get beheaded on film ISIS style by Goblin.

 

[dhandler01]

Without that scene I am not sure Lex is as well regarded as a villain. He would have come off more campy. Showing him straight up murder someone for just talking to Superman (and threatening Metamorphos child) is some next level villain stuff!

 

[Babillygunn]

Yeah, it’s a challenge for sure. I mean, watching Superman, there was a moment where I was looking at Lex and literally everyone in his control room and thinking, “ALL OF YOU deserve to be in prison forever!” Lex and his people are absolutely despicable. And while I know Superman is always going to try and see the good in people… I’m not gonna do that lol.

Interestingly, on my fifth viewing, I actually noticed for the first time Lex shedding tears at his defeat and subsequent arrest. I actually felt some pity inasmuch as his arrogance and brilliance had completely screwed up any moral compass that he may have had. But then I remembered his actions of playing Russian roulette with the street vendor and using the pocket dimension as his own Chateau D’Iff and I realized he is a danger to humanity.

Lex is an interesting character in the comics as well. He has an egotistical delusion of grandeur that manifests itself in apathy. But when humanity is under attack, he wants to be its savior and he often relishes Superman actually needing his help because it is a reminder of Superman not being all powerful, and of his own significance when a being like Superman requires his assistance.

 

[Babillygunn]

I love this film more every time that I see it.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Interestingly, on my fifth viewing, I actually noticed for the first time Lex shedding tears at his defeat and subsequent arrest. I actually felt some pity inasmuch as his arrogance and brilliance had completely screwed up any moral compass that he may have had. But then I remembered his actions of playing Russian roulette with the street vendor and using the pocket dimension as his own Chateau D’Iff and I realized he is a danger to humanity.

Lex is an interesting character in the comics as well. He has an egotistical delusion of grandeur that manifests itself in apathy. But when humanity is under attack, he wants to be its savior and he often relishes Superman actually needing his help because it is a reminder of Superman not being all powerful, and of his own significance when a being like Superman requires his assistance.

Totally yeah. He is a fascinating character and while I was initially a little wary of having him be the main villain in a Superman movie again (simply because we’ve seen so many versions of him in movies and TV shows) this is by far the BEST version IMO. Hoult and Gunn really nailed Lex’s own delusional views of himself and Superman, as well as how ruthless and depreved he can be in order to achieve his goals. A man who orchestrates a genocide of an entire people because he believes he’s stopping Superman from “destroying” humanity is so twisted and yet so clearly something Lex would do.

 

[elgaz]

Its often been said the best villains are those who aren’t just evil for the sake of it and genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing, and in that sense, this version of Lex definitely believes he is helping his own species no matter how cruel his actions. Michael Shannon’s Zod had a similar mindset, which is what made him a really great villain.

As much as the original Reeve Superman film set the bar for superhero movies and will forever be iconic, I’ve never really been that compelled by the version of Lex presented in it (the version of that character that carried over into sequels and eventually was also played by Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns). I thought Hackman did a great job but the motivations of the character were just to seek wealth and power through acquiring masses of real estate, which always felt to me a little generic.

Eisenberg’s Lex had concerns about Superman being too elevated above humanity (no pun intended) but unfortunately his performance was so erratic that those motivations always sank into the background and lacked meaningful impact.

 

[dhandler01]

While true...sometimes you just need an evil villain. Not everyone needs a tragic story or depth of character, they just need to do bad things cause they like it!