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Superman Returns The Official Brandon Routh IS Superman thread.

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Ruthmarks said:
Nah, it's fine. I just got cold feet.

Somehow, I had this terrible vision of trolls coming in here and making a big deal out of his racial background or heritage. And I'd feel like I was the cause of it.
Click to expand...
Routh is Jewish Italian!!!! Nyahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! This movie is ruined!!!! Damn you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




:rolleyes:
 
actorsraymiddleton.jpg


Ray Middleton...
 
Hi Dan-el,

I am a 37 year old comic book fan. I am new to your website and I would like to comment on your editorial regarding the battle of two Supermen.
I have not read any of the forum messages but I am both a fan of Smallville as well as a collector of comics....Superman and X-men to name those relevant to your article.

I agree with your opinion that a fresh change from Smallville to Superman 5 should not be criticised or boycotted. I understand the appeal of an unknown in the title role and I was also delighted to hear Bryan Singer's name has been attached to the upcoming film. I loved Christopher Reeve's performance in the last generation of movies and I do eagerly await a new version complete with all the CG effects at WB's disposal.

Having said this, and in due respect to your article, I think you have overlooked some things about Smallville.

For me, Smallville's appeal has not only been the addition of good, well written, well acted new characters, but also the fresh honest updated talent that has been injected into the old characters. Clark, Lex of course, and Lana. The original movie only glossed over the formative years of which Smallville has beautifully examined. (I am aware of the time constraints of a 2 hour film versus a 24 episode per year series)

Lana, both in the Reeve film as well as in the comics has never been given any depth. Kreuk's role has progressed from year to year from that of "pretty but unobtainable object of desire" to "strong willed get-on-with-her-life" young woman.

Lex was little better than a James bond villain in the comics or semi-serious with nitwit sidekicks in the Reeve films. Rosenbaum via Smallville has really given this guy soul. You find yourself feeling sympathetic for him as well as route for him at times. You don't know how many times my wife and I have actually wanted Clark to reveal his secret with him so they could take on the world together! Again there is this progression from year to year as we see his brutal relationship with his father as well as the slow deterioration of his friendship with Clark.

Clark's intertwining "I feel responsible for all that has happened to Lex, Lana, and Smallville's freaks" themes has made their relationships all the more real and firmly embedded the basis on which Clark's "humanity" has been nurtured by his adopted parents. You really believe how an alien from another world could grow attached to the people of this world.

Superman stands for everyone on this planet....he is this world's greatest champion and he does not just stand for "the American way". Tom Welling has portrayed this humble beginning with class, honesty and credibility. Its hard not to like this guy! Once again there is a progression from "geeDad, how can I cope with trying to be normal" to "My- future- lies- ahead-of-me- and- I-will-make-the-decisions-and-thanks-to-your-wisdom-Dad,-I-think- you-should- trust-me."

The Reeve films and the Lois & Clark show never attained this kind of depth and development. Reeve's performance was outstanding....but lets face it, the material given to the supporting cast (with the exception of Lois maybe) was subpar. The Kents, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White were well acted but ultimately they were real life interpretations of formulaic characters in the comic book pantheon. You watched them and thought, "yes...thats right...thats how they are supposed to be". No harm no foul. No depth or challenge either.

Smallville's character progression makes me question your reference to casting Welling as being "Smallville the Movie". Wouldn't it be exciting to see the ultimate progression that the cast of Smallville can make in "Superman 5"? Give Superman 5's creative team all the freedom they wish at presenting Superman in a post Superman 2 setting. They need not even refer to Smallville at all. The casting however would mean a continuity of sorts with a very popular TV show that I don't think would hurt one bit. WB had the opportunity to expand the scope of Smallville to Superman: the movie. It could have built on a solid foundation laid down by a terrific television show and quite possibly supplant Christopher Reeve as the definitive Superman. People who don't watch Smallville wouldn't care about this continuity.....with the exception of possibly generating more sales of the Smallville DVD releases.
I don't see how an unknown's casting in the title role is "better" than casting someone who is only well known...because he played a younger Clark Kent." That doesn't sound like negative "baggage" to me. Also, using Harry Potter as an example....the drastic change in the Prisoner of Azkaban's style and the "growing up" of the lead characters has not apparently hurt sales or the positive reviews of using the same cast within a new creative team.

Reeve's iconic portrayal of Superman is a testament to the writers/actors of Smallville 's ability to create their large following of fans. To this day, no one that I know of mentions Dean Cain when discussing "who played Clark Kent/Superman?" Tom Welling has made a large superpowered dent in Reeve's lock on Clark Kent however.

You mention in your article that Routh should be given a chance just as Reeve had.

Although Reeve was an unknown, he did not have to contend with a "current" (late 70's) and popular portrayal of the same character. Not so with Brandon Routh. Is it any wonder why fans may feel divided? Yes, Routh deserves a chance, but isn't a possible "drastic" change in portrayal of Clark Kent from that of Welling's current portrayal, potentially damaging to the public's acceptance of the character? Its certainly not Routh's fault, but when have 2 different actors portrayed the same iconic character within 12 months of eachother? The ony iconic character I can think of is 1983's Octopussy and Never Say Never Again, where Roger Moore and Sean Connery portrayed James Bond...only Moore, being the Bond du jour was far more successful than the following film with Connery. See the potential problem?

In summation, I agree with your opinion that Routh and Superman 5 should be given a chance. There is nothing wrong with a new face. I do however think that WB has missed a golden opportunity to bring the franchise to new heights. I believe that WB has made it more difficult for themselves to resell the franchise. Now the new movie will have to appease not only Reeve fans, but also Welling fans. A tall order indeed.

Les Cheung
 
locarno said:
Its certainly not Routh's fault, but when have 2 different actors portrayed the same iconic character within 12 months of eachother? The ony iconic character I can think of is 1983's Octopussy and Never Say Never Again, where Roger Moore and Sean Connery portrayed James Bond...only Moore, being the Bond du jour was far more successful than the following film with Connery. See the potential problem?
Click to expand...

Nice example. Problem is, it wasn't as black and white as that. Let's not forget an aging Connery, a Bond plot that had already been done, a Bond film that wasn't strictly a Bond film...etc
 
Sverdlovski said:
Routh is Jewish Italian!!!! Nyahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! This movie is ruined!!!! Damn you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

After some of the garbage I've seen in this thread, don't laugh ... ;)

And Puck is 100% right. :)
 
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