The Official Choose A Director Thread

Hello friends. The topic for today is one I've been thinking of since I learned Lex would still be his old land-grabbing self in Returns for the fourth time in a superman film.

FOURTH.

So... ahem. It is time to choose. No more beating around the bush, avoiding the crust, picking out the seeds one by one etc.

Ever since that day I've been pondering this question: Which do I value more in regard to an ideal superman, Donner's version or well... Superman?

{By Superman, I mean the entire scope of his character from the beginning to present times.}

I know this poll question might not be easy for some. Obviously many in the public were more interested in something new. But on the internet I've realized that many are welcoming the idea to continue donner's movies instead of doing a superman for a new generation. In some ways I think this backfired in that kids today have spidey and a new batman and have found it much easier to move on from the 70s supes with all the recent animaed and television versions he's had. Personally I count myself in that catogory of people. I've let go of the donner franchise. I still love it as a part of superman history that'll be remembered forever, but like with burton's batman I think it's ok to move on from it. I'm ready for that.

I know it's probably not as easy to let go of Donner's supes as it is to let go of Burton's batsy. However it's inevitable. There will come a time when the modern superman will be adapted similar to batman in begins. Some say "Well you idiot, that's what smallvilles for, duh..." which is true I guess, but seriously though it's a fine tv program I'd never really consider it the ultimate supes origin with all the freak of the weak stuff etc. So I think people are giving it too much credit, though how it explores a new power supes gains each season is a great idea, and something that's very interesting because I don't think this exploration of his developement of all his powers was really ever done before. So that is batman begins-ish I guess.

Anyway to give you a perspective of where I'm coming from with this view of Donner vs superman, from what I've been reading across the internet, some refer to SR as: It's been called a funeral for the donner superman, or a love letter to Donner, the new superman III, then in one review I read someone said it was euligoy for christopher Reeve (not exact words but same meaning).

I'm as big a fan of STM as anybody, I'm sure, but isnt this idea of having a funeral for a movie, a product, a little nutty to anyone but me?

In donner's film I think he got it, where Singer did not. Superman is bigger than Him, donner, and needs to treated as if more respect is given to the character and doing him the justice he deserves than to copying/homagin/referrencing past actors or directors' work. He's Americana, not Donnercana. Batman's like that too. Thats why I don't buy the argument that since the public is familiar with the donner supes, that its better to play it safe and try to continue with it (of course there's a difference between continuing and requeling). Well that's what I believe anyway.

What about you?

 

I know. And it's great because I think donner really understands superman's bigger than and can go beyond just his first film's interpretation so I'm interested in what he plans to do.

The question now is what's personally more important, donner's superman, the reeve version that's now outdated, or the character itself that's evolved since then like batman has?

 

That's a good question. Now that I think of it, yeah, pretty much... like vhs. Some of it's still definitely good today to me, especially the supes theme by williams, but in the bigger scheme, superman's not pre-crisis anymore and all that. Is it like comparing superfriends to JLU? LOL i'm probably not the one to answer that. Ask Jamal.

 

Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers, ven?

 

Well that's the thing. I don't really know much about pre-crisis vs post crisis. When I came here, I learned what it was. I also learned that I am more familiar with post crisis superman than the pre-crisis superman. So Jamal would be the one to ask about how everything compares, (whether xyz is outdated compared to the modern version etc) being in that business, I assume.

The great thing about the second poll choice is that it's all encompassing. You can have it all, or whatever you want, respecting the past and the present on one hand... On the other hand you can continue with vague sequels to an old superman franchise.

 

Just superman from donners movie, or all the landgrabbing wig wearing, otis, teschmacher and stuff?

 

The vague sequel concept was first used for Superman IV and it was a terrible idea. And I really see no difference here. It'll just confuse the hell out of everyone imho.