The Official Costume Thread - - - - - - - - - - - Part 20

[KalMart]

I think with Supes in particular...the more we try to explain or justify it in function or design, aside from just style/flair that speaks for itself, the more we expose it as being comic-y or childish. At least with Spidey, it is a teenager with a certain self-gratification from the theatricality, and he has a mask over his face. The easiest and most direct answer as to why Supes' suit is the way it is...is because it worked best for the comics.

Now...I don't think Supes' suit needs an explanation/origin in the film. I actually thought S:TM handled it with great aplomb...it's what he wears. And as for a sense of 'ridicule' over it, it's disarmed from the outset...you have a street guy laughing at it...but when Supes takes off and catches that helicopter, no on'e laughing anymore. That's all you really need for him. Hint at some design cues from the Kryptonian attire, but let the iconography of the outfit that's ingrained in everyone just take over as Supes makes his stupendous first appearance.

Otherwise, you really will have to explain why a man would wear blue tights, red boots, and a cape...for anything. Why, Superman? "Because that's what I wear..now excuse me while I save the city from this disaster/attack/invasion/etc...."

 

[afan]

You could say it serves the function of being something he can wear without destroying it every time he flies into the sun or whatever.

Exactly. It has nothing to do with protecting Superman, it's function is self serving.
but......Let's not forget he often uses his cape to protect others from harm.

 

[KalMart]

You could say it serves the function of being something he can wear without destroying it every time he flies into the sun or whatever.

And so he's not naked, etc. True...but why tights and boots and a cape, though? Why wasn't it made to be more of a jumpsuit or tactical uniform?

Why should we be even addressing that, y'know?

In MOS, from the looks of it, it's alien-like in origin, so maybe we can again attribute it to something of his Kryptonian 'heritage' passed down or what have you that made it with him on the initial trip. That should be fine for a quick, three-second explanation/connection on screen, and then it's off to the races.

 

[KingKane88]

^^^ . It doesn't just look alien in origin, it is alien in origin. From what we can see from the set pics Jor-El has the same costume design on [under whatever that thing is he is wearin] as Sups. Not only that, but look at Zod's costume, identical to Sups just different symbol and color. Sups is going Kryptonian in this one.

 

[KalMart]

^^^ . It doesn't just look alien in origin, it is alien in origin. From what we can see from the set pics Jor-El has the same costume design on [under whatever that thing is he is wearin] as Sups. Not only that, but look at Zod's costume, identical to Sups just different symbol and color. Sups is going Kryptonian in this one.

Oh yeah? Well....I say it LOOKS like it IS alien in origin.

Ha-haaa....!!




I actually haven't seen JorEl or Zod's new getup...but I assumed that there'd be some sort of visual connection kinda' like the 'S' on Brando's JorEl garb.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Do we really want the suit to made by him mother, though? I mean...it's 2012, y'know?

No.

That's why I said in the above post that I think it's most logical to have the suit be alien in origin... which from the looks of the set pics, it is

But in fairness, it's not ridiculous for Clark's mother to have made him the suit out of fabric from the ship he came in, and base it on kryptonian clothing like they did in Birthright.

It just doesn't translate very well on screen as 'cool'.

I think with Supes in particular...the more we try to explain or justify it in function or design, aside from just style/flair that speaks for itself, the more we expose it as being comic-y or childish. At least with Spidey, it is a teenager with a certain self-gratification from the theatricality, and he has a mask over his face. The easiest and most direct answer as to why Supes' suit is the way it is...is because it worked best for the comics.

Now...I don't think Supes' suit needs an explanation/origin in the film. I actually thought S:TM handled it with great aplomb...it's what he wears. And as for a sense of 'ridicule' over it, it's disarmed from the outset...you have a street guy laughing at it...but when Supes takes off and catches that helicopter, no on'e laughing anymore. That's all you really need for him. Hint at some design cues from the Kryptonian attire, but let the iconography of the outfit that's ingrained in everyone just take over as Supes makes his stupendous first appearance.

Otherwise, you really will have to explain why a man would wear blue tights, red boots, and a cape...for anything. Why, Superman? "Because that's what I wear..now excuse me while I save the city from this disaster/attack/invasion/etc...."

Like I and others have said... it very much appears that the suit is a kryptonian battle costume of some sort. Zod is wearing something similar, Jor-el is wearing something similar.

You don't have to explain why boots and capes where fashionable on krypton. Just that they were and that's why Superman is wearing them.

Exactly. It has nothing to do with protecting Superman, it's function is self serving.
but......Let's not forget he often uses his cape to protect others from harm.

I'll concede. I can see the cape as functional

 

[camp Blood]

its like a force field

 

[KalMart]

No.

That's why I said in the above post that I think it's most logical to have the suit be alien in origin... which from the looks of the set pics, it is

But in fairness, it's not ridiculous for Clark's mother to have made him the suit out of fabric from the ship he came in, and base it on kryptonian clothing like they did in Birthright.

It just doesn't translate very well on screen as 'cool'.

I think that some people prefer the 'home-made' version more as a story, though. I do agree that the alien-sourced one works better for film, but again...there will probably be some folks who are tired of 'for film' concessions and such and will always have a bone to pick with an aspect like that.

Like I and others have said... it very much appears that the suit is a kryptonian battle costume of some sort. Zod is wearing something similar, Jor-el is wearing something similar.

You don't have to explain why boots and capes where fashionable on krypton. Just that they were and that's why Superman is wearing them.



I'll concede. I can see the cape as functional

The key to avoiding a lot of questions about the suit is to give people less time and room to ask about it.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I think that some people prefer the 'home-made' version more as a story, though. I do agree that the alien-sourced one works better for film, but again...there will probably be some folks who are tired of 'for film' concessions and such and will always have a bone to pick with an aspect like that.

Well that's what we have in this film. It already IS one of many 'for film' decisions they've made, along with removing the trunks.

The key to avoiding a lot of questions about the suit is to give people less time and room to ask about it.

What are the questions you forsee being asked?

Because personally, I don't see there ARE going to be a lot of questions.

Say this is the scenario:

Jor-el places the suit in the ship, a momento of their culture and a reminder to baby Kal-el of his family's crest and their heritage. As an older Clark Kent starts to learn more about himself and his capabilities, he considers the suit and the emblem, and what it would mean to wear it and tell the world the truth about himself and become a symbol, using the image of his ancestors. Zod and Ursa's appearance as a threat to the earth encourages him to do just that.

Suit explained.

What questions would people have that need to be answered beyond that?

 

[El Payaso]

Do we really want the suit to made by him mother, though? I mean...it's 2012, y'know?




Imagine....it's Clark's first week in Metropolis...he's at his apartment when his phone rings....


Clark: Hello?

Martha: Hi sweetie, it's Mom.....

I imagined also a Everybody loves Raymond kind of scene there.

 

[Lily Adler]

Clark signs Martha up for the Fruit of the Month Club?

 

[KalMart]

Well that's what we have in this film. It already IS one of many 'for film' decisions they've made, along with removing the trunks.



What are the questions you forsee being asked?

Because personally, I don't see there ARE going to be a lot of questions.

Say this is the scenario:

Jor-el places the suit in the ship, a momento of their culture and a reminder to baby Kal-el of his family's crest and their heritage. As an older Clark Kent starts to learn more about himself and his capabilities, he considers the suit and the emblem, and what it would mean to wear it and tell the world the truth about himself and become a symbol, using the image of his ancestors. Zod and Ursa's appearance as a threat to the earth encourages him to do just that.

Suit explained.

How would the image/style of an otherworld that the public know nothing about symbolize anything...except him being an alien? Did JorEl want him to wear this in public to profess Kryptonian ways and values on the people of earth? Let's say this is the case...how does the audience get to know that? Will we 'hear his thoughts'? Because unless we do, just trying to show it wouldn't really be any different than if it was more the home-made type...he'd stick out just the same with those red boots and cape and...

Better off to just show the style connection with the Kryptonian thing, and from there...he's just wearing it because it's a Superhero movie and he's superman. Sounds like a given, but it's less and less so these days especially with so many hero-flicks out there.

Never mind the symbol/emblem/etc. stuff. It could do more harm than good.

What questions would people have that need to be answered beyond that?

I think it's more about feeling that they 'should' be asked, if that makes any sense...partly because of certain formulas that superhero and formula stories have followed recently. As we have discussed, WE know that Supes' suit isn't meant to be functional like other characters'...something the movies can draw substantial mileage from. But I think there is an expectation on the part of the viewer for some sort of 'justification' like that in any Superhero movie. Be they Nolan's, or Singer's, or whoever else's, recent comic-based movies have gone to more lengths to establish more 'plausibility' around aspects of their character that in comics or animation are taken moreso as just hallmarks of the art form. The movies and viewers grasp for some relatability in that respect.

Same things with, say, sci-fi movies where spacegoing and/or alien folks don't just have ridiculous shiny plates and stuff to look un-erathly...there's more thought put into design and function that's relatable to something 'real', like the military or our understanding of technology, and so on.

But with Superman, you're pretty much asking for the biggest 'leap', because in looking so much like us, and not having a mask, or being some sort of foreign being to us, there's less of a safety net and we're more conditioned these days to address bullet-points. We sometimes find ourselves reaching for function or reason with his tights and cape that really won't 'sell' like they do with Batman or Iron Man because he is so invulnerable and unmasked, etc. It's a big part of taking these movies more 'seriously' these days. I think that's become more of a vulnerability with the character over the years...but the strength lies in familiarity of the archetype. And I kinda feel that the Supes suit origin may be better left to mystery...if not where it came from with alien influences...but why he adopted it, what does it represent, what does it symbolize, all that stuff.

So in terms of 'questions'...put it this way...explanations/origins may open up more questions that wont help it. Hopefully you can put together a story in which you do leave some things up to questions like that, in a good way. A la...one day out of the blue a hero shows up in a bright costume and left is speechless. Leave us more in wonder and mystery in regards to the suit, even though we're exposed to other parts of his life. Anyone can just point to it and snicker...but they won't as he's saving their ass.

 

[KalMart]

I imagined also a Everybody loves Raymond kind of scene there.

And then later at night we see him going to bed in a black composite tactical uniform.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

How would the image/style of an otherworld that the public know nothing about symbolize anything...except him being an alien? Did JorEl want him to wear this in public to profess Kryptonian ways and values on the people of earth? Let's say this is the case...how does the audience get to know that? Will we 'hear his thoughts'? Because unless we do, just trying to show it wouldn't really be any different than if it was more the home-made type...he'd stick out just the same with those red boots and cape and...

Better off to just show the style connection with the Kryptonian thing, and from there...he's just wearing it because it's a Superhero movie and he's superman. Sounds like a given, but it's less and less so these days especially with so many hero-flicks out there.

Never mind the symbol/emblem/etc. stuff. It could do more harm than good.

1. I wasn't saying the suit itself would mean anything to the public, but becoming a superhero and donning a costume is about making yourself into a symbol. Otherwise, why bother with a costume at all? The suit is just a good choice of costume, because it also has a special meaning for him.

2. Personally I wouldn't have Jor-el have sent the suit with the intention of anything of the sort. As I said before, I just think he'd have included it as a reminder for baby Kal-el of where he is from.... which makes perfect sense to me. I mean, any culture that has a specific dress, would regard it highly.

I think it's more about feeling that they 'should' be asked, if that makes any sense...partly because of certain formulas that superhero and formula stories have followed recently. As we have discussed, WE know that Supes' suit isn't meant to be functional like other characters'...something the movies can draw substantial mileage from. But I think there is an expectation on the part of the viewer for some sort of 'justification' like that in any Superhero movie. Be they Nolan's, or Singer's, or whoever else's, recent comic-based movies have gone to more lengths to establish more 'plausibility' around aspects of their character that in comics or animation are taken moreso as just hallmarks of the art form. The movies and viewers grasp for some relatability in that respect.

Same things with, say, sci-fi movies where spacegoing and/or alien folks don't just have ridiculous shiny plates and stuff to look un-erathly...there's more thought put into design and function that's relatable to something 'real', like the military or our understanding of technology, and so on.

But with Superman, you're pretty much asking for the biggest 'leap', because in looking so much like us, and not having a mask, or being some sort of foreign being to us, there's less of a safety net and we're more conditioned these days to address bullet-points. We sometimes find ourselves reaching for function or reason with his tights and cape that really won't 'sell' like they do with Batman or Iron Man because he is so invulnerable and unmasked, etc. It's a big part of taking these movies more 'seriously' these days. I think that's become more of a vulnerability with the character over the years...but the strength lies in familiarity of the archetype. And I kinda feel that the Supes suit origin may be better left to mystery...if not where it came from with alien influences...but why he adopted it, what does it represent, what does it symbolize, all that stuff.

So in terms of 'questions'...put it this way...explanations/origins may open up more questions that wont help it. Hopefully you can put together a story in which you do leave some things up to questions like that, in a good way. A la...one day out of the blue a hero shows up in a bright costume and left is speechless. Leave us more in wonder and mystery in regards to the suit, even though we're exposed to other parts of his life. Anyone can just point to it and snicker...but they won't as he's saving their ass.

I think what your missing is that 'realism' in modern movies isn't neccesarily about explaining things in a way that makes actual literal sense.

It's just about giving the audience some explanation so that it doesn't FEEL unrealistic.

For instance, in Spiderman 1 we have a whole montage of him designing his own costume. So we have an explanation as to where the costume came from - he didn't just show up on screen wearing it with no explanation at all (which would make it harder for the audience to accept the film as 'realistic').

However, they didn't have to go into ridiculous detail on how he got the skills or the money to make such a brilliant costume.

It's not neccesary for the explanation to be completely and utterly believable in every way.

Just like the glasses disguise, people KNOW it couldn't really happen. But their satisfied enough that in the reality of that world, that is how it is.

With Superman's suit, you don't have to go into incredible details about how Jor-el knew what size would fit his grown son, or why the 's' emblem looks so much like one of our alphabets letters, or why it's primary colours etc etc.

You just have to say where the suit came from, and why he's now putting it on.

 

[Fudgie]

Keep the trunks. I love them.

 

[KalMart]

1. I wasn't saying the suit itself would mean anything to the public, but becoming a superhero and donning a costume is about making yourself into a symbol. Otherwise, why bother with a costume at all? The suit is just a good choice of costume, because it also has a special meaning for him.

2. Personally I wouldn't have Jor-el have sent the suit with the intention of anything of the sort. As I said before, I just think he'd have included it as a reminder for baby Kal-el of where he is from.... which makes perfect sense to me. I mean, any culture that has a specific dress, would regard it highly.



I think what your missing is that 'realism' in modern movies isn't neccesarily about explaining things in a way that makes actual literal sense.

I never said it was realism. It's more about plausibility logically grounded by something we know to be 'real'. Easier to do with armor or maybe even jets and missiles. The suit for the invulnerable man...tougher.

It's just about giving the audience some explanation so that it doesn't FEEL unrealistic.

For instance, in Spiderman 1 we have a whole montage of him designing his own costume. So we have an explanation as to where the costume came from - he didn't just show up on screen wearing it with no explanation at all (which would make it harder for the audience to accept the film as 'realistic').

However, they didn't have to go into ridiculous detail on how he got the skills or the money to make such a brilliant costume.

It's not neccesary for the explanation to be completely and utterly believable in every way.

Again, it's not like where this person a got the money or what have you...more like why would the character need armor, or a mask, etc. Other characters inherently have more reasons/usages/utility for that with their suits and motifs, Superman not so much. So they might be better off not even addressing it to a similar extent with an 'explanation'....hopefully the image and actions are striking and wondrous enough so we just accept it as style. Or...just leave it a mystery.

Just like the glasses disguise, people KNOW it couldn't really happen. But their satisfied enough that in the reality of that world, that is how it is.

With Superman's suit, you don't have to go into incredible details about how Jor-el knew what size would fit his grown son, or why the 's' emblem looks so much like one of our alphabets letters, or why it's primary colours etc etc.

You just have to say where the suit came from, and why he's now putting it on.

Or just give visual cues like on JorEl's suit....and put it on....like I recommended .

 

[Herolee10]

I just hope that we get a decent "shirt rip" transformation in this film.

 

[KalMart]

I hope we get a real good first takeoff, too. And flying in general, Supes has to win back the throne from Matrix and Iron Man in that department. Just being Superman isn't enough.

 

[Herolee10]

I hope we get a real good first takeoff, too. And flying in general, Supes has to win back the throne from Matrix and Iron Man in that department. Just being Superman isn't enough.

Agreed; we should see a variation types of takeoffs in this film imho, going from subtle and quiet take offs, to him forcefully blasting into the sky.

 

[KalMart]

Agreed; we should see a variation types of takeoffs in this film imho, going from subtle and quiet take offs, to him forcefully blasting into the sky.

I'd prefer the first one to be like he's shot out of a cannon, with a huge wake behind him kicking up debris and tearing a hole in the clouds. Matrix unfortunately stole some of that thunder, but I think the setting can look better with Supes.

I always pictured this sequence where he knows there's trouble as he moves away from a crowd of reporters and takes a construction elevator up a building being built...just the basic structure and a lot of beams. On the way up he gathers himself and takes a deep breath....it's his first time doing this in public, after all. The elevator doors open on the top floor, and he does the shirt rip as he exits...then various articles of clothing come off revealing the Super-suit as he runs down an I-Beam stories above the city. The last piece of clothing falls away as he takes one big leap (in slo-mo) off the end of the beam, straightens out one arm and forms a fist, then rockets away like a launched missile accompanied by a huge 'boom'. Or somethin' like that.

 

[Kurosawa]

I think with Supes in particular...the more we try to explain or justify it in function or design, aside from just style/flair that speaks for itself, the more we expose it as being comic-y or childish. At least with Spidey, it is a teenager with a certain self-gratification from the theatricality, and he has a mask over his face. The easiest and most direct answer as to why Supes' suit is the way it is...is because it worked best for the comics.

Now...I don't think Supes' suit needs an explanation/origin in the film. I actually thought S:TM handled it with great aplomb...it's what he wears. And as for a sense of 'ridicule' over it, it's disarmed from the outset...you have a street guy laughing at it...but when Supes takes off and catches that helicopter, no on'e laughing anymore. That's all you really need for him. Hint at some design cues from the Kryptonian attire, but let the iconography of the outfit that's ingrained in everyone just take over as Supes makes his stupendous first appearance.

Otherwise, you really will have to explain why a man would wear blue tights, red boots, and a cape...for anything. Why, Superman? "Because that's what I wear..now excuse me while I save the city from this disaster/attack/invasion/etc...."

Martha made the costume from his baby blankets in STM. Lara wraps him in the blankets, the costume is visible as he starts towards the arctic. They were subtle about it, but if you knew your Superman, you knew what it was. In fact, it's the first thing in the movie that I noticed they got right when I first saw it as a kid in 1978.

Regardless of where the costume comes from, he wears it to honor his forefathers, and to let the world know that he is not hiding from view-that he is there to help, and to inspire, right out in the open. Blue costume and a red cape is not conspicuous.

 

[KalMart]

Martha made the costume from his baby blankets in STM. Lara wraps him in the blankets, the costume is visible as he starts towards the arctic. They were subtle about it, but if you knew your Superman, you knew what it was. In fact, it's the first thing in the movie that I noticed they got right when I first saw it as a kid in 1978.

Really? I didn't get that part, to be honest...not as a kid in '78, either. The cloth that young Kal-El was wrapped in had a shiny sheen to it, unlike his Supes costume. Put it this way the movie itself didn't make that clear, even if it left some possible ways for those familiar to make that connection, as you point out. I never saw it in the backpack...cool tidbit.

But that red cloth that he had around his waist when he lifts the car...I always thought that was something the Kents had like a sweater or towel, since it looked so different than the shiny stuff the baby had in the ship.

Regardless of where the costume comes from, he wears it to honor his forefathers, and to let the world know that he is not hiding from view-that he is there to help, and to inspire, right out in the open. Blue costume and a red cape is not conspicuous.

That's nice to read and write, but unless one can pick that up in about 15 seconds of visuals without knowing it beforehand, I think the film may be better off with the visual cues from Jor-El's outfit in terms of Alien origins...and he wears it because he's Superman in a Superman movie.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

I never said it was realism. It's more about plausibility logically grounded by something we know to be 'real'. Easier to do with armor or maybe even jets and missiles. The suit for the invulnerable man...tougher.

What's that about armour jets and missles?

And since we've already gone over the fact that Superman's suit is not primarily for functionality, the fact he is invulnerable does not effect how realistic it is that he wears one.

Just like BB explained that Bruce decides to wear a suit that looks like a bat because 'Bats frighten me, it's time my enemies share my dread', it doesn't take much to show that Clark chooses that costume because it feels right to honour where he's from in that way.

Again, it's not like where this person a got the money or what have you...more like why would the character need armor, or a mask, etc. Other characters inherently have more reasons/usages/utility for that with their suits and motifs, Superman not so much. So they might be better off not even addressing it to a similar extent with an 'explanation'....hopefully the image and actions are striking and wondrous enough so we just accept it as style. Or...just leave it a mystery.

I think the trouble is that YOU don't see why he would wear the suit. Despite there being plenty of obvious reason that could easily be brought out in the script (and knowing Goyer, probably will be).

Or just give visual cues like on JorEl's suit....and put it on....like I recommended .

I just think that's lazy and distances the audience.

 

[KalMart]

What's that about armour jets and missles?

And since we've already gone over the fact that Superman's suit is not primarily for functionality, the fact he is invulnerable does not effect how realistic it is that he wears one.

'Realistic' isn't the accurate term, though...more like plausible outside of the fact that it's a comic character. I feel it could be a tougher sell for Supes because of that lack of functionality as we've all discussed.

Just like BB explained that Bruce decides to wear a suit that looks like a bat because 'Bats frighten me, it's time my enemies share my dread', it doesn't take much to show that Clark chooses that costume because it feels right to honour where he's from in that way.

Bruce needs that fear/image as a psychological weapon, and he needed the weapons because he was a man of normal flesh and blood. Again, there was utility there. I guess with Supes, at least HE will always know he's honoring where he's from, if that's enough. Or....we could hear that when Lois asks 'Why the suit', and he answers 'It honors where I'm from'....and people who eventually read that article will know that they wear capes and tights and boots on where Supes is from...which will hopefully help the not think it's as funny-looking.

And then find it fascinating that there's finally evidence of life on other planets, and they look just like us and.....

I think the trouble is that YOU don't see why he would wear the suit. Despite there being plenty of obvious reason that could easily be brought out in the script (and knowing Goyer, probably will be).

I just think that's lazy and distances the audience.

No, the story ideas are the easy part, as we've illustrated. And putting them into the script would be a rather typical approach. I just think that it could ultimately be more poetic by not going into the explanation/connection in such a definite/literal/verbalized way...and that would better represent the approach of treating the suit as a stylistic choice regarding this type of story, if you will. The opposite of being lazy, really, and creating more of a sense of myth behind it in addition to the idea of his power and abilities.

I think ultimately that Superman needs that more these days, in that audiences are already distanced from Superman because of certain things exposing themselves via explanation et al. Some feel that Supes has lost ground to other characters because people aren't identifying with him as much. I kinda' feel the opposite...in that people/audiences have lost the wonderment and awe in him...and that applying many of the formulaic narrative 'rules' like with other movies could be to his detriment. In this case, the suit as one of the aspects.

Not to make Supes out to be a god...but even though we may want to know why/how Batman uses his cape or gadgets, or why the GL corps wears masks.....we don't ask this way about an angel's wings or halo, which they don't need like Batman needs his cape or Iron Man needs his rockets. But it certainly adds something to their image and presence as objects of wonder/power/awe/fear/etc...which is why artists added them and why the image endures. I feel with the right kind of story/setup...Supes' suit cold be much the same, even if other aspects of the story are treated with more real-world sensibility and plausibility. In that way...we're not laughing or seeking an explanation for the cute bird-wings attached to that angel's back and that golden hoop above its head. We're not asking why or how or what for...but we're taken aback by the image. To me, that's what Superman and his suit need more in film.

But yeah...we're talking Goyer here.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

'Realistic' isn't the accurate term, though...more like plausible outside of the fact that it's a comic character. I feel it could be a tougher sell for Supes because of that lack of functionality as we've all discussed.

Agree to disagree then. I don't think it's a tough sell at all.

Bruce needs that fear/image as a psychological weapon, and he needed the weapons because he was a man of normal flesh and blood. Again, there was utility there. I guess with Supes, at least HE will always know he's honoring where he's from, if that's enough. Or....we could hear that when Lois asks 'Why the suit', and he answers 'It honors where I'm from'....and people who eventually read that article will know that they wear capes and tights and boots on where Supes is from...which will hopefully help the not think it's as funny-looking.

And then find it fascinating that there's finally evidence of life on other planets, and they look just like us and.....

I don't know that it's neccesary to explain to the public within the film why he's wearing the suit...

I'm only suggesting it's neccesary to explain to the audience WATCHING the film.

No, the story ideas are the easy part, as we've illustrated. And putting them into the script would be a rather typical approach. I just think that it could ultimately be more poetic by not going into the explanation/connection in such a definite/literal/verbalized way...and that would better represent the approach of treating the suit as a stylistic choice regarding this type of story, if you will. The opposite of being lazy, really, and creating more of a sense of myth behind it in addition to the idea of his power and abilities.

I think ultimately that Superman needs that more these days, in that audiences are already distanced from Superman because of certain things exposing themselves via explanation et al. Some feel that Supes has lost ground to other characters because people aren't identifying with him as much. I kinda' feel the opposite...in that people/audiences have lost the wonderment and awe in him...and that applying many of the formulaic narrative 'rules' like with other movies could be to his detriment. In this case, the suit as one of the aspects.

Not to make Supes out to be a god...but even though we may want to know why/how Batman uses his cape or gadgets, or why the GL corps wears masks.....we don't ask this way about an angel's wings or halo, which they don't need like Batman needs his cape or Iron Man needs his rockets. But it certainly adds something to their image and presence as objects of wonder/power/awe/fear/etc...which is why artists added them and why the image endures. I feel with the right kind of story/setup...Supes' suit cold be much the same, even if other aspects of the story are treated with more real-world sensibility and plausibility. In that way...we're not laughing or seeking an explanation for the cute bird-wings attached to that angel's back and that golden hoop above its head. We're not asking why or how or what for...but we're taken aback by the image. To me, that's what Superman and his suit need more in film.

But yeah...we're talking Goyer here.

While I understand what your saying, the importance difference here is that this is Superman's origin story.

I mean, if they do an origin story about Angel Gabrielle or something, maybe they would incorporate a halo that's more grounded in realism, or have a scene about how his wings grew...