The Official Tom Welling Thread

[BlueTights]

actually, I can't stand popcorn. Leftover stigma from when I had braces AGES ago.

 

[triplet]

actually, I can't stand popcorn. Leftover stigma from when I had braces AGES ago.

How about some flowers instead?

 

[jas01724]

actually, I can't stand popcorn. Leftover stigma from when I had braces AGES ago.

How about boiled sweets, then?

 

[JcDc]

Back to the discussion before the popcorn talk...

You can say the vibe over there is anti Welling, or you could say the vibe in the SV forum is anti Singer/Routh/new movie because it doesn't have Welling. Either way there is a clash happening between Superman fans

I watch Smallville, I have my complaints and all but I haven't sworn it off regardless of my opinion on Welling's acting (or lack there of). But it's still an extension of the Superman universe so I watch (ok he only plays Clark Kent, but still it counts for something). The people over here that claim to not just be a SV fan or casual Supes fan, have sworn off even seeing the movie. I read one poster's comment which said something like "I'm not going to see the new Superman movie, there are other movies that will appeal to me more." I think that's pretty indicative of NOT being a Superman fan. I watched every incarnation of Superman because I'm a fan of the character. Before even knowing what's truly going on with the plot and how well it will be executed, there are people in here swearing off the character they supposedly are a fan of. I think Singer has a good record and could very well pull off a decent movie, logically a good director who likes the character can make a good movie. But... It doesn't star Tom Welling. It's not a cool spiderman like take, or revenge based movie. So because it's sticking to the roots of Superman/Clark's persona and not going MTV generation on us, it's marked as a bad thing.

Regardless if you are a fan of Superman I find it hard to believe that you can dismiss a movie about him from an established director, without even seeing it first. That's why I say some (not all) are either a SV or Welling fan first, and Superman to them is just secondary or third. Which sucks since he is the reason we even have a Smallville tv series which covers the events of the pre-superman era.

 

[darkzombiemutt]

I'm actually with you JC, I agree, I don't understand how someone can dis the movie when so little is known about it. Yeah, some things I have heard I havent gotten to cozy with, but that doesnt mean the movie is going to be bad. For al I know if could be the best live action version of Superman ever. Im not going to truely judge it until I brush the popcorn off of my lap and walk out of the theater, get into my car, drive home and spend some time on the couch, thinking about what I just saw.
Tom Welling will always be Superman to me, as well As Chris Reeve and George Reeves, one doesnt have to star in a movie to still be Superman. Hell he doesnt even need the tights for that matter. I give Routh my blessing, Im not looking to "curse" this movie in any way shape or form.
But I do disagree with one comment JC, or more to the point, the way it was used. Welling isn't really just playing Clark Kent, he's playing Kal El, both Superman and Kent in one. Saying he's only playing Kent makes it sound like he's playing someone he really isnt....but thats being nitpicky.

 

[Sioux]

JC, I've got to disagree with you. Maybe you're not a fan of Welling, and that's certainly your choice, but I think his acting is just fine. I don't care what anyone says, you can't sustain a drama series for four plus years if the lead actor can't act. I would have turned off this show a LOOONG time ago if that were the case. I don't care how good-looking the lead actor is; he's got to make his performance believable and make you care about his character. If you add in the fact that he has to perform against green/blue screens constantly and act against things that are not there, and yet still make them credible -- pretty impressive.

Before anyone tries to convince me otherwise - - don't waste your breathe. You won't change my mind.

 

[triplet]

JC, I've got to disagree with you. Maybe you're not a fan of Welling, and that's certainly your choice, but I think his acting is just fine. I don't care what anyone says, you can't sustain a drama series for four plus years if the lead actor can't act. I would have turned off this show a LOOONG time ago if that were the case. I don't care how good-looking the lead actor is; he's got to make his performance believable and make you care about his character. If you add in the fact that he has to perform against green/blue screens constantly and act against things that are not there, and yet still make them credible -- pretty impressive.

Before anyone tries to convince me otherwise - - don't waste your breathe. You won't change my mind.

I totally agree with you... I don't know why some people can't see the talent I think is so self-evident.

He's very talented and good looking to boot. He's been praised for his acting and his discipline and work ethic by the people he works with time and time again. He's one of the hardest working actors in television and he holds his own with some of the best actors working in TV.

Pretty impressive.

Actually, thanks to a connection who shall remain nameless, I recently got hold of some dailies from Smallville's first season... Not only is it fascinating to watch, if at times being very boring especially with the MOS shots, it's amazing watching those because they show you how on top of his craft he really is. I'm even more impressed with his talent because of what he'd done in those.

And I thought he was pretty amazing before seeing the dailies, so that's saying a lot.

 

[Sioux]

I agree, Triplet. Some people knock his performance in the first season, and I don't see it. The first season is where I got hooked on the show, and I was one of the viewers who refused to even give Smallville a chance. When I first heard about this series, I simply wrote it off. It was well over a year before I caught my first episode in reruns on Sunday, and I've been hooked ever since.

I've said it before, Welling emotes very well. He can convey a tremendous amount of information without saying a single word. I love that in an actor. People who criticize Welling's acting I simply tune out. It would be one thing if Welling was a supporting player who appeared once in while in an episode, then you might be able to fake bad or poor acting. Not when you're the lead. I simply could not invest an hour of my time every week for FOUR YEARS if the lead was horrible. Luckily for us, that is definitely not the case. Kudos to Tom.

 

[Serene]

How about boiled sweets, then?

I may regret this, but I have to ask.. What the heck are "boiled sweets?"

 

[AgentPat]

...I've said it before, Welling emotes very well. He can convey a tremendous amount of information without saying a single word. I love that in an actor. People who criticize Welling's acting I simply tune out. It would be one thing if Welling was a supporting player who appeared once in while in an episode, then you might be able to fake bad or poor acting. Not when you're the lead. I simply could not invest an hour of my time every week for FOUR YEARS if the lead was horrible. Luckily for us, that is definitely not the case. Kudos to Tom.

Oh Sioux, stick around. You're in good company.

I wrote this a few weeks ago on a SV board but should have posted the transcription here as well. It focuses on Welling and his performances, so it's more appropriate here anyway...

SV has taken a unique and heartwarming approach to making one of the most unrealistic characters in all of fiction relatable on a very human level. The writers didn't stop at just making an audience believe a man could fly - they made us believe in his very existence. Much of that stems from Welling himself. He has a natural pathos that's inherent in his features and acting demeanor making him a perfect casting choice for the young Clark Kent.

Executive producer and post production head Ken Horton was recently interviewed about the show. I think he summed up Welling's appeal as Clark quite nicely:

"Tom has stepped way, way up in is acting technique and his preparation and his understanding of who Clark is and what is expected of Clark. Not only do we not cut around to protect him now, we actually look to him and that character in scenes to fill in the audience to what we want them to think. Tom's really very quietly become a very, very good actor - he's obviously incredibly good looking, so the assumption is he's not a good actor and he really is. He's a very smart guy to begin with, and after the Steve Martin movie, he really seemed focused when he came back.

We were [originally] incredibly careful with our presentation of Tom. During year one in any scene he was in, we would go okay, our number one goal is to make Superman look good, so how do we do it? What do we take out, what looks do we give, etc.? Quite honestly, it was a defensive mode - we were making sure he never looked bad, sticking to the no bad film policy. He never looked bad. The more confidence he gained, it just became the opposite - he became the go to guy. Originally, because his character was so naive he didn't have to say much - a lot of puppy dog looks were perfect. The way he looked and a little bit of pathos on his part went a long, long way. He has moved past that now, but I still believe that the character succeeds because that element is never completely gone. The minute he becomes 'Superman,' the character for me loses the element that makes him human, that keeps him attached to us, and I think he feels far more human than other Clarks I've seen before...

I was doing a different series when they did the pilot, but we would talk all the time and I read it and I loved what they had done because they made this Clark far more vulnerable than other Clarks you have seen before. He is superhuman in strength, speed, looks and everything, yet he has legitimate issues. He has a very pained existence, and he bears that pain. That's what makes him far more interesting for me than the traditional Superman who just went around saving people."​

I've seen quite a few interviews like this, and they all boil down to an appreciation of how much Welling has learned and improved, how much he's grown into the character over the years, and how effortless his portrayal has become. It's a testament to how well this 28 yo actor pulls off his teen-aged persona every time somebody calls him "Superboy." The man is obviously doing his job, and doing it well.

 

[triplet]

I may regret this, but I have to ask.. What the heck are "boiled sweets?"

Is that the same as sweet breads? Yucky.

 

[JcDc]

Don't just take that one thing out of everything I said in that comment. It's like Obi Wan told Anakin "You are focusing on the negative." It bothers me when people just pick out the negative part of my post and don't recognize everything I'm saying as a whole

I find Tom to be quite bland at times. I have to be honest. I'm not saying he's a bad actor, but he's just kind of bland. He doesn't stretch his emotions to far, there was a joke manip a while back that showed Tom sad, happy, angry, concernered, etc... and it was one picture of him repeated. Funny but to the point. As for the look he has, it's more GQ imo. Like he's the lead singer of Incubus or something. It works for this generation, and certainly works for tv... BUT I just don't think Welling has the traditional look or style that relates to the comics well. It's fun to watch but it's more like Peter Parker with Superman's abilities. Meh. With that being the case I just don't feel he's right for the big screen. I wouldn't mind his take on an early Superman for a tv series "Metropolis" btw Hope that's a possibility.

 

[JcDc]

JC, I've got to disagree with you. Maybe you're not a fan of Welling, and that's certainly your choice, but I think his acting is just fine. I don't care what anyone says, you can't sustain a drama series for four plus years if the lead actor can't act. I would have turned off this show a LOOONG time ago if that were the case. I don't care how good-looking the lead actor is; he's got to make his performance believable and make you care about his character. If you add in the fact that he has to perform against green/blue screens constantly and act against things that are not there, and yet still make them credible -- pretty impressive.

Before anyone tries to convince me otherwise - - don't waste your breathe. You won't change my mind.

Here is the difference between putting yourself as a fan of Superman first, or a fan of the actor first.

Everyone knows how I don't think Tom would be right for the big screen adaption. But if he were signed on to play Superman. I would still be one of the FIRST into the theatre to watch the movie. I mean... It's SUPERMAN people!!! Whether you got the actor you want to play the part, whoever is making the decisions chose so for a reason. If multiple screen tests determined Welling was right for the part in Singer's eyes I may not have liked it. But I would NOT have sworn off the movie. I would have thought "Well it's still a Superman movie and I've been waiting for a new one forever, I'll give it a chance and maybe with an established director we can get the performance needed for a great movie "

That's the attitude I would expect from a Superman fan. So when I see people say "I want Welling! Smallville rules! Routh shouldn't be Superman so I won't see the movie" that to me is basically putting Superman secondary or even third. If your thought process is Welling>Smallville>Superman you could never be happy with a faithful adaption of the character. No matter how good the movie could be with someone else, it's not your actor of choice so you are basically choosing Welling (for example) OVER the character of Superman. Some fan you are if that's the case

 

[Serene]

I just realized that I keep confusing Pat and BT's posts, because they're avatars are so similar!

'Course, I prefer Pat's.

 

[mellyM]

Whats wrong with likeing Tom Welling more than Superman?

 

[triplet]

Whats wrong with likeing Tom Welling more than Superman?

Because you're not a real Superman fan if you do. Cha.

 

[triplet]

I just realized that I keep confusing Pat and BT's posts, because they're avatars are so similar!

'Course, I prefer Pat's.

Actually, I like yours a lot... yummy.

 

[Serene]

Whats wrong with likeing Tom Welling more than Superman?

Not a darn thing, Melly.

There are no rules. Some of us even like them both.

 

[AgentPat]

Whats wrong with likeing Tom Welling more than Superman?

Psst.... Melly, Tom Welling IS Superman.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

And with that, I'm off to the Land of Nod. Nighters folks!

 

[EEK]

Here is the difference between putting yourself as a fan of Superman first, or a fan of the actor first.

Everyone knows how I don't think Tom would be right for the big screen adaption. But if he were signed on to play Superman. I would still be one of the FIRST into the theatre to watch the movie. I mean... It's SUPERMAN people!!! Whether you got the actor you want to play the part, whoever is making the decisions chose so for a reason. If multiple screen tests determined Welling was right for the part in Singer's eyes I may not have liked it. But I would NOT have sworn off the movie. I would have thought "Well it's still a Superman movie and I've been waiting for a new one forever, I'll give it a chance and maybe with an established director we can get the performance needed for a great movie "

That's the attitude I would expect from a Superman fan. So when I see people say "I want Welling! Smallville rules! Routh shouldn't be Superman so I won't see the movie" that to me is basically putting Superman secondary or even third. If your thought process is Welling>Smallville>Superman you could never be happy with a faithful adaption of the character. No matter how good the movie could be with someone else, it's not your actor of choice so you are basically choosing Welling (for example) OVER the character of Superman. Some fan you are if that's the case

Interesting

 

[jas01724]

Everyone knows how I don't think Tom would be right for the big screen adaption.

Indeed. Just like some don't think others are right for it... next.

But if he were signed on to play Superman. I would still be one of the FIRST into the theatre to watch the movie. I mean... It's SUPERMAN people!!!

I wouldn't be going regardless of who's in it, I don't go to the cinema... next.

Whether you got the actor you want to play the part, whoever is making the decisions chose so for a reason.

Indeed.

Next.

If multiple screen tests determined Welling was right for the part in Singer's eyes I may not have liked it. But I would NOT have sworn off the movie.

No, but having seen your posts for over a year, I guarantee you'd have taken every given opportunity to state your distaste for the choices that had been made. Which sounds a little familiar... next.

I would have thought "Well it's still a Superman movie and I've been waiting for a new one forever, I'll give it a chance and maybe with an established director we can get the performance needed for a great movie "

Strange. I thought most people were at least holding onto a sliver of hope that maybe this will be a good movie. They're just not particularly expecting it to be, anymore than I'm sure you would in your own hypothetical situation... next.

That's the attitude I would expect from a Superman fan.

Not if they're a Superman fan who wants a great movie to continue the mythos rather a mediocre one to make the the studios some moolah... next.

So when I see people say "I want Welling! Smallville rules! Routh shouldn't be Superman so I won't see the movie" that to me is basically putting Superman secondary or even third.

You were doing so well, you almost went a whole post without mentioning B.J. Tut tut. Anyhoo. Liking Tom more than the character is a right you can't take away... next.

I'll skip quoting all the rest because I never wanted Tom in the movie anyway... nex - oh wait, there is no next. *pouts*

 

[EEK]

i think it works better to quote a post,. then respond to it with another post. picking a part a sentence at a time kind of screws up the meaning. at least for me anyways. oh well as you say next

 

[Thunder Emperor]

I'm actually with you JC, I agree, I don't understand how someone can dis the movie when so little is known about it. Yeah, some things I have heard I havent gotten to cozy with, but that doesnt mean the movie is going to be bad. For al I know if could be the best live action version of Superman ever. Im not going to truely judge it until I brush the popcorn off of my lap and walk out of the theater, get into my car, drive home and spend some time on the couch, thinking about what I just saw.
Tom Welling will always be Superman to me, as well As Chris Reeve and George Reeves, one doesnt have to star in a movie to still be Superman. Hell he doesnt even need the tights for that matter. I give Routh my blessing, Im not looking to "curse" this movie in any way shape or form.
But I do disagree with one comment JC, or more to the point, the way it was used. Welling isn't really just playing Clark Kent, he's playing Kal El, both Superman and Kent in one. Saying he's only playing Kent makes it sound like he's playing someone he really isnt....but thats being nitpicky.

its very easy to diss this movie. ehrn clearly the movie shows the lack of originality, by using donners flicks as a vague history connection. singer is a good director and i though the was smart a enough to develop his own script ideas without linking it to previous incarnations. I satated in the superman boards, that if he had he own origanl superman either eestablish or original and decided to give nods to whatever incarnation. the movie will be great cause while watching somethign fresh, you see the influences and the nods of appreciation to the different incarnations of superman. that is what i expected from singer.

but so far i see a superman the movie replica set. don't mind the barn, but krypton will be the same, using the same jor-el, FOS is the same. Also Routh who looks good as a reeve clone, to me shows a very feel safe approach and not sense of originality and freshness. All the peole over in the superman boards can lie all the want, but we all wanted to see a movie with a storyline heavily based of the comics, we all wanted to see a fresh more realistic verisons of FOS and krypton. We all wanted to a fresh take on clark, either it be BR or Welling. I think most people are blinded by the fact that they want a movie so bad they can't are satisfied with whatever scraps are thrown at them and then call it the best thing ever. those are just a few reason form the little we know that give people the reason to be dispeased with this movie, and I won't even go to lois and kid.

 

[EEK]

in fairness you can't assume that just because singer said he would have some nods to donner that we won't see a fresh take on anything. ever think he's making clark a nerd because that's how he's been written in the comics for decades???? he made xmen. he is smart enough to capture the essence of the character but he's also covering his tracks? you know why? because during the time of all other directors all people said was donner can not be topped and he's a genius. so to put people at ease he said that there would be nod to donner film. basicaly he thought people would feel comfort from this but in reality like with xmen he would make the characters how he needs them to be. but now instead of competing with the idea of totally restarting he is simply saying there will be a feel of the donner classic which kept him close to the comics, but he won't be tied down to it. tried pleasign everyone with his statements but then people who said they wanted donner type stuff flip flopped.

 

[Thunder Emperor]

You said it there, if the belief is donner can not be topped, then don't connect it in anyway vague or whatever. Yes singer is good, but as a comic book fan, x-men was nto as good as generally viewed but that is just too much talk.