The Official Tom Welling Thread

[MJZ]

Ahhhh.... another who's bigger debate. God, I love this place.



BoyscouT, I hear what you're saying about lean muscle mass verses bulk, and how it can sometimes take years to develop. No argument there at all. But these actors have access to some of the best trainers in the world (supposedly), not to mention the funds for various supplementation. (I'm talking the legal kind, not the Barry Bond's kind.) Basically, professional actors playing "Superman" *ahem* are not like us poor schmoes. Having a limited amount of time to change their body for a role is no excuse. Two words: Christian Bale. I think Welling is taking the time simply because he can.

Okay, I'm done.

[Waves to MJZ ]

I think Bale's somewhat genetically predisposed to getting buffed like that. Sure he works extremely hard, but to be able to go from skinny to fat to jacked and back again in a short time frame isn't easy to do. If you look at his development over his film career, he's always been pretty muscular.

Welling's got a great physique but I don't think he's actively trying to get bigger or anything, just to maintain a relative degree of consistency in his look for the show.

Routh, a soap opera veteran, called the physical process of donning the famed suit "humbling and sometimes painful," because of the rigors involved, but he lauds the under-armor and fake musculature. "I recommend it for everyone. Who needs the gym, right?"
http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/...,0,4661047.story?coll=cl-home-top-blurb-right

How do you like them apples, boyscout?

 

[user123456789]

I think Bale's somewhat genetically predisposed to getting buffed like that. Sure he works extremely hard, but to be able to go from skinny to fat to jacked and back again in a short time frame isn't easy to do. If you look at his development over his film career, he's always been pretty muscular.

Welling's got a great physique but I don't think he's actively trying to get bigger or anything, just to maintain a relative degree of consistency in his look for the show.

Routh, a soap opera veteran, called the physical process of donning the famed suit "humbling and sometimes painful," because of the rigors involved, but he lauds the under-armor and fake musculature. "I recommend it for everyone. Who needs the gym, right?"
http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/cl-ca-superman15jan15,0,4661047.story?coll=cl-home-top-blurb-right

How do you like them apples, boyscout?

Genetics does have a part, but nothing beats dedication, proper nutrition, and proper training. Genetics didn't get Christian Bale to what he looked like in American Psycho, I can tell you that.

With Bale, the reason why I think he's able to do that much with his body is simple, MUSCLE MEMORY. Yes, even muscles have memory.

Agree with Welling part.

Even though Routh had a muscle suit, we can't take away credit where it's due. The guy bulked up, no doubt about it. The muscle suit just added some finishing touches here and there, and helped him look more "cut."

I don't understand the apples comment lol.

 

[AgentPat]

Bale looks pretty thin in every film he's appeared in prior to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Frail, even. Watch Metroland. Wow! Skin-eee! LOL The man is just a machine, however, and a very dedicated one at that. There's a lot to be said for genetics and a predisposition to stress that your body naturally has as well. I've seen it up close and personal.

Welling appears to just be keeping up with where he needs to be based on his situation at any given moment. If there was ever a problem per se, it would be that his "situation" has changed a few times, and possibly when he least expected it. I'll leave it at that. LOL

Routh... If there was ever an example of genetics rearing its head made worse by wardrobe, he's it. His quads responded well to training, but they make his hips look overly wide. Padding in the delts to compensate for narrow shoulders tends to give him a more hourglass figure. The illusion is compounded by the underpadding in the rib area, which was probably done to broaden his lat width, but that makes his chest look more shallow by comparison. Certain design elements of his suit were just a complete failure, IMHO, which is too bad because I'm sure he did his best.

 

[Scooter]

I never saw that movie - just not into boxing - but I saw the movie poster. (The one over her shoulder.) I wasn't overly impressed, but that's nothing new for me LOL. I'll have to catch it on cable when it airs.

Depends on what he was shooting for. He might have just wanted to look big w/o the overly ripped look, I dunno. Batman is a little different than Superman though since you kind of expect his suit to be more like an armor exoskeleton. I like what they did in BB, and if Bale stays the same size for the sequel, I wouldn't mind.

Now Supes... that's a whole nutta tang. My preference for Welling's suit is that they use a light, thin material similar to lycra. Custom fit it (obviously) so wrinkles are kept to a minimum, and airbrush it with shadows and highlights that compliment Welling's musculature. Maintain Clark's already established primary colors seen on his jackets and T-shirts (red and blue), and use the yellow from Kal-El's blanket (Memoria, Commencement.) Make the size of the shield the same as Jor-El's "scar" (Exodus, Exile and Phoenix), and position it accordingly on his chest. Belt buckle should be oval, just like Jonathan and Jonathan's father wore (Red, Relic, etc), and there should be a shield on the back of the cape (Hereafter.)

Every other design element (since there's little to no precedent to fall back on IN the show), should be tailored to Welling's physique and making sure HE looks good. For example, Tom has a long torso. Aesthetically, low-riding trunks would emphasize that feature, so unless they compensate in other ways, it's probably something they wouldn't want to do. Same for the collar cut, the height of which should be determined based on a tasteful distance between where the logo sits on his chest, and his neck, clavicle and pectoral proportions. Basically, cut the suit to TOM's physique and do it in a way that compliments HIM. And most importantly, keep it simple, stupid. LOL

One would think such wardrobe decisions would be obvious to any designer who's familiar with the character, not to mention has access to the actor who will ultimately be wearing the costume, but it's not, apparently.

WTF was with making that blanket yellow, anyway? Make it red, have it be the cape - seems like a no-brainer, IMO...

 

[AgentPat]

WTF was with making that blanket yellow, anyway? Make it red, have it be the cape - seems like a no-brainer, IMO...

LOL! Ya gots me, Scoots. Maybe they just wanted to be different, who knows? It's SV, donchaknow?

 

[Milkman95]

Thank you!!

As long as we still have SV, I don't see any problems at all. Nope, none at all. I'm good.

Well, too bad that won't be the case. SV will be over more than likely next year, and you'll have BR and the new film series carrying on............

You'll always have the DVD collection though..........

 

[Supershizzle]

heh, you dont really think they'd go to the trouble of bringing it over to the new network for just 1 season, do you? Especially after they "raise the stakes" next year...

As for the films, lets see what they do at the B.O. before we start talkiing about sequels. Far better actors and directors have failed in the superhero genre.

 

[Milkman95]

heh, you dont really think they'd go to the trouble of bringing it over to the new network for just 1 season, do you? Especially after they "raise the stakes" next year...

Yes, I do. If they want to go to a 7th season, they better "raise the stakes" and bring in better writers.......

As for the films, lets see what they do at the B.O. before we start talkiing about sequels. Far better actors and directors have failed in the superhero genre.

Agreed, but I'd say it's pretty safe to say it will do well enough to generate a sequel. WB feels good enough that it's already on the slate for 2009.......

 

[KalKai]

People were saying it was gonna end in Season 4, it didn't, then they said in Season 5, it's not, you're just another 1 saying it's gonna end at 6.

 

[AgentPat]

Well, too bad that won't be the case. SV will be over more than likely next year, and you'll have BR and the new film series carrying on............

I just LOVE posts like this.

Psst... Milkman?

...Regardless of who makes this movie, smallville's not gonna air alongside it. When \S/ comes out, SV goes away. There won't be a show to bring down. . . .sorry.

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3471423&postcount=14

heh, you dont really think they'd go to the trouble of bringing it over to the new network for just 1 season, do you? Especially after they "raise the stakes" next year...

As for the films, lets see what they do at the B.O. before we start talkiing about sequels. Far better actors and directors have failed in the superhero genre.

Hey, somebody with a brain.

 

[Supershizzle]

It doesnt take much of brain, just a simple analysis of the financial expectations of each project. Smallville is a proven commodity. It's a niche show on the #5 television network that brings in it's target demo (males 18-34) in droves (comparatively). It's not difficult to talk about it's commercial viability.

The film on the other hand, is anyone's guess. It's attempting to tie itself to a 30 year old movie that was box office gold in it's time, but how that will transfer to this day and age is anyone's guess. Will the film be made relevant to today's audiences? Will kids/teens buy into it? Is it enough of a "summer film" (i.e. action piece) to wow the masses? Will adults pass it off as yet another mundane remake of something that was successful in their youth? There are a lot of questions still up in the air at this point, as we havent seen Superman proper on the big screen in quite some time. Whether Warner Bros has a sequel planned for 2009 is irrelevant at this point. Every parent thinks their baby will grow up to be President. If they didnt think it warranted a sequel, why would they be launching a "tentpole" film like this to begin with? Universal had Hulk 2 on it's docket for 2006 back in 2002. Things change. I hope for Features that the movie is a hit, there are a lot of people who've worked incredibly hard on their end, who deserve it, but the outcome is surely not a foregone conclusion.

 

[AgentPat]

It doesnt take much of brain, just a simple analysis of the financial expectations of each project. Smallville is a proven commodity. It's a niche show on the #5 television network that brings in it's target demo (males 18-34) in droves (comparatively). It's not difficult to talk about it's commercial viability.

The film on the other hand, is anyone's guess. It's attempting to tie itself to a 30 year old movie that was box office gold in it's time, but how that will transfer to this day and age is anyone's guess. Will the film be made relevant to today's audiences? Will kids/teens buy into it? Is it enough of a "summer film" (i.e. action piece) to wow the masses? Will adults pass it off as yet another mundane remake of something that was successful in their youth? There are a lot of questions still up in the air at this point, as we havent seen Superman proper on the big screen in quite some time. Whether Warner Bros has a sequel planned for 2009 is irrelevant at this point. Every parent thinks their baby will grow up to be President. If they didnt think it warranted a sequel, why would they be launching a "tentpole" film like this to begin with? Universal had Hulk 2 on it's docket for 2006 back in 2002. Things change. I hope for Features that the movie is a hit, there are a lot of people who've worked incredibly hard on their end, who deserve it, but the outcome is surely not a foregone conclusion.

Marry me!




Oh snap, I'm already married. Bummer.


Amazing post, Shizzle!

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Well I for one would have like to have seen SV move on into a Superman series but that wont happen so I am looking forward to the new movie. Also Box office ratings does not always say if there will or will not be a follow up. good example of this was The Punisher. It did bad at the box office because of all the movies that came out around that time but cleaned up on DVD sales which is why we have a follow up to it. But really the way the movie looks and sounds and all of the great reviews coming from people and people who hated the idea of Routh as Superman changing their mind once seeing him in action (not the teaser but comic con clips or sneak peeks) says alot about this movie and that it looks like Routh will be around for a while.

 

[AgentPat]

...but that wont happen...

When will folks ever learn?

Never. Say. Never.

 

[C. Lee]

I don't understand the apples comment lol.

Dancing Kitten says....it's just an old country saying.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

When will folks ever learn?

Never. Say. Never.

Okay Pat when Hell freezes over then I will believe that Welling will play as Superman in a series

 

[user123456789]

Dancing Kitten says....it's just an old country saying.

K, as long as they're granny smith apples.

PS: Congrats on the baby man!

 

[AgentPat]

Okay Pat when Hell freezes over then I will believe that Welling will play as Superman in a series

Well sheeeeeitt... Better buy a parka now then.

SV is a "series," y'know?




...Baby? C. Lee, you been busy? Congrats man!

 

[Supershizzle]

Well I for one would have like to have seen SV move on into a Superman series but that wont happen so I am looking forward to the new movie.

Pat is right, never say never. With a certain frivolous lawsuit looming, and the show having a cast that's a known marketable commodity. The idea of taking the next step while the cast is still signed isnt a new one in the hallowed halls of the Brothers Warner....

Also Box office ratings does not always say if there will or will not be a follow up. good example of this was The Punisher. It did bad at the box office because of all the movies that came out around that time but cleaned up on DVD sales which is why we have a follow up to it.

Punisher is not the example you really want SR to follow. It was a small film done by a small production house that broke even in theaters and then profited in about the 15% range after being released on video. All things considered it was a low budget film, with a prod budget of about $33 million. That's a much easier margin to reach.
SR on the other hand is a major studio release, and a tentpole film that WB is basing their summer, if not their year, around. It's prod budget, for arguments sake, is approx $175 million, not counting the massive promotional effort that will start with the release of the trailer next week. If a movie like that just makes back it production budget in theatres, it's considered a bomb. It doesnt have the luxury of surviving based on DVD sales, the margin is too large. Small franchises can survive on the home market because their costs are relatively low, big ones need those box office grosses or they're doomed.

But really the way the movie looks and sounds and all of the great reviews coming from people and people who hated the idea of Routh as Superman changing their mind once seeing him in action (not the teaser but comic con clips or sneak peeks) says alot about this movie and that it looks like Routh will be around for a while.

You cant rely on fan speak to judge the commercial viability of a franchise. The geeks on the Net and the people at the Comic Cons (usually one in the same) make up such a small percentage of revenue (i.e. audience), and are usually deeply biased one way or another. It's akin to making a prediction on who the next President will be by polling one of the candidate's home towns that has a population of 5.000. It's statistically flawed. There are far too many question marks surrounding the Superman frnachise at this point to try and make any kind of accurate prediction about it's long term success.

 

[avidreader]

^^^^ Supershizzle I hope you plan on hanging around here a while. I like ya alot already.

Congrats C. Lee on the baby.

 

[user123456789]

Don't ya'll visit the Community Section?

 

[Serene]

Don't ya'll visit the Community Section?

No.

Congrats C. Lee! Babies rock.

Supershizzle - I'm getting in line behind Pat to marry you.

 

[Milkman95]

I just LOVE posts like this.

Psst... Milkman?

Well, thats why I said "more than likely", not that it would for sure. READ.

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3471423&postcount=14

Hey, somebody with a brain.

Yeah, that post was entertaining......

 

[Milkman95]

It doesnt take much of brain, just a simple analysis of the financial expectations of each project. Smallville is a proven commodity. It's a niche show on the #5 television network that brings in it's target demo (males 18-34) in droves (comparatively). It's not difficult to talk about it's commercial viability.

No, not at all, but to think just because it moved to another network means it's automatically renewed for a 7th season is just as much as a guess as my comment was.

The film on the other hand, is anyone's guess. It's attempting to tie itself to a 30 year old movie that was box office gold in it's time, but how that will transfer to this day and age is anyone's guess. Will the film be made relevant to today's audiences? Will kids/teens buy into it? Is it enough of a "summer film" (i.e. action piece) to wow the masses? Will adults pass it off as yet another mundane remake of something that was successful in their youth? There are a lot of questions still up in the air at this point, as we havent seen Superman proper on the big screen in quite some time. Whether Warner Bros has a sequel planned for 2009 is irrelevant at this point. Every parent thinks their baby will grow up to be President. If they didnt think it warranted a sequel, why would they be launching a "tentpole" film like this to begin with? Universal had Hulk 2 on it's docket for 2006 back in 2002. Things change. I hope for Features that the movie is a hit, there are a lot of people who've worked incredibly hard on their end, who deserve it, but the outcome is surely not a foregone conclusion.

You're right, the recent Animated Series was the only thing that was done well since 1978 in TV or film, everything else has been a departure. Introducing Superman back to audiences is not an easy task, especially with all the different directions the character has gone since then......

-The origin has been told too many times, and it's too close to SV, so that's out. Plus, Donner told the perfect origin story already in my opinion.
-Doing just a stand-alone film with no connectivity would also be tough.
-Doing a SV type film might have worked, but that's also a bigger risk than what they ultimately went with in my opinion.

A Return type story was really a good idea to introduce this character back to movie audiences. It raises some magnificent questions. Most adults and even kids have seen the Reeve films now. A "remake" it surely isn't and the other questions you raise is why Bryan Singer ultimately won the job - reflect the Reeve Superman but update the character to reflect today's climate and atmosphere so new audiences can relate.

Sorry for the non-SV rant, but had to answer.......

 

[AgentPat]

Well, thats why I said "more than likely", not that it would for sure. READ.

Oh, I read it. A few times in fact. You started with a pretty definitive statement: "too bad that won't be the case," and ended said statement the same: "you'll have BR and the new film series carrying on."

I've got a better one... More than likely, you're wrong.

Just "guessing' now.