Well i thought they were comfortable with each other in their relationship, but as far as i see it the relationship was in the early stages and they had only slept together once. Giving Lois his identity would put her and everyone both she and Clark knows in danger, so he is right to be cautious IMO. IMO he was going to tell her soon after they slept together but the Krypton reports came in.
I think it is out of character for Superman to be having sex with someone so early in the relationship. Of course, we really don't know if it is early, there is no context given in the movie.
Wouldn't it be more dangerous to be known as SUperman's lover than Clark Kent's? The Clark identity is supposed to protect Superman's friends and family from reprisals from his enemies. If it's publicly known that Superman and Lois are a serious item, hasn't he endangered her more? Telling Lois his identity and then dating her as Clark protects her from harm. For example, look at Sacrifice which we've been discussing. Max Lord knows that Clark is SUperman and attacks him through Lois.
But shouldn't he have told her first? That is out of character as well to me and doesn't fit with previous films or stories in the comics concerning the Lois/ Superman relationship. Plus, it's not dramatized in a way which makes us understand what happened or why.
If i was leaving for 5 years and thinking i might not come back i would break it off with a girl to be honest. But thats me. I'm not Superman.
See, that's what I don't get. SInce when is SUperman less considerate than the average guy? I don't know anyone that wouldn't be honest about what was going on in this situation. So, it doesn't make any sense that SUperman, the poster-boy for being responsible and caring and considerate to EVERYONE can't do something the average person would consider natural and obligitory.
The only type of person I can imagine not breaking it off in this type of situation is a jerk, someone who cares more about himself than the other person in the relationship.
He obviously thought she wouldnt be hurt as much if he just left than if he left for a reason she didnt understand.
See, that's where the premise to me falls apart. There is no explanation of why he thinks Lois would not understand. The whole movie hinges on the fact that SUperman left for 5 years and didn't tell Lois, but SInger spent no time trying to give the audience a real reason that makes sense under the circumstances. He gave no context to make us believe that Superman had no choice or why he believed it would be better to leave w/o explaining himself. Singer didn't spend anytime giving a believable, thoughtful, and meaningful motivation for Superman's actions in this situation. It just comes off as one dimesional and unbelievable. Singer's not exploring the deeper qualities of the character or explaining WHY it makes sense. It only touches on the surface. I think the whole movie feels this way. It pretty much only addresses the dramatic issues on a surface leves and doesn't go deeper into motivations or explanations. I really believe "It was too difficult" is just bad writing b/c SInger really didn't have a reason, he just wanted to tell what comes next and expects the viewer to just accpet that Superman would act that way. I know it doesn't bother you, but to me and a number of other posters here, this is just not in any portrayal of SUperman's character. Again, it treats the situation in a very shallow manner.
I dont think its selling Lois short because, as is stated in the movie, Superman told Lois Krypton was destroyed ages ago. Thats why i dont think she would understand Superman wanting to go back there.
SO if this story broke on the newswire, wouldn't Lois know about it and wonder what was up? Wouldn't she talk to SUperman about it? Wouldn't SUperman talk to her about it if they were involved? Even as just friends? Do you keep those things most important to you from the people you love? No, you share them.
It doesn't make sense that Lois would not undertand Superman's motivation. If she doesn't she really doesn't understand Superman. If she really doesn't understand SUperman, how can she love him? THey are supposed to really be in love and love each other, right? IT's not supposed to be a schoolgirl crush that went too far to fast is it? B/c that is certainly not how their relationship has been portrayed in any medium either.
If the reason really is that Lois thinks that Krypton blew up years ago b/c of what he told her, why would Superman want to go back? WOuldn't the very fact that he told her he needed to go back be enough evidence for Lois? SUperman is honest, doesn't lie etc.... WOuld LOis not believe his reasons for needing to go back? Why would LOis not believe Superman, he's never lied to her in the past has he?
It doesn't explain why he thinks Lois wouldn't understand. It stops there, it doesn't go any deeper. Singer doesn't go any deeper when Superman finally tells Lois what he was doing. THey don't discuss what happened and why he felt she wouldn't understand. The movie just goes in a different direction with the whole savior bit, which really has nothing to do with their broken relationship which she is still looking for answers to. Again, just surface. No depth to what was going on between them. Then the idea is dropped for a different idea that I think Singer is ultimately more interested in.
I think thats true about Smallville, though i dont watch it much. I think what happened in SR isnt what Superman intended to happen, and not how he wanted it to go, but unfortunately other factors got in the way and he made some bad decisions. That doesnt make him selfish IMO, just inexperienced with relationships.
Being inexperienced in dating relationships may be one thing. But don't you think SUperman is a good enough guy that he would let that whole honesty thing pervade his entire life? If he's going to be truthful with Miss Tessmacher, why wouldn't he be honest with Lois? I think that SUperman has been established as a character who will tell the truth and be honest to avoid causing other pain and suffer himself instead. I think even in a relationship he would honor the importance of being honest and considerate of Lois, even if he doesn't know a lot about relationships. I think Superman is supposed to be mature enough to know that being honest in a relationship is just as important as being honest in all other facets of his life. That's why in the comics Clark reavealed his identity to Lois before getting really serious. That's why in SII, he did not pursue anything serious with Lois until she knew Clark and SUperman were the same person. WHen LOis figured it out in both cuts of SII, it freed him to finally pursue something serious with Lois.
Hhmmm, i seem to remember he pursued her as both Clark AND Superman in STM. Didnt he go for the flight over metropolis with her as Superman and then arrive at her apartment as Clark straight after for a date they had arranged?
Well, I've always felt the flying scene was borne out of LOis's questions in the interview about how fast he could fly. He didn't go there in an attempt to woo her on the spot. He always called her Miss Lane and was very polite and professional with her. Even at the end of the moive Lois seems to be surprised that Jimmy thinks that SUperman has taken an interest in her above anyone else, she even says, "Superman cares for everyone, Jimmy." THere are a number of times in the movies where SUperman could have stayed around and talked a bit more and made a bit of time with her, but he always takes off as soon as his job is done.
As for the date with Clark, aren't they going to a dinner together to cover as reporters? I don't think it's supposed to be an actual date.
I dont think its irresponsible or even necessarily immature behaviour.
I cannot see a mature, responsible adult in a healthy adult relationship acting the way SUperman does in the set-up for SR. I don't see how it could be anything but irresponsible and immature without further explanation of the context of the situation.
As both Brandon and Kate B said in the pre-release interviews, both Lois and Superman have never been in love before and so they dont know how to react to the situations at hand.
So, neither of them have ever been in love? That might have been helpful context. It also would lend some creedence to them being immature when it comes to relationships. However, I still think someone like SUperman who is supposed to be such a good person in all other areas of his life would find honesty and truthfulness important in relationships as well. I also think he would be savy enough to see how hurt Lois would be w/o an explanation.
If anything it seems to be naivity on Supermans part as he is inexperienced with relationships and thats why i dont see it as being selfish.
I don't think that Superman is naive about people feelings though, otherwise he wouldn't have a strong motivation for standing up for Truth and Justice. He's portrayed as a little naive in STM b/c he thinks he can stand up for Truth, Justice and the American way. If you are saying he's naive b/c he doesn't know how to act in relationships I think it's a little different than saying he doesn't understand how people feel when abandonned. He himself is supposed to know what it's like to be alone, and then to turn around and say that he doesn't understand that leaving Lois in the midst of their relationship is to misunderstand the fact that Superman CARES and can empathize.
I think if you had a story about SUperman or Clark who was young, 16 or 17 and he made these mistakes and it was all about how Superman developed into the hero he is, this story would have worked better. I still wouldn't have liked it, b/c it deviates too much from the established character in the comics, but it seems absurd to imagine an established SUperman, 27 or 28 years old, 5 years into his SUperman career (according to the SR DVD extras) making these mistakes and bad decisions. It basically says that up until this point, SUperman really didn't uderstand human nature enough to be hones with Lois the woman he loves.
Finally, after all this typing, do you know how ridiculous it still seems to me that the best idea Singer had for a SUperman moive was that he was a crappy boyfriend? There are no SUperman stories in the comics about SUperman being a crappy boyfriend. That is why the whole concept just seems so foreign to me as a SUperman story and wrong-headed characterization of Superman.
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