Superman Returns Was it really THAT bad?

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I understand I felt the same about "Superman IV". I loved the Junior Novel. I don't think I need to explain what happened. That's why I went in cynical to "Superman Returns" even though the clips got me interested enough to go. Also gave a little hope that it might be good. I saw it and was happy. I went more than once and loved it more. So I had the opposite experience. I also had the benefit of only watching the clips and trailers. I didn't look up spoilers as I didn't want to be disappointed as well as leave room for some surprise. The next Superman film I might not have that luxury (I'm not claiming when it'll happen). We'll see.

Angeloz

This was my exact experience.

Warner's didn't advertise it well huh? This was in Poland:

I am so sick of hearing the lame and stupid excuse that Singer started that keeps getting parroted that SR was not advertised enough.

Buggs i can tell you now, SR was barely advertised here in Liverpool, a few but-stop posters, thats about it.

 

[Nightwing1977]

Warner's didn't advertise it well huh? This was in Poland:

I am so sick of hearing the lame and stupid excuse that Singer started that keeps getting parroted that SR was not advertised enough.

Can you like....get over it already? And SR wasn't heavily marketed as some think. Maybe it wasn't small, but it wasn't huge. Not like Batman89 anyway.

 

[GarudA]

This was my exact experience.



Buggs i can tell you now, SR was barely advertised here in Liverpool, a few but-stop posters, thats about it.

Here in London it was everywhere, in many store windows like Woolworths, who were also carrying merchandise for the film which did not move much . I had seen many posters on billboards and on buses. I had seen TV Spots many times on TV and ads that had SR. Many Cinemas had Cardboard SR posters everywhere.

 

[X-Maniac]

I saw marketing for it - mainly billboard posters with the Superman symbol and TV adverts with the bullet hitting the eye. Fairly weak, understated and pretentious/arty marketing... but clearly the movie didn't hit the right spot somewhere. It didn't resonate with the general public. Nice visual directing, shame about the rest.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Here in Liverpool it was practically non-existant, a few bus stop posters here and there, no billboards etc.

 

[Sam Fisher]

a few but-stop posters, thats about it.

I didn't know they made butt shaped posters

 

[antonydelfini]

Believe it or not, Superman Returns is the 3rd biggest grossing film of all-time in the Philippines. Only behind Spidey 3 and Titanic.

 

[Eggyman]

I like some of it. Routh was good I just have a real problem with the best action sequence being the first sequence. And as the the 'grand finale', what do you get? Oh yeah, he lifts something really big up and falls down. ooooooo riveting

 

[hammy]

Haha. That's pretty much my exact take on the movie, eggy. t:

 

[Art Damage]

WB sees no future in any sequels. They gave Singer his shot, and whether you liked the film or not, the franchise failed. You can argue whether or not the film failed, that is a matter of personal opinion. But the Singer Superman franchise is dead.

I whole heartly agree with you but where is your proof, good sir?

 

[buggs0268]

I whole heartly agree with you but where is your proof, good sir?

I can provide that looking at another film that was in the same position as SR before release and after as coming directly from the director of that film. Go here to read it-
http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=13549374&postcount=552

You might say what does that film have to do with this film. And I say, pretty much exactly everything in the way that both studios handled the films before release, it's box office, except the other film made a lot more than SR (375 WW 1998 B.O. numbers), and a hell of a lot more in merchandising (1 billion dollars 1998 sales numbers). The fact is that the road map these films share before hand, and after are extremely similar. Also, their intended sequels are following the exact same path. Studio said exactly the same thing. And the other film traveled the same path SR2 is now, and got a lot farther before it was cancelled for the same reasons I think SR 2 will actually be a reboot.

 

[buggs0268]

This was my exact experience.



Buggs i can tell you now, SR was barely advertised here in Liverpool, a few but-stop posters, thats about it.

Well it may not have been there, but acording to industry insiders, it had more of an advertising budget (100 mill) than any other film. It had laser S shapes on historical landmarks all over the world. It had more bus stop posters than any other film. It was in every store with the Pepsi and Lays cardboard standee, which was in every major grocery store I walked in at that time. It had the 7/11. They did mess up with the Burger King tie in, starting it almost 2 weeks after the movies release (but that could have been because BK was contracted to keep the tie in they were doing when SR opened till that time) But other than that, I think SR had more paid WB advertising than any film before it. In fact, even though Legendary tried to say that it was not because of SR, right after SR came out with all of that Advertising which failed to boost B.O., Legendery put a cap on the money going to what they viewed as adverising excess and waste.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I didn't know they made butt shaped posters

Oh yeah, they're all the rage here in Liverpool .

Well it may not have been there, but acording to industry insiders, it had more of an advertising budget (100 mill) than any other film. It had laser S shapes on historical landmarks all over the world. It had more bus stop posters than any other film. It was in every store with the Pepsi and Lays cardboard standee, which was in every major grocery store I walked in at that time. It had the 7/11. They did mess up with the Burger King tie in, starting it almost 2 weeks after the movies release (but that could have been because BK was contracted to keep the tie in they were doing when SR opened till that time) But other than that, I think SR had more paid WB advertising than any film before it. In fact, even though Legendary tried to say that it was not because of SR, right after SR came out with all of that Advertising which failed to boost B.O., Legendery put a cap on the money going to what they viewed as adverising excess and waste.

Legendary said around October last year that they were comitted to an SR sequel, bit contradicting to what you have posted above.

 

[Nightwing1977]

Legendary said around October last year that they were comitted to an SR sequel, bit contradicting to what you have posted above.

Yep. I read Legendary may be willing to give it a 2nd chance. Time will tell.

 

[Eggyman]

Here's how bad it is:

Last night I thought I'd watch it. The title screen hadn't even finished and it started to jump and pause. I smiled, realising I had a brilliant excuse for never watching it again. Ever.

I fully enjoyed watching Secret Window; sometimes a damaged DVD can be a good thing

 

[buggs0268]

Oh yeah, they're all the rage here in Liverpool .



Legendary said around October last year that they were comitted to an SR sequel, bit contradicting to what you have posted above.

That has nothing to do with Legendary putting a cap on advertising. And Legendary is only a financing partner with the WB. They will finance whatever WB works with them on, but have no power in greenlighting a movie. Unless the WB greenlights it, then it wont happen. And if it does, I still say it will be a reboot.

By this time in the timeline, The Dark Knight was already being cast by now and prepped for shooting.

 

[fabman]

I've finally got the right description for 'Superman Returns.' It's simple:

Bland. Boring. Slow. Uninspired. Hollow.

An absolutely hollow 200-million-dollar-toy.

 

[That'ssuper!]

I've finally got the right description for 'Superman Returns.' It's simple:

Bland. Boring. Slow. Uninspired. Hollow.

An absolutely hollow 200-million-dollar-toy.

Si Senor.

 

[fabman]

The saddest part is that it's directed by Bryan Singer, who did The Usual Suspects. So he's (usually) got talent.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

That has nothing to do with Legendary putting a cap on advertising. And Legendary is only a financing partner with the WB. They will finance whatever WB works with them on, but have no power in greenlighting a movie. Unless the WB greenlights it, then it wont happen. And if it does, I still say it will be a reboot.

By this time in the timeline, The Dark Knight was already being cast by now and prepped for shooting.

Legendary doesnt co-finance EVERY WB movie Buggs, and no they cant greenlight a movie, but if it performed as porrly as some you suggest, they wouldnt have mentioned they were committed to it would they?

 

[hammy]

Here's how bad it is:

Last night I thought I'd watch it. The title screen hadn't even finished and it started to jump and pause. I smiled, realising I had a brilliant excuse for never watching it again. Ever.

I fully enjoyed watching Secret Window; sometimes a damaged DVD can be a good thing

I only saw it once; at the theater. I had thought I'd see it at least 3-4 times on the big screen before buying the dvd, which I would watch regularly.

I've been wrong about a couple of other things, too.

 

[Super Kal]

well, at least you only saw it once... it took me 11 times to finally realize what a travesty it truly is

 

[hammy]

 

[I Am The Knight]

well, at least you only saw it once... it took me 11 times to finally realize what a travesty it truly is

Um....OK? Most people realize wheter they like a movie during their first or second viewing...But you saw it eleven times and then realized it was a "travesty" ?? Trying to convince yourself of something?

 

[mego joe]

Um....OK? Most people realize wheter they like a movie during their first or second viewing...But you saw it eleven times and then realized it was a "travesty" ?? Trying to convince yourself of something?

I believe he's said before he kept trying to convince himself there was something redeeming in it, or that at least the flaws weren't as bad as they appeared, but upon repeated viewing, continuing to give it a chance, it was crap.