No. I can almost guarantee that the studio chiefs barely listened to his pitch. It was the fact that he was the director of two successful comic films that they backed. Same thing happened with Hulk. I think they backed the director, not the idea.
And I don't think Singer went into it thinking it was a risky artistic undertaking as well. That would be pretentious of any artist to do.
I can see the logic in that. But how do you think he went into it?
Where in the rules does it state that? Would it not be possible for someone to do an Elseworld in the style of the Fleischer shorts? Or do a follow up to the George Reeves show? Who said you can't revisit a prior narrative in an Elseworld? Isn't the point that you can play in any sandbox you choose?
Perhaps, but it becomes more and more like one of those 'What if..' comicbooks that are, ultimately, not part of the main picture.
I think Singer 'fell between two stools' here, in trying to create something different but then being somewhat shackled by the Donner world. Hence some people complaining that it seems the same Superman as in the Donner movies yet behaving out of character from that Donner version.
But, if some people enjoyed Singer's vision, then so be it. The critics liked it, the audience was moderately interested (though not champing at the bit), the online community is divided as hell.
I think a bigger revamp, rather than one with Donner trappings, would have helped.
Sure. But then you have the scene afterwards with him flying into the sky with tears in his eyes. Pretty sure I see regret there.
I don't recall the tears, but I accept this argument.
Are people so clear cut in real life though? Doesn't everyone have conflicting feelings? I could see him trying to "recapture their magic" but I think he quickly realizes that it's not going to happen. Does he push the issue? No. Instead he explains why he has returned. But like any human being, he finds it hard to confront the reality of the consequences of his actions.
If he left earth for Krypton, which would mean at least five years' absence, and possibly that he'd be gone for longer than Lois's lifespan, then he must have accepted that Lois would move on. She might even have died in the meantime, while he was away. So might Martha. To come back to earth and expect things to be the same, or to be able to pick up where he left off, was remarkably short-sighted. And what if he'd been gone longer? It's very childish behaviour - 'I'll do what the hell I like, and when I come back, I expect everything to be the same, and everyone waiting for me.'
I think the character looks far better, and more relatable, if he says goodbye to Lois and gives an explanation that gives some closure to the anxieties over his leaving. It would mean he'd done all he could to be honest and caring.
But, again, if you can understand (and relate to) and accept his behaviour, then that's fine.
Ok. For one thing, it was a throwaway gag. But that being said, if you're going to go that far into examining...IF it makes him look mean, fine. It gives him a starting point as a character. He then does things like, I dunno, SAVE a PLANE. And then, I dunno, SAVE a CITY. And then come close to the brink of death, then what does he do? Oh yes, fly back to almost certain death so he can SAVE the EASTERN SEABOARD. And from that you get variations in character, even though I still am not convinced that the dog thing was more than a throwaway joke.
It was indeed meant to be a joke. The pay-off where the dog brings back the ball was edited out of the movie and would have made the joke far better. As it stood, it made him look like he could do something mean to someone/something close to him and just walk away from it.
Saving the plane was great; it was heroic. The plummeting plane was something he didn't cause but which he stopped, so it was purely heroic. What he did later was also in keeping with what we expect of Superman. But I found it hard to care for someone who didn't say goodbye and who was this distant, aloof figure. Singer didn't make him relatable, as far as I could see; he made him quite unrelatable. However, I felt something for him when he was drowning and Lois pulled him out of the sea - I felt sorry for him.
Do you understand the psychology of rebounding? Most often people will find someone eerily similar to someone they dated, particularly if their ex has disappointed them. And you are harping on the one point, and yes, he WAS around after Superman left. Either you still don't see how they are supposed to be similar or your purposely acting like you don't see it. Do I need to spell it out for you? Richard is similar to Superman before Superman left. He is heroic. He is brave. And he even flies. And yes, he's there when Superman left. It's the prototypical rebound.
I'll accept this possibility, even though I feel it's a little convenient that Lois so quickly chanced upon (and dragged into bed!) a man who resembled Superman. What you say sounds reasonable as an interpretation. It's just a shame that I felt more empathy with Richard than with Superman.
This is one of the few things I wish the movie had gone into. I think the gist of it was that large enough chunks of Krypton were found. He might have believed that there were possibly other survivors. I don't know about you, but if was the only survivor of a country that was supposedly destroyed and then I learned that, actually, there were still traces of that country around, you can bet I'd be on the first flight there to find out.
I agree that the movie could have dealt with this in a little more detail and that the gist of it is as you describe. Do you think there would need to be a hint of life signs on the planetary remains for Superman to truly make that journey, as the planet blew up (and was irradiated by Kryptonite) thousands of years ago?
Yes. You have a blank slate. Choices come with consequences. But I think he finds peace after he accepts his consequences. And I don't about you, but that's a fairly enlightened place to be. He knows there is another Kryptonian around. He can't be with Lois but he knows she's probably better off and that, yes, it's due to his own choices. But he is OK with that. He is at peace with himself.
So all he truly has left is Martha Kent, who won't last for ever. A subsequent movie will have to rebuild an infrastructure around him - other, new characters perhaps? How would you see Superman's journey continuing?
Depends on the story you're trying to tell I think. For instance, in the hero's journey where good and evil are clearly delineated, yes, you need to immediately understand the protagonist. However, in a story about gaining trust and particularly one that is an internal and emotional journey more than it is a physical one, the story and character arc serves as our vehicle for understanding the character. It is more character driven than plot driven in this instance. We are not expected to understand the protagonist right away because it is not clear cut, as emotional journeys never are.
Right. But I did feel something was terribly wrong with the movie opening with that somewhat hammy scene of Lex swindling the old woman (though I laughed when he finished off her signature) and the kid screaming when he threw his wig. It didn't feel quite right.
You are looking at external things. The movie isn't about possessions, whether they be people or the fortress. It isn't about what people has he gained or lost. It's about internal character growth. He has satisfied his curiosity with Krypton. He is satisfied knowing that there is another Kryptonian like him. He has come to terms with the mistake he has made and the consequences of his choices. What he loses in physical terms, I think he makes up for in personal satisfaction and character growth through lessons learned.
I really didn't feel that he had any neurosis/sadness about Krypton or about having other Kryptonians around, after so long living as a human on earth. But I understand your reasoning as a possible interpretation.
Me too particularly because he now has a blank canvas. He doesn't need to rely on a "Will they/Won't they" Lois story. He has to function on his own with falling back on Jor-El's guidance.
We would surely need other characters to fulfil the usual archetypes of storytelling. What about romance? Moral support/guidance? Friendship? Who will offer these things so he doesn't feel as alone, if not more so, than before?
Most people don't care as much as fanboys about all the details, they just want to be entertained. And by the reviews, most people enjoyed the movie.
Oh, I see..
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