Was MOS a good introduction to Superman for younger kids?

[KRYPTON INC.]

I loved the film, and felt that what Jonathan was teaching Clark was a much more nuanced view of morality. He was balamcing love for his son and concern for the world at large, not just a binary black and white view. It worked for me, to my own shock I might add, but I totally get if it turned others off. That all being stated, as much as I liked the film I would no more reccomend taking a minor under the age of 11-12 to see MAN OF STEEL than I would take a child under those ages to see the THE DARK KNIGHT or THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. I am no prude but it's more than a young kid ccould take in or even appreciate. Starting around those late preteen years a young person is more psychologically formed and equipped to process the themes and ideas in a more mature take on these characters. This is coming from someone that views the Donner film as very formative to my own introduction to the concept of death. If you feel a young kid can handle it I would follow what a few posters have already stated. Have a discussion with your kids after about what you and they think.

 

[Skrilla31]

If I were introducing a really young kid to Superman, I'm still showing them the Donner film. In my opinion that's the only move. I just don't believe Man Of Steel would lend power to a child's spirit and imagination quite like the original would. The theme alone makes you wish you could fly.

Growing up in the 80's and early 90's, I was presented with lots of different heroes as a child. I didn't just have Superman. There was Batman, Spiderman, He-Man, the Ninja Turtles, the Ghostbusters, Thundercats, X-Men, Robocop, Hulk Hogan, Captain Planet, Inspector Gadget, Super Mario... all of these characters played a role in shaping my childhood.

But Superman always stood above the rest for me. I can't put a finger on it. He just did. There's something just inherent about the character I must have been drawn to, and it's something other characters just don't have. And that "something" I believe was missing in Man Of Steel.

 

[Human Torch]

People that want to compare Zod's death here to Superman II is just ridiculous.As a kid I never even thought Zod died.I figured he just fell into a pit.(It helped that I always watched the ABC version,where you see Zod & co get ascorted away by the police in the background) Here,there was no suger coating whatsoever.Supes killed him in a brutal "realistic" way.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Good question...maybe its the way it was done....because he snapped his neck. Brutal.

And trapping a guy in a bomb causing him to explode then throwing yet another explosion his way to kill him. Then being all smiles and making out with your girlfriend isn't cold?

That is Iron Man 3. While I loved that film, I'd rather my future son see a film that shows that killing is bad not how fun it is! (like all other films do). Those show "look how fun and cool it is to commit acts of violence and kill people!" While this showed, "look how devastating it is to use violence and how killing someone even a villian is not the cool thing to do. See, Superman was sad to even kill Zod." Personally, I see the second lesson as the one I want my kid to know in regards to violence.

And darkness isn't really a new thing to kids. Am I the only one who watched Neverending Story as a kid? That had really telling themes in a KID'S film. You speak to them, not down to them. It was twenty years ago, but I remember.

 

[PunyGod]

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[FlawlessVictory]

People that want to compare Zod's death here to Superman II is just ridiculous.As a kid I never even thought Zod died.I figured he just fell into a pit.(It helped that I always watched the ABC version,where you see Zod & co get ascorted away by the police in the background) Here,there was no suger coating whatsoever.Supes killed him in a brutal "realistic" way.

Lucky for you you got to watch that version and you never thought Zod died. But guess what, a lot of people grew up on and have only seen the Lester version and believe that Superman killed Zod.

Too bad the author of this site didn't pick it up as a kid like you that Zod apparently wasn't killed.

http://www.moviedeaths.com/superman_ii/general_zod/

I'm guessing he is not the only person that believes Superman killed Zod. And I'm also guessing that those who believe Superman killed Zod in Superman 2 didn't really have a problem with it.

 

[KalMart]

If I were introducing a really young kid to Superman, I'm still showing them the Donner film. In my opinion that's the only move. I just don't believe Man Of Steel would give power to a child's spirit and imagination quite like the original would. The theme alone makes you wish you could fly.

Growing up in the 80's and early 90's, I was presented with lots of different heroes as a child. I didn't just have Superman. There was Batman, Spiderman, He-Man, the Ninja Turtles, the Ghostbusters, Thundercats, X-Men, Robocop, Hulk Hogan, Captain Planet, Inspector Gadget, Super Mario... all of these characters played a role in shaping my childhood.

But Superman always stood above the rest for me. I can't put a finger on it. He just did. There's something just inherent about the character I must have been drawn to, and it's something other characters just don't have. And that "something" I believe was missing in Man Of Steel.

My instinct woudl be the same, but then I;d also have to wonder whether I'm basing this on the kid I was and the kind of media/entertainment world I grew up on, or really seeing it through theirs.

Either way, I'd want to watch it with them and experience it with them. If they found STM boring, then so be it...tell them it's an older film that you liked as a kid, ask then why they felt certain ways, and then if anything they might be better prepared for the new version. I think some of us also may feel a bit of fear of rejection in a kid not loving something that we did at their age. I think it's okay, and part of opening more lines of communication as time goes on.

 

[Lencho01]

I'd go with cartoons and comics first.

 

[PunyGod]

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[Ultimatehero]

Thing is, cartoony to me always made violence look cool! If it wasn't for the much darker films in my life I would have grown up thinking violence was cool. These darker films served as the guiding influence for us in those moral regards. Look back at fairy tales - dark. You need the dark approach as well as the light. Or am I the only kid that grew up with things like Nemo (not the fish movie) and Never ending Story? Not saying they're the same, but they do remain longer in one's thoughts and memories.

If it was as you guys are making it sound - he snaped his neck and smiled, that would be one thing. But, he didn't. He was devastated over the act. And I much rather show them this first than something that glorifies violence on a human scale (not Looney Tunes).

 

[FlawlessVictory]

There is a big difference, especially to children, between tossing someone into a cartoony abyss versus brutally snapping someones neck with your own hands.

I don't know why that's so hard to understand.

There is a reason why this death is generating controversy and the old one is not.

It shouldn't. Superman acted irresponsibly by throwing a powerless man down an abyss. There was zero reason for it. Superman killed in both instances.

But I guess it's ok that Superman kills but just not by snapping someone's neck? Superman can kill, as long as it is not brutal, got it.

 

[Skrilla31]

If they found STM boring, then so be it...tell them it's an older film that you liked as a kid

How old are we talkin here? I don't even think my attention span could last for the duration of an entire movie until I was like maybe 6 or 7. I mean I remember watching movies earlier than that, but I doubt I knew what was really going on in any of them. All I probably saw was Superman, flying, saving people, and hearing that song... that's what amazed me.

 

[KalMart]

How old are we talkin here? I don't even think my attention span could last for the duration of an entire movie until I was like maybe 6 or 7. I mean I remember watching movies earlier than that, but I doubt I knew what was really going on in any of them. All I probably saw was Superman, flying, saving people, and hearing that song... that's what amazed me.

I'm thinking at least 6 or 7, yeah. Before that it's still sort of just nice colors and all.

 

[Skrilla31]

I'm thinking at least 6 or 7, yeah. Before that it's still sort of just nice colors and all.

Lol I remember watching Burton's Batman at like 4 years old. You don't realize what's going on when you're a kid. You just see Batman. That's all you know.

Only as you get older do you realize, "Holy s*** what was my mother thinking allowing me to watch this movie!?!?"

 

[KalMart]

Lol I remember watching Burton's Batman at like 4 years old. You don't realize what's going on when you're a kid. You just see Batman. That's all you know.

Only as you get older do you realize, "Holy s*** what was my mother thinking allowing me to watch this movie!?!?"

That's nothing...

My dad took me to see Jaws when it first came out...I was I believe 4. I ran out of the theater...ticked him off because he had to come get me and missed some of the movie. Went back in at the end and ended up loving it eventually, but it scarred me for years to come.


My dad was a little nuts when it came to stuff like that. But he grew up with a war literally happening all around him.

He also took me to see The Exorcist. Like I said....nuts...

 

[Anno_Domini]

I don't see why not unless you don't want your child to hear "asswipe" and "dicksplash".

Superman is a man with morals in this film and even when he kills Zod, he's heartbroken by it. That's something I think a kid will be fine about when watching it.

 

[PunyGod]

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[Human Torch]

I don't see why not unless you don't want your child to hear "asswipe" and "dicksplash".
.

That's something else that I thought was inappropriate for a Superman movie.

 

[Marvin]

There is a big difference, especially to children, between tossing someone into a cartoony abyss versus brutally snapping someones neck with your own hands.

I don't know why that's so hard to understand.

There is a reason why this death is generating controversy and the old one is not.

Yes but is the controversy warranted, I would hope this discussion examines that answer. What doesn't stimulate controversy these days, Obama used double ply to wipe his ass...controversy

If showing my kid donner first meant he wouldn't be able to appreciate this film for all it's fun and complexity, cause he wouldn't be able to shed preconceptions I would pass.

Preferably I would be able to show him/her all these movies. If he can have a good time watching Ironman 3 with all it's colourful brutality he/she can watch this, with it's bloodless lesson in pacifisim, for better or worse.
This isn't the crow or blade...

 

[Human Torch]

Please answer this question: Why is this death causing controversy and the old one is not?

And please don't give me some crap about everyone wants to nitpick new movies and consider old ones holy.

Also remember,the topic at hand is where young kids are concerned. I don't think a 6 year old would think much about Zod falling into a smokey pit.Compared to Zod trying to blast a family and getting his neck twisted round and Supes howling in anguish.Which is more likely to give a kid nightmares?

 

[Ultimatehero]

That's something else that I thought was inappropriate for a Superman movie.

Kids ride the bus, they've heard worse believe me. It was bad in 92/3 I'm sure it's the same.

 

[KalMart]

Please answer this question: Why is this death causing controversy and the old one is not?

And please don't give me some crap about everyone wants to nitpick new movies and consider old ones holy.

It was more brutal and 'real' in this one, and it was the single most climactic moment of the film that put a screeching halt to all the momentum that had built up throughout...moreso than the combined actions in S2. And you actually see him die. So naturally, it's going to invite more scrutiny.

 

[Anno_Domini]

Please answer this question: Why is this death causing controversy and the old one is not?

And please don't give me some crap about everyone wants to nitpick new movies and consider old ones holy.

Because Superman is smirking in Superman II...that's why it's legit

That's something else that I thought was inappropriate for a Superman movie.

Iffy situation. I can see why someone would be against with any cursing for any CBM unless it's meant to be a hard R rated film. Personally, I didn't mind it since it was coming from a bully.

 

[KalMart]

Violence and language aside, my real point of asking this question is more about how the story and character will resonate with a child. Do you think that maybe audiences, especially children, came away with a more emotional investment in Supes in STM? Or is it ultimately unfair to compare because the entertainment and genre landscape is so much different today?

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Please answer this question: Why is this death causing controversy and the old one is not?

And please don't give me some crap about everyone wants to nitpick new movies and consider old ones holy.

Because of the manner that it happened in. But the controversy that has arisen, with articles written about this, ask, did Superman go too far by killing? But these people seem to have memory lapses that keep them from remembering that Superman has killed or let people die before.

Superman has killed before and Superman killed in MOS. I can only imagine that there would be quite a few people and perhaps even critics for that matter, that would be more forgiving of this film if it ended with Superman killing Zod by punching him into the Sun or something of the sort.