What are your complaints? What would you do differently? *SPOILERS*

[Max Newlander]

Went to see it last night at the IMAX.

Unfortunetly the more I reflect and think about this film, the more I get annoyed and realise it just wasn't that good. In fact I'm slowly beginning to feel like I dislike this movie. It's Superman Returns all over again (even though they were completely different movies)

Things I hated...

Story

The millions the were plainly and obviously killed while Superman and the Kryptonites were smashing EVERYTHING around them. Superman just didn't really give a f#%k.

The appalling dialogue at times, I actually laughed a couple of times at the pure cheese of the poorly written script.

The flash back scenes didn't have the right pacing, and just didn't gel well enough.

The fortress of solitude/research ship was poor. All the Kryptonian ships looked terrible with very little effort going into the design.

FAR FAR too much action, and incomprehensible action. Mr Bay strikes again.. Oops sorry Zack strikes. Was far too loud as well, and the final fight was ridiculous OVERKILL. I do not want to watch 60mins of continuous CGI even in a comicbook movie. There is so much great material they could use from the Superman universe to flesh out real character development, real romance (in terms of film making and on-screen)

Superman kills Zod, sorry that's a NO.

No warmth about it, for too sterile IMO. I like Henry as Superman, but I just didn't think he was so super compared to Reeves (I don't mean his powers I mean how super protective, super helpful, and super interested he was in us)

Reeves truely cared about humans, Cavill's Superman didn't...clearly.

The devastation on screen was more OTT than 2012!!! That's saying something.

Too many Alien things happening onscreen. It was too much. I did however enjoy Krypton. (3D as good)

Music, Hans Zimmer is NO Williams, not even close. He is a strong composer but def overrated in the comicbook movie world. Most of his scores are not memorable IMO. He doesn't have an ET,BTTF,INDIANA,SUPERMAN, STAR WARS etc etc in his 'we will remember that or hum it' back catalogue. I anted the score to make me feel inspired and to help me root for Superman. I wanted the hairs in my arms to stand on edge because of the combo of superman and soundtrack, it NEVER did. I came out the movie humming Williams as I did going into it. I appreciate the score was subtle and modern, but where was the BIG 'Superman' musical moments.

This Superman won't work in a JL movie, in fact at the moment I CANNOT see how DC can make a JL movie plausible at all.

Zack is a hack, he's a poor director in the bigger scheme of things. Watchman was terrible (you have to adapt scripts) Suckpunch... Please. 300 was above averge JUST... Butler made it memorable, not Zack. This didn't mean I had written off his movie before going in, not at all. I though Nolan could have really helped him develop as a director. Clearly not.

I'm so annoyed about it all actually. It's only a blinking comicbook movie don't get me wrong, but I was so excited. There probably is a happy medium between Singer and Snyder, action and romance. They should have nailed it this time, and again they didn't. Donner's still is the king of Superman directors IMO.

 

[Marvin]

I'm still having a tough time with the Zod resolution. I get that in that exact situation he had little choice, but why write yourself into that corner in the first place. I hope when I see it a second time its not as uncomfortable as the first time. It's just so, so weird they wrote an ending where Superman saves the day by violently killing someone then breaking down into tears. It's so depressing lol. Hopefully it'll play differently to me on a second viewing.

Well one alternative(they could have taken) is to have the hero's girlfriend on one end and a trolly full of kids in the other and just have the hero save everyone. Or his girlfriend and his side kick and a riddle and have the hero still save everyone. Or just pull a neo and start bringing people back to life...etc

Considering the events of TDK, I think Nolan/Goyer are interested in committing to the choices our heroes have to make. It's what life's about, we have to make choices and they later define us, they haunt us, they shape us. I personally think that's interesting film making.

but that's me. I like a when studios take risks.

 

[Eros]

Well one alternative(they could have taken) is to have the hero's girlfriend on one end and a trolly full of kids in the other and just have the hero save everyone. Or his girlfriend and his side kick and a riddle and have the hero still save everyone. Or just pull a neo and start bringing people back to life...etc

Considering the events of TDK, I think Nolan/Goyer are interested in committing to the choices our heroes have to make. It's what life's about, we have to make choices and they later define us, they haunt us, they shape us. I personally think that's interesting film making.

but that's me. I like a when studios take risks.

or better yet, not write a situation where superman has to snap zods neck to save a few people, after a fight which might have killed thousands more.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

That was a GOOD CGI tornado. Looked real.

 

[Marvin]

or better yet, not write a situation where superman has to snap zods neck to save a few people, after a fight which might have killed thousands more.

why not eactly?
bed time story mentality is what that sounds like.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

or better yet, not write a situation where superman has to snap zods neck to save a few people, after a fight which might have killed thousands more.

THIS! Goyer tends to push the moral ambiguity of characters-see early drafts of Begins, NO mention at all about "the code", while Nolan cares more about creating a plausible internal logic. Have a screenwriter supervise David Goyer, or better yet, have Jonah Nolan, Paul Dini, and David Berkewitz, collaborate on the sequel, with Goyer as more of a consultant.

 

[Senator Pleasury]

why not eactly?
bed time story mentality is what that sounds like.

Because that is exactly what is difficult and interesting about this situation. If Superman is left to kill and is able to kill Kryptonians enemies, then what's the big deal?

The situation is interesting because all Kryptonians are equally powerful so that won't make a difference. Superman has to think of something else to defeat his adversaries. But he won't kill, so that's put of the question. Which leads you to a very interesting conundrum in which only a good writer could come with something else but precisely what's out of the question, the easy way: killing.

Superman should be known not only because he's strong enough to kill. He should show his way is better than the way of his enemies, he doesn't need to kill a killer, to bully the bully (that's why he doesn't use his strength to physically take it back against the trucker).

But no, the writers just let him go the easy unimaginative way, and well... have Superman shouting later.

 

[Marvin]

THIS! Goyer tends to push the moral ambiguity of characters-see early drafts of Begins, NO mention at all about "the code", while Nolan cares more about creating a plausible internal logic. Have a screenwriter supervise David Goyer, or better yet, have Jonah Nolan, Paul Dini, and David Berkewitz, collaborate on the sequel, with Goyer as more of a consultant.

1. I thought Goyer wrote the begins script. Hard to say who "entered" the batman killing code into it and when. Does seem like something a comic book officianado would do.

2. Begins was a whole heap less morally ambiguous, than the later films, many seem to agree/think he wasn't a writer on.

That being said, I'm sure we should blame goyer for batman breaking his own code in the very first movie..

 

[Smashlilman]

Because that is exactly what is difficult and interesting about this situation. If Superman is left to kill and is able to kill Kryptonians enemies, then what's the big deal?

The situation is interesting because all Kryptonians are equally powerful so that won't make a difference. Superman has to think of something else to defeat his adversaries. But he won't kill, so that's put of the question. Which leads you to a very interesting conundrum in which only a good writer could come with something else but precisely what's out of the question, the easy way: killing.

Superman should be known not only because he's strong enough to kill. He should show his way is better than the way of his enemies, he doesn't need to kill a killer, to bully the bully (that's why he doesn't use his strength to physically take it back against the trucker).

But no, the writers just let him go the easy unimaginative way, and well... have Superman shouting later.

He killed Doomsday?

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

"comic book officianado would do." That's probably Jonah. I feel like he really wants to do a "pure" Batman adaptation, as indicated by POI

Yep. Bring Jonah in, and let him have the final call, not Goyer. But don't fully drop Goyer, because I feel BB is the most character driven script so far of the Nolan trilogy. And the sequel should be EVEN MORE grounded, so keep Nolan. But drop him when World's Finest comes around

 

[Marvin]

Because that is exactly what is difficult and interesting about this situation. If Superman is left to kill and is able to kill Kryptonians enemies, then what's the big deal?

The situation is interesting because all Kryptonians are equally powerful so that won't make a difference. Superman has to think of something else to defeat his adversaries. But he won't kill, so that's put of the question. Which leads you to a very interesting conundrum in which only a good writer could come with something else but precisely what's out of the question, the easy way: killing.

Superman should be known not only because he's strong enough to kill. He should show his way is better than the way of his enemies, he doesn't need to kill a killer, to bully the bully (that's why he doesn't use his strength to physically take it back against the trucker).

But no, the writers just let him go the easy unimaginative way, and well... have Superman shouting later.

Batman killing joker after defeating him in order to save future lives is "the easy way"

Superman putting doomsday down is the, "no other choice way"

For me this falls into the latter. Then again another writer may have had superman just "find another way," that would probably have passed for better writing around these parts. Meanwhile Zero Dark Thirty is being nominated for best adapted screenplay and all that crap. Is there a better superman story out there, plenty, is this flawed writing cause the character had to struggle with his morality in the face of a lose lose scenario, millions of good moral men face every day on the front lines...

tune in next bat time.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Batman killing joker after defeating him in order to save future lives is "the easy way"

Superman putting doomsday down is the, "no other choice way"

For me this falls into the latter. Then again another writer may have had superman just "find another way," that would probably have passed for better writing around these parts. Meanwhile Zero Dark Thirty is being nominated for best adapted screenplay and all that crap. Is there a better superman story out there, plenty, is this flawed writing cause the character had to struggle with his morality in the face of a lose lose scenario, millions of good moral men face every day on the front lines...

tune in next bat time.

As far as Doomsday goes, Superman pretty much knew he might not make it, so he probably didn't expect to have to LIVE with his actions. Plus he's practically an animal, nothing civilized about him. Plus he always comes back, but Superman didn't no that.

 

[Marvin]

As far as Doomsday goes, Superman pretty much knew he might not make it, so he probably didn't expect to have to LIVE with his actions. Plus he's practically an animal, nothing civilized about him. Plus he always comes back, but Superman didn't no that.

Could just as easily argue that a better writer wouldn't write themselves into that corner.
But that wouldn't be fair. And I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite.

 

[Lamborghini07]

Not sure if explained but why was a scout ship equipped with supermans outfit?

 

[FreeRadical]

Yeah this is a great point..I remember everybody was saying the same thing..wow this could be what a good superman fight in modern CGI could be...then we didnt get it in "returns" and most people I know were really dissappointed...

This film, however, flat out delivered.. (it would be almost shocking if people used the Neo comparison as a complaint)

mY 2 complaints from the film.

1. Science didnt really add up...
2. Clark should have cracked a joke or two more in the film..not jerry seinfeild but scenes like the reveal of the costume on the ship could have been some moments of levity.

But overall amazing, amazing film that was beyond my hopes

MOS did deliver, way more action than the two Matrix sequels put together.

Some people wanted a post-credits sequence, and if there was one in my view, it would be Supes with the General and Captain during the satellite scene. It felt out of place after Supes kills Zod, where there should have been a scene reflecting on what has happened in Metropolis.

 

[Daybreak_st]

in my opinion, shock value or to show the audience "This isnt the Superman your used to". BUt primarily shock value

I mean there is no build up like having Pa Kent or anyone explain to Clark that he shouldnt kill. THere's no buildup of Clark having/gaining these morals. It just happens.

The more I think of it. The more okay I wouldve been with it, if as I said before they had anything before hand about not killing or anything like that. The way they presented it didnt work.


I agree with many that he didnt have a lot of options (although I think he couldve flown away or used super speed or something) and he did do what a lot would do in the situation. But I wouldnt have put him in the situation. Or at least I wouldnt have done it with no build up to how Clark feels about killing

Yea I agree with this. The idea of shock value seems to be the only real reason it's there. THey could've easily structured the scene so that the fight is taking place while the portal is still open, then have Zod sucked in with everyone else. Not that complicated. Also having the satellite scene right afterwards was odd pacing, we go from emotionally torn up Superman to him seeming perfectly fine.

 

[Liam_H]

After the 2nd viewing that Jor-El info dump still feels annoying.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Yea I agree with this. The idea of shock value seems to be the only real reason it's there. THey could've easily structured the scene so that the fight is taking place while the portal is still open, then have Zod sucked in with everyone else. Not that complicated. Also having the satellite scene right afterwards was odd pacing, we go from emotionally torn up Superman to him seeming perfectly fine.

Yeah. If they had Zod trying to withstand the force of the portal and Superman shoving him in and beating him down that would be satisfying, especially pulling Zod's face away to avoid heat vision strikes. And that's another nitpick, for as many punches, there weren't that many HEAT vision battles.

The Metropolis battle pretty much Doomsday'd the city. It's the only fight scene that bothered me, because of how long and repetitive it was.

Zod vs Jor-El was good, Lane vs Kryptonians was cheesy, but fun, Superman vs Foara and ALL the Kryptonians in SMALLVILLE was GREAT.

It didn't need a final action scene that makes Superman look uncaring and cause more destruction then he might have tried to stop.

 

[THANOSRULES]

or better yet, not write a situation where superman has to snap zods neck to save a few people, after a fight which might have killed thousands more.

THIS! Goyer tends to push the moral ambiguity of characters-see early drafts of Begins, NO mention at all about "the code", while Nolan cares more about creating a plausible internal logic. Have a screenwriter supervise David Goyer, or better yet, have Jonah Nolan, Paul Dini, and David Berkewitz, collaborate on the sequel, with Goyer as more of a consultant.

Yet the doom of the mentality of comic book heroes who have some "no kill policy" is that the persons writing this scenario constantly need to create fiction that allows them to have this luxury...IE there is always a Dues Ex Machina that prevents killing blows.

The reality of the situation is that men and women who take up force against violent criminals may need to kill the criminals to stop them.

..and this is not some shattering of "reality" or of the fantasy of the "no kill" ethos..in fact it is uplifting to the real heroes who go out to stop violence and have had to kill to stop a threat.

To kill under these conditions doesnt make you a monster..and it is NOT your choice. You did your job to stop the threat, and you did so only after exhausting your other means. This plays out brilliantly on the film.

 

[Noach]

Although the scientific explanation of the story wasn't crystal clear, it was far better than all of the past Superman films. It made Krypton seem like a real place that could exist and gave light to the Solar energy and gravity manipulation theory.

 

[Boy Scout]

I would've told a linear story. I don't mind nonlinear storytelling, but I don't think it was used well in this film. Hopefully, telling a linear story would've fixed the pacing issues as well.

I would've trimmed (or even cut) some of the action to give other aspects of the film more focus.

I would have focused less on Jonathan insisting that Clark keep his abilities a secret and more on him and Martha instilling in Clark a very strong sense of right and wrong.

I would have shown how the entire world reacted to Superman's presence, instead of limiting it to the Daily Planet staff and the military.

I wouldn't have given the Daily Planet as much screentime as it got.

I would've limited the amount on Kryptonians on Earth to three (excluding Superman).

I would've focused more on the idea of free will versus predetermined destiny.

I wouldn't have made Superman kill Zod.

I wouldn't have made the Kryptonians as powerful as Superman. They would have been significantly weaker, but able to challenge Superman because of their weapons.

I wouldn't have introduced the World Engine. I would instead have the Kryptonians attempt to take over the planet because they believe we're going to eventually destroy it.

I would have written Jonathan's death differently. The tornado idea was fine, but the way it was executed was incredibly poor.

I could go on and on, but there it is.

EDIT: Though if I couldn't make any extensive changes (like changing the structure of the story), all I would do is trim/cut some of the action and dedicate that time to other things. Hopefully, that would fix the pacing and allow some scenes to carry some real emotional weight. I also wouldn't have allowed Superman to kill Zod.

 

[Rock Sexton]

After the 2nd viewing that Jor-El info dump still feels annoying.

Man there was so much info dumping. I couldn't take it after a while.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

I would've told a linear story. I don't mind nonlinear storytelling, but I don't think it was used well in this film. Hopefully, telling a linear story would've fixed the pacing issues as well.

I would've trimmed (or even cut) some of the action to give other aspects of the film more focus.

I would have focused less on Jonathan insisting that Clark keep his abilities a secret and more on him and Martha instilling in Clark a very strong sense of right and wrong.

I would have shown how the entire world reacted to Superman's presence, instead of limiting it to the Daily Planet staff and the military.

I wouldn't have given the Daily Planet as much screentime as it got.

I would've limited the amount on Kryptonians on Earth to three (excluding Superman).

I would've focused more on the idea of free will versus predetermined destiny.

I wouldn't have made Superman kill Zod.

I wouldn't have made the Kryptonians as powerful as Superman. They would have been significantly weaker, but able to challenge Superman because of their weapons.

I wouldn't have introduced the World Engine. I would instead have the Kryptonians attempt to take over the planet because they believe we're going to eventually destroy it.

I would have written Jonathan's death differently. The tornado idea was fine, but the way it was executed was incredibly poor.

I could go on and on, but there it is.

EDIT: Though if I couldn't make any extensive changes (like changing the structure of the story), all I would do is trim/cut some of the action and dedicate that time to other things. Hopefully, that would fix the pacing and allow some scenes to carry some real emotional weight. I also wouldn't have allowed Superman to kill Zod.

Some of the stuff is good, BUT some of the suggestions feel like Superman II all over again.

 

[Boy Scout]

Some of the stuff is good, BUT some of the suggestions feel like Superman II all over again.

I felt that way too when I was writing it. I'd like to think that it would've been different enough to make the similarities inconsequential, but you never know.

 

[SoulManX]

After reading all the reviews for MOS I have to say is this. This Superman is the new generation. This is their '78 Supes like Superman: The Motion Picture was for me. Now granted to me the best Superman ever has been the Bruce Timm version with Reeves a close second. MOS does what it has to do with a child from another planet living among people he can rip apart like tissue paper. Growing up with us but not being like us learning to have a little of faith and trust in mankind. I would have love to see Brainiac as a part of Jor-El's world but I guess that for the sequel.