Superman Returns What Purpose Did Clark Serve in SR?

[DarkMajin]

Considering in SR it seemed like the Singerverse went with the direction that Superman (Kal-El) is the real guy, rather than Clark Kent (a direction, I add, I don't agree with)...what was the exact purpose of Clark being in the movie?

I don't really remember him really doing anything, aside from being around when Lois sent that fax in from the ship. He wasn't in the film a lot.
The film didn't really suggest that Clark was trying to become romantically involved with Lois...since well, it instead just focused on Superman and Lois.
And as well, the Clark on the Kent Farm in the beginning was just Superman with his costume off.

So, what was the purpose of having Clark in the Singerverse, aside from just being forced to since you're dealing with the Superman comic book character?

See...I always preferred that Clark is the real guy...aside from being better storywise, it gives Clark a real purpose in being around in the first place.
As I tend to see Superman and Batman as opposites...well, their personas are different too. With Batman, the Batman persona is the real person rather than Bruce...while with Superman, Clark Kent is the real person.

 

[Justice Bringer]

Clark is the real person in this film; Clark on the farm.


The Metropolis Clark had to be a disguise; otherwise it wouldnt have been as believeable. Metropolis Clark's purpose at the Daily Planet to be privy to information as it happens (to facilitate in his role as Superman).

Lois, Jimmy, Perry etc don't know the real Clark (Clark on the farm) and that helps with the believeability.

This is one classic concept I'm glad they kept for the live action version. I just hope they show more of the real Clark in the sequel.

 

[DarkMajin]

Clark is the real person in this film; Clark on the farm.


The Metropolis Clark had to be a disguise; otherwise it wouldnt have been as believeable. Metropolis Clark's purpose at the Daily Planet to be privy to information as it happens (to facilitate in his role as Superman).

Lois, Jimmy, Perry etc don't know the real Clark (Clark on the farm) and that helps with the believeability.

This is one classic concept I'm glad they kept for the live action version. I just hope they show more of the real Clark in the sequel.

Hmm, well, see, the Clark on the farm was just Superman without his costume on, the way I saw it...since he was the same person as the one with Lois.

See, as you said, Lois doesn't even know Superman is Clark...so if Clark is the real person in the film, well, Superman built a relationship with Lois where she doesn't really know him at all except as the guy in the blue suit that saves people and who is from Krypton.
This what makes me think Superman (Kal-El) is what is presented as the real person in SR. In fact, one would probably be more accurate to call the Clark on the farm Kal-El.

For these reasons, Clark Kent's existence didn't seem to have much purpose in SR...and the movie would have been pretty much the same without him...since it just focused on the Superman character.

 

[Justice Bringer]

Lets leave the name 'Kal-El' out of this for now, otherwise it gets confusing:

Essentially there are three sides to this character (and Singer explained this on "Look Up In The Sky");

- Clark On the Farm (The real man who grew up in Kansas under a human alias)

- Superman (Clark's public superhero identity, known as an alien who became Metropolis' savior; an exaggerated public persona).

- Metropolis Clark Kent (An invented personality that Clark uses to throw Lois, Jimmy, Perry etc off from discovering hes Superman in metropolis).

This works out beautifully because Clark's Superman personality tends to sometimes come out of Metropolis Clark Kent too; especially in front of Jimmy (who doesnt know Superman closely).

Lois knows Superman intimately but doesnt know barely anything about Metropolis Clark, he doesnt stand out to her.

Lex knows Superman intimately but has never even met Clark Kent (in both forms).

So this 3-way method of dealing with his identity works out believeably in this context.

What Singer needs to do for the future films is to throw more of a central focus to the real Clark. Hes essentially the guy who plays the two exaggerations of Metopolis Clark and Superman.

I dont consider Superman to be the real person becuase in the deleted Smallville scenes there seemed to be some debate with farmboy Clark as to whether he should even go back to Metropolis and be 'Superman' or stay on the farm.

Clearly 'Superman' is something he does, Kansas Clark is who he is. The greatest irony of all this is neither Lois, Jason, Jimmy, Perry or Richard know his true personality. Thats one of the more interesting facets of the character.

 

[Justice Bringer]

edit double

 

[Danger Mouse]

I agree on your analysis of Superman/Clark Kent personalities, JB. But the point DarkMajin was trying to put across, which I agree to some degree, was that Clark Kent was very much under-utilised in the movie. He almost served no purpose at all in the movie except for obligatorily address that CK is Superman's alter ego.

 

[superbaby]

clark kent is only a dummy in SR...

 

[dark_b]

where did you get that pic?the colours are amazing.

have you any more?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Considering in SR it seemed like the Singerverse went with the direction that Superman (Kal-El) is the real guy, rather than Clark Kent (a direction, I add, I don't agree with)...what was the exact purpose of Clark being in the movie?

I don't really remember him really doing anything, aside from being around when Lois sent that fax in from the ship. He wasn't in the film a lot.
The film didn't really suggest that Clark was trying to become romantically involved with Lois...since well, it instead just focused on Superman and Lois.
And as well, the Clark on the Kent Farm in the beginning was just Superman with his costume off.

So, what was the purpose of having Clark in the Singerverse, aside from just being forced to since you're dealing with the Superman comic book character?

See...I always preferred that Clark is the real guy...aside from being better storywise, it gives Clark a real purpose in being around in the first place.
As I tend to see Superman and Batman as opposites...well, their personas are different too. With Batman, the Batman persona is the real person rather than Bruce...while with Superman, Clark Kent is the real person.

I think Clark served a very worthy purpose in SR. If it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have found out Lois was engaged and had a kid, if it wasnt for Clark he would have never found out that Lex wasnt in prison any more and the reasons for that. If it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have met Jason OR Richard.

Plus, if it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have known Lois and Jason were missing and he wouldnt have known were to find them. He also wouldnt have known that Richard was flying out there, which would have made his choice to help Metropolis instead of Lois a LOT harder.

Also, notice throughout the movie, he tries to get Lois to talk to him or tries to get her to go somewere to talk, but she either always ignore's him, changes the subject, or talks to someone else. So he DOES try and woo her as Clark, but when he sees she isnt interested, he tries as Superman, hence the rooftop scene.

 

[dark_b]

I think Clark served a very worthy purpose in SR. If it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have found out Lois was engaged and had a kid, if it wasnt for Clark he would have never found out that Lex wasnt in prison any more and the reasons for that. If it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have met Jason OR Richard.

Plus, if it wasnt for Clark he wouldnt have known Lois and Jason were missing and he wouldnt have known were to find them. He also wouldnt have known that Richard was flying out there, which would have made his choice to help Metropolis instead of Lois a LOT harder.

Also, notice throughout the movie, he tries to get Lois to talk to him or tries to get her to go somewere to talk, but she either always ignore's him, changes the subject, or talks to someone else. So he DOES try and woo her as Clark, but when he sees she isnt interested, he tries as Superman, hence the rooftop scene.

if it wasnt for clark a lot mroe people would die beacause if it wasnt for clark superman would know ....nothing t:

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

if it wasnt for clark a lot mroe people would die beacause if it wasnt for clark superman would know ....nothing t:

EXACTLY Dark B.

 

[matthooper]

Singer doesn’t understand who Clark Kent is anymore than he understands who Superman is. The difference is, once the costume is put on, and he flies, it’s easy to convey your message...he’s super.

Clark was an absolute waste of time in SR, so the answer is he served NO purpose. Like in every film Singer makes, the theme is isolation and finding your place in the world. He focused on Superman and ignored Clark completely. I can't think of any single poignant or important moment where Clark was on screen. It didn't help that Routh is not a very good actor, although as Superman I thought he was good. It's pretty obvious that Singer saw Routh's limitations and limited his role and dialogue. But, he also limited Clark;s role because he didn't find Clark interesting, that is pretty obvious. Nothing he did or said had any resonance for the film. Counter that to how important Clark was in Superman 1 and 2.

 

[El Payaso]

Clark Kent served in SR the same purpose than in every other Superman movie. If you conclude there's no actual point for him other than being Superman's alter ego, then I say that has always been his point in the movies.

Clark could have had more screentime and lines in other movies but not more purpose.

 

[DarkMajin]

Clark Kent served in SR the same purpose than in every other Superman movie. If you conclude there's no actual point for him other than being Superman's alter ego, then I say that has always been his point in the movies.

Clark could have had more screentime and lines in other movies but not more purpose.

Well, see...I come from the idea that there's only 2 identities...and not 3 like referenced here...and so Clark Kent is the actual person, not Superman. It's Clark Kent who becomes Superman.

I don't see Clark Kent as a disguise or an alter ego...he's the man himself...but he's also this alien being who puts on a costume and becomes 'Superman".
Which also means he's not the clumsy fellow of the Reeve movies...I'd veer more towards the George Reeves version of Clark and go deeper from there into his character.

It seems like in SR Clark was simply a disguise, an alter ego. I still also think the guy we see on the farm is still the Kryptonian...and not the Kansas raised Earthling.

It still seems like SR was focusing on just Superman...I will be really surprised if in the sequel they have Clark trying to get with Lois...they at least have to get around to her finding out who he really is.
I still scratch my head that Superman had a deep enough relationship with her to make her pregnant, without her ever knowing anything about him.

 

[El Payaso]

^ I agree with you; I see Clark as the real one and Superman as the disguise but in STM and the sequels they emphasize the fact that the hero, Superman, tries really hard to be perceived at this extremely clumsy character called Clark Kent. Being based on that franchise, SR just followed the same idea. Clark is some kind of alter ego/comedic relief for the movies. They hope you laugh thinking 'ah, this Superman, look at him pretending to be such a geek.'

 

[Steelsheen]

which Clark are you folks talking about? if its Reporter Clark he sure served his purpose, he was goofy, funny and finely represented the inner geek in all of us.

if its Smallville Clark aka The Real Clark aka Kal-El, the scenes are in the cutting room floor, but i would like to think that he was properly represented in those as well.

 

[Justice Bringer]

It still seems like SR was focusing on just Superman...I will be really surprised if in the sequel they have Clark trying to get with Lois.

Doubtful. The whole point of 'Metropolis Clark' is to throw Lois off and blend to the background so she doesnt notice him. Superman is the one who had the relationship with Lois before.

...they at least have to get around to her finding out who he really is.
I still scratch my head that Superman had a deep enough relationship with her to make her pregnant, without her ever knowing anything about him.

It's not like sex with Superman would make her know that he is Clark.

She doesnt even notice Clark. Shes probably never even imagined sex with Clark or Clark naked so having sex with Superman wouldnt really give away that disguise.

Was it morally okay for Superman to be in a relationship with Lois without telling her about the CK identity? Thats debateable. But on the flipside, on "Lois and Clark," Clark had a relationship with Lois prior to revealing hes Superman....essentially the same moral question.

He did reveal the truth when he proposed to her though in the comics and I dont think this Superman will reveal the truth about his Clark disguise till that point.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

I dont consider Superman to be the real person becuase in the deleted Smallville scenes there seemed to be some debate with farmboy Clark as to whether he should even go back to Metropolis and be 'Superman' or stay on the farm.

That's an interesting take on that scene, I always saw it as Clark was going to become Superman again no matter what, the debate was about whether or not he should become Metropolis Clark again.

 

[Qwerty©]

Superman is the real person because it is just Clark Kent with a suit on. Superman was a name given to him, but to him he is just using the powers he always had. Clark Kent at the Daily Planet isn't him, it is just his way of living among the people.

To be himself fully, he goes to Smallville.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

What I did like about this Clark in SR was that while he was still somewhat clumsy and goofy he wasn't a complete goofball like Chris Reeve's Clark was.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Well, see...I come from the idea that there's only 2 identities...and not 3 like referenced here...and so Clark Kent is the actual person, not Superman. It's Clark Kent who becomes Superman.

I don't see Clark Kent as a disguise or an alter ego...he's the man himself...but he's also this alien being who puts on a costume and becomes 'Superman".
Which also means he's not the clumsy fellow of the Reeve movies...I'd veer more towards the George Reeves version of Clark and go deeper from there into his character.

It seems like in SR Clark was simply a disguise, an alter ego. I still also think the guy we see on the farm is still the Kryptonian...and not the Kansas raised Earthling.

It still seems like SR was focusing on just Superman...I will be really surprised if in the sequel they have Clark trying to get with Lois...they at least have to get around to her finding out who he really is.
I still scratch my head that Superman had a deep enough relationship with her to make her pregnant, without her ever knowing anything about him.

He DID try and get with Lois as Clark though, how many times did Clark try and ask her to go for a drink or some food to 'catch-up,' it was bout 3 or 4 times in the 1st half of the movie. Its only once he realises he wont get a chance to talk to her as Clark that he does as Superman, he doesnt approach her as Superman until the rooftop scene which is more than halfway through the movie.

Also there are 3 version of Clark in SR, and Clark on the farm is the real person, Superman is the hero, and Clark in metropolis is just his way of living amoung the humans in a normal way.

 

[Justice Bringer]

I thought that was more of Superman using the Metropolis Clark disguise to get information from Lois.

I didnt think he actually wanted her to fall in love with Metropolis Clark.

 

[\S/JcDc\S/]

The real person to me is Clark on the farm.

Superman he has to hid his emotion a little better and he needs to appear as the strong symbol he is.

As Clark he needs to appear a little weaker and not in just a physical sense.

They are all different imo.

Except Kal-el is the same as Clark on the farm.

 

[Justice Bringer]

Superman also speaks through Clark at times as BRouth explains;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcvaXx0B9dg

 

[Dr. Fate]

Considering in SR it seemed like the Singerverse went with the direction that Superman (Kal-El) is the real guy, rather than Clark Kent (a direction, I add, I don't agree with)...what was the exact purpose of Clark being in the movie?

I don't really remember him really doing anything, aside from being around when Lois sent that fax in from the ship. He wasn't in the film a lot.
The film didn't really suggest that Clark was trying to become romantically involved with Lois...since well, it instead just focused on Superman and Lois.
And as well, the Clark on the Kent Farm in the beginning was just Superman with his costume off.

So, what was the purpose of having Clark in the Singerverse, aside from just being forced to since you're dealing with the Superman comic book character?

See...I always preferred that Clark is the real guy...aside from being better storywise, it gives Clark a real purpose in being around in the first place.
As I tend to see Superman and Batman as opposites...well, their personas are different too. With Batman, the Batman persona is the real person rather than Bruce...while with Superman, Clark Kent is the real person.

Clark pretty much served no purpose in the "Singerverse", except to put in a few cameo shots when not being Superman, basically reducing Clark's importance to the overall character.