Which Jor-el do you Prefer???

[Rowsdower!]

LMAO at this thread. Russell Crowe is a fine actor, but he's NEVER been considered the best actor in the world at any point in his career. Marlon Brando IS THE GOD FATHER. He was considered the biggest actor in the world when he shot STM. The "kids" typing here don't realize Brando in the 70s was like Elivs, the Beattles, Michael Jackson in the 80s, he was the man!!!! He was the absolute best choice to play Jor El. With all due respect to Russell Crowe, Hollywood can pick handful of guys to play Superman's dad but in the 70s it was only one person who could fill that role with believability and respectability. THE GOD FATHER HIMSELF.

I liked Crowe's performance, I thought the script and plot was dumb but he did a fine job. But Brando will always be Superman's dad.

The question wasn't who is the better actor. That's obviously Brando, no question. The man is a legend. But the question was which actor played a better Jor-El. They're both really great, but for my money, it's Crowe. He brought some new elements to Jor-El that I hadn't seen before, at least not in a film.

 

[Skrilla31]

Donner's Krypton was so much more mythic. With all due respect to Crowe, Snyder didn't do enough to give the character the commanding presence he needed. He just felt like another kryptonian. Even when he makes his "digital" self known to Kal-El, he's always shown eye level with him. Compare that to the heavenly father portrayal in Donner's film. It doesn't even compare in my opinion.

The way he was shot, the ominous lighting, his godly white hair, the sheer power and wisdom of his words... you feel his immense presence the moment he's on screen. Brando's Jor-El was - literally and symbolically - God in the flesh. Crowe's a great actor but he never felt larger than life like Brando did.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Donner's Krypton was so much more mythic. With all due respect to Crowe, Snyder didn't do enough to give the character the commanding presence he needed. He just felt like another kryptonian. Even when he makes his "digital" self known to Kal-El, he's always shown eye level with him. Compare that to the heavenly father portrayal in Donner's film. It doesn't even compare in my opinion.

The way he was shot, the ominous lighting, his godly white hair, the sheer power and wisdom of his words... you feel his immense presence the moment he's on screen. Brando's Jor-El was - literally and symbolically - God in the flesh. Crowe's a great actor but he never felt larger than life like Brando did.

Thanks for your input. When Kal El was talking to Jor El at any point in STM or even in SR its like Jesus & God having a conversation.

Russell Crowe was good, but not even close to Brando.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

^ I think Crowe's Jor-El did a better job of balancing perfection with an underlying humanity and vulnerability. But I also think Brando has this spacey quality for lack of a better word, and feels like he could actually BE from another planet.

 

[jacobed]

Brando slept walk through Superman. He did the movie for a paycheck and it was very obvious. I didn't give two craps about any of the kryptonians or Jor El in the original. While some of that is of course the scripts fault, yeah could have cared less that it was Brando playing Jor El, he was decent but nothing more. Crowe brought his A game, he was obviously given much better material but he also brought a lot subtle things to his performance that were no where to be found in Brando's. You believed that Crowe cared about his son and his future when he sends him off. You also believe that he has the wisdom and gravitas that he portrays in his performance. Brando he just talked, no emotion. He read his lines off the Kal El's diaper for peat sakes. He didn't give one lick about the movie.

 

[sf2]

Marlon Brando IS THE GOD FATHER. but he was not the best Jor-El. and the krypton scene in STM is boring. and has nothing to do with the main story of STM... (the nuclear weapon disaster)

however, the krypton scene in MOS is so rich, interesting and action packed. you would not mind to see a whole movie / story about the krypton.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Brando's involvement in the superman films has become notorious for how little effort he put into the role compared to how much money he actually made off the picture.

As respected as any actor can be, when you're not even bothering to memorize your lines and are actually reading them off a baby's diaper, well your best days have come and gone.

 

[BH/HHH]

Marlon Brando IS THE GOD FATHER. but he was not the best Jor-El. and the krypton scene in STM is boring. and has nothing to do with the main story of STM... (the nuclear weapon disaster)

however, the krypton scene in MOS is so rich, interesting and action packed. you would not mind to see a whole movie / story about the krypton.

I don't think its boring but you're right about it not been part of the overall plot like it was in Man of Steel. I think that just shows the times they were done in tbh pre-crisis the origin was a little more throwaway than it became post crisis

 

[jb007]

Crowe for the simple reason he was given more screen time. Brando was a better actor though.

 

[Super Kal]

i grew up with Brando, but i prefer Crowe's version

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Nothing wrong with the new one. Nothing wrong with the old one. Btw, Brando read cue cards for many of his performances. He was always familiar with and read the script, but he used cue cards to bring a more improvisational tone to his lines. I can't stand people using that as a black mark against him and the film.

 

[Senator Pleasury]

Brando's involvement in the superman films has become notorious for how little effort he put into the role compared to how much money he actually made off the picture.

As respected as any actor can be, when you're not even bothering to memorize your lines and are actually reading them off a baby's diaper, well your best days have come and gone.

Was Brando finished when he read everything in The Godfather?

Talent and effort are different things.

 

[Shazam]

Again......this is not about who's the better actor. But who was the better Jor-el.

 

[The Caped Knight]

1) Russell Crowe
2) Marlon Brando
3) Terence Stamp
4) Julian Sands

 

[Da Games Elite]

Not going to lie, I always felt that Brando's Jor-El was dull. He was mythic, larger than life, but I never thought I knew him as a character, or even felt he had that big of an influence on the proceedings. Everyone else in the first two Superman films I loved, but Jor-El...I dunno. He felt like something larger than life, but too large to really appreciate.

Crowe was down to Earth. He had the same mythic presence as Brando's Jor-El, while still being a total bad-ass. You could see where Clark got his fighting genes from. I just left in awe of how badass he was.

 

[DarkKnight]

I voted that both are equally good.

When I think of Jor-El, Marlon Brando's voice comes into my head giving the speech in the original Superman movie. Although the speech Crowe gives is just as memorable. I did enjoy getting to see Crow-El kick some a$$ though.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Crowe was that kick ass Jor-El that reminded me of the S:TAS version.

 

[Shazam]

Crowe was that kick ass Jor-El that reminded me of the S:TAS version.

Right!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYVkyvOM66Y

 

[The Batman]

It's one thing to prefer one Jor El to another...but I gotta roll my eyes at the "Brando read off cue cards, so he was worse" argument.

That said, I thought Crowe's Jor El was better as an individual, but Brando had a much more interesting relationship with Reeve than Crowe did with Cavill.

 

[Ms. Marvel]

It's one thing to prefer one Jor El to another...but I gotta roll my eyes at the "Brando read off cue cards, so he was worse" argument.

That said, I thought Crowe's Jor El was better as an individual, but Brando had a much more interesting relationship with Reeve than Crowe did with Cavill.

People may disagree with me but I didn't see a relationship. Just my opinion.

 

[Jim-El]

Donner's Krypton was so much more mythic. With all due respect to Crowe, Snyder didn't do enough to give the character the commanding presence he needed. He just felt like another kryptonian. Even when he makes his "digital" self known to Kal-El, he's always shown eye level with him. Compare that to the heavenly father portrayal in Donner's film. It doesn't even compare in my opinion.

The way he was shot, the ominous lighting, his godly white hair, the sheer power and wisdom of his words... you feel his immense presence the moment he's on screen. Brando's Jor-El was - literally and symbolically - God in the flesh. Crowe's a great actor but he never felt larger than life like Brando did.

Great post! This sums it all up. You may close the thread now. Thank you.

 

[Shazam]

If I could rank a cartoon with these two, I'd put the animated Jor-el as second behind Crowe.

 

[Shazam]

It's one thing to prefer one Jor El to another...but I gotta roll my eyes at the "Brando read off cue cards, so he was worse" argument.

That said, I thought Crowe's Jor El was better as an individual, but Brando had a much more interesting relationship with Reeve than Crowe did with Cavill.

Really?? Where??

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Crowe. Granted I'm a relatively younger viewer (20s) and I've never been all that attached to Brando.

Quite honestly, I'd vote for any Man of Steel character over their 1970-80s counterpart. More interesting and entertaining all around. Owed at least in part to script, costumes and plot as well.

 

[Senator Pleasury]

Really?? Where??

STM and SII deleted scenes.