Man of Steel (reboot thread)

[Seabird]

The last thread is two and half years old, so I decided to start a new one. Unless I messed up on in my search. Anyway, thought I'd post the first two teaser trailers. They are compiled into one video. The first teaser is narrated by Russell Crowe as Jor-El. The second is narrated by Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent. Kind of an interesting take on a father's advice to his son.

In 720p: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maxy_DTZ544

I really can't wait to see this. I've always been a huge Superman fan and wanted Superman Returns to be better than it was. It's too bad Brandon Routh didn't make it into the reboot, but this Henry Cavill guy definitely looks the part.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/

[EK20]

Looks pretty good.

[demonmk2]

tagged, was waiting for someone to start this.
i think this will be epic like batman was.
Nolan has already proven the power of producing he has.

[demonmk2]

I also noticed in the scoring of the teaser, some Brian Eno, could wrong but it sounds like his work.

there seems to be a lot of British in this as it was in Batman. interesting

[demonmk2]

I was wrong, Hans Zimmer! oh well, still a lot of british in this

[Seabird]

Makes sense. Nolan is a Brit and he likes to work with folks that he knows. Notice all of the cross of stars between the Batman flicks and Inception. He even brought over a couple of folks from Memento to BB, IIRC.

[Sizzla]

The effects look like they're going to be AWESOME!! His flying looked really cool!!!!

[DarkSideGTI]

Blue tights.

One thing that I thought was cool about Smallville was no costume although Clark was almost always wearing red/blue.

[Angina]

Blue tights.

One thing that I thought was cool about Smallville was no costume although Clark was almost always wearing red/blue.

uhh, hasn't he always worn blue tights?

btw, WB eyeing Ben Affleck for Justic League director...

http://www.superherohype.com/news/ar...justice-league

The movies he's directed have been decent. Can't wait for Casey Affleck as Aquaman saving Fenway Park from a bomb.

[Seabird]

Blue tights.

Smallville /= Superman

I only saw a few episodes here and there of that series, but as I understood it, it was never really about Superman. It was about Clark Kent.

Modernizing Supes with a black leather jumpsuit, ala, the first X-Men movie would be lame.

[DarkSideGTI]

Smallville /= Superman

I only saw a few episodes here and there of that series, but as I understood it, it was never really about Superman. It was about Clark Kent.

Modernizing Supes with a black leather jumpsuit, ala, the first X-Men movie would be lame.

He still saved people, flew, burned stuff with his eyes, etc. I understand that Superman wears blue tights, that's one of the main reason's I've thought all the movies were silly. It just looks cheesey. Nolan changed characters costumes drastically in the Batman movies and it made it much better. Why couldn't Clark Kent be a hero without putting on a silly costume? So people don't recognize him? I'm sorry, but taking off your glasses isn't much of a face changer.

[Seabird]

He still saved people, flew, burned stuff with his eyes, etc. I understand that Superman wears blue tights, that's one of the main reason's I've thought all the movies were silly. It just looks cheesey. Nolan changed characters costumes drastically in the Batman movies and it made it much better. Why couldn't Clark Kent be a hero without putting on a silly costume? So people don't recognize him? I'm sorry, but taking off your glasses isn't much of a face changer.

*shrug*

Because he's NOT Clark Kent. That's his real costume which makes him unique as a super hero. All the other ones use their costumes to hide their identities. Kal El/ Superman disguises himself as Clark Kent.

Also, his outfit is iconic. Donner did a somewhat decent job of explaining why it looks the way it does. For example, the S on his chest is actually an alien glyph that represents his family coat of arms or shield. The Daily Planet associated it as S for Superman. He didn't just show up and say, "Hello citizens of Metropolis! I am Superman!". Lois Lane (according to Donner's movie) gave him that moniker.

Nolan did an excellent job of assigning a realistic and plausible reason for Batman's costume along with all of the villains. Without those background conceits, they'd be just as cheesy. He did something clever with Catwoman - I'm assuming it was on purpose. The eye shields that she wore looked like cat ears when pushed back onto her head. It was as though that wasn't necessarily the look she was going for, but it just worked out that way.

I'm hoping that Zack Snyder and Nolan can do the same thing with Superman. There are ways to take otherwise archaic elements and provide the necessary suspension of disbelief. Personally its enough for me to accept his blue tights and red cape because he's an alien and it represents his heritage (and back in the day, an appeal to 1930s American patriotism). I understand that some viewers need more than that, but no suit at all? That's just crazy talk.

[Angina]

He still saved people, flew, burned stuff with his eyes, etc. I understand that Superman wears blue tights, that's one of the main reason's I've thought all the movies were silly. It just looks cheesey. Nolan changed characters costumes drastically in the Batman movies and it made it much better. Why couldn't Clark Kent be a hero without putting on a silly costume? So people don't recognize him? I'm sorry, but taking off your glasses isn't much of a face changer.

so you're criticizing superman's source material, not just the movies. And if you're going this route, a red cape is the silliest thing ever. The thing probably bogs him down, and makes him less aerodynamic. And villains are gonna see him from a mile away.

Out of all superhero costumes, superman is probably the most iconic and simple. No need to change this, but maybe tone down the blues/red, and make it less "Man in tights". Which early pictures seem to indicate.

And how has Nolan changed Batman's costume "drastically"? Are you comparing George Clooney Batman costume to Christian Bale Batman costume? Cause yea, he definitely toned it down. But if you're comparing comic book to movie, I think Nolan did a great job of following the same costume design, which kinda goes against your superman argument.

And with regards to catwoman...yes, I think they did a great job. While Nolan couldn't get away with calling "Batman" something else and just infer that the character was somehow "bat-related", his intention with Anne Hathaway's character was not to blatantly call her the Catwoman. She was Selena Kyle by day, thief by night, and her costume was an ode to her catwoman monicker without anyone in the movie calling her "Catwoman".

[DarkSideGTI]

I wasn't referring to Batman's character, but of others like Bane, Joker, Scarecrow, etc.

[Seabird]

FTR, I wasn't impressed with Nolan's Bane.

[Minker17]

[SpiffyGTI]

Looks awesome.

[EK20]

Looks amazing!

[Code-7]

Between Nolan and Snyder I'm hoping this Superman will knock it out of the park. My only complaint is the removal of the red trunks; look, you got the cape, the red boots, and the big emblem on his chest; you might as well throw in the red trunks too.

Nolan's work on the Dark Knight trilogy was good, but I liked Bruce Wayne better than I did Batman and that never felt right. I never felt like Batman owned the screen, save for a few parts in Batman Begins, and there was nothing iconic about him. Whatever Nolan took away from Batman to make it more realistic, he lost it on the bat bike and bat wing anyway, and the terrible voices. What's the point of casting Tom Hardy if you're just going to cover the majority of his face with a terrible mask and voice anyway?

[RacingManiac]

Was that Kevin Costner?

[Double-V]

Yes. He plays Jonathan Kent.

[panzer 2.3]

[Sizzla]

Oh Snap!! Looks good!!!

[FiveAinOne]

Zack Snyder made Watchmen really enjoyable, especially the special effects part. This will be awesome.

[epbrown]

Zack Snyder made Watchmen really enjoyable, especially the special effects part. This will be awesome.

This version of Superman looks too gloomy. When I was a kid fantasizing about having super-powers, it wasn't so I could sit around brooding all the damn time! You're bulletproof and you can FLY, m*****f***** - shut the hell up and smile!! I swear, it's like hearing Paris Hilton grouse about how tough life is as a celebutante.

[Hostile]

FTR, I wasn't impressed with Nolan's Bane.

Because a freakishly huge giant that has a poison cocktail running through his veins that makes him "hulk out" is even remotely plausible?

[Seabird]

Because a freakishly huge giant that has a poison cocktail running through his veins that makes him "hulk out" is even remotely plausible?

How in the world can you translate what I said into the analysis above?

I'm really looking forward to this movie, but as ep alluded, I hope it isn't "Dark Knight dark". Intense would be good, but not dark or brooding.

Singer would have be really close if not for the lack of fighting and the little kid. I think he got the tone right.

[RENOG]

Its just what Nolan does, shaded, overcasty, greygloomy dark stuff. Even the snow scenes in Inception managed to be grey and that movie is one of his brighter flicks..Regardless I like it.

Besides haven't we had enough of the bright campy-preschool-innocent superman. That campy stuff does nothing to show off what he's truly capable of. As screwed up as the world is, Lets see him fight for something of real sustenance other than a women for cring out loud.
Maybe Nolan will pick up after superman has been sucked dry, used and taken to the cleaners by who he thought was his true earthling love and we get to see his true imperfect charactor, let see how he deals with some real villians when he's not motivated to fight for anything else. C'mon Nolan
Maybe just maybe you'll make me feel like superman is a relevant superhero for once, you have a universe of possiblities with this one Nolan...

[Seabird]

I've said it before in other places. What makes Superman super, isn't just his considerable power. It's his morality. That he doesn't use his ability to enslave mankind (even for its own good). He encompasses a once (and some would say lost) American ideal.

I recall an alternate version of Supes a while back exploring what would have happened if he'd landed in 1930s Russia and became a force for Communism. It was an interesting idea, but one that should only be pondered, not worth changing canon for.

If you simply want to make Superman another Batman, then what's the point? Just go watch Batman again. Not being dark and brooding doesn't mean it has to be campy. He's a Messianic character which, IMO, means he should be inspirational. Conflicted? That's fine, but that personal conflict should be resolved.

[RENOG]

He's a Messianic character which, IMO, means he should be inspirational. Conflicted? That's fine, but that personal conflict should be resolved.

Ok I get what your saying and totally understand your point. I suppose as far as super heros he was my least favorite hence my resistance. I always felt that superman's abilities were wasted on trivial crap you know stuff that can easily be resolved by humans.

Any way if he's going to be inspirational and conflicted I personally wish for him to be REALLY/VERY conflicted and then it be inspirationally resolved, in that order.

[Hostile]

How in the world can you translate what I said into the analysis above?

The conversation up to that point had been complaints about Nolan's take in the characters and the overall movie-tzation of the character costumes. I guess I jumped to the conclusion that you preferred the Bane from the comics.

If you didn't like Nolan's Bane it stood to reason (at least in my head) you preferred the comic version.

My bad.

[epbrown]

I recall an alternate version of Supes a while back exploring what would have happened if he'd landed in 1930s Russia and became a force for Communism. It was an interesting idea, but one that should only be pondered, not worth changing canon for.

Alan Moore played with this idea in "Miracleman" and I really wish the series had gotten a longer run. It was set in a universe where versions of the Marvel family (Shazam!) were the only heroes, and they simply disarmed the entire planet, eliminated a money-based economy and took over as benevolent dictators.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Oh Snap!! Looks good!!!

Agreed. While I'm not happy they keep rebooting all of these movies, this genuinely looks good.

[Seabird]

The conversation up to that point had been complaints about Nolan's take in the characters and the overall movie-tzation of the character costumes. I guess I jumped to the conclusion that you preferred the Bane from the comics.

If you didn't like Nolan's Bane it stood to reason (at least in my head) you preferred the comic version.

My bad.

No worries. I haven't been a comic fan since I was 12 or 13, and then it was strictly Marvel. DC in the mid 80s was considered too corny and hokey. The only time I'd seen Bane like you described (other than in this forum) was in the game Arkham Asylum. I agree, that wouldn't have worked in the movie either. My gripe with the movie Bane was as epbrown said. That face-covering mask and the almost unintelligible dialog. If you ask me, Nolan tried to stay too close to the source material.

[Seabird]

Here's a quick blog from NPR, about the latest trailer. Looks like this first film will be a true origins story touching on not only Clark's turmoil (he only knew himself as KC before he went Kafka), but Jonathan Kent's as well. Perhaps this will satisfy everyone who wants something intense like the Dark Knight films. But whereas Wayne's story was one of descent into madness and turmoil (before finally achieving peace), perhaps Superman's will be portrayed as one of ascendency. From confusion, doubt, and self-loathing into acceptance of the mantle of responsibility bestowed upon him by both of his fathers.

This could be good.


http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2...sc=ipad&f=1008

Let's Rush to Judgment: 'Man of Steel'
by Glen Weldon
NPR - December 11, 2012

Last summer, the first trailer for Zack Snyder's upcoming big red reboot of the Superman film franchise, Man of Steel, was all about hiding its light under a bushel. Of crabs.

It looked a hell of a lot more like Deadliest Catch than you'd expect, is my point. So much so that you'd be forgiven for wondering if the film's villain might turn out to be a malevolent Alaskan snow crab. ("Kneel before Zod!" it would hiss, extending the claw of his right cheliped for the President to plant one on.)

Look, it's Snyder. It could happen. You saw Sucker Punch? You didn't? Well just trust me: you can't put even despotic Kryptonian crustaceans past this guy.

Plus, the only glimpse we got of our hero in all his primary-colored glory was from a great distance, a tiny figure streaking up through the atmosphere.

On the surface, a pretty weak (tartar) sauce, that first trailer.

And yet ... There was Jor-El's dialogue ("You will give the people an ideal to strive towards...") closely paraphrasing Grant Morrison's incredible and indelible All-Star Superman mini-series.

And there was that brief image of Clark as a young boy, running through his back yard with a towel wrapped around his neck. Then, in a tighter shot, we saw him standing with his feet apart. And resting his fists on his hips.

Boom.

That was it. That was The Shot. That was the pose millions of kids have been striking for 74 years. It was the character reduced to his essence. It was a madeleine cookie of nerddom, packed with a potent, iconic, pre-verbal power to send a certain subset of the population caroming back to our own childhood backyards, our own poorly tied bathtowels. That fleeting glimpse was enough for hope to persist.

Now yes, granted, it was a wild, desperate hope. A hope capable of facing down Sucker Punch, which let's just agree is some strong-ass hope indeed.

And now comes the second trailer.

"The World's Too Big, Mom"

We see an adult, beardy Clark floating underwater, remembering his mother's advice to him when he was a boy as he struggled with what seems to be the sudden onset of his super-senses. The voice of Diane Lane's Ma Kent proves to be his lifeline out of the riot of sounds and color - a human connection strong enough to help him contain and control his alien abilities.

Superman's writers have historically depicted him coming into his powers gradually, as he ages. (Both Smallville and Geoff Johns/Gary Frank mini-series Superman: Secret Identity followed the X-Men "super-powers as secondary sex characteristics" conceit. Though of course Clark can't just hide the heat vision that suddenly manifests upon kissing Lana behind his Mead Trapper Keeper, if you follow me.)

"He Saw What Clark Did"

A slightly older Clark saves a schoolbus from going all Sweet Hereafter, and we hear the mother of one of his schoolmates trying to keep it together even as her voice frays with fear - a nice touch there, I think.

Enter: Parental concern over Clark's future. For decades, it's been handled as a mere plot point, a box to be checked, the inciting action that gets him to develop the Superman persona.

But here, in a move that will likely prove controversial among die-hard fans, Kevin Costner's Pa Kent is visibly shaken by the terrible FACT of his adopted son, and the prospect of what will happen to him if he is exposed.

"What was I supposed to do," Clark asks, "let them DIE?"

"...Maybe," Pa says.

Okay, whoa. Let's stop here for second.

For decades, Pa and Ma Kent have been portrayed as salt-of-the-earth types, fonts of homespun wisdom, simple country folk whose Midwestern values shape Clark into the man he becomes. They were roles, touchpoints, spouters of homilies that teach humility and forbearance. They were the flat characters, and that's fine: all stories need flat characters who exist to delineate and define the main character.

But ... what if they weren't?

And what if the story didn't summarily dispense with them once they'd inculcated Clark with their aw-shucksian worldview? What if instead they struggled with conflicts of their own, conflicts that continued to color Clark's perceptions into his adulthood?

And what if Clark's decision to face the world despite his father's fears and misgivings (which seem to be vindicated, by all those shots of the military targeting him, handcuffing him, etc.) wasn't simply a part of the character's backstory, but the question that drives the action?

It's an area the films have avoided, though the comics have addressed it in various ways. In Jeph Loeb/Tim Sales mini-series Superman: Man For All Seasons, Pa Kent struggles with his fear about what his son would become, and both Mark Waid/Leinil Yu's Superman: Birthright and the Johns/Frank Secret Origin, as well as Smallville, all toyed with the notion that Pa Kent, at least, might feel paternal jealousy about his son's Kryptonian heritage.

So seeing Costner's helpless "...Maybe" in the trailer? Is at the very least interesting, and perhaps even ... that rarest of commodities, when one is dealing with the 6th cinematic treatment of a character who's saturated the planet's collective consciousness over the course of his 74-year lifespan — dare I say it? --

New. [Copyright 2012 National Public Radio]