What are your thoughts on Superman Returns?

[The Last Son]

I will go see it and I'm certain I'll enjoy it, I just felt that it could be better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing any pre-release bashing (I'm as excited as anybody else about it), but I think that because Superman is such a good tale of rebirth, why not cut of the previous series (like they did Batman to great effect) and start from the death of Krypton. I just really wanted to see an all-new retelling unconnected to any previous continuites. I'm not sure this is the most popular standpoint to take here, but I wanted to hear what some other Superman fans had to say.

[nightwing]

At this point, the last thing I want to see (on screen or in a comic) is yet another re-telling of the origin.

Having said that, I agree it is indeed curious that Singer's making such efforts to recreate the look and feel of a series that ended 20 years ago.  The Salkind films had their charms, but they were by no means perfect -- even the first one -- and I'd have liked to see something completely fresh and original.  "Batman Begins" had a big job escaping the look and feel of the relatively recent Burton/Shumacher films, but it managed.  Singer's on the other end of the scale; he's got to resurrect the look and feel of a series that ended before much of his audience was born!  Why he's bothering is beyond me.

But I'm reserving judgement...there seem to be plenty of new things to see, like the re-imagined Metropolis, so maybe it'll end up not being more of the same.  I don't care about the costume and all the other bones fans seem to have; the part that worries me is the bit with Lois' kid, since there's only so many ways that can turn out and I'm not excited about any of them.  Either it's some other man's kid and the classic romance is a lot less pure and fun, or it's Superman's kid and I'm even less happy.

What the heck, it's only a movie.  It's taken DC 20+ years to destroy Superman.  How much damage can Singer do in 2 hours? I know, famous last words.  :lol:

If nothing else comes out of the film, at least it's motivating Warners to put a lot of classic Superman material out on DVD (including, I hear, the Kirk Alyn serials by Christmas) so it's already a good thing in my book.

[JulianPerez]

I am optimistic about the film.

For one thing, it just LOOKS swell. Superman is one character that would look astonishing in the post-LORD OF THE RINGS, post-STAR WARS prequel level of special effects; to see that in a big budget level film...well, it’s something that we’ve never seen before. Amazing to think that the last Superman movie was made in the 1980s.

Also, the Superman music is wonderful and evocative, and it’s great to hear they’re using it.

It seems that all the participants of the film venerate the character of Superman, which is really astonishing when one considers that just TWO years ago a version was proposed that had Lex Luthor from a Krypton that did not explode and had aerial Kung Fu fighting, directed by a music video cinematographer. We sure did dodge a bullet there!

I do like that they are doing Krypton again. Krypton wasn’t done right the first time. Marlon Brando was visibly drunk, sleepwalking and mumbling through his scenes, and Krypton was essentially a group of cheap sets and overly bombastic, biblical dialogue. What could have been one of the most tragic, senseless tearjerking moments in the history of superhero cinema, was neutered. I don’t know about you guys, but when Krypton blows up...I want to CRY. If someone thinks they can do Krypton better, they are welcome to the opportunity.

[Klar Ken T5477]

In what may be a sisnister portent of things to come, composer John Williams is conducting film music with the New York Philarmonic in April and not one note of his   uper core is on the playbill.

Does he know something we don't? :shock:

Of course, he may be saving it for the encore!

Commentary based on a teaser trailer, a few HD screen shots and rumors and innuendo cant form an opinion for me at this point.

Only after I see it, which I will.

The let the thought beasts of Krypton beware!  

Although a dearth of uper goodies is always good!

[The Last Son]

At this point, the last thing I want to see (on screen or in a comic) is yet another re-telling of the origin.

Why not? My main concern is that, not only are they attempting to link it  visually to the old series they are doing so in plot as well. I personally felt that the old series wasn't really all that strong (don't crucify me) and I had  higher hopes for this one. I would love to see a new origin with a new younger Jor-El (that actually looks like his son), a real rocketship (not some weird star) and a Krypton that's not all white and crystalline. Just something new, really. What we're getting seems like it's half-new and half Singer's homage to the Donner films.

[nightwing]

Check my post above and you'll see I'm not a huge fan of the earlier films, either.  Even Superman: The Movie has some big problems from my point of view, including as you suggest the depiction of Krypton.

But having said that, I still say I don't want another origin film.  I was totally uninterested in "Batman Begins" during all the pre-release publicity precisely BECAUSE it was an "Origin film" and I can't think of anything less interesting.  As it turns out, it was a very fun film anyway, but in my book that makes it the exception.  (Anyway, Batman hadn't had an origin film before "Begins," while Superman has) I'd rather not sit through another two hours of Superman's backstory yet again; just get to the action already.

I do agree, though, that tying "Returns" to the earlier films is not an exciting idea.  I don't know anything about the plot other than the hints that have been dropped in the marketing, but I worry that Lois' kid will turn out to be Superman's issue from their brief affair in Superman II, and I've heard Jude Law is appearing as General Zod (though there's been almost nothing official about this, so maybe it's supposed to be a big surprise or something).  Honestly, despite the love out there for "Superman II" I think it's pretty much a mess of a film, and I'd just as soon Singer not tie into it too closely.

But hey, it's Superman.  I'll be there.

[shazamtd]

At this point, the last thing I want to see (on screen or in a comic) is yet another re-telling of the origin.

Why not? My main concern is that, not only are they attempting to link it  visually to the old series they are doing so in plot as well. I personally felt that the old series wasn't really all that strong (don't crucify me) and I had  higher hopes for this one. I would love to see a new origin with a new younger Jor-El (that actually looks like his son), a real rocketship (not some weird star) and a Krypton that's not all white and crystalline. Just something new, really. What we're getting seems like it's half-new and half Singer's homage to the Donner films.

Speaking for myself.  The reason I'm not interested in seeing another re-telling of the origin is because it's been done to death.  I can think of seven different versions from four different media off the top of my head.  Everyone knows it by heart by now.  

I am excited about Singer's vision.  A little of the old mixed with the new intrigues me.  I think it will give the movie a sense of nostalgia for the fans of the first Chris Reeve film.  

[JulianPerez]

I've heard Jude Law is appearing as General Zod (though there's been almost nothing official about this, so maybe it's supposed to be a big surprise or something).

Is that right? Now this I hadn't heard.

I feel sorry for Jude Law. playing a character made popular by Terrence Stamp: it means he's finally starting to be cast on the basis of male pattern baldness.

Are we...NEVER...going to get to Brainiac? Batman's had five live action movies since the 1990s and he's used a sum total of seven of his famous villains. Superman on the other hand, has had four, going on five in nearly twice the same time, and yet we've only really seen Lex and Zod. It's time the directors starting dipping into the Supeman pot and started pulling some guys out.

Terra-Man, despite his absolutely surreal concept, may work as a future movie Superman foe; the flying horse is mindblowingly Joseph Campbell-esque.