RorShaq
02-26-2002, 02:34 AM
I recently viewed an online petition protesting McG as the new director. I've gotta say, a lot of the people signing it seem as confused as Jon Peters when it comes to how to portray Superman. Now, I fully agree that McG is not the correct director, and that the comments about a "lighter, funnier" Superman are somewhat disturbing. However, many of these people want to take things in a completely opposite direction.
There have been many calls for a "dark" tone, and a "grittier, more realistic" portrayal of the Man of Steel. There have been calls to look at X-Men, or the Crow, or the first Batman movie as the model for how to make Superman. I think people are failing to realize that Superman is not Batman or an X-Man or Spider-Man or Blade or the Crow or any of these other characters people are bringing up. Those are all characters who are either driven by vengeance or who happen to stumble upon powers somehow. Superman is not just some guy who is strong and can fly. If that's the kind of movie people want to see, there are dozens of characters who fit that mold and who's licensing rights would be far cheaper.
The story of Superman is a vastly epic tale concerning the last son of a dead world, the morals and values imparted to him in heartland America, and his struggles in coming to grips with what he means to the world. The villains he faces should of course be menacing, and there should be a serious undertone in keeping with the legend being portrayed. However, the movie should ultimately be painted with an optomistic brush, as this is after all Superman we're dealing with. Plus, the first movie, which almost everyone agrees was the best of the lot, had many light, funny moments which contributed greatly to its quality.
Personally, I would be in favor of handing the reins back to Donner. However, it seems like that will never happen. The execs, in their infinite wisdom, don't want to go with a sure thing. So, barring that, I think Michael Mann would be the perfect choice. Heat and Last of the Mohicans were both epic adventures that made a lot of money and drew critical acclaim. Epic, I think, is the key word here, as a movie about a legend must be epic to do justice. However, what's so impressive about Mann is the way he makes you connect with his characters, though they may be leading lives you can only imagine.
And who to play our hero? A few years ago, someone suggested Daniel Day-Lewis. In my opinion, he'd be perfect for an older Man of Steel. He is able to communicate a sort of stoic nobility while at the same time not being stiff about it. However, I don't see that happening. Billy Crudup should be given the role. He's the guy who played the guitarist in Almost Famous. Check out the movie Waking the Dead to see him clean shaven and short-haired. He's a fantastic actor, and he's got the look of both Clark Kent and Superman. I don't know how tall he is, but they've got a million camera tricks to adress issues like that.
Those are my thoughts for now. I really hope some people respond here because I respect a lot of opinions on this board and would like to see what other people think.
There have been many calls for a "dark" tone, and a "grittier, more realistic" portrayal of the Man of Steel. There have been calls to look at X-Men, or the Crow, or the first Batman movie as the model for how to make Superman. I think people are failing to realize that Superman is not Batman or an X-Man or Spider-Man or Blade or the Crow or any of these other characters people are bringing up. Those are all characters who are either driven by vengeance or who happen to stumble upon powers somehow. Superman is not just some guy who is strong and can fly. If that's the kind of movie people want to see, there are dozens of characters who fit that mold and who's licensing rights would be far cheaper.
The story of Superman is a vastly epic tale concerning the last son of a dead world, the morals and values imparted to him in heartland America, and his struggles in coming to grips with what he means to the world. The villains he faces should of course be menacing, and there should be a serious undertone in keeping with the legend being portrayed. However, the movie should ultimately be painted with an optomistic brush, as this is after all Superman we're dealing with. Plus, the first movie, which almost everyone agrees was the best of the lot, had many light, funny moments which contributed greatly to its quality.
Personally, I would be in favor of handing the reins back to Donner. However, it seems like that will never happen. The execs, in their infinite wisdom, don't want to go with a sure thing. So, barring that, I think Michael Mann would be the perfect choice. Heat and Last of the Mohicans were both epic adventures that made a lot of money and drew critical acclaim. Epic, I think, is the key word here, as a movie about a legend must be epic to do justice. However, what's so impressive about Mann is the way he makes you connect with his characters, though they may be leading lives you can only imagine.
And who to play our hero? A few years ago, someone suggested Daniel Day-Lewis. In my opinion, he'd be perfect for an older Man of Steel. He is able to communicate a sort of stoic nobility while at the same time not being stiff about it. However, I don't see that happening. Billy Crudup should be given the role. He's the guy who played the guitarist in Almost Famous. Check out the movie Waking the Dead to see him clean shaven and short-haired. He's a fantastic actor, and he's got the look of both Clark Kent and Superman. I don't know how tall he is, but they've got a million camera tricks to adress issues like that.
Those are my thoughts for now. I really hope some people respond here because I respect a lot of opinions on this board and would like to see what other people think.