I am showing my age when I say this, but I miss the Christopher Reeve iteration dearly, though only from Superman the Movie (1978) & Superman II (1981). We need to get back to Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I don’t care if those principles somehow seem antiquated in modern times. These were the classic traits that defined Superman, traits that should remain constant.

As Agent Coulson said to Captain America in this year’s Avengers movie, “With everything that’s happening, things about to come to light, people might need a little ‘old fashioned.’”

But IMO, the best Superman has to be the one in “Superman Vs. The Elite,” a Warner Brothers direct-to-DVD PG-13 cartoon. In this one, Superman finally decides to kill – apparently – after getting beat up by a super-powered group of humans that call themselves The Elite (after declaring that no one was above the law). No Mr. Nice Guy here. This was Supes channeling a bit of Batman, and it was refreshing.

“Man of Steel?” I might see it on DVD. I’ll save my money for “Star Trek Into Darkness,” thanks.

That “Maybe.” reply by Pa Kent to Clark’s question about letting his classmates die really bugs me.

Dude he feels our pain, can we get him on a ticket in 2016?

msmveritas on December 11, 2012 at 8:49 PM

Don’t bother. I’m told by Newt Gingrich that Hillary has the 2016 election all sewn up already.

Give me a Superman that stands for all of the classical values of virtue and morality, with none of the post-modern self-doubt or angst. In other words, give me a Christopher Reeve performance with a better script and story.

Stoic Patriot on December 11, 2012 at 8:52 PM

Amen. For a lot of us Gen-Xers, Reeve is the gold standard for Superman. Part of me says just give up on Superman movies in honor of Reeve’s memory.

Zod is in this movie and played by Michael Shannon(an unexpected, but inspired choice IMO).

Doughboy on December 11, 2012 at 9:18 PM

Terrence “KNEEL before ZOD!!!” Stamp will be a hard act to follow, but I can see Shannon doing well here. He’s my favorite actor on Boardwalk Empire.

Gene Hackman did an awesome job! Best Lex Luthor ever.

inviolet on December 12, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Yes! While I think Kevin Spacey is a decent actor, his Lex Luthor looked like he would crap his pants if he ever ran into Hackman’s Luthor.

Needs more Amy Adams in the trailer.

topdawg on December 11, 2012 at 9:12 PM

We’ll have to see. While I’m so used to Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, I never found her all that attractive. I would take Annette O’Toole’s Lana Lang 10 times out of 10 over Kidder’s Lane. Still, I like Amy Adams and maybe she can pull this off.

Cautiously optimistic about the whole affair.

On the positive side, this does not look like another “Superman vs The Evil Real Estate Developer” movie.

Queasy on December 12, 2012 at 12:36 AM

hahahaha – ah come on, Gene Hackman did an awesome job! Best Lex Luthor ever. And yes 1978′s Superman the Movie was a good flick IMO.

This is a fascinating thread BTW — the different ways people see Superman esp w/ the theological or other overtones. Instead of commenting further I’ll just post this cool song from 1983 which has yet another take.

The one time he tried to go his own way, the result was a celluloid abortion called Sucker Punch. It looks like audiences are in for another one of those.

And better than all that political stuff.

Politics in Amerika is not where it’s at.

Anarchy in the UK!!!

“Besides, would another whimsical Superman movie feel right for the times?”

Nonsense. 1978 was not a happy time for America, but Superman – The Movie was a joyful experience. Maybe Americans were a different breed then. But that is no excuse.

I´m not going to spend a dime on a maudlin “let me count the ways in which we suck” Superman movie.

If I want bleak, I´ll watch one of those awesome South Korean movies where everyone is dead at the end.

Every time a movie trailer is posted at HA everyone turns into an 84 year old man, “GET OFF MY LAWN!”

nitzsche on December 11, 2012 at 9:58 PM

I sometimes wonder if that’s why AP posts them. lol

Enough with the reboots. Though, to be fair, reboots are nothing new in Hollywood. Jane Eyre was done in 1944, 1996 and 2011. King Kong: 1933, 1976, 2005. And those are just to name two. Of course, in the last three decade there seems to be a preponderance of rebooting of reboots and as with so many things, in an ever increasing fashion. I mean, really, already a reboot of the Spiderman movies?!

I haven’t seen the 2006 Superman movie, and probably won’t see this one either, so there’s that.

I just got to watch the Avengers movie this evening on video. I really liked that movie. Very well done – in spite of Samuel Jackson (blech). Robert Downey Jr., the overall acting and the writing made that movie. Just the right amount of humor, properly placed. I was unimpressed with the cinematics, but I guess it’s because the movie industry has progressed to such a degree that they’ve created a very high bar in that area. The scene where Hulk slams Loki around had me laughing to the point of waking my wife up.

In all likelihood, most of us will walk out of the theater wanting to punch emo Elmo Superman in the face

FIFY

When will HA do a blog on the probably republican/conservative gunman who shot up innocent people in Oregon…. probably because Romney lost. So sad

HotAirLib on December 11, 2012 at 8:46 PM

Yeah, or a blog on the probable Union thug and tea party member who got violent with Crowder. You know how violent those Tea Party Union members are. Or the probably well informed voter who voted for Obama because he’s probably done a great job. Or maybe one on the probably intelligent smug, snarky troll who is probably a real wit (but may probably only be half right). Wait, I got it! A blog on a probable jackwagon liberal who probably won’t get over it probably anytime probably soon. Oh, and another on probable liberal halfwit who probably exercises it’s feeble mind by jumping to conclusions.
‘
I love this probably’ stuff! It’s like fake but accurate speculation!

Almost nothing, to be honest.

His brother and co-writer came up with the approach.

Nolan wanted his brother to direct.

WB said no.

Nolan, his brother and co-writer left the project. Their script was handed to Snyder and his wife.

Nolan is out of the superhero game, not by his choice, but by WB. He was garnering more project control than they wanted to relenquish.

Chris Nolan does Superman?

Awesome.

I’ve read and probably bought every superman comic book since 1960.

What can I say. go supes