Superman
Before I was a geek for web design, I was a comic book geek. As a kid I read Superman, Batman and Spiderman comics (among many, many others). For those that know me, my appreciation for Superman is something I have a hard time hiding. (I wear a Superman ring and I have several Superman action figures on my desk at work for starters…)
Fast forward to today… Superman Returns is out in theatres. When I first heard about the movie several years ago, I was saddened by the turmoil plaguing it’s creation. When I heard Kevin Smith had been tapped to write a draft of the screenplay I was ecstatic. That excitement turned to disappointment after his version was rejected… Then, Nicholas Cage was announced as Superman. More disappointment. Then, silence. For what seemed like years, I heard nothing on the Superman front. No development, no actors, no writers… just silence. Then out of nowehere came the announcement that Brian Singer (of X-Men fame) was tapped to be the director. Then, a few months later Brandon Routh was named the new Superman. I didn’t know what to think other than, “Who is this guy?”
I wasn’t sure I would see the new movie. I had high hopes given that Singer was directing it… The preview trailers looked pretty good. But I just wasn’t sure about Routh as Superman.
I was wrong.
I saw Superman Returns twice over the 4th of July holiday weekend. I was not disappointed. All of the things I loved about Superman, the original movies, Christopher Reeve… all of it was present in this new movie. They didn’t take the character and screw it up. Singer treated it just like he did the two X-men films he directed and delivered a movie I am proud to have watched. Routh reminded me a lot of Christopher Reeve. He had the same Midwestern simplicity about him that embodies who Superman/Clark Kent is. Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor was a match made in heaven… Spacey is awesome as a bad guy. Don’t believe me? All I have to say is Keyser Soze. (Funny, I didn’t realize that Singer directed The Usual Suspects as well. I knew there was another reason I liked him…)
America’s missed Superman. Ever since 9-11 we’ve needed a hero back in our lives. Sure, we’ve had Spiderman and Batman movies as of late… but they just aren’t the same.
The movie was awesome. I hope to see it again soon. I hope you’ll give it a chance as well.
I agree it was awesome. My wife even loved it. She did not buy the ending though. I actually read the book first and that has a slighly different ending.
I may have to check that out… I didn’t know there was a book adaptation out. I’ll have to add it to my reading list, which, admittedly is far too long right now.
I can’t wait to see if they continue with the franchise though… Now… I’ll be waiting for Spiderman 3 to come out… and in the near term, I’m anxious to see Clerks 2…
The xmen 3 novel had a different ending as well. Pretty neat. I like to read the novellazations as they usually have stuff that wa maybe filmed and cut out or concepts that were dropped.
I will definitely check it out then. I knew the books were usually different… I.e. Forrest Gump was much better as a book. Jurassic Park was much better as a book… I’ll have to check out the Superman Returns book…
I agree it was awesome. My wife even loved it. She did not buy the ending though. I actually read the book first and that has a slighly different ending.
I may have to check that out… I didn’t know there was a book adaptation out. I’ll have to add it to my reading list, which, admittedly is far too long right now.
I can’t wait to see if they continue with the franchise though… Now… I’ll be waiting for Spiderman 3 to come out… and in the near term, I’m anxious to see Clerks 2…
The xmen 3 novel had a different ending as well. Pretty neat. I like to read the novellazations as they usually have stuff that wa maybe filmed and cut out or concepts that were dropped.
I will definitely check it out then. I knew the books were usually different… I.e. Forrest Gump was much better as a book. Jurassic Park was much better as a book… I’ll have to check out the Superman Returns book…