August
18 Superman Status Update

Reboot, Please! The fanbase is obviously divided now and a restart of the franchise is the only hope of bringing them all together. Make it fresh and look to the comics for inspiration, rather than the Donner movies.

I thought Superman Returns was OK. I think one of the big problems was that he didn't have anyone to really fight. They should make a movie with a super villain like Doomsday or something.

Marvel always kicked DCs ass.

They did it in their books and now they're doing it in the theaters & DVD.

WB execs are on crack.

SMALLVILLE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO'S WITH ME?

The Warner execs need to relax.

Superman Returns was a fantastic and visually beautiful film. It will stand the test of time. Surely they should be more proud of crafting a mature, revelant character piece than a peice of popcorn trash like Iron Man or Spider-Man 3. Sure they made more money but people will forget all about them by the time the next Marvel movie rolls around.

To be honest the main reaoson the film didn't do that well is because the marketing sucked- plus it would have worked better as a winter release. So don't blame Bryan Singer, you guys had a part to play in that too.

Please give Bryan Singer a chance to expand what he has set up. The cast was pitch perfect except for Bosworth, but I'd be willing to give her another chance.

Another installment from these guys is what everyone wants. Fanboys blogging about reboots just want some quick action packed movie to fill the void until Batman 3.

Singer knows how to stay respectful to the spirit of the Chris Reeve movies and the spirit of Superman as a character. Superman is not some character to be dumbed down in a CGI action fest.

Please give Singer and co another shot, they will knock it out of the park and you will have another timeless film on your hands.

I'm so sick of all the reboot comments.

Fans who saw Donner's original, back when it was released, would have felt the passion which Singer was aiming for. Superman Returns was a heartfelt homeage to those films, refreshing and updating the character as much as could be done in just one film.

What needs to happen now is a sequel to continue the update. not much needs to change -

- a super villain for Kal-el to fight
- super villain kills Kal-el's son and Lois' husband
- epic climactic battle
- keep the homeage to the originals, ie the music, etc
- Clark to return as more bumbling (ala Chris Reeve)
- Lose the retro look, there is no need for it. The original films were fairly modern in look and feel for their times
- Keep Brandon Routh, he is similar enough to Reeve to sometimes think it is actually the same Superman, but different enough to take it to a new generation aswell

This isn't the mess which Batman & Robin was and doesn't need a reboot.

"Fans who saw Donner's original, back when it was released" ARE OVER 40 YEARS OLD NOW! Don't you get that?

THEY MADE A SEQUEL TO A 30 YEAR OLD MOVIE! How the hell did that not raise red flags with the studio masterminds? The target audience of teens were over a decade away from being born when Donner's film was released! And nobody thought of this? Nobody???

This nostalgia bullsh!t from middle-aged Donner/Singer fanboys has to end. It's leading Superman right into the grave. It's the now the 21st century for crying out loud. Reboot and get it over with.

Please do the sequel! If they do the reboot, I won't even support and won't watch this! Forget it!

Brandon Routh was an fantastic as Superman. Superman Returns was awesome. Loved it.

Please do the sequel, no reboot!!

Thank you.

I watched "Superman II" twice over the last week and was reminded just how much they got those first two movies "right". Sure, the special effects are incredibly dated, but to perfectly frank, Superman is toosilly a character to apply to modern sensibilities (the kind that have produced Christopher Nolan's Batman movies). They knew that back in the late 70s and so they applied a sense of satire and humour that actually works with the cheesy effects and the ated production design. So it doesn't look or feel real, but that's what Superman should be. His movies should be whimsical and fanciful, like The Wizard of Oz or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

"Superman Returns", to me, was like Tim Burton's "Batman", a movie that had a very particular sensibility that ultimately does not match the material. Yes, the special effects were better and kind of spectacular, but they were at the service of something that was very cold, distant, austere, things that I do not associate with Superman. I say lessons should be learnt and Superman should be laid to rest. The original films are what paved the way for the current genre of superhero movies, but they are not the same kinds of movies. The closest we got to the sensibility of those movies were the first two "Spider-Man" movies and the reason they worked was because they tapped into what we remember about thosemovies and applied them to our current sensibilities. And Peter Parker was the perfect hero to pin that on. We've moved past Spider-Man, though.

they turned superman into a jesus christ wannabe, and then turned him into a super stalker , everytime you turned around he was staring into lois lanes house.
i think it could have been better.
but a sequel done closer to the comics would be awesome if done right.

I wanted to love SR, I really did but I found myself kinda liking it or, at times, bordering on disliking it. The main reason? Jason. What a horrible idea! I mean, seriously? A kid? That's soap opera crap. That's also the only reason I would vote for a reboot. I enjoyed Spacey, thought Routh was o.k and disliked Kate Bosworth but she could easily be recast. SR could've been a fitting sendoff for the Donner universe except for Jason. So, unless the previous movie was only a dream (Dallas reference) I don't see where they could go with that terrible storyline.

I think the Superman franchise would be a very hard series of films to reboot. Superman himself, at the very basic level is a very iconic, and I dont think it works very well in the modern world. Its very much "good versus evil" type material. And with that, I think the series doesnt need to be more dark, but needs to be more fun. Bigger, louder, campier, and with and a great sense of adventure and wonder. Not soo much on the drama, but more leaning on the sense of discovery and self awareness. I think it just needs a different director with different style looking at it. Somebody like peter jackson. who knows what big and wonderous is. Or maybe even the director of Pan's Labyrinth? just a thought. (I would spell his name, but I'd just mess it up)

You group of 30 desperate Apologists that populate places like Blue Tights and Singerman Homepage need to just give up the fight. It's been 2+ years now just admit this film's shortcomings and move on. Stop pointing to a film's 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes as evidence that its somehow a good film. You all go out of your way to rip Spider-man as being "popcorn fluff" yet 2 of it's 3 films scored higher than SR on RT, so whats your excuse now?
Anyone with even the slightest inkling of who the character of Superman is, smelled a turd from the minute this film opened. Millar, Meltzer, Johns, Morrison, Kevin Smith, and Mark Waid, 5 of the people who know the character the best, have come out against the movie, saying that it failed in every creative aspect to understand the character. Singer doesnt get Superman. He tried shoe-horning his personal agenda into an established continuity from 30 years ago and it blew up in his face. It was horribly miscast too. Routh is wooden. Bosworth was overwhelmed, and Spacey was phoning it in. Sure the cinematography and effects were nice (as they should be in a $250 million movie). And stop with pretentious "it's too smart for you, you just dont get it" crap too. The only one who doesnt "get it" is Singer. Hey we all waited a long time for a new Supes movie and invested a lot of time in seeing it come together. In the end it was a piece of garbage. Accept it and move on.

Please, Warner Bros. appease the homophobes and support the hate they spew. Make sure they get their way. Yeah. That guy Archangel (Steve) is a real beauty. This is what he wrote on that savesuperman web site:
"And I don't expect people to agree with everything I believe in just as they shouldn't expect me to agree with everything they believe in. Each of us was raised differently. Many here are in other countries with completely different morals, cultural upbringings, and religious beliefs, etc. In Iran, homosexuals are executed. I don't agree with that extreme view, but I do believe it is an immoral lifestyle against what God intended.
Then, the scientific side of me is able to possibly view it as a mental disease or defect in the same manner as pedophilia. Studies suggest that the two conditions are nearly identical in that homosexuals have an uncontrollable desire and love for the same sex and pedophiles have an uncontrollable desire and love for children which is something that is treated even in prison as a disease. Recent DNA studies cite a possible gene that is linked to homosexual thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has greatly limited the ability and scope of research into this making policy where they have no right to. In addition, look at all controversy involving Catholic priests. The children sexually molested are ALL boys. Is that not homosexual? Is it ONLY pedophilia? The most common instances of pedophilia are same sex. The involvement of children makes it illegal. But when only adults are involved it simply considered homosexual and should be accepted? That's just plain hypocritical in my opinion.
Now before you jump up and think I'm advocating pedophiles, get that thought out of your head. I have two siblings who were abused by a neighbor. I'm simply pointing out how one is supposed to be accepted because adults can make their own decisions in life. It's still just as immoral and just as disgusting."
- Steve

Keep Routh and Singer! MOS is a great title with a lot of story line to work with. Most die-hards will always have their opinion which typically is opposite of what the general public wants.

Routh didn't have a lot to work with, IMO. He was TOLD to act like Reeve and to his credit I thought he did just that. The problem was he didn't have enough time in the movie to develop it further. Which I blame the writers - not Routh.

SR is a good movie on it's own merits, however, it's not a great Superman movie. Whatever they decide to do with the sequal I believe it won't be what you or I want. Really? These guys have had a while to come up with something great and news that writers have or have not been hired is silly.

If a movie was really coming out don't you think a least a script would have been created or at least a story line?

I like Routh as Superman because he has a lot of room to grow and develop if Singer allows him to.

Lastly, MOS should be written as if it's the middle act of a three act play. Make it darker (not evil - more dire).

Come on, it mustn't be so difficult to make a criative sequel! Just put more action, more humour and recast Lois Lane, simple.
A reboot will just show that Warner and Singer are losers and can waste a lot of money...
Singer is a talented director, and Brandon Routh is the perfect Superman, it would be very hard to find another acor with those characteristics.

Fans 'everywhere' clamoring for a reboot, eh? You may indeed see that, but I fail to understand how you miss the SR supporters drown them with their numbers, much like what is happening here in the comments area.

Superman Returns was a beautifully directed film that choose to showcase heart over action. But that's not to say there was no action in it. The airplane rescue is a scene no comic movie since has topped. But I do agree that Superman probably should've had a physical adversary to combat.

Still this bull about Jason being a problem for MOS is just that...bull. A proven pair of writers can work with anything given to them, and Jason is the equivalent to sesame street when it comes to sequel dilemmas.

Two good writers are the answer.

Unfortunately, the negative remarks are always the loudest for something like this. Hence why people keep saying things like "fans are clamoring for a reboot." That's not true at all. Superman Returns was critically well received and I think most people who have followed and understand the character liked the movie. It breaks my heart to hear people saying things like "make it dark" and "more explosions." They're really missing the point of a Superman movie. Bryan Singer got it.

Honestly, I think there is sufficient source material to do a darker Superman movie. The Doomsday story arc probably has enough source material to sustain a trilogy.

Another thing that's always intrigued me is how the Crisis on Infinite Earths would translate. I have a hunch that it'd just have to change too much, but I'd be curious to see what could be done with it.

There is a dedicated minority contingent of Superman Returns fans who live on the internet 24/7 and post to every related thread and forum. They’re loud and noisy and kick up a fuss about how the movie is overwhelmingly beloved by the general audience. They relentlessly quote the movie’s C grade at rottentomatos and its mediocre box office as support. Listening to these few wackjobs you would never know that the general audience doesn’t give two hoots about that leaden movie or any possible sequel to it. The audience doesn’t even remember the movie came out! It was entirely forgettable.

i would like to say that i saw sr, and i had a few issues with it. i have written a script for the proposed sequel, and if any one knows how to get ahold of bryan singer, i would appreciate it

No offense, ray, but Tom Welling is probably the worst actor I've ever seen. He can't even seem legitimately sad at someone's death. Just a pretty face. The casting on that show is pretty terrible; only Lex's dad is a great actor.

re - Posted by: reality check | August 19, 2008 at 09:45 PM

Hmmm, funny to hear I am part of a minority contingent of Superman Returns fans who live on the internet 24/7 and post to every related thread and forum.

In reality I have a professional career, I'm a married guy with a great social life, a great group of friends and a kid on the way.

I loved Superman Returns as per my earlier post and It always bugs me when someone doesn't agree with someone else, they put it down to "being part of a minrity group of ... whatever "

Not everyone loves the same things as you buddy, and by the looks of things on this forum alone, there are plenty of people who feel good about the film and plenty who don't.

Let's just hope Warner know where their cash is coming from and do this for the tried and true film fans.

Bring back Routh & Singer !!

The cash is coming from teens, who don't care for baby mama drama at all, or wooden Routh. By that logic, only a reboot would suffice.

Rebooting the franchise is the wrong move...by a lot. Brandon Routh is an excellent Superman.