Oct 30 2008
Opinion: The State of Superman Films
Tim Falletti
With news buzzing around the internet over Mark Millar’s proposed “Lord of the Rings-esque” Superman trilogy, I had to chime in with my two cents. I am one of the biggest Superman fans to ever walk this planet (ask my girlfriend - she loves the Superman statues located throughout the house). I think the character has pretty much been butchered in film.
Christopher Reeve was an amazing Superman. Don’t think that I didn’t like him as the character. The movies were horrible though. Richard Donner did an admirable job with what he had to work with at the time, and subsequently got fired because of it, but the movies never really captured the essence of the character.
Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns was just Richard Donner’s Superman made too boring. And messing with continuity was a huge mistake by invited Superman’s kid into the mix. Why WB and DC let him do that, the world may never know. It was ridiculous.
Smallville kind of had a thing going there for awhile before it became Gossip Girl with superpowers. Yeah they really messed with continuity, but they did it in a way that was fun for a little bit. I personally don’t watch the show anymore, but I know there is Doomsday in it, and he is a 20 something heartthrob. Ugh.
So where should the series go? They need to start from scratch, and Mark Millar’s idea is pretty intriguing. I don’t like his view to start 1000 years before Krypton blows up, and end with Supes being the last man on Earth looking up at a red sun….but I think Millar has his heart in the right place. I feel that they should simply start from the beginning with people that love and care about the character being watchdogs over the creative differences between film makers and DC comics.
Look how great Batman Begins and The Dark Knight turned out. Two of the best comics-to-film movies ever produced. They used reality, great actors, great story, and a great director. Superman needs this. Superman Begins if you will. Start in Smallville. Have Clark discover his powers. Have him realize he is different and why. Use the comic book Superman: Birthright as a freaking map on where to take the character. But:
FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T USE LEX LUTHOR! It’s been done. A billion times over! Superman needs to fight someone or something that is going to give him a challenge. Look at Marvel’s Hulk. The Ang Lee was detested because it was all story/ no action. Superman needs some damn action! Show him using his powers! How hard is that?!
Finally, just do the damn thing right. He is Superman. The greatest comic book character ever invented. If you do it right, it will become the best franchise in movie history. Superman is adored by all. From the old lady who doesn’t know anything but him being Superman, to the comic book dork that knows everything (i.e. me). Please Warner Bros. listen to the fans!
