Whatever. He's either really excited about doing another one or he's overselling. When is BATMAN II being released???
SUPERMAN Movie Franchise...Likely Dead Again
well, before caring about the sequels you should rather a good first one...
I think this will be a shot in the foot for WB if they go for it... it will definitely NOT be like AUSTIN POWERS, but rather like TOMB RAIDER... a huge miscalculation about how popular this movie is. But be my guest, go on and spend 200 millions... especially with a cast like this, nobody will care and bringing ZOD back is as unoriginal as the whole first movie was. And don't let me start about the kid thing... lol
anyhow, in UK the 8 disc set will be a 9 disc set and include the Donner-Cut! Also as I understand it part 2 will have an isolated score???
I think this will be a shot in the foot for WB if they go for it... it will definitely NOT be like AUSTIN POWERS, but rather like TOMB RAIDER... a huge miscalculation about how popular this movie is. But be my guest, go on and spend 200 millions... especially with a cast like this, nobody will care and bringing ZOD back is as unoriginal as the whole first movie was. And don't let me start about the kid thing... lol
anyhow, in UK the 8 disc set will be a 9 disc set and include the Donner-Cut! Also as I understand it part 2 will have an isolated score???
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Paul MacLean
- Posts: 7540
- Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:26 pm
- Location: New York
I don't know.In "Superman Returns," the question is posed: Does the world still need Superman?
But what we DO need are new ideas.
There aren't any. All we get are the same old ideas. Another Superman movie, another Batman movie, another King Kong movie, more Star Wars movies, more Star Trek movies and TV shows, new productions of Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who. And Indiana Jones is due to make a comeback as well.
Now don't get me wrong, some of these resurrections have been outstanding, but why are all the heroes we're seeing on the big and small screen over 20 years old? Can't anyone think of NEW sci-fi / fantasy / adventure ideas? Harry Potter is the only really imiginitive new thing I've seen in 20 years.
Are studios not receptive to new ideas and afraid to take chances? Are film and TV folks simply unimaginitive?
Paul
well, rather stay with a formula than risking your job with something new. E.g. REIGN OF FIRE... I thought that was a very original idea for a summer movie, though the execution and script was very bad unfortunately. Could have been amazing and turned into a cool franchise, but with that director and script: no chance!
Same with VAN HELSING... good idea... but execution lacked, so the BO was hohum...
makes it harder and harder to convince a studio to try out something wild.
At least the CGImovies seem to bomb, so maybe something new happens there...
Same with VAN HELSING... good idea... but execution lacked, so the BO was hohum...
makes it harder and harder to convince a studio to try out something wild.
At least the CGImovies seem to bomb, so maybe something new happens there...
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Carlson2005
Well, I've finally got round to watching it, but it's a real slog - this has to be the dreariest, most monotoned blockbuster in years. It's so damn gloomy - not just the atrocious video photography but all the tedious naval gazing and whispered introspection - that I'm giving it up for the night at the halfway point to pick it up tomorrow. It manages to look expensive and cheap at the same time and only Kevin Spacey seems to be bringing anything to the party. Worst of all there's no sense of wonder to it at all. Glad I didn't see this in the cinema if this is my reaction after 80 minutes of Brandon Routh hovering (he barely flies, he just floats) and brooding. It's like they decided to film Lois's article - Why the World Doesn't Need Superman.... 
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AndyDursin
- Posts: 35777
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:45 pm
- Location: RI
And it does not get any better on second viewing either, trust me...Carlson2005 wrote:Well, I've finally got round to watching it, but it's a real slog - this has to be the dreariest, most monotoned blockbuster in years. It's so damn gloomy - not just the atrocious video photography but all the tedious naval gazing and whispered introspection - that I'm giving it up for the night at the halfway point to pick it up tomorrow. It manages to look expensive and cheap at the same time and only Kevin Spacey seems to be bringing anything to the party. Worst of all there's no sense of wonder to it at all. Glad I didn't see this in the cinema if this is my reaction after 80 minutes of Brandon Routh hovering (he barely flies, he just floats) and brooding. It's like they decided to film Lois's article - Why the World Doesn't Need Superman....
Though I hated Spacey too.And didn't you just love Ottman's score -- it's a beaut!
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Carlson2005
I though Spacey was fine and Ottman's score was one of the better things about it. Not that I'll rush out to buy it.
Well, having finally finished, I guess they should have changed the tagline to 'You'll believe a man can brood.' He hardly even flies - he just hovers around wallowing in self-pity forever before we finally get half an hour of decent action before its back to the misery (albeit somewhat more effective than the dreary first half).
Where the Donner films worked was their ability to juggle loss, emotion, a sense of wonder and joy and exuberance - with Reeve you got the impression that Superman enjoyed using his powers to do good, but here it's nothing but a cross to bear in a series of even-more-bleedin'-obvious-than-The-Passion-of-the-Christ metaphors. Look, there's Supes being crucified; look, there's Supes being scourged; and look - on the Third day the tomb is empty and he has risen!
And it all looks so grotty all the time, with the limitations of the video photography robbing even close-ups of detail (some shots of Superman’s face look more like a Final Fantasy computer simulation than a real person), limiting the color scheme (Superman’s costume usually looks turquoise or green here) and seemingly limiting the action to clumsy tight shots that limit the film’s scale. And even basic shots are simply botched - hard to believe but even the would-be iconic shot of Clark ripping off his shirt to reveal – well, just a little bit of blue vest actually – flops because the shot misses the iconic ‘S’ logo entirely as if the film was framed for fullframe TV instead of widescreen.
Worse, you just don't care about these characters even though Singer spends ages on them (the film's pacing is atrocious - it’s like you’ve been in a waiting room for an appointment you increasingly suspect has been cancelled without anyone bothering to tell you). Brandon Routh fares better as Clark Kent than as Superman, his weak voice combining with a poor sound mix to make the Man of steel sound distinctly wimpier than the mild-mannered reporter. Kate Bosworth does her best with Lois Lane, but the character goes through the film with such a huge chip on her shoulder it’s impossible to warm to her despite her best efforts. Hell, you know a film's in trouble when James Marsden makes the most impression!
Although they're talking about adding more action, that's really not the solution - the '78 film probably had less action than this, but it counted because we were involved with and liked the characters: you wanted him to rescue Lois from the helicopter, whereas this time round you couldn't care less if the surly cow burned up in the shuttle scene or not (as an introduction to her as well it's incredibly poor).
It’s as if someone decided to film Lois Lane’s editorial ‘Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman.’ Looks like Supe's fatal flaw isn't Kryptonite, it's Bryan Singer.
Hell, even Fantastic Four was a more successful superhero flick than this... 4/10
Well, having finally finished, I guess they should have changed the tagline to 'You'll believe a man can brood.' He hardly even flies - he just hovers around wallowing in self-pity forever before we finally get half an hour of decent action before its back to the misery (albeit somewhat more effective than the dreary first half).
Where the Donner films worked was their ability to juggle loss, emotion, a sense of wonder and joy and exuberance - with Reeve you got the impression that Superman enjoyed using his powers to do good, but here it's nothing but a cross to bear in a series of even-more-bleedin'-obvious-than-The-Passion-of-the-Christ metaphors. Look, there's Supes being crucified; look, there's Supes being scourged; and look - on the Third day the tomb is empty and he has risen!
And it all looks so grotty all the time, with the limitations of the video photography robbing even close-ups of detail (some shots of Superman’s face look more like a Final Fantasy computer simulation than a real person), limiting the color scheme (Superman’s costume usually looks turquoise or green here) and seemingly limiting the action to clumsy tight shots that limit the film’s scale. And even basic shots are simply botched - hard to believe but even the would-be iconic shot of Clark ripping off his shirt to reveal – well, just a little bit of blue vest actually – flops because the shot misses the iconic ‘S’ logo entirely as if the film was framed for fullframe TV instead of widescreen.
Worse, you just don't care about these characters even though Singer spends ages on them (the film's pacing is atrocious - it’s like you’ve been in a waiting room for an appointment you increasingly suspect has been cancelled without anyone bothering to tell you). Brandon Routh fares better as Clark Kent than as Superman, his weak voice combining with a poor sound mix to make the Man of steel sound distinctly wimpier than the mild-mannered reporter. Kate Bosworth does her best with Lois Lane, but the character goes through the film with such a huge chip on her shoulder it’s impossible to warm to her despite her best efforts. Hell, you know a film's in trouble when James Marsden makes the most impression!
Although they're talking about adding more action, that's really not the solution - the '78 film probably had less action than this, but it counted because we were involved with and liked the characters: you wanted him to rescue Lois from the helicopter, whereas this time round you couldn't care less if the surly cow burned up in the shuttle scene or not (as an introduction to her as well it's incredibly poor).
It’s as if someone decided to film Lois Lane’s editorial ‘Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman.’ Looks like Supe's fatal flaw isn't Kryptonite, it's Bryan Singer.
Hell, even Fantastic Four was a more successful superhero flick than this... 4/10