Christopher Nolan producing. Zack Snyder directing. Between them, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, 300, Watchmen, and... uh, that owl movie... I approve of this collaboration.
Can't wait for Superman to return.
Story with Snyder comments here (with news of the villain):
I'll give credit to Synder for one thing; I saw some stills/clips of the Watchmen movie and graphic novel....VERY similar. In fact, some reports/reviews say he stayed TOO faithful to the source.
Depending on the source here I see this as being a solid move, especially with Nolan on board as an adviser.
After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
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I will go toe-to-toe with anyone on this; Zack Snyder is a terrible director. Putting him at the helm almost guarantees that I will not like this film.
How, is he a terrible director when he is 75 to 80% faithful to the source material? Is it the green screen stuff, because that worked for 300. He took a graphic novel that was viewed by many as unfilmable and minus parts of the ending pretty much nailed it. I am looking forward to see what he can do with Superman, at least he may actually give Superman someone to actually fight as well as go into the mythos more.
To me, some of the best moments of the 1978 version were simply visuals. I think this guy is more than capable of pulling it off, providing he avoids overkill, something many blockbusters suffer from these days.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
With both 300 and Watchmen, it is very easy to see why some people think Snyder is great and some don't. He did very literal adaptations of both works. There was a lot of style to them, and clearly making such a true translation of page to screen work requires a great deal of skill, however, such work can also be seen as lazy since Snyder didn't really have to create anything. A comics book is essentially a pre-made storyboard, especially in 300 where there was barely any dialogue to modify.
I fall somewhere in between, and am looking forward to seeing Suckerpunch, which will be the first real indication of where Snyder is as a filmmaker. I liked both 300 and Watchmen, but not enough to sit down and watch them again when I can just walk over to the shelf and flip through the book instead.
(edited by samoflange on 5.10.10 1115) Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her. Harry: That's a special feeling.
I must be in the minority who feels Superman'd out.
Between the 80's movies, Lois and Clark, Smallville, the recent movie, the Justice League cartoons, I feel he's overexposed and the story's been told already.
You could make the same argument for Batman I suppose, but it just doesn't feel as stale to me.
Originally posted by dwatersI must be in the minority who feels Superman'd out.
Between the 80's movies, Lois and Clark, Smallville, the recent movie, the Justice League cartoons, I feel he's overexposed and the story's been told already.
You could make the same argument for Batman I suppose, but it just doesn't feel as stale to me.
I can see that. But by "the story's been told already", which story do you mean? The origin? God, I hope Snyder, Nolan and Goyer don't try to tell it again unless they actually have a new spin on it.
Otherwise, I don't think Superman's played out, especially not at the movies. There are countless Superman stories of global or even galactic spectacle that are waiting to be told and are now possible with the technology we have (which would never have been possible 25-30 years ago when the Donner films were made.)
If you ask me, we haven't even scratched the surface of what a Superman movie could be, especially not in action and spectacle. Action and spectacle are two of Snyder's strong suits, as is use of technology.
I mean, that fight scene between Superman, Darkseid and Supergirl in Superman & Batman: Apocalypse was some of the best Superman-level action I'd seen in a while. That's the kind of stuff I'd like to see in a live action Superman movie (in 3D on the IMAX - because you know it will be.)
Of course, story and character ultimately trump everything for me. I trust the Nolans and Goyer that they came up with a story and to handle the writing end. But "Superman-level" action and spectacle is probably what I crave most from a new movie. That's why I'm happy we got Zack Snyder at the helm.
(edited by John Orquiola on 5.10.10 0854) @BackoftheHead
Originally posted by John OrquiolaI can see that. But by "the story's been told already", which story do you mean? The origin? God, I hope Snyder, Nolan and Goyer don't try to tell it again unless they actually have a new spin on it.
Otherwise, I don't think Superman's played out, especially not at the movies. There are countless Superman stories of global or even galactic spectacle that are waiting to be told and are now possible with the technology we have (which would never have been possible 25-30 years ago when the Donner films were made.)
If you ask me, we haven't even scratched the surface of what a Superman movie could be, especially not in action and spectacle. Action and spectacle are two of Snyder's strong suits, as is use of technology.
Agreed. We don't need to be seeing Superman face Lex Luthor in a real estate scheme again. Bring in Brainiac, or Mongul, or Parasite, or even Mxyzptlk just to freshen up the villian side and suddenly that's a completely new direction in and of itself. Superman has a surprisingly deep rogues gallery --- let a movie use someone other than Luthor.
Originally posted by John OrquiolaI can see that. But by "the story's been told already", which story do you mean? The origin? God, I hope Snyder, Nolan and Goyer don't try to tell it again unless they actually have a new spin on it.
Otherwise, I don't think Superman's played out, especially not at the movies. There are countless Superman stories of global or even galactic spectacle that are waiting to be told and are now possible with the technology we have (which would never have been possible 25-30 years ago when the Donner films were made.)
If you ask me, we haven't even scratched the surface of what a Superman movie could be, especially not in action and spectacle. Action and spectacle are two of Snyder's strong suits, as is use of technology.
Agreed. We don't need to be seeing Superman face Lex Luthor in a real estate scheme again. Bring in Brainiac, or Mongul, or Parasite, or even Mxyzptlk just to freshen up the villian side and suddenly that's a completely new direction in and of itself. Superman has a surprisingly deep rogues gallery --- let a movie use someone other than Luthor.
Most of the comic websites are reporting the villain to be Zod, but given the pedigree of those involved, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt that this will be as new and fresh as it can be and will reinvigorate the character for movie audiences and hopefully raise the profile of the monthly comic as well . . .
"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
Originally posted by John OrquiolaI can see that. But by "the story's been told already", which story do you mean? The origin? God, I hope Snyder, Nolan and Goyer don't try to tell it again unless they actually have a new spin on it.
Otherwise, I don't think Superman's played out, especially not at the movies. There are countless Superman stories of global or even galactic spectacle that are waiting to be told and are now possible with the technology we have (which would never have been possible 25-30 years ago when the Donner films were made.)
If you ask me, we haven't even scratched the surface of what a Superman movie could be, especially not in action and spectacle. Action and spectacle are two of Snyder's strong suits, as is use of technology.
Agreed. We don't need to be seeing Superman face Lex Luthor in a real estate scheme again. Bring in Brainiac, or Mongul, or Parasite, or even Mxyzptlk just to freshen up the villian side and suddenly that's a completely new direction in and of itself. Superman has a surprisingly deep rogues gallery --- let a movie use someone other than Luthor.
You can't have a Superman movie without Luthor. It's an unwritten rule at this point. But to add to this, it doesn't mean that Luthor can't be relegated to the background. Have Lex be the one that creates the new villain and then have him sit back and absorb the carnage. End the movie with him going to jail, as per usual. It's still a relatively fresh direction.
And personally, I'd love for them to bring in Metallo.
"Playing guitars. It's hard to sing while playing...guitars."
By all means, I hope Lex Luthor is included in the new movie. Throw in Miss Tessmacher as well if they must. But he doesn't need to be the main villain, at least not in this go around. Look at Guy Richie's Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty was in the movie, but relegated as the string puller in the shadows. Or even look at Batman Begins, where the Joker was referenced at the end - creating an obvious thread and something to look forward to in the sequel. (That paid off pretty well...) Luthor more or less has to be acknowledged as existing in the reboot, but I hope for an incredibly powerful physical threat for Superman to fight with (minimum) global stakes.
Top of my villain wish list would be Bizarro, just because I always liked the concept of a ghastly, berserker clone of Superman with all of his powers. But if Zod is the villain again, that's fine with me. He's more than enough of a physical threat for Superman.
Zod is what the Hollywood Reporter is stating as well. I would also like to see Lex in it as well. Maybe have him as someone who exposes the link to Zod and Superman and sets himself as Earth's protector via Luthor Corp instead of Superman. I am just hoping they don't re-do Superman II with Lex manipulating the Kryptons very badly to kill Superman, also in Superman II why didn't Lex bring in Kryptonite when he went to see them? That has always bugged me. My hope is they use Zod as someone who is a leader and Lex being the level 13 Genius he is portrayed to be in the comics and the cartoons.
There are other rumors that Batman 3 will mention Luthor or Luthor Corp as well as Metropolis, but Nolan has distanced those remarks. Personally, if you want a payoff like Joker at the end of Batman Begins its either Bruce in the background or Darkseid. I do think they will sprinkle stuff in like Star Labs, maybe Cadmus and other things as well as maybe even Corbin as a Luthor henchmen that Zod or Superman looks to have killed. There is endless fanboy stuff they can do and Nolan as well as Snyder have done both very well.
I have a couple big problems with Snyder, but my main problem is just that he does things too big and exaggerated for a movie screen. He directs like he's directing some sort of play - like there are people in the back of the theater that'll miss what he's doing if it's not big enough. It makes his stuff seem really exaggerated and cartoony to me. Scenes that call for a real delicate touch with lots of small movements just get buried by him.
"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
I would kill to see the Death and Return of Superman storyline made into a movie. I'm not talking about the decent animated film from a year or so back...a live action flick with Superman, Doomsday, Cyborg, Iron, Superboy, and the Eradicator.
I'm not a huge comics fan, but I had to replace my collection for the third time because the covers wore out - it's that good.
Originally posted by OliverI would kill to see the Death and Return of Superman storyline made into a movie. I'm not talking about the decent animated film from a year or so back...a live action flick with Superman, Doomsday, Cyborg, Iron, Superboy, and the Eradicator.
That will probably never happen at this point. The entire decade of the 1990s was spent trying to make a movie about The Death of Superman and it's ultimately a good thing it never happened.
Here's a decent write up of what happened with that aborted project, directed by Tim Burton and starring Nicolas Cage.
Superman vs. Hollywood: This is a really good book about Superman's entire existence in various forms of media from his debut in Action Comics up to Superman Returns. Worth reading if you love the Man of Steel.
This book contains the full, sordid story of the entire debacle about every attempt to launch a Superman movie between IV and Returns, and how Tim Burton, Nic Cage, Kevin Smith, Brett Ratner, McG, JJ Abrams, and many other huge names in Hollywood failed to get Superman off the ground until Bryan Singer got a Superman movie made in 2006.
Honestly, I would be absolutely shocked at this point now if The Death of Superman is ever adapted into a live action Hollywood movie, or if that subject is ever even broached again.
{ EDIT: Changed from Kindle link to shillin' paperback link...as if it mattered - Ed. }
They should have Brainiac as the villain. Have LexCorp recover a crashed UFO. It contains a computer with tons of technilogical blueprints that Luthor uses as his own inventions. Eventually, he creates a humanoid machine and the computer takes it over and puts its consciousness into it to become Brainiac.
Big brawls with Supes ensue. Superman barely pulls it out after taking a bad beating and getting busted wide open. After the fight, Luthor sneaks up and takes a sample of Superman's spilled blood setting up an attempted clone turning into Bizarro in the sequel.
Trust, who do ya? The theme of trust is paramount among our heroic and villainous denizens of Starling City this week. Can Oliver trust Diggle when Diggle's old commanding officer comes to town and it turns out he's on The List?