Friday, May 05, 2006

Superman Returns

I was left a little cold by the second Superman trailer--why is it that when Supes is flying at 400 mph, his hair moves as if there's only a light breeze? And why is Kevin Spacey doing Lex Luthor as if he was K-Pax's evil brother? Shouldn't there be a no-camp mandate? And that scene with Lois, Perry, and Jimmy doing the "It's a bird" routine feels like a stilted rip-off of the wonderful J. Jonah Jameson office scenes from Spiderman 2.

All of that said, AICN has the first early review of Superman Returns, and it's quite positive, although for reasons I don't find particularly convincing. Still, we DC partisans must hope for the best.

If only Wolfgang Petersen had been allowed to make Superman vs. Batman. Well, a boy can dream.

Update: In the comments is a link to this extemely sophisticated fan-film trailer for Superman vs. Batman. In all honesty, I'm not so sure that the Singer-helmed Superman Returns trailer is more enticing.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was surprised to see Kevin Spacey playing the Luthor role as a lunatic. I was expecting more of a Smallville-esque (drop-dead serous) interpretation. Spacey's Luthor looks like a version of Hackman's Luthor.

Jacob said...

Superman vs. Batman looks like it will be pretty good

Anonymous said...

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the concept of Superman taking a six-year vacation.

Sorry, Supes doesn't do vacations.

Actually, the thing that's getting me is that they're basing this movie on the earlier movies, when the comic book has nearly 70 years of story to mine.

I hate Hollywood sometimes.

But of course, I'll go see the film. I love comic books movies.

Anonymous said...

Thank God Almighty Superman vs. Batman was never made. For once and for all, can DC drop the ridiculous concept that Batman is in Superman's league in a one-on-one confrontation? And please, don't give me Batman is smarter, or "Batman beat Superman in Dark Knight Returns (Batman still died so at best it was a draw)" or Batman holds the last remaining bit of Kryptonite. A "Superman vs. Batman" film would be the most anti-climatic blockbuster in history. Two hours building up the storyline and a 5-second fight scene where Superman flicks Batman in the head and KOs him.

Will be in line for Superman.
Will wait for rental for X-Men 3.

Anonymous said...

Bizarro Jack - Thanks for your feedback. Your point was well argued, especially when referring to the timeless theme of a mortal challenging a god. I guess it is the mind-blowing assymetry that I can't handle. The assymetry is so off the charts that it looks absurd when DC pushes Batman as an equal to Superman. DC loves to remind us that Batman is only human, yet he constantly performs superhuman feats like dodging bullets. Is Batman a superior mind? Yes. But DC proved long ago that Superman is far more than just all brawn, no brains. More experienced? Doubtful. They've both been fighting evil most of their lives. I can't help think of numerous Seinfeld episodes where Jerry spoofs on all the other Justic Leaguers as being superflous because Superman can do it all. I'm not saying there isn't a place for Batman, he's just not in Superman's league. Imagine if Marvel constantly ran stories of Galactus/Nick Fury team-ups or portrayed Nick Fury as capable of taking out Galactus. It's absurd and so is Superman vs. Batman.

I stopped reading comic books cold about four years ago and haven't looked back, but I may take you up on your recommendation of "Red Son" because of my fascination with WWII and the intriguing storyline of Superman as a Soviet Communist. Just please tell me there's no Russian Batman involved.