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SUPERMAN
- Thread starter Mentalist
- Start date
Loktar
Internet God
Yeah same for me.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
I'll watch it later.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
I watched this. It is good. The best part is it sticking to Superman being actually a super good guy just as a person, who belives in the inherent goodness of people (yeah, I know, but it's a movie so it doesn't have to be realistic!) and will do stuff like saving a squirrel in the middle of a fight. I think the pay-off to this is him inspiring the Justice Gang to save Generic Victim Country at the end and telling off Lex so that is all done well. Corenswet I think is very good at playing this version of the character and you can see exactly why he was cast.
It is definitely not without issues, like, for example, some of it looking pretty bad! The flying is...not always good. The fight with the goofy Godzilla thing really stands out as looking ugly! There's a bit where some skyscrapers fall like dominoes and man that looks bad. I hate Michael Bay's Transformers movies but how come he was able to make buildings falling over look so much more convincing over a decade ago? I wonder how much of it is WB deciding on a release date that Gunn had to stick to or just that they don't spend as much on movies now because they don't make as much money anymore.
The action scenes are kind of just "good enough" too? Maybe I'm being too harsh and they looked better in the cinema. The bit where he spins round shooting his heat vision is cool (but was in the trailer.) Mr. Terrific gets the best action moment and even that is kind of just Yondu with his arrow from Guardians.
NIcholas Hoult is great as Lex, but I did wish we got a little background on him or more scenes of him on his own. Obviously most viewers are going in knowing that Lex is an evil bald billionaire who hates Superman, and that's fine, but maybe they could have done more to give this version something unique. I liked when he readily admitted to being jealous of Superman.
Lois was...sadly underwhelming? Her best scene is at the start when she's interviewing Superman. After that she just feels kind of there? She's talks about being PUNK ROCK and liking LOTS OF SUGAR but it never really shows in the performance. She doesn't seem fiesty or righteously angry enough. Elizabeth Tulloch from Superman and Lois could have pulled it off better, sorry! Jimmy felt like he did way more to bring down Lex than Lois in the end.
Mr. Terrific was great, the actor nailed it. Remember when he was a Mormon doctor in House? WELL I DO. Nathan Fillion was good fun too. Would have liked a bit more of Hawkgirl to contextualise her murdering Putinyahu. I liked Metamorpho.
Krypto was great, no notes. I hope Milly Alcock's Supergirl isn't drunk all the time in her movie (I'm sure she won't be.)
Ma and Pa Kent seeming like they'd just discovered electricity a week ago was an odd choice. If I was from Kansas I'd feel a bit insulted. Pa did have one good bit and I loved Clark watching the home movies at the end.
Overall it's a good start to a new universe but not a blow away all time great comic book movie.
It is definitely not without issues, like, for example, some of it looking pretty bad! The flying is...not always good. The fight with the goofy Godzilla thing really stands out as looking ugly! There's a bit where some skyscrapers fall like dominoes and man that looks bad. I hate Michael Bay's Transformers movies but how come he was able to make buildings falling over look so much more convincing over a decade ago? I wonder how much of it is WB deciding on a release date that Gunn had to stick to or just that they don't spend as much on movies now because they don't make as much money anymore.
The action scenes are kind of just "good enough" too? Maybe I'm being too harsh and they looked better in the cinema. The bit where he spins round shooting his heat vision is cool (but was in the trailer.) Mr. Terrific gets the best action moment and even that is kind of just Yondu with his arrow from Guardians.
NIcholas Hoult is great as Lex, but I did wish we got a little background on him or more scenes of him on his own. Obviously most viewers are going in knowing that Lex is an evil bald billionaire who hates Superman, and that's fine, but maybe they could have done more to give this version something unique. I liked when he readily admitted to being jealous of Superman.
Lois was...sadly underwhelming? Her best scene is at the start when she's interviewing Superman. After that she just feels kind of there? She's talks about being PUNK ROCK and liking LOTS OF SUGAR but it never really shows in the performance. She doesn't seem fiesty or righteously angry enough. Elizabeth Tulloch from Superman and Lois could have pulled it off better, sorry! Jimmy felt like he did way more to bring down Lex than Lois in the end.
Mr. Terrific was great, the actor nailed it. Remember when he was a Mormon doctor in House? WELL I DO. Nathan Fillion was good fun too. Would have liked a bit more of Hawkgirl to contextualise her murdering Putinyahu. I liked Metamorpho.
Krypto was great, no notes. I hope Milly Alcock's Supergirl isn't drunk all the time in her movie (I'm sure she won't be.)
Ma and Pa Kent seeming like they'd just discovered electricity a week ago was an odd choice. If I was from Kansas I'd feel a bit insulted. Pa did have one good bit and I loved Clark watching the home movies at the end.
Overall it's a good start to a new universe but not a blow away all time great comic book movie.
I basically agree with everything you said. You had the same issues I did. I still really liked it. Lois was a surprise to me in how underwhelming she was as well. I don't think it's Rachel Brosnahan's fault; she just didn't have much to do.?
As I said in my review, Eve Teschmacher basically steals the show from her.
Corenswet and Hoult really carried the film through its weaker parts (as they should, I guess, but it's not a given), which is good and important.
Too many of the coolest moments were in the trailers. I know this isn't a problem specific to this film, and I did consume pretty much all the preview media before watching, but it's an issue. I also feel they didn't do enough to separate Superman's power level in a universe already full of metahumans. Yes, he's fighting his clone, and I get not making him a planet-crushing god, but there might have been a better middle ground.
The most important thing is whether Superman/Clark works, though, and other than the power-scaling issue, Corenswet does an excellent job.
What the film absolutely does is make me excited about continuing this new-look DCU with these characters.
As I said in my review, Eve Teschmacher basically steals the show from her.
Corenswet and Hoult really carried the film through its weaker parts (as they should, I guess, but it's not a given), which is good and important.
Too many of the coolest moments were in the trailers. I know this isn't a problem specific to this film, and I did consume pretty much all the preview media before watching, but it's an issue. I also feel they didn't do enough to separate Superman's power level in a universe already full of metahumans. Yes, he's fighting his clone, and I get not making him a planet-crushing god, but there might have been a better middle ground.
The most important thing is whether Superman/Clark works, though, and other than the power-scaling issue, Corenswet does an excellent job.
What the film absolutely does is make me excited about continuing this new-look DCU with these characters.
whisky
Boobie inspector
I didn't take it as Clarks parents were dumb, their accents sound like the sort of accents you would expect farmers to have, it's countryside not stupid, and their behaviour with mobile phones is just typical old people and technology.
I think the FX were fine, having everything in bright sunshine is probably what is throwing people off.
As for transformers doing it better, money went a lot further back then, we only have to go back to the beginning of COVID when a full basket of shopping at Lidl was under 50, now the same basket is almost 100.
With budgets rising for movies and less people going to see them, we could be at the end of big budget films.
I think the FX were fine, having everything in bright sunshine is probably what is throwing people off.
As for transformers doing it better, money went a lot further back then, we only have to go back to the beginning of COVID when a full basket of shopping at Lidl was under 50, now the same basket is almost 100.
With budgets rising for movies and less people going to see them, we could be at the end of big budget films.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
During the climax of the movie the Daily Planet crew all go into Mr Terrific's ship...for some reason? Like I'm sure it was explained, but I can't for the life of me remember why. It cuts back to them several times and then they cheer at the end like they've achieved something, but I honestly have no idea what they were doing. Felt like Gunn realising he had to give Lois something and just sticking those shots in there.
I know it's not fair to compare movies to a tv show but I'm going to do it anyway: look how good Elizabeth Tulloch is at playing angry (but reasonably so!) here.
That's how movie Lois should have been in the scene where she goes to the Justice Gang to ask them to help Clark.
Volpone
Zombie Hunter
OK. These are just some thoughts on storytelling that I need to get down: My position is that Thunderbolts (which I did not see) failed in large part because no one gave a shit about any of the characters. You can't have a superhero movie about underpowered nobodies. Yet I *liked* Superman--even though, by my position, I should not have. I'm aware of Metamorpho. Never read a comic he was in. Same for Hawkgirl. Never even heard of Mr. Terrific. I've read comics with Krypto and Guy Gardner, but it's never been like "HOLY SHIT! This month's Guy Gardner is out! I must rush down to the comic shop!" He's an entertaining comic relief character. And Krypto was, when I was little the neighbor across the street worked at the local supermarket so he got to keep any comics that didn't sell (after the covers were torn off and mailed back for a refund) so I got boxes and boxes of 1970s comics from him.
But I'm rambling. The point is, the super team in Superman is crap and I shouldn't care about them. BUT! On the other hand...
I also did not watch Man of Steel 2--Batman/Superman: Dong of Justice, even though it had freaking *Batman* and Wonder Woman in it. (Were Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg in it too? I don't care enough to check.) So by my rule on superhero movies, I should've loved this. This brings me to an entire different discourse on Zach Snyder's Rainman like ability to copy exactly what is in a comic book--while completely missing the point of what it is about.
That said, here's why I think it works: Fucking Superman. The movie isn't "Justice Gang." It's "Superman." And Superman is a big important hero. In fact, you put in B-listers to give him someone to interact with without drawing away from him by going "HOLY SHIT, IT'S BATMAN!" The Justice Gang are like the little diamonds you put around the main stone to make it shine even more. Thunderbolts fails because there's no main stone and Dong of Justice fails because all the other diamonds draw you away from the main one instead of complementing it (and also because Zach Snyder is an idiot savant.)
But I'm rambling. The point is, the super team in Superman is crap and I shouldn't care about them. BUT! On the other hand...
I also did not watch Man of Steel 2--Batman/Superman: Dong of Justice, even though it had freaking *Batman* and Wonder Woman in it. (Were Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg in it too? I don't care enough to check.) So by my rule on superhero movies, I should've loved this. This brings me to an entire different discourse on Zach Snyder's Rainman like ability to copy exactly what is in a comic book--while completely missing the point of what it is about.
That said, here's why I think it works: Fucking Superman. The movie isn't "Justice Gang." It's "Superman." And Superman is a big important hero. In fact, you put in B-listers to give him someone to interact with without drawing away from him by going "HOLY SHIT, IT'S BATMAN!" The Justice Gang are like the little diamonds you put around the main stone to make it shine even more. Thunderbolts fails because there's no main stone and Dong of Justice fails because all the other diamonds draw you away from the main one instead of complementing it (and also because Zach Snyder is an idiot savant.)
Eggs Mayonnaise
All In With The Nuts
^ I feel that. I'm a DC boy from birth, obsessed with Batman my whole life. I only ever read Spider-Man from the Marvel side.
But even I skipped the whole Ben Affleck era of DC movies. Mostly because no fucking way was I ever going to accept Affleck as Bats or Bruce. I tried for about 20 minutes of one movie, and said "Nope!"
I think Pattinson was better as Batman, although I'm still not sure because 'The Batman' was so darkly lit I never knew what was going on...
Anyway, bringing it back to SUPERMAN, I watched it and enjoyed the first half-hour a lot. I liked the clear-eyed approach to Supes as a traditional hero from the Golden Age. And I was interested about the mentions of how the public was polarized over how he supposedly helped one nation over another in a war situation.
But I had started the movie when I was climbing into bed, and I fell asleep partways in. So I have to watch it again to see the end.
But even I skipped the whole Ben Affleck era of DC movies. Mostly because no fucking way was I ever going to accept Affleck as Bats or Bruce. I tried for about 20 minutes of one movie, and said "Nope!"
I think Pattinson was better as Batman, although I'm still not sure because 'The Batman' was so darkly lit I never knew what was going on...
Anyway, bringing it back to SUPERMAN, I watched it and enjoyed the first half-hour a lot. I liked the clear-eyed approach to Supes as a traditional hero from the Golden Age. And I was interested about the mentions of how the public was polarized over how he supposedly helped one nation over another in a war situation.
But I had started the movie when I was climbing into bed, and I fell asleep partways in. So I have to watch it again to see the end.
Loktar
Internet God
I'm a DC boy from birth also. Started reading Superman comics shortly before the Death of Superman storyline. Then I branched out to Flash and Green Lantern comics. Read the Marvel What If comics which i enjoyed despite not reading the original story it was based on. Watched Superfriends first and then later Spiderman and his Amazing Friends. Didn't really get heavily into Marvel until the DC/Marvel Amalgamated crossover comics storyline. And then later the first Iron Man movie.
Eggs Mayonnaise
All In With The Nuts
Watching the rest of the movie now.
The things that are supposedly flawed about the movie/story aren’t so much objective flaws. The problem is, the Luthor disinformation campaign seems trite because what we’re experiencing in real life in America is more serious than the amplified stakes of the movie. Luthor is Elon, he’s Peter Thiel, he’s Zuckerberg, etc. The trouble I have watching the movie is knowing this, and also knowing that we have no superheroes who will save us. We’re on our own, and the damage being done by our real Luthors is being applied more subtly, but the motivations are just as base and destructive.
I think this is why i’ve always preferred Batman: he is human, and as a result, the stakes involved in his stories requires detective work (and his gadgets and strength) to solve and overcome. It’s only when he’s working with the Justice League or Supes that the stakes balloon to planetary or societal peril. Choose your adventure.
Best action sequence: Mr. Terrific takes on the Metas at the fort, from Lois’ POV inside the bubble shield. Smaller in scale but very effective.
Most clever moment: Clark and Lois drink hot cocoa and discuss their relationship while the Green Squad is taking care of an “interdimensional imp” in the background outside the windows.
After Supes was rescued from the pocket universe, my interest waned, because the stakes and resolutions starting becoming cartoonish and simplistic again. Also, I get a little triggered when skyscrapers start toppling and collapsing (leftover 9/11 PTSD). So i started getting impatient for good to conquer evil. Screenwriters love to amp up the stakes to impossible lengths, just for the challenge of writing themselves out of the holes they dig. So the ending both took too long, AND the exposing of Luther as a traitor was wrapped up too quickly and neatly.
And worst of all, in real life, few people even care that our billionaires are traitors. That story has already been broken in the media, but never acted on. Because people can’t process it. Because the billionaires control the media.
Casting: Supes was perfect, dare I say as good as Reeve, because he was allowed to be more vulnerable and affected as a human than they ever allowed Reeve to be. Brosnahan needed more of her Mrs. Maisel feistiness as Lois, because she was about as ‘punk rock’ as Lana Del Ray. Hoult handled Luthor very well, considering how unevenly he was written. And it was a real pleasure to have Fillion make me laugh again.
Overall it’s a nice change of direction for the DC franchises. Now if we could only set the world right, so that dystopian fantasy was once again the stuff of fiction, and not a stark reality that makes the fantasy pale by comparison…
The things that are supposedly flawed about the movie/story aren’t so much objective flaws. The problem is, the Luthor disinformation campaign seems trite because what we’re experiencing in real life in America is more serious than the amplified stakes of the movie. Luthor is Elon, he’s Peter Thiel, he’s Zuckerberg, etc. The trouble I have watching the movie is knowing this, and also knowing that we have no superheroes who will save us. We’re on our own, and the damage being done by our real Luthors is being applied more subtly, but the motivations are just as base and destructive.
I think this is why i’ve always preferred Batman: he is human, and as a result, the stakes involved in his stories requires detective work (and his gadgets and strength) to solve and overcome. It’s only when he’s working with the Justice League or Supes that the stakes balloon to planetary or societal peril. Choose your adventure.
Best action sequence: Mr. Terrific takes on the Metas at the fort, from Lois’ POV inside the bubble shield. Smaller in scale but very effective.
Most clever moment: Clark and Lois drink hot cocoa and discuss their relationship while the Green Squad is taking care of an “interdimensional imp” in the background outside the windows.
After Supes was rescued from the pocket universe, my interest waned, because the stakes and resolutions starting becoming cartoonish and simplistic again. Also, I get a little triggered when skyscrapers start toppling and collapsing (leftover 9/11 PTSD). So i started getting impatient for good to conquer evil. Screenwriters love to amp up the stakes to impossible lengths, just for the challenge of writing themselves out of the holes they dig. So the ending both took too long, AND the exposing of Luther as a traitor was wrapped up too quickly and neatly.
And worst of all, in real life, few people even care that our billionaires are traitors. That story has already been broken in the media, but never acted on. Because people can’t process it. Because the billionaires control the media.
Casting: Supes was perfect, dare I say as good as Reeve, because he was allowed to be more vulnerable and affected as a human than they ever allowed Reeve to be. Brosnahan needed more of her Mrs. Maisel feistiness as Lois, because she was about as ‘punk rock’ as Lana Del Ray. Hoult handled Luthor very well, considering how unevenly he was written. And it was a real pleasure to have Fillion make me laugh again.
Overall it’s a nice change of direction for the DC franchises. Now if we could only set the world right, so that dystopian fantasy was once again the stuff of fiction, and not a stark reality that makes the fantasy pale by comparison…
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
So I've seen the actress before, but this is what I found weird: as I udnerstand it she's known for playing "feisty" characters (is that word kind of sexist, probably) but they don't really give her any moment in the movie to show that, other than when she's interviewing Superman at the start (and she's pretty mild there, really.) I don't get why they forgot to give Lois Lane some definiing Lois Lane moments.
Eggs Mayonnaise
All In With The Nuts
Women in general kind of got the shaft in this movie... is that a James Gunn thing?
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
Maybe? Gamora was kind of the weak point in the first Guardians (but a bit better in the squels, epsecially in 3.) But Nebula ended up being one of the best developed characters in the MCU. Mantis had the "lol she's ugly" stuff people didn't like in her first movie but ended up good too. So probably not, actually, never mind.
Eggs Mayonnaise
All In With The Nuts
I think in Brosnahan's case, "feisty" isn't sexist because Mrs. Maisel was created by Amy-Sherman Palladino. Feisty women are her brand: Mrs. Maisel, Gilmore Girls, Younger, etc.
