The Amazing Spider-Man Reboot and New Superman Movie

I changed the title of this thread to reflect the Superman direction we've shifted into.

Ah, now that's again a question of portrayal- he is an idiot, but that doesn't mean Lois or Luthor have to be cardboard cut outs. Luthor could easily be as kindly as Lois could be antagonistic. It wouldn't be hard for even someone with a little intelligence to side with the less pissed off character with more morals and monologues...and a shitload of money. In fact maybe Luthor could be portrayed as someone who genuinely believes that he's helping fight crime his way. It's like Chief Daniels in Hill street Blues- sure, he's an egotistical bastard trying to save his own image, but he genuinely feels frank furillo should take his place and continue to fight for justice. Unfortunately for him, Frank genuinely does have morals, and feels more pressure from the chief than he does help, pressure that he has to solve in the most honest way possible. In that sense Superman would make an excellent tale about withstanding corruption. Simultaenously an angry Lois would make for a much more funny and engaging portrayal without going against what we already know about the character.



Not at all- let's say he learns a lot from Luthor, but then conflict arises from the fact that Luthor is actually doing something that is to all intents and purposes considered 'bad.' So now the plot thickens- HAS Superman truly learnt anything from his experiences, and is he going to let the rest of the cast walk over him like a doormat again? He can't defeat Luthor or Braniac without learning that his own judgement and input could be just as right as anyone elses.

There's an episode of Hercules (not the best example, I know, but it works) where he's torn between working for Ares and using the bow to destroy Athens, or working for athena and stopping her brother. Now Ares would be the obvious villain because Ares is making a weapon of war. But when Athena arrives it's clear that she only wants it to bicker and fight with Ares and try and get one over on him. Eventually Hercules takes his own course of action and claims 'I;ve got the bow, I'll decide who gets it.' And he goes ahead and gives it to cupid. It leaves both sides powerless and all three characters learn something. Athena learns she's acting like a child, Ares learns humility when it turns out killing hercules (after feeling betrayed) incurs Zeus's wrath (and the fact a teenager made a better decision than he did never goes down well) and Hercules learns that his own judgement and assessment of the situation is as valid as anyone elses. He transforms from being someone elses tool into becoming a far more mature individual, able to decide his own course of right and wrong.

I dunno about you, but for a super hero like Superman, I think that's a fine place to start with plenty of dramatic tension and actual character development. The drama he deals with isn't as heavy but it shapes a nameless man into a fully fledged hero with his own logic. He learns from the actions of others and realises that 'monkey see, monkey do' is only going to get him into trouble on this planet. When he was with Ma and Pa, he learned to feel safe and secure. But he's in the big world now. You have to stop sleeping in til four and start cooking the beans yourself, something like that. It's not particualrly dark, or philosophical, but that's not really what I think is needed from the character.

I mean the above ideas wouldn't even require giving birth to a mini man of steel.

I know I'm too late for the Spider-Man skepticism, but at least I can put in my two cents for both. First off, that parody above that I did is a clear example of how I feel about it. From my perspective, Sony is hyping this movie too early. Photos and some input is fine, but did it have to go that far with a trailer revealing a good chunk of the movie. I have to agree with a lot of the comments, the whole parent subplot is just ridiculous. It makes Peter more of a mopey teen and removes any focus on his connection with his uncle and aunt. They are his only family. Even in the comics, we knew little of his parents aside from some background said by the characters. Not only that, but I feel they are trying to go for a more realistic approach to the web slinger, but its just coming out realistic. All I can say is that if you think this parody video in the above came out too soon, then so did the trailer and the reboot as a whole. It didn't give enough time for the Raimi films to age more to the point where one was needed and is just showing that Sony is an attention for more viewers if they join the crowd fad of remakes and reboots. To add insult to injury, they already plan to have a sequel on May 2, 2014....if that doesn't say these smeg heads are thinking too ahead, then the world has gone mad.

On a lighter note, I find it odd how I feel more twoards Zack Snyder's take on Superman. After some pics being posted, it does have some promise. Snyder did give Watchmen (favorite movie of mine) justice aside from some backlash and he knows how to depict the phsycological examination into a superhero very well. He can handle the artistic abilities of making his adpations look and feel like true creations that make good use of the original source while complimenting of how great they are. And from what I've seen so far, it feels like a combination of the classic Superman comics with the feel of the Richard Donner flick in play. So maybe I'm being a tad too early on my judgementals, but these are just basic thoughts running around my head. All I have to say is while I'm curious to see how both projects will do, at least I have the chance to enjoy the guilty pleasure value of the Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark soundtrack and epicness of Christopher Reeve proving a man can fly.

So I'm reading your post and I see that you listen to spider man: turn off the dark as a guilty pleasure.

You are the worst kind of criminal.

I can't help it. There is a part of me that enjoys crap for how entertaining and silly it can be. Yeah, its a mess. But it was an attempted mess.

Still, back on subject, I just have this feeling DC will come out on top next year when you think about it. Sure they had their "Green Lantern," but with the heavy amount of superhero movies that are being cranked out, its going to be quite the battle...oh wait! We also have an Avengers movie coming up. Of course, how could we all forget that?

I think DC will win the superhero battle next year. The Avengers will be big, no question about it, but unless it's a complete stinker, I think The Dark Knight Rises will be the highest-grossing release of 2012 (yes, even over The Hobbit).

An attempt to anally rape what was once one of the more down to earth franchises in the marvel stock. I have no sympathy or time for anyone who supports that musical- and I speak as both a spider fan AND a fan of musicals (real musicals, none of this 'we put pop music in and sell an album off of it and get to play dress up as other celebs shit'.)

As for the hero race, I think Marvel are winning it hands down. DC falls back on Batman and Superman again next year, and frankly neither are looking to blow anyone away. I;m already hearing rumblings from everyone about the new batman movie- there's a lot of dissapointment in how Nolan has gone for an even more realistic take than the dark knight, forgetting that it was the unrealistic elements that actually made the dark knight even more popular when it finally arrived. Batman works as a concept mentally, not physically, which is why there's a rather awkward buzz going through the recent photos and plot details that have surfaced over joseph gordon levitts character, bane, selina kyle and of course, batman himself. As for the man of steel, it does look good and I want to see it, but again I can't help but feel that superman syndrome is not going to make as big a box office smash.

Now let's look at marvel. They've already had 6 movies that have not only sold incredibly well, but have told some of the most engaging stories and have been critical darlings all round. They've respected the source material mentally rather than going for superficial respects and takes and have even signed on some of the most talented actors for at least 9 movies a piece. This is something we haven't witnessed in Hollywood for decades, the sheer amount of talent being pooled into what is now marvel studios. And the movies they're making feel like a new golden age, where the emphasis is on creating movies and the art of movie making.

I think Marvel not only won the race, but won it two years ago. DC's already forgotten what made its heroes so good and popular to begin with. I reckon the only way DC will beat the sheer power that is marvel right now is if they get their heads out of their asses, research the original source material or the most critically acclaimed stories (or how about the animated series) and figure out what story they need to be telling. Then once they've got that down, they need to start telling those stories and getting those heroes out to the public. They need to drop the reboot bullshit and create household names that people can care about. I know so many people right now who will never again see a green lantern movie or buy a green lantern product, because the story has not grabbed them. John Lasseter put it best- no-ones going to buy a toy or go on a ride of any franchise or character that has resulted in a bad movie. Why would you, unless you're a child who's desperate for something or a misguided parent? It's why I never had any shrek toys in the house, and why no-one went out to swamp the green lantern booth at the MCM expo.

I understand what you mean and would like to state I don't support it nor am I enforcing a postivie mark on Bono's staged garbage. But hey, it could have been worse....an opera of the Hulk

Speaking of which, you do have a point with the "winning streak" Marvel has had. After all, Captain and Thor were rather enjoyable as they retained to the original source while appeal to crowds of old and new. And of course, we are aware of DC's strikes (Steel, Catwoman, a certain Batman movie from the 90s whose name shall be not named, and so on). Looking at the facts and possibilities, mabye Dark Knight Rises may have some early skepticism but it all depends on two common elements: the feature itself and treatment twoards the source...or at least in my opinion that's how I feel...

I think we need only look at Batman begins, in that case. Ras A ghul toys did not fly off the shelves, the scarecrow was near-forgotten had it not been for his portrayal in arkham asylum and a lot of people didn't even know that the dark knight was a sequel. I think people are in for a bit of a shock when they realise that this movie, without the strengths applied in the dark knight, might just not cut the mustard. But again, I could be wrong.

As for the musical, if they can make a musical comedy of superman work to the point where it was not only enjoyable but ran for years, they could do it with anything else. Too bad making spider man part of a musical where the writer was a radical feminist and the composers were self absorbed just doesn't work at all!