Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread - Page 15

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Very familliar with that pic of Welling in the suit, it was my desktop for about 4 months lol.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I was, but i'm MOSTLY over it now.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

you guys didn't see the wink above the photo?

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I would have never seen SR if he was cast in it (and I watch or use to watch Smallville). Welling is fine in the superhero version of Dawson's Creek but would have been a total miss cast in SR, IMO.

Of course I'm a bitter fan of the show because of how slow they are moving the story. I feel the show has lasted about 2 season too long and now that they've lost there major villain what's the point. I'll tune in again in 10 years for the series finally just to see what they do but, I'm done with the show (it lost its way years ago and the only reason it is still on is because it is one of the few things keeping the CW afloat). I hate it too because I really enjoyed the show 'til about 2 season ago. Lately there has been just way too much Lana Lana Lana and not enough Superman.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Hilarious. I watched the first 2 seasons before giving up out of frustration, and that was the chief complaint back then. Good to see things have improved!

--
H

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Yes, its a photoshopped pic. I didn't make it. But, it looks very good.

And while people might not like Smallville. Their is no denying that Rosenbaum is one of the best live action versions of Lex Luthor.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Smallville is one of those shows where I like it, but I can't really justify that in any intellectual way other than "I have fun watching it". I generally think it's a pretty lousy show, with maybe a dozen mediocre episodes a season, half a dozen terrible episodes, two or three really good ones, and one or two outstanding ones... so I stay tuned knowing that most likely I'll be watching crap but that there's always a chance that tonight's episode will be the one that rises above mediocrity.

(For instance, last season's episode "Descent" was not only the best episode of the season and easily one of the best of the entire series, but it was also one of the best episodes of television I'd seen all year period. It can be that good...when they want it to be.)

I agree that the show has gone on for too long; the executive producers/creators left the show at the end of this past season, and I wonder if that was partly because they had a vision for wrapping up the show, and the CW wanted to keep it alive. My biggest problem is that it feels like most episodes are filler -- that there are some big milestones for Clark to reach on his journey to becoming Superman, but since they stubbornly refuse to set a date on which the show will end, those things always seem just out of reach. I think the show would improve immediately and immensely if the powers that be said, "OK, this is going to be the last season." Then they can figure out how they want it to end, and work backwards from that point into developing a season-long story arc that's both satisfying to long-time viewers and thrilling to newer fans.

I tend not to bail on shows while they're still on air... so I'll probably continue to watch Smallville no matter how bad it might get or how long it might last.. the difference is, it'll end up transitioning along the way from being something I wait for every week to something I record on my DVR and watch in big groups of episodes when there's nothing better to do.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Smallville does have some nice moments but there are moments indeed that are major head scratchers! Looking forward to getting season 7 though & catching up.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Didn't they try to connect Smallville with SR? At least it looked like they tried to make the set designs look simular. Which I though was a mistake. I liked Smallvilles Kryton design style better than the crystal look for everything.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I don't think so. I was under the impression (and please someone correct me if I'm wrong) that Smallville and Superman Returns take place in different universes; that is, that there's no continuity attempted or intended between the show and the film.

Always thought it was a cool, weird bit of trivia that Tom Welling, playing the younger version of the character, is actually a few years older than Brandon Routh, playing the older version of that character.

Anyone know if this is true: Routh's contract to play Superman expired.

http://filmonic.com/brandon-routh%E2%80%99s-superman-contract-expired

Allegedly that came straight from Routh's mouth and I'm not surprised.  If WB really do want to reboot the character, it would make sense to wait out all the contracts involved.  But that's a bummer.

I absolutely LOVE SR and Routh's performance.  The further away we get, it seems like we'll never get a follow-up film.  

Their is a rumor that Smallville will be getting a 2hr movie.  Whether its a theatrical, tv or a direct to video is unknown.  But, it's being mentioned as "Metropolis".  It was on Aint-it-Cool.  Not saying this is going to happen.  But, with theatrical Superman in limbo.  I can see Warner allowing the Smallville producers to do a version of Supes (in costume) to make some extra $$.

Their is a rumor that Smallville will be getting a 2hr movie.  Whether its a theatrical, tv or a direct to video is unknown.  But, it's being mentioned as "Metropolis".  It was on Aint-it-Cool.  Not saying this is going to happen.  But, with theatrical Superman in limbo.  I can see Warner allowing the Smallville producers to do a version of Supes (in costume) to make some extra $$.

This is just one of the many ideas WB execs are said to be toying with in regards to revamping their Superman big screen franchise.  There has been talk for years about moving the cast of "Smallville" to the big screen and now that the show is nearing an end, expect the chatter surrounding a "Metropolis" movie to intensify.  "Smallville" has become an extremely popular show with fans and there are execs that want to exploit that.  There are also some that want to ignore the show altogether and do something else with the upcoming movies.  Personally, I think the studio should allow at least one "Smallville" based movie to see if its popularity can translate from the small screen to the big screen.  After all, the series has already done the heavy lifting in terms of setting up the characters and storylines.  That's just my opinion anyway.

I'm a big Smallville fan through thick and thin, and I hate SR, but the Smallville people need to take it up a few notches if they're going to make it into a movie.  It can't feel anything like a long episode of the show.  Bring Rosenbaum back (and I say this as someone sick to death of Lex in the movies, but he's the best actor they have) and maybe drop Mack (and I say that as a big Chloe fan).  Welling, Durance and Rosenbaum should be the focus and it shouldn't contradict what has come before, but it shouldn't be bogged down in series continuity at all.  The mass audience doesn't care a whit about what happened on Smallville. 

I'm sure some will say Welling and Durance are too weak to carry a film, but I don't think they're any worse than Routh and Bosworth.

Come to think of it, there's probably a place for Mack.  She's the best actress on the show.  Plucky best friend who knows Clark's secret.  Not bad.  No to Lana, though.

I gave up on Smallville YEARS ago.  I agree that Rosenbaum and Mack (full disclosure, I have a little crush on Mack) were the best actors on the show, though I think Welling got a lot better before I bolted.  The show itself, like most hour long soap operas, very quickly descended into ouroboros territory, eating its own characters and storylines for worthless OMG/shock moments.  Too much baggage for me to think it could translate into a theatrical film.

I would have zero interest in a Smallville-based film.  I've watched the show for years, but it's obviously on its last legs and was creatively spent years ago. 

 

 

I don't understand why Warner keeps plowing money into this franchise.  If I were a stockholder, I'd be screaming bloody murder at all the money wasted on the never-ending aborted attempts to keep this thing alive.

I think the reason is obvious.  Hollywood has a shortage of new fresh ideas, so if an idea made money previously, they'll milk it for all they think it's worth.

They only really tried once.  The first two were successful, and they did the usual thing of going two too many and it was dormant for ages.  SR sounded great on paper--the Usual Suspects and X-Men guy on a new Superman?!--but he tied it so slavishly to the Reeve movies and otherwise delivered a dud of a film.  I think WB knows they have an iconic character on their hands and it's worth trying to get it right.  But, getting Superman right seems to prove elusive in more fields than just the movies.

I think the most important way to take it up a notch is to give it a bigger budget.  I am not saying the story isn't important.  But, their are times when the budget has been a big stumbling block (ie-fight with Doomsday).

I was a fan of Smallville until last year when I gave up on the show.  They are dragging the show out because it is all the CW has and, creatively, it has ruined the show.  The series should have ended 3 season ago IMO.  Killing Lex was the final straw, plus the continuing annoying Lana relationship.  The Clark character has hardly moved any closer to becoming Superman in 3 seasons and that got old for me.  I'll tune in to the series finally, if they ever end it, just to see if Clark has finally made any progress but, I'll never watch Smallville again 'til then (on the small or big screen).

Even while I was a fan of the show I have always hated the idea of a Smallville movie.  Let's not sugar coat this, Smallville is Dawson's Creek but with super heroes and I have no interest in watching that on the big screen.  I also don't think the actors would hold up in a film either.  While I was a Smallville fan for many years, I was always a bigger Superman movie fan.  I'd rather see Superman III again then a Smallville movie.

I've never understood the hate for SR, I thought it was a really good movie.  It was better then III and IV and is much better then most summer blockbusters like Transformers 2 IMO.  I admit that I don't fully like the kid idea but, I think Singer deserves a shot at the sequel.  He laid the ground work for a great Superman sequel as he did with X-men 1 and 2.  Taking the movie series into the teen idol Smallville territory would just turn me off completely.

Chris, you said it perfectly for me, EXCEPT that I am STILL watching the show hoping that each episode will be the one to put it back on track.  Actually, I should say that I'm "dozing" through each new episode.

C

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005806.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Long story short...
"The Court pointedly ruled that if Warner Bros. does not start production on another Superman film by 2011, the Siegels will be able to sue to recover their damages," Toberoff added. "The Siegels look forward to the remainder of the case, which will determine how much defendants owe them for their exploitations of Superman."

"in 2013, the Siegels, along with the estate of Joe Shuster, will own the entire original copyright to Superman, and neither DC Comics nor Warner Bros. will be able to exploit any new Superman works without a license from the Siegels and Shusters."

Wow! So Superman couldn't be killed by anything, except by the Siegels & Shuster Estate!

I can't imagine why they would kill the character.  Of course they will want money....

Wouldn't you want the money also? 

It's also not the complete copyright to the character. The lawsuit which brought about the changed relied on a quirk in Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, under the terms of which the copyright should have reverted to the estates of Superman's creators in 1999. D.C. Comics still owns the complete rights internationally.

Of course.  That's why it makes no sense for them to say "do nothing with the character, give us zero opportunity to make money".

Edited by RobertR - 7/29/2009 at 02:32 am GMT