The Jason (Superman's son) Thread

[stargazer01]

So are you a Jason White Kent fan? Do you think it was a good, bad or terrible idea to introduce him as Superman son in Superman Returns? WHY?

Discuss

[MerM]

I liked him. I thought the concept was an interesting variation that hadn't been done before.

[Legsy]

I've always been a fan of Jason White. Pity we won't see more of him.

[Jor-L5150]

it was a ballsy move , but it paints in a corner for the series

at this point i think i'd prefer LESS continuity and a series of loosely connected films .

[Jimbo]

Eh, I'm on the fence about that character, always was. There's no poll option for that.

[stargazer01]

Jul 17, 2009 14:46:53 GMT -5 Jimbo said:

Eh, I'm on the fence about that character, always was. There's no poll option for that.

What do you suggest? I can't make changes to the poll, but you can..

[stargazer01]

Jul 17, 2009 14:33:40 GMT -5 Jor-L5150 said:

it was a ballsy move , but it paints in a corner for the series

How? In what way?

[Jimbo]

Jul 17, 2009 14:54:54 GMT -5 @stargazer01 said:

Jul 17, 2009 14:46:53 GMT -5 Jimbo said:

Eh, I'm on the fence about that character, always was. There's no poll option for that.

What do you suggest? I can't make changes to the poll, but you can..

Actually I can't. It's set in stone.

I'd say "neither like nor dislike".

[stargazer01]

Oh, I see. I thought you had The power to do so. Weird, I'm kinda disappointed about that. ;D

[Jimbo]

Jul 17, 2009 15:49:41 GMT -5 @stargazer01 said:

Oh, I see. I thought you had The power to do so. Weird, I'm kinda disappointed about that. ;D

Nope. He-Man stole it. ;D

[stargazer01]

He-Man? LOL!!!!!! Please check my previous post again. I made some changes to it before I saw your reply!

[Jimbo]

Good timing.

[Valentine Smith]

I'm in the "liked at first, but not anymore" camp. I had my suspicions before seeing the flick, was vehemently against it...but I was so impressed by how it was handled, that they changed my mind.

HOWEVER...I even said then, "I have zero interest in seeing the continuing adventures of Superman and Son." Zero. Zilch. Nada. And my interest is even lower now than it was then.

If it was the END of the series, then great...and again, I like the way they handled it. But it was the wrong thing to do to reintroduce the character, and honestly, I think Jason is a big part of what confused audiences and studio execs alike.

There's this unfortunate trend right now that all superhero franchises should be "trilogies" and have this Star Wars, LOTR style tightly connected thing going on. And it's wrongheaded. The Superman series should be like the James Bond movies. Loosely connected in order to facilitate more movies, and the occasional cast change.

[stargazer01]

valentine smith said
HOWEVER...I even said then, "I have zero interest in seeing the continuing adventures of Superman and Son." Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Why? I'm very curious to know that.


If it was the END of the series, then great...and again, I like the way they handled it. But it was the wrong thing to do to reintroduce the character,
Why do you think it was wrong?


and honestly, I think Jason is a big part of what confused audiences
Why do you think so? It didn't confuse me, and I was part of the GP before watching the movie.

Also, I'm not sure the GP really care so much about the quality of the storyline as long as the movie is "entertaining" (Transformers, for instance) , and has lots of action, especially from a movie like this.


and studio execs alike.
Confuse them? In what way? They greenlit it in the first place. You would think that WB must have been aware through Bryan Singer where the series/storyline could go in sequels and its potential.


There's this unfortunate trend right now that all superhero franchises should be "trilogies" and have this Star Wars, LOTR style tightly connected thing going on. And it's wrongheaded. The Superman series should be like the James Bond movies. Loosely connected in order to facilitate more movies, and the occasional cast change
Maybe but it CAN also work as a tightly connected series. I'd prefer more continuity, without it it seems to me like I wouldn't care that much about the characters and what happens to them.
Besides, it's not like they would be making more than 4 movies with the same cast. Maybe 5 but that's asking too much from the actors, probably.

Thanks for replying to the thread, Val, and sorry for all the questions. I just really wanna know why you feel that way.

[stargazer01]

Oh, and Yes, I LOVE Jason. Think this character is very interesting and with lots of potential.

[Jimbo]

It was a bad idea to have a small child be such a major character, just from a technical standpoint. Even if they got a sequel off the ground, the actor would have aged 3 years. They'd either have to recast, ignore the aging, or pick up the story 2-3 years later. Not good ideas at all.

[jak321]

The kid was likeable. But I don't think his character was a good idea for relaunching the series.

[HOSNI]

No Jason thanks, keep it simple. If you want to complicate the plots with personal relationships do it with love interests or enemies.

[stargazer01]

I loved Tristan's work in the movie, but I'd be fine with them recasting him if necessary (not that it matters anymore..).

I never had a problem with his introduction, on the contrary, I loved the idea and REALLY wanted more of it in sequels. Thought it was a VERY interesting way to humanize and to bring more depth to such a god-like character like Superman. As a mother and as a human being, I found that I could relate to him like never before. Jason was also a new and more effective weakness for Superman. I SO wanted to know what he would have done in order to find/save his son's life while saving the world. Ugh, it could have been great!

And like this relative of mine told me back in 2006, it was the natural thing to happen in this franchise, which it's about fathers and sons, and about saviours and sacrifices. Personally, that concept intrigued me in a big way. I also feel like Singer could have hit it out of the park in sequels and make of this franchise a VERY special, epic and wonderful one instead of the generic and formulaic crap that most tentpole movies really have become.

But that's me.

[Valentine Smith]

Gazer...

I think Tristan did a good job. Better than that irritating Jake Lloyd. Now, to answer your questions...

No interest in Superman & Son. Why? Because every generation deserves to see the classic Superman relationship dynamic. And that is Lois/Clark/Superman. A kid is a monkeywrench in that the kid ties the characters to a certain "real time" schedule, and either the actor playing the kid ages with them, or they keep replacing the kid. It's tough.

"end of the series". See above. All things considered, I liked how they handled it. Supes delivering Jor-El's lines to Jason at the end was VERY touching, and it's what made me like the whole idea in the first place. But...now what? Do we need to see Superman TRAINING this kid with his powers? zzzzzzzz....

"confusion". Jason didn't confuse you. He didn't confuse me. But he absolutely confused Joe Movieticketbuyer. See all the "deadbeat dad" jokes that have been made about Supes because of this. Also note that I think that the "general public" (people who don't post on Superman message boards and aren't the kinds of massive fans WE are) expect to see the classic Superman/Clark/Lois triangle. Jason and Cyclops complicate things.

"studio execs" I think the people who greenlit the movie aren't the people who count the money. They saw a guy coming off of the most critically (and fanboy-ically) acclaimed superhero movie (X2) in...almost ever with Bryan Singer, and I think they gave him the greenlight to do as he pleased. For better or worse. I like it, myself. But....

"connections". Now we're dealing with personal preferences. but I'd prefer a series of Superman or Batman movies that almost stand alone in a James Bond style to movies that require you to have seen the previous installment. Let alone a previous installment that may or may not have been in 1987.

[Deleted]

While the movie had many flaws with bits of story and mostly editing, adding a son was a direction no one had taken before. It gave us something new in the Superman film universe for the first time.

The kid was a great pick, and the characterization was fine. It's not like this was The Mummy Returns with annoying kid who's smarter than the adults.

It'd be great to see Superman more down to our level, but it may appear that the majority want carbon-copy movies where Superman just flies around and saves people and thwarts Luthor. Yawn.

[Valentine Smith]

You know what else would have been a Superman movie that none of us have seen before? A Superman movie where he flies around and tears robots and spaceships to shreds as they try to destroy earth. If that's a "yawn" or something you've seen before, then maybe there's an installment in the franchise that I missed.

But teaching a kid (who, at this point would have to be replaced anyway) how to use his powers, or worse, having to deal with a mad with grief Superman after the writers kill the little bastard off isn't something I need to see.

I DO think Jason was handled well. I think the kid did a fine job. I just see it as the END of a story, and not a story that I want more of.

[stargazer01]

valentine smith said
Now, to answer your questions...
Thanks!

No interest in Superman & Son. Why? Because every generation deserves to see the classic Superman relationship dynamic. And that is Lois/Clark/Superman.
So, by that reasoning, should they also make a new origin movie for every generation? How often? Every 10, 20 years?

Personally, I think that STM still works wonderfully as an origin movie. We also have the classic Superman/Lois/Clark relationship in the first two movies, in Lois&Clark, some in TAS, and in most of the comics up until before they got married in the 90s.

I dunno but I am ready for something new, a new twist, for a new development in their relationship and in the Superman character, and Superman Returns provided just that. I enjoyed the new sexual tension between them. I think it was clever and just more interesting than the same old same old we have seen so far for so long. Besides, we all know that Lois is still in love with Supes; Richard was just a new obstacle between them, and they weren't even married... plus Richard could die. You say is predictable? Well, it depends on HOW they do it. It is predictable but it could work just fine. If only..


A kid is a monkeywrench in that the kid ties the characters to a certain "real time" schedule, and either the actor playing the kid ages with them, or they keep replacing the kid. It's tough.
I don't mind seeing the characters age a little (maybe that's why Singer cast them so young). They could also replace the kid at least once, and then keep the same actor a nd see him grow and develop. Sure the kid is an important character now, but he doesn't have to be the main focus of the story. He is just a new supporting character, and the most interesting one yet or ever, IMO.


"end of the series". See above. All things considered, I liked how they handled it. Supes delivering Jor-El's lines to Jason at the end was VERY touching, and it's what made me like the whole idea in the first place.
Glad you liked it.


But...now what? Do we need to see Superman TRAINING this kid with his powers? zzzzzzzz....
NO, we don't need/have to see that, maybe just a little by the end of the series, which I'd call "Superman: Legacy", or something like that. The story is about Superman first and foremost. Besides, if Jonathan and Martha Kent could handle Clark, I don't see how Lois, Richard and Clark couldn't handle Jason.



"confusion". Jason didn't confuse you. He didn't confuse me. But he absolutely confused Joe Movieticketbuyer.
I told you that I was a totally regular Jane when I saw SR in theaters. Also, my sister who is also a regular Jane, and a few other people I know, weren't confused with the movie, and if they were, they didn't care since they like the movie and would love to see a sequel to it. My sister, for instance, CAN'T understand WHY some fans don't like the idea of Superman becoming a father. She thinks is actually a really nice thing for Superman, since he won't be all alone or the last of his kind.


See all the "deadbeat dad" jokes that have been made about Supes because of this.
I think this is done by the haters on the internet. I don't know anyone who does so in real life.


Also note that I think that the "general public" (people who don't post on Superman message boards and aren't the kinds of massive fans WE are) expect to see the classic Superman/Clark/Lois triangle. Jason and Cyclops complicate things.
I think you are assuming too much here; I liked this new twist just fine and wanted to see it developed. Of course, I wanted to see the whole family (Supes, Lois, Jason) finally together at the end of the series.


"studio execs" I think the people who greenlit the movie aren't the people who count the money. They saw a guy coming off of the most critically (and fanboy-ically) acclaimed superhero movie (X2) in...almost ever with Bryan Singer, and I think they gave him the greenlight to do as he pleased. For better or worse. I like it, myself. But....
And the movie got very good reviews and made more $ than BB at the BO. It was technically a blockbuster. It made over $400 mil (with inflation). Solid, I think. But the suits at WB are idiots.

[Jack Tripper]

i agree with pretty much everything valentine said. jason was a bad idea that never should've went from singer's brain to pen.

[EnriqueH]

No, I liked Jason.

Everything about him was handled well: his introduction, his revelation as Superman's son, and---above all---the acting. Child actors have an uncanny ability of coming off as annoying and fake...even Haley Joel Osment pissed me off in anything after 6th Sense. And this little actor was just the most natural, charismatic child performer.

I'll never forget that I didn't come to the realization that he was Superman's son until Lex figured it out. He said, "Who is that boy's father?" And I remember thinking, "Ohhhhhh, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit."

Totally caught me off guard.

I thought it was incredibly brave for a storyteller to do. And I'm very curious as to what Singer would've done with him in the sequel.