What SHOULD NOT CHANGE in Nolan's reboot?

[crazy_asian_man]

I know there's a post about the SR thread discussion, but a poll maybe gets to the point specifically (hopefully) about who (and how many) want this/that to change. Mods, if you decide if this is felt repetitive, go ahead & lock/remove, no prob. But thought this might be of interest...

[The Phantom Menace]

I went with Routh, the costume, and Krypton exploding. Those three are the most essential for me.

[EvilSupes]

I am torn between 3 things. I really liked Brandon as Supes and Clark, but realistically it is highly unlikely he will be donning the cape once more unless Singer is on board again, so as much as I like him, that will probably change regardless.

The John Williams theme has to NOT CHANGE, as this is as important as the Superman 'S' symbol. The musical theme is just pure perfection and I very much doubt any composer will ever create a new theme that will be better, EVER.

The costume, it NEEDS to KEEP the red, blue and yellow. It NEEDS to KEEP the cape, the boots and the 'S'. I don't care what they do with the pants and the shirt as long as they retain the features that makes Superman, Superman. Being totally honest I hope they keep the suit as traditional as possible, I actually didn't mind the SR suit at all as it was a hybrid of old and new in one. The only thing that was wrong with it was not the suit itself but the way the colours were shown in the movie, which was down to the fault of putting a filter over everything.

I hope to god we don't get any of this Tom Welling Matrix/Neo crap in the movies as this is not what Superman is about.

[atp]

The need for a CGI villains rule the world scene must remain unchanged.

Please.

[supes78]

Tie between the Williams theme and the classic red & blue costume.

[Matt in the Hat]

The Suit in returns sucks. I vote they change it back to something similar to Reeve/Newton/GerardChristopher suit. Otherwise the basics have to stay there. But of course, start fresh.

[ye5man]

I am really on the fence about Routh returning. I can see pros and cons for the case. I really liked him in SR but I also agree a fresh start is the best way forward (no back story either)

Williams theme absolutely must stay.


Keeping Routh, but new supporting cast and new music, will definitely be like Never say never again!


edit:

one thing works against Routh is he is too much of a Reeve clone. I would prefer to see more originality. The Bonds after Connery all had their own unique interpretation, and didn't rip him off; that's something to be encouraged now.

Let's have some original ideas and dialogue and not rehash STM

[dehbum]

Feb 15, 2010 7:33:10 GMT -5 ye5man said:

edit:

one thing works against Routh is he is too much of a Reeve clone. I would prefer to see more originality. The Bonds after Connery all had their own unique interpretation, and didn't rip him off; that's something to be encouraged now.

Let's have some original ideas and dialogue and not rehash STM

I cannot agree with you more here ,I am on the fence also with him

Unfortunately it will be hard for the new group to make decision on him also.I believe he was handcuffed a bit by Singer and the script also did not give him a lot to work with.There was not much screen time between Lois/Superman/Clark and this is where Returns fail miserably,

[EvilSupes]

Being honest now, as much as I like the 'looks' of Bosworth, she isn't the perfect Lois Lane to me, and so for me, that SHOULD change and probably will. Margot Kidder may not look particularly fantastic, especially in the later movies, but she sure does have the perfect chemistry between her and superman/clark. We need another actress who can do that more than just simply being easy on the eye.

[Jimbo]

I went with Routh, costume and music.

Routh did a good enough job. Replacing him now would just be replacing him for the sake of replacing him. Can they find someone else better? Maybe, but why go through the trouble?

Tim Burton's sketches from the 90s show just how important it is not to mess up the original design of the costume. Keep it simple and classic.

With the three Reeve sequels and SR, the original JW theme is more engrained than ever in the movie character. Imagine Star Wars without the main theme or Force theme.

[belloq]

Went with Routh. I wouldn't mind at all to see a fresh take on the Superman mythos, but keep Routh. If SR had never existed, based on his recent TV work to go along with his look, he'd be the favorite right now to play Superman anyway. I hope that made sense. He's the best choice. Can't think of anyone better and he shouldn't be punished for doing a good job in a good movie that for whatever reason people want to forget.

[SGB]

Feb 15, 2010 7:33:10 GMT -5 ye5man said:

Williams theme absolutely must stay.

Agreed.

[sandman1347]

This thread is the embodiment of why it's so difficult to get the Superman film franchise off the ground again. This question is the wrong question. What shouldn't change? Why do we think like that? By thinking that way, we doom ourselves to unoriginal content.

The real question is; what should change? That's the question that the film makers will have to answer because simply regurgitating old concepts like SR did just won't cut it. I say no more homages and no more nostalgia. Let's make a NEW movie!

To attempt to answer the question though, the only things that I think shouldn't be touched are the basic premise and concept of the story and character. Superman is an alien sent to Earth as an infant and raised among human beings. He looks like a normal human being but has super-human abilities due to his alien genetics. As long as they don't stray from this concept, I'll be fine.

I don't want to tie the hands of the writer, director or producer who may want to infuse some creativity into the movie. I certainly don't feel that Brandon Routh needs to play the role. In fact, while Brandon did a very good Clark Kent (at least if you like Chris Reeves' goofy version of Clark), I thought his Superman was too meek and Brandon never really took over that character.

I'm not even married to the traditional suit. I'd like to see them keep the cape and the basic blue/red color scheme but the suit does look a bit dated at this point. Every other superhero has had slight modifications to their traditional costume over the years. I don't think much needs to change but the brief that he wears over the tights does look a bit ridiculous (objectively speaking). I don't think anything of it because I've been a fan of Superman my whole life but my nephew thinks it looks silly and I think a lot of the younger generation agree with him.

[johnnyboy]

In my opinion, nothing should stay -- not Routh, not the costume, not the music ... nothing.

Clinging onto the past was ruinous for SR, and it's ruinous in real life, too.

Superman needs a stark updating. The character needs someone with a bold vision. Someone willing to take chances, not capitulate to things already seen and done.

[Kirok]

I voted for the theme. Of course, I think Nolan should have kept Elfman's theme for his Batman films so that's just how I think.

Everything else should be a clean slate.

[Gandy]

Feb 18, 2010 21:41:51 GMT -5 @johnnyboy said:

In my opinion, nothing should stay -- not Routh, not the costume, not the music ... nothing.

Clinging onto the past was ruinous for SR, and it's ruinous in real life, too.

Superman needs a stark updating. The character needs someone with a bold vision. Someone willing to take chances, not capitulate to things already seen and done.

Here, here.

[Matt in the Hat]

Feb 19, 2010 16:58:10 GMT -5 Gandy said:

Feb 18, 2010 21:41:51 GMT -5 @johnnyboy said:

In my opinion, nothing should stay -- not Routh, not the costume, not the music ... nothing.

Clinging onto the past was ruinous for SR, and it's ruinous in real life, too.

Superman needs a stark updating. The character needs someone with a bold vision. Someone willing to take chances, not capitulate to things already seen and done.

Here, here.

Agreed.

[crazy_asian_man]

In my opinion, nothing should stay -- not Routh, not the costume, not the music ... nothing.

Clinging onto the past was ruinous for SR, and it's ruinous in real life, too.

Superman needs a stark updating. The character needs someone with a bold vision. Someone willing to take chances, not capitulate to things already seen and done.

I disagree that it was ruinous for SR--- I agree that the 'vague history' thing was not the best choice, though.

If everything needs to change, why even call it Superman? Why not just call it something else? There are a bazillion other Superman variations in the form of other superheroes---

Where does the line get drawn on changing something so much that it's not even remotely recognizable (and eventually pointless)?

[MAVERICK]

Exaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaactly.

[stargazer01]

PERFECTLY said, CAM.

That's one of the reasons I love Superman Returns so much; it pushed the character forward (Jason, deeper character exploration), while it still felt like a real Superman movie. It was true to the character and the mythos.

Went with Routh. I wouldn't mind at all to see a fresh take on the Superman mythos, but keep Routh. If SR had never existed, based on his recent TV work to go along with his look, he'd be the favorite right now to play Superman anyway. I hope that made sense. He's the best choice. Can't think of anyone better and he shouldn't be punished for doing a good job in a good movie that for whatever reason people want to forget.

WELL said, belloq. Couldn't agree more.


And as much as I love the Donner's FOS design, come on, it's way more important in the Superman legend that KRYPTON EXPLODES!

[johnnyboy]

Feb 19, 2010 17:38:53 GMT -5 crazy_asian_man said:

In my opinion, nothing should stay -- not Routh, not the costume, not the music ... nothing.

Clinging onto the past was ruinous for SR, and it's ruinous in real life, too.

Superman needs a stark updating. The character needs someone with a bold vision. Someone willing to take chances, not capitulate to things already seen and done.

I disagree that it was ruinous for SR--- I agree that the 'vague history' thing was not the best choice, though.

If everything needs to change, why even call it Superman? Why not just call it something else? There are a bazillion other Superman variations in the form of other superheroes---

Where does the line get drawn on changing something so much that it's not even remotely recognizable (and eventually pointless)?

In my opinion, these are the core essentials of Superman:

- His real name is Kal-El, he's from Krypton and he has "super powers".

- His real parents are dead, and possibly his planet, too.

- He grows up with loving parents in the country and eventually moves to the city.

- In the city, he works for a media outlet called The Daily Planet.

- He has a deep relationship -- platonic and plutonic -- with an extroverted woman named Lois Lane.

- He does "super feats" and inspires the world as a costumed hero called Superman.

- He also inspires jealousy, which takes the form of a man named Lex Luthor.

- He can be harmed, and possibly destroyed, by a substance called Kryptonite.

That's it. Everything else is up for grabs.

[ye5man]

I don't think WB have the balls to get 100% fresh, sadly.


If they did a complete reboot then I would certainly welcome it.

[atp]

Feb 19, 2010 20:57:15 GMT -5 @johnnyboy said:

In my opinion, these are the core essentials of Superman:

- His real name is Kal-El, he's from Krypton and he has "super powers".

- His real parents are dead, and possibly his planet, too.

- He grows up with loving parents in the country and eventually moves to the city.

- In the city, he works for a media outlet called The Daily Planet.

- He has a deep relationship -- platonic and plutonic -- with an extroverted woman named Lois Lane.

- He does "super feats" and inspires the world as a costumed hero called Superman.

- He also inspires jealousy, which takes the form of a man named Lex Luthor.

- He can be harmed, and possibly destroyed, by a substance called Kryptonite. It's deadly ... to him.

That's it. Everything else is up for grabs.

Added something you forgot

[EnriqueH]

While I would like to see Routh return for a sense of continuity, I voted John Williams.

It would be like changing the Bond theme.

[EnriqueH]

Also, I think it's possible to retain some of what of what came before while doing something new, like Casino Royale.

SR faltered because it recycled Lex's style and scheme.

Jason was bold, but keeping Lex a buffoon was a gross misfire. And there should've been a supervillain.