Favorite Clark Kent?

[EnriqueH]

What do you guys think?

(apology in advance if poll has been done)

[Valentine Smith]

Jesus. It's probably a tie for me with George Reeves and Dean Cain. Those are the two most believable Clarks for me. I'm having trouble choosing.

This isn't taking away anything from Reeve's performance, which is brilliant. But in terms of making Clark layered and nuanced and interesting, sometimes more interesting than Superman, Reeves and Cain take the cake.

Also, and this is really nerdy and stupid and nitpicky, for the Superboy stuff, Gerard and Newton played Clark SO differently that they're not even the same character. Newton tried to play him like Reeves, but came off really humorless and wooden. Gerard's is much closer to Reeve's version.

[Metallo]

Reeve followed very closely by Reeves.

Vals right about Gerard and Newton. Read a long time ago that Gerard basically wanted to model his Clark Kent on Chris Reeve's since he was such a fan of his.

[Deleted]

Dean Cain for me. The guy was damn near perfect as Clark; he was a bit square, very straight-laced, but not to the point where he didn't feel real. Reeve's Kent is great, it's distinctive and works really well in the context of the film, but there are only a few scenes where it feels like more than just a clever disguise.

[Deleted]

Cain, for me. He owned that role. His performance as Clark gave me confidence in my teens. He made me feel like I could maybe be a little cool and charming despite being a massive nerd. Unfortunately I reverted back to the massive nerd without being cool or charming bit, but eh...whatever. That's neither here nor is it there.

He is so damn comfortable as Clark, it seems like he's just playing himself, and maybe he is? Maybe that's why he does it so well is because he IS like that. From all I've heard about him, he is. He is a really gracious, nice dude. I guess it shouldn't have been tough for him to play himself, then. Regardless, he's my favorite and probably always will be, but who knows? Maybe Cavill will knock it the fuck out of the park, but I have a feeling he's just going to be angsty and angry.

[SupermanUF]

Reeve, hands down. He's the only one so far to split himself into THREE distinct personalities, and demonstrate that neither Clark NOR Superman are the true identity. The true identity is Kal El (the character we see at the fortress when he talks to Jor El, or at home on the farm in Smallville). I feel like every other actor either feels like Clark is either the true identity or the disguise and plays to that.

[ye5man]

Much easier for Reeves and Cain as they were in a TV show that had the luxury of fleshing out the characters.

I think I like Reeves' friendly but no-nonsense CK the best, but its difficult to choose. Again, you have to hand it to Cain (or the show's writers) not to make his CK into a Reeve clone.

Reeve obviously was the best at the contrast.

[EnriqueH]

Great to see Dean Cain get some props.

I have to say that I've enjoyed all the Superman actors, though I have not seen a full episode of Superboy or the Kirk Alynn serials.

For me, it's a close call between Cain and Reeves. Of course, I think Reeve was brilliant too, but Cain and Reeves are easier to admire and enjoy because they're more normal while Reeve's was an obvious disguise.

(Interesting note by UF on how Reeve was not Superman or Clark but Kal-El.)

I'm surprised nobody has voted Reeves.

I haven't voted yet because I haven't seen L&C in soooo long.

[Valentine Smith]

Cain edged out Reeves for me, but just barely. Reeves is the overall stronger performance, but that's based on his take on BOTH Clark and Superman. However, his Clark and Superman are very similar, perhaps even more similar than Cain's. Reeves seemed to approach the role from "Superman first", while Cain clearly was playing Clark Kent all the time.

It's a tough call, and I'm not sure I'd vote the same way if given the opportunity. But having just re-watched all of L&C Season 1 over the summer, Cain's performance is really fresh in my mind, and I think is unique.

[ye5man]

I think Reeves gave out this sad, lonely guy vibe as CK (especially the first season) - but at the same time, he clearly relished being Superman and helping people

[EnriqueH]

I think we all expected Routh to get a vote, but I'm surprised he got more than Reeves.

[atp]

Why wasn't Jeff East included?

[EnriqueH]

His style was unorthodox.

[Metallo]

Apr 4, 2012 14:18:54 GMT -5 atp said:

Why wasn't Jeff East included?

Probably because his screen time was so minor and his character was a younger version of Reeve's anyway. Everyone else had a starring role. If we include East we may as well include the kids who played young Clark in SR and AOS.

John Rockwell and Kirk Alyn didn't make the poll either.

Apr 4, 2012 9:49:37 GMT -5 ye5man said:

I think Reeves gave out this sad, lonely guy vibe as CK (especially the first season) - but at the same time, he clearly relished being Superman and helping people

Reeves always came off best as an investigative reporter. His Clark had a really sharp mind and nose for a story.

[ye5man]

Brandon Routh - who had a shit script to start with and was directed to copy Reeve as close as possible? Where was the originality in his performance? I could never vote for a clone

Like I say, at least Dean Cain had his own interpretation. I never thought of Reeve when he's on. With Routh, that's impossible.

[stargazer01]

I voted for BR, surprise!!! He was basically perfect in that role for me. He was more 'realistic' than the rest; Cain and Reeves were basically Superman with glasses, imo. And Reeve was just too over the top clumsy. Sure it was funny but it was not realistic.

Here it's a similar poll:

forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=370875


IMO, you need to be 'blind' to think that Brandon's performance as Supes/Clark was a Reeve "clone."

[atp]

Apr 4, 2012 14:20:13 GMT -5 EnriqueH said:

His style was unorthodox.

But effective!

[EnriqueH]

Apr 4, 2012 15:08:06 GMT -5 @stargazer01 said:

I voted for BR, surprise!!! He was basically perfect in that role for me. He was more 'realistic' than the rest; Cain and Reeves were basically Superman with glasses, imo. And Reeve was just too over the top clumsy. Sure it was funny but it was not realistic.

Here it's a similar poll:

forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=370875


IMO, you need to be 'blind' to think that Brandon's performance as Supes/Clark was a Reeve "clone."

I think you have to be blind not to.

Granted, I think he did a good job.

[Jor-L5150]

can't say much better than this:

Apr 4, 2012 1:50:32 GMT -5 SupermanUF said:

Reeve, hands down. He's the only one so far to split himself into THREE distinct personalities, and demonstrate that neither Clark NOR Superman are the true identity. The true identity is Kal El (the character we see at the fortress when he talks to Jor El, or at home on the farm in Smallville). I feel like every other actor either feels like Clark is either the true identity or the disguise and plays to that.

you had the "real" guy- on the farm and in the fortress, you had the pin-up poster boy superman, nerd-clark...aaaaannnd you had pissed off douche superman in III.
reeve handily did the best at playing the range of superman's persona.

that said, i'd go for george reeves second as he gave clark the best layering and nuance (as has been stated). reeves's-'s-'s clark actually seems like a compelling presence in it's own right.

aside:

gerard christopher deliberately tried to emulate reeve on a show with a lot of "heart", but terrible direction and scripts/editing.
brandon routh was told (it does makes sense if it's a revisionist sequel) to emulate reeve in a superb production value, yet ill-advised script for film.
essentially they did the same thing for the same reasons (connected to reeve's {singular} series).

does routh get the short end because his homage was more recent? i'd have to shake my head and chuckle at putting superboy ahead of superman returns. (except for stacey haiduk of course).

[stargazer01]

Apr 4, 2012 16:21:27 GMT -5 EnriqueH said:

Apr 4, 2012 15:08:06 GMT -5 @stargazer01 said:

I voted for BR, surprise!!! He was basically perfect in that role for me. He was more 'realistic' than the rest; Cain and Reeves were basically Superman with glasses, imo. And Reeve was just too over the top clumsy. Sure it was funny but it was not realistic.

Here it's a similar poll:

forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=370875


IMO, you need to be 'blind' to think that Brandon's performance as Supes/Clark was a Reeve "clone."

I think you have to be blind not to.

Granted, I think he did a good job.

A clone to me means an exact copy of another. As stated by others, Brandon's Clark was much more subtle than Reeve's. He was a truly mildmannered reporter. His Superman was also more serious, mysterious, gentle, emotionally vulnerable, and godly, IMO. I thought it was a natural progression of Reeve's more jolly-go-lucky and younger version.

So yeah, there were some subtle differences.

And don't get me wrong, I adore Reeve's Supes. His Clark not so much, it was too much like a parody most of the time.

[Metallo]

Apr 4, 2012 16:35:48 GMT -5 Jor-L5150 said:

can't say much better than this:

Apr 4, 2012 1:50:32 GMT -5 SupermanUF said:

Reeve, hands down. He's the only one so far to split himself into THREE distinct personalities, and demonstrate that neither Clark NOR Superman are the true identity. The true identity is Kal El (the character we see at the fortress when he talks to Jor El, or at home on the farm in Smallville). I feel like every other actor either feels like Clark is either the true identity or the disguise and plays to that.

you had the "real" guy- on the farm and in the fortress, you had the pin-up poster boy superman, nerd-clark...aaaaannnd you had pissed off douche superman in III.
reeve handily did the best at playing the range of superman's persona.

that said, i'd go for george reeves second as he gave clark the best layering and nuance (as has been stated). reeves's-'s-'s clark actually seems like a compelling presence in it's own right.

aside:

gerard christopher deliberately tried to emulate reeve on a show with a lot of "heart", but terrible direction and scripts/editing.
brandon routh was told (it does makes sense if it's a revisionist sequel) to emulate reeve in a superb production value, yet ill-advised script for film.
essentially they did the same thing for the same reasons (connected to reeve's {singular} series).

does routh get the short end because his homage was more recent? i'd have to shake my head and chuckle at putting superboy ahead of superman returns. (except for stacey haiduk of course).

I agree. UF had it right. Reeve played a much more multi faced character. When I think about it Farm Clark, Metro Clark, Superman, and Kal-El would all represent elements of one whole. In Superman III Clark Kent seemed to be MUCH more of a real person than just some act. We saw the real guy shine through whoever it was. Thats one instance where I think the lines begin to blur.

I think Routh carried that on (with some tweaks because of the nature of the story) but you're right Gerard basically did the same thing.

Everybody has different roles to play on the stage of life. Nobody acts the same in every situation with different people. We all assume a different role of sorts depending on what the circumstances dictate. Thats why "Superman is what I can do Clark is who I am" always sounded so ridiculously simplified to me. That would change the more he learned about himself.


The Superboy series was to The Reeve films what the old 1960 Superboy tv pilot was to The Adventures of Superman. Rockwell was essentially a young George Reeves (even looked kind of like him) despite it being a different continuity influenced by the previous one.

[ye5man]

I'm not putting any blame on Routh for this incidentally. He did as he was told.

Reeve had far more to do as CK; I barely remember Routh, 2 or 3 scenes in the planet and in the bar. How can you compare that to someone in a TV show who has clocked up so many hours and gotten a chance to get into the role. Not so difficult for Reeve and Reeves as they were both superior, trained actors.

Brandon's Clark was much more subtle than Reeve's

Probably because the script was on soap opera level.

Let's be clear, if there was no Reeve, Routh would have played it entirely different, hence I cannot vote for a follower.

[Metallo]

Apr 4, 2012 17:10:46 GMT -5 ye5man said:

Reeve had far more to do as CK; I barely remember Routh, 2 or 3 scenes in the planet and in the bar. How can you compare that to someone in a TV show who has clocked up so many hours and gotten a chance to get into the role. Not so difficult for Reeve and Reeves as they were both superior, trained actors.

All those hours clocked in still didn't help Cain and Welling as much as one would think. Welling was still a doe eyed block of wood ten years on.

[stargazer01]

Let's be clear, if there was no Reeve, Routh would have played it entirely different, hence I cannot vote for a follower.

I will vote for the one that I enjoyed the most, hence 'favorite Clark Kent.

[crazy_asian_man]

I think I've always said this:

I preferred Chris Reeve's version of Superman easily to Routh's, even though the (intentional) similarities is amazing.

On the flip side, I definitely prefer Routh's version of Clark- even though there was (intentional) emulating/integrating some of Reeve's imitation of the character from "Bringing up Baby" film that he brought in.(As he openly admits in interviews).

The look and sound of Chris Reeve's Superman was 90% of the job, to be honest.... and I was fine with that, because even though Routh hadn't had as much training as Reeve at the same time, natural qualities he had as a person made up for it, imo.

Same thing applied to James Cameron's choice of a kid with next to no acting experience for Terminator 2.... and I thought he was fine in the role.

I'll agree that it's not always the smartest idea to cast first on looks, second on experience/acting ability....but considering the odds of finding someone who physically resembling Reeve so much in appearance and voice--- I still think/thought Routh was amazing, add to that enough acting talent to make up for it.

Also, he was great in the bit parts in Scott Pilgrim and Chuck.... While someone like Keanu Reeves may have TONS of acting experience at this point, with the small roles/parts Routh has had so far, I believe him as different characters far moreso than I do Reeves, who's been at it for many more years than Routh. (Since we're talking about Reeves's anyways....)