Posts Tagged ‘Superman Returns’
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Oct25
Because I know I’m going to get a lot of questions from people asking “Does Iowa really look like that?” I took the time to draw an incentive sketch that really gives you a sense of scale and space here on the open prairie. You can view it by voting for Theater Hopper at buzzComix.
So, in case you hadn’t heard, the new Superman starring in Bryan Singer’s addition to the franchise is Iowa native Brandon Routh. He’s been a virtual unknown up to this point, which I believe was Singer’s intention. I imagine he’ll be fine in the role. After all, no one really knew who Christopher Reeve was until he put on the cape.
I dunno. Looking at pictures of Routh, I think he looks too young. I mean, he’s two years younger than I am, for crying out loud. He’s also two years younger than the current, HIGH SCHOOL-AGED Superman Tom Welling from the television show Smallville.
I guess whenever I think of Superman, I think of an older father-figure. Someone in his 30’s AT LEAST. I mean, look at the new Batman movie coming out with Christian Bale. Bale is 30 years old exactly and he’s playing Batman in the first year of his crime fighting career. It still feels more correct than casting a 24 year-old to play Superman.
Maybe it’s the whole authority issue. Superheroes are kind of this alpha-male archetype that we tend to look up to. All I’m saying is that I’m going to have trouble suspending disbelief when I’m supposed to marvel at a Superman that could have been my best friend’s little brother at once point. I could give this guy a noogie, for Pete’s sake… An atomic wedgie, y’know?
Onto today’s comic. The conversation playing out online in the strip pretty much happened word-for-word in my own community, The THorum. As odd as it will be to see Routh in the blue tights, I am proud that a once fellow denizen of The Hawkeye State has gone on to bigger and bolder things.
Sure, some of you might live in states where celebrities have been cropping up left and right. But around here, it’s been less common. Who has Iowa given to entertainment? Well, John Wayne and Donna Reed are good starts. But no one from my generation, really. No. Scratch that. There’s Ashton Kutcher and Elijah Wood (both from Cedar Rapids). But, you know. It’s not common. That’s all I’m saying.
At any rate, it IS a big deal. I mean, after all this is the state whose largest newspaper has an article each week updating Rory’s status on Survivor. That’s right! Rory’s from Iowa, too! We’re taking over your town next!
Speaking of The THorum, I wanted to announce to all potential advertisers that we’re now selling ad space in The THorum. It’s a really good deal. By volume, this is probably the one place on the site that will generate for you the most repeat impressions. But lucky for you, we’re not selling by ad views, but by spans of time! So you can reserve this spot for a week, two weeks or even a month on the cheap and no one else is going to share it will you!
We recently just welcomed our 400th registrant, but there are tons of people reading the THorum who aren’t signed up. This is a good opportunity to get your site in front of a lot of people! If you’re interested, contact me for information about advertising rates and availability!
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This is what I get for assuming that no one cares.
Both The Des Moines Register and News-a-rama picked up on I’M A MORON’s homecoming for the premiere of Superman Returns here in Iowa.
I’m not all that surprised that The Des Moines Register would run something on it, but I was really freaked out when News-a-rama had someone at the event and they took a bunch of pictures.
The theater they’re at – Century Theaters? I hang out there every week. That’s my home-away-from-home, kids. I feel like I total idiot for letting this opportunity slip through my fingers. But quite honestly, up to that point, the media described the event as invitation only. Who knew the guy would be glad-handing fans for over an hour on the red carpet!
STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!
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Comic Tom doesn’t spend as much time on the internet as I do in real life. Probably because that’s not a very dynamic setting in which to tell the story. Or perhaps it’s because the people he talks to are indifferent to the news he wants to share. I suppose he should give up on relaying any Superman-related missives.
And speaking of related! Yes, it is true that someone I went to high school with is the real-life cousin of the new Superman, Brandon Routh. I’ve changed his name in the comic to protect the innocent. But, as you may have heard, Brandon Routh is from right here in Central Iowa. So there have been many news stories in advance of Superman Returns hitting theaters on Wednesday and every newspaper and local news network is parading out all of his relatives for that local angle.
This, of course, means nothing to no one. Famous people tend to come from all over the country. You don’t hear Toronto bragging about how John Candy came from their town. But then again, that might just be due to the fact that Canadians are so polite.
I don’t know. For Iowa, it’s different. There’s very little going on here and for someone to take the mantle of one of the most recognizable icons in world… well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a twinge of hometown pride.
I’m trying to imagine what it must be like for Routh’s family. That’s weird bragging rights. "Yeah, my cousin? He’s Superman. Wanna go out later?"
Do you suppose Brandon will give them a cut of all that merchandizing action going on right now? Happy Meals and action figures and all that? Do you suppose he’s unloading all this crap on his extended family as a means of taking care of them for the next 10 Christmas holidays?
Imagine what it must be like for the guy. In three days, he’ll have gone from being totally unknown to being tethered to The Man of Steel forever. Kind of funny how this seems to happen with Superman but not with Batman in regards to film. I mean Christopher Reeve was unknown when they cast him in the first Superman movie back in 1978. But for Batman, it’s been a string of "known" actors under the cape and cowl – Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney. The least well known of them all is probably Christian Bale – but only because they were looking to go back to square one with the character.
My point is, chosing unknowns to tackle Superman speaks to the enormity of the character. Even established celebrity can’t overcome it. I think that’s pretty cool.
I guess Routh was in-town today, not five minutes from my house, attending a showing of Superman Returns at the Century Theaters with 300 kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Iowa. It was a private event, so I wasn’t able to get in. And even though the theater expected people to hang around to catch a glimpse of Routh, I didn’t make the effort to check things out. I don’t know if I should feel stupid about that, or not. Quite truthfully, it’s probably the closest Hollywood is ever going to get to my front porch.
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So, as previously stated, today is the big day. The release of Superman Returns. Personally, I couldn’t be more excited. The more and more the hype builds around the movie, the more I’m ready to see it.
Yes, I’ve seen the reviews that say it’s bloated at 2+ hours and that there’s too much Clark Kent and not enough Superman, but I don’t care. Even if it lets me down, just as I suggest in the comic, it’s a good time to be alive.
For years and years, comic book fans got the shaft when it came to reinterpretation of their favorite characters. Looking at yesterday’s confluence of events – where Superman Returns would be in theaters and the trailer for Spider-Man 3 appeared online – I recognized the amazing jump in quality we’ve experienced with these franchises in less than 10 years. If you’re a geek, it’s incredibly validating because you feel like other mediums are finally taking you seriously. Comics aren’t just kids stuff anymore. Their modern fables for all of us.
And that’s an important excuse for me to pull out of my hat whenever Cami asks me how much I spent on comics this week!
I don’t want to get too much into discussing Spider-Man 3. Otherwise I think I’m going to be all over the map with my commentary. So, for the next few days, I’m all about Superman Returns. Expect Friday’s comic to carry the narrative thread.
I probably won’t see the movie until Saturday – which sucks. Life just gets in the way sometimes, you know? But I’m not stressing. I’m sure I’ll see it two or three more times before the end of the blockbuster season.
I’m just… I’m just happy right now. Does that make sense?
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Jimmy Olsen is supposed to be "Superman’s Pal." Let me tell you – a REAL pal would clue you in to the bubble butt issue! Maybe Jimmy just hasn’t worked up the nerve yet.
Are you like me? Do you debate the practicality of comic book storytelling methods? The whole "costume under the civilian clothes" thing never worked with me when it came to Superman. I mean, okay… the skin-tight body suit I can kind of understand. Except, how does he go to the bathroom when you’re wearing three layers of clothes? Or does Clark Kent have a super bladder to hold it all in?
Anyway, I can let the suit underneath slide… but where is that cape hanging out? Back pocket? Does he stuff it down the legs of his pants? Maybe that’s why he’s so clumsy? I had kind of forgotten about my pet theory until we went to see Superman Returns this weekend. That shot where Clark steps into the elevator and then flies straight up the elevator shaft, shedding his street clothes behind him, I started asking myself again… "Where did that cape come from?"
Another thing – is Clark just leaving clothes all over the city? In elevator shafts, phone booths, alleyways…. You’d think the Daily Planet would be reporting about a serial streaker in Metropolis! Wouldn’t he be leaving his wallet and ID behind everytime he soars into action as Superman? I imagine Clark Kent’s new clothes bill must be astronomical.
Heh, heh… I’m shattering the whole illusion for all of you, aren’t I?
Okay, enough of that crap. Onto Superman Returns. What did I think? Well, at risk of appearing lazy, I would say this recent strip from PvP sums up my opinion quite nicely. When we left the theater, I actually told Cami "I want to be Superman when I grow up." Dear God… Who doesn’t?
Something about that John Williams theme song just makes you want to leap in front of an out of control frieght train and stop it with your bare hands. All that zipping and zooming around the stratosphere makes me want to fly home.
The effects in Superman Returns were stunning. Absolutely seemless. Everything The Man of Steel did on screen was something I had been aching to see. Sure, the other Superman films showed him in flight, but not at 700 miles per hour. Amazing stuff.
Complaints? Nothing you probably haven’t read before. It’s a little long. It takes a while before we see Brandon Routh in costume. Kate Bosworth is nothing like any version of Lois Lane you’ve ever read about or seen performed by any other actress – and that’s not a compliment. Kal Penn is given NOTHING to do as Luthor’s henchman. NO SPEAKING LINES! Why is he even in the movie? He probably doesn’t care. Residuals from this flick will pay out for the rest of his life.
Good things about the movies? I felt both Brandon Routh and Kevin Spacey were right at home in their respective roles. There was never a moment where I didn’t believe in Routh as Superman. He put an element of grace and calm into his portrayal that I found very comforting. Sure, he could stand to have been a little older to get that fatherly vibe that Superman exudes, but that’s a quibble. Really, excellent casting all around, except for Bosworth. Parkey Posey hits a home run as Luthor’s arm-candy, Kitty. She does a lot with a role that could have been one-note or insignificant.
The concept of a world without Superman is a great idea in terms of "re-introducing" the character, but it’s never fully explored. He went to see if Krypton was still around. It took him five years to find out it wasn’t. Bummer. They gloss over his exploration, but spend a little too much time in other areas.
The whole question about Lois’ five year old son? Probably not best for me to go into it here. But I have STRONG opinions about it. Trust me on that one.
Poor James Marsden. He should change his name to "James Marginalized." Get’s screwed over in the X-Men franchise, plays the guy that Rachel McAdams DOESN’T pick in The Notebook and he just shuffled to the side here again. The shame of it is, he continues to play increasingly more likeable characters. He just can’t end up with the girl on-screen.
Overall, I left the theater on a high note. Cami and I saw the movie on IMAX which kind of screwed up some of the composition of a handful of shots, so I wouldn’t mind going back and seeing it again on a "regular" screen so I can soak it all in a second time. Other than that, I can’t recommend the movie highly enough.
Hope you guys had a great weekend. I’ve got the day off today, so I’m going to work on a new design for Theater Hopper. It’s something I’ve been wanting to try for a while, but it’s been difficult to find the time to take a swing at it. Wish me luck!
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I kind of felt like I was shirking my duty not talking about Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest incredible first weekend at the box office. When you stop to think about it, the accomplishment is pretty crazy.
I mean, sure, there’s always going to be debate about box office records. What with inflation and the increased number of theaters across the American strip-mall landscape. But when you frame Pirates three day take of $132 million against Superman Returns take of $52 million (ignore the bloated numbers from the extended 4th of July "holiday weekend)… well, to paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction – we’re not in the same ballpark, the same league or even the same sport. I mean, Superman Returns had one of the largest domestic releases ever – 4,065 screens. Now Pirates sweeps through and everyone is like "Superman, who?" Just goes to show how fickle we can be, I suppose.
I know Pirates 2 has its detractors, but I’m just glad that the numbers were better than X-Men 3’s Memorial Day weekend take of $102 million. Superman Returns was supposed to knock it off it’s throne as *the* summer blockbuster. When it didn’t, it gave validity to the Brett Ratner’s of the world at the expense of what I felt was a sincere and thoughtful adaptation of The Man of Steel. Superman Returns at least had something on it’s mind and it was being punished for it. Meanwhile, I disorganized noise-fest like X-Men 3 takes home all the cash? Not fair.
If a balls-out action/adventure movie is going to take the brass ring this summer, I would rather it be Pirates 2 than X-Men 3. That’s all I’m saying.
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