Agree about checking boxes.. but then I think to myself, has everything been done already and the bar just set high...
I heard from various people that it was beat for beat of past films, I hadn't seen them, so I didn't know.. but then going back to those movies, it's shamefully uncanny..
That's why 'classic reeve superman' in my mind still works and can be a good blue print for superman again as Jenkins was so open about using it as inspiration, Nolan too... sure it might upset a few as it's not what they want but it appears the majority appreciate that formula.
Agreed actually. As vomit inducing as I find the Christ allegory now because of other creators making that the focal point. I would take it if I wasn't watching Superman Returns or Man of Steel. It's Singer, Snyder, Gough, and Miller's fault I'm against Donner's contributions so much. God Jor-El, bumbling uber nerd Clark, the crystal fortress, are all unnecessary things things that always come back, and people see traditional Supes as just the Donner version, which bothers me and is not true. Plus, I want something like Rosenbaum, Shea, or Brown for Luthor. Not Hackman, Spacey, Esienberg, or Cryer. So you can understand my frustration.
I mean Donner certainly invented things I would rather not be around to be used by other creators that kinda don't know what they're doing.
I would take all the elements I don't want in a movie that's more of a good time. Not watching everything happen to Superman, and the guy can't take a breath, appreciate much of anything, show much agency, or personality.
He's a husk in Superman Returns and Man of Steel, I don't know who he is beyond being a martyr that everything bad happens to so we better get sad, this isn't real life, you don't get the benefit of sympathy just because.
We have to know the guy we are seeing go through things for two hours.
Donner knew what he was doing unlike Singer and Snyder.
His character was memorable not just the symbolism and commentary. The last two guys were vessels through which to display supposed grand insights about a generic God being raised on earth, not really anyone who felt tangible. Just something so the director could display how full of themselves they are, and showcase their pretentious clap trap.
Well, that's how it came off because they invested in plot points and themes more than personality and characters.
