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but the shorter time you spend- if you only show his origin during the opening credits or before them- doesn't that mean less time to show the bond between characters in Smallville?
here's an argument for people deadset against showing the origin:
you don't want to see the origin story told again b/c you already know it but yet you buy dvds and can watch the same movie over and over and over even though you know the story.
I've always loved origin stories, because origin stories are all about shaping one's personality and finding one's way in life. Before i watch Superman clash wit Lex, i want to know what drives him and what drives Lex. Why is this guy doing what he is doing? Where does he draw the line? Lex says that he does what he does for the greater good, so why does he clash with Superman who wants the same thing? Did Clark's relationship with Lana affect his relationship with Lois? Does his humble upbringing in a village matter (Lois might make fun of him, but its Clark's humble character that won her over)? Etc.
For all that to be successfully explored, the origin movie will have to spend time in Smallville, on Clark's parents, school life, Lana, etc. Yes the origin has been told before, but it never had the passion and the clear action-effect narrative that Batman's origin had in Begins.
Smallville has also told a version of the origin, but not only is it bad, but it has stretched this origin story to the point that Clark is almost a middle aged man now and he is still finding his way. Some people dont even know that Smallville is about Superman. I kid you not. So **** Smallville.
If they use the Begins narrative and spread the origin in a number of flashbacks, the movie will be a lot more interesting. I never found myself bored during Begins, because the narrative wasnt linear, the pacing was pretty fast and exciting, there was quite a bit of action, and a lot of clever scenes that held my interest (like the jail scene or Bruce's final test in the league).
So instead of starting from the start and going all the way to the point that Clark becomes superman, they could start with him arriving at Metropolis and settling in. While we watch Clark getting a job at the Planet (as a low level reporter at first), saving his first cats and blowing out his first fires as Superman, various events could spark Clark's memory and give us flashbacks about past events in his life.
To be honest, I like Smallville more than the Superman comics because it follows the comics very loosely and creates something completely new and different. Who wants to hear the same old story over and over. Although I still think we need the origin in the film.
I believe that if DC wants to establish a successful DC movieverse that keeps making movies non stop, they need to stay close to canon, not only because its beautiful, not only because of the fans, but because they can draw stories from it. So when i say "add something new while staying close to canon" i mean Ironman as opposed to Batman 89. Example:
- The Joker being the Wayne murderer is doing it wrong. It affects their relationship and ruins everything.
- Tony Stark making his identity public is doing it right. He has done it many times in the comics and when this arc is explored, he can easily make his identity secret with the bodyguard excuse. Favreau will explore this new (?) arc in IM2 without altering the story or straying too far. So Lex shouldnt be Kryptonian, Krypton mustn't survive, etc.
Now that we've got that covered, let me give you 3 ways (aside from the narrative techniques that i covered in my previous post) that the origin can be fresh and interesting.
1) Examining the same things from a different or more modern perspective.
Example in spoilers:
Superman's training.
In the movies Jor-El made him stay for 10 years in that fortress studying about how whales mate . What if this time the training is more active? I hope that Clark will be the one to choose his destiny, so when he announces to Jor-El that he wants to become a hero, Jor-El could organise a training regime aimed at honing his skills. In the comics Superman has a room in the Fortress where he fights robots, but he could also hone his skills by completing tasks around the world, or on other planets. Of course Jor-El will give him the usual lessons about everything, and especially morality, ethics and justice which we can hear while we watch the training scenes, like we were hearing Ras' lessons while watching the sword fight.
2) New scenes that we have never seen before.
Is there something that Superman hasnt saved on the big screen? Baby seals in the Arctic you say? Right, have him save baby seals from getting clubbed to death. Raise the Titanic from its tomb to put it in a museum (in All-Star Superman he kept it in his Fortress)? Great idea! And so on.
3) Ideas, characters and stories from the comics that the movies have never adapted.
Its similar to (2) but it has to do with the comics.
The introduction of new villains for example. Brainiac, Metallo, Mongul, Darkseid, etc have never been adapted before. Just imagine the action scenes that they can provide.
And what about that part of the origin that Clark goes to Africa as a reporter? I dont really like it, but its something we havent seen in the movies.
Or what about Krypto the superdog? You guys are going to roll your eyes, but i guarantee that girls will love him (we need them for the box office ) and if done right, you'll love him too. If you can believe that Kryptonians look like humans, then just suspend your disbelief a bit more and accept that they also have dogs like ours and you shall receive the awesomeness that is Krypto. He can just appear in a few scenes, and then stay and guard the farm like he does in the comics.
There is an amazing scene in All-Star Superman that Clark and Krypto play fetch in space and end up sitting on the moon and admiring the view from up there. Here:
Have you ever seen a scene so spectacular and lovely at the same time in any superhero movie we've had so far? I thought so.
To be honest, I like Smallville more than the Superman comics because it follows the comics very loosely and creates something completely new and different. Who wants to hear the same old story over and over. Although I still think we need the origin in the film.
The comics have told the story and moved on.
Smallville wanted to elaborate on the pre-superman years of Clark and so it added Kryptonite mutants, drama, a teen Justice League, and a ton of other things.
But the thing is that Smallville took a period of a few years and made it last a decade. Its ridiculous how everything is fully formed by now, except Clark flying and wearing tights. I mean Clark has already had all the character development he'll have as Superman, he's hooked up with Lois, he's formed the JL, but he's still not Superman.
But besides that, the show is so bad that i'd rather watch the Hills or eat broken glass.
totally, as i keep saying for me what is the point of rebooting the character if we are not getting any type of origin told in the first film of a reboot series. Be it krypton info, his smallville teen days, or his prior to coming to metropolis life. We need to have an origin so we can set up storylines, and characters and why this character is doing this over past incarnations of characters.
so if the origin story is told in linear fashion how long should it be to set-up everything without making people wonder when are they going to get to superman?
also by the end of the movie clark has to have undergone a change. so if he ends up being superman and accepts/understands who he is by the middle of the movie what would be the ultimate transformation at the end? being accepted as the hero of metropolis?
Whatever the case, if there is an origin meaning Krypton/Smallville it needs to be show from a different perspective then before. Not to say to change his origin, but it can't just be a rehash . Take some stuff from birthright and show him in Africa for example. Or as been stated before, flashbacks . My only issue , is that if you're gonna do it, do it because it furthers the overall story not because it's been done before. Personally I think the Lana stuff isn't crucial and can be left for a sequel, and his highschool days aren't essential . His relationship with Johnathan and Martha and how that shapes his world view is the key. Even the politics of Krypton aren't needed for the first film , but Jor El's teachings and knowledge is. What Clark takes from his worldwide quest is . Focus on what's crucial , not on stuff to that says, "Look fans , we put this in !" but doesn't serve the story . In terms of his backstory before coming to Metropolis, they should focus on Key moments.
Now that you mentioned Birthright, Krypton, its technology and clothing were very different and a lot more beautiful than Donner's version. It would be a nice change.
another reason why people might be against showing the origin again:
-b/c Superman has the villains not Clark. so the whole time your showing the origin story Clark has nobody to fight. boring.
you guys have some good points there. personally i still want a new origin and it wouldnt be to hard to tie things together, get villain into the mix and which ever way you do the story telling to get to him in costume and all.
Superman needs a reboot. Why? Today's movie audiance simply hasn't seen a Superman origin movie yet. The Donner films are over 30 years old! They are great, but old. Superman Returns was a strange thing... It was a sequal to a 30 years old movie??? It lacked identity and style.
It all comes down to a few very simple things.
- Write a super story
- Hire a top director
- Get an amazing cast
Take the basic Superman concept and start over. Take some risks, it can be done! Who would have thought the Batman franchise to be alive again after Joel Shumacher killed the franchise. Well, get some new and fresh people on the project and start over. Thus today, Batman kicked ass with two great films. Films with a own identity, an own style...
I believe that if DC wants to establish a successful DC movieverse that keeps making movies non stop, they need to stay close to canon, not only because its beautiful, not only because of the fans, but because they can draw stories from it. So when i say "add something new while staying close to canon" i mean Ironman as opposed to Batman 89. Example:
- The Joker being the Wayne murderer is doing it wrong. It affects their relationship and ruins everything.
- Tony Stark making his identity public is doing it right. He has done it many times in the comics and when this arc is explored, he can easily make his identity secret with the bodyguard excuse. Favreau will explore this new (?) arc in IM2 without altering the story or straying too far. So Lex shouldnt be Kryptonian, Krypton mustn't survive, etc.
Now that we've got that covered, let me give you 3 ways (aside from the narrative techniques that i covered in my previous post) that the origin can be fresh and interesting.
1) Examining the same things from a different or more modern perspective.
Example in spoilers:
Superman's training.
In the movies Jor-El made him stay for 10 years in that fortress studying about how whales mate . What if this time the training is more active? I hope that Clark will be the one to choose his destiny, so when he announces to Jor-El that he wants to become a hero, Jor-El could organise a training regime aimed at honing his skills. In the comics Superman has a room in the Fortress where he fights robots, but he could also hone his skills by completing tasks around the world, or on other planets. Of course Jor-El will give him the usual lessons about everything, and especially morality, ethics and justice which we can hear while we watch the training scenes, like we were hearing Ras' lessons while watching the sword fight.
2) New scenes that we have never seen before.
Is there something that Superman hasnt saved on the big screen? Baby seals in the Arctic you say? Right, have him save baby seals from getting clubbed to death. Raise the Titanic from its tomb to put it in a museum (in All-Star Superman he kept it in his Fortress)? Great idea! And so on.
3) Ideas, characters and stories from the comics that the movies have never adapted.
Its similar to (2) but it has to do with the comics.
The introduction of new villains for example. Brainiac, Metallo, Mongul, Darkseid, etc have never been adapted before. Just imagine the action scenes that they can provide.
And what about that part of the origin that Clark goes to Africa as a reporter? I dont really like it, but its something we havent seen in the movies.
Or what about Krypto the superdog? You guys are going to roll your eyes, but i guarantee that girls will love him (we need them for the box office ) and if done right, you'll love him too. If you can believe that Kryptonians look like humans, then just suspend your disbelief a bit more and accept that they also have dogs like ours and you shall receive the awesomeness that is Krypto. He can just appear in a few scenes, and then stay and guard the farm like he does in the comics.
There is an amazing scene in All-Star Superman that Clark and Krypto play fetch in space and end up sitting on the moon and admiring the view from up there. Here:
Have you ever seen a scene so spectacular and lovely at the same time in any superhero movie we've had so far? I thought so.
Loved this post of yours! Does a great job illustrating what we haven't seen yet in the movies or on tv and how great it could be if done right. One i will say though, the way you described his training is exactly what's being done on smallville this season. i know you hate the show but you may have more in common with it that you know.
The comics have told the story and moved on.
Smallville wanted to elaborate on the pre-superman years of Clark and so it added Kryptonite mutants, drama, a teen Justice League, and a ton of other things.
But the thing is that Smallville took a period of a few years and made it last a decade. Its ridiculous how everything is fully formed by now, except Clark flying and wearing tights. I mean Clark has already had all the character development he'll have as Superman, he's hooked up with Lois, he's formed the JL, but he's still not Superman.
But besides that, the show is so bad that i'd rather watch the Hills or eat broken glass.
Loved this post of yours! Does a great job illustrating what we haven't seen yet in the movies or on tv and how great it could be if done right. One i will say though, the way you described his training is exactly what's being done on smallville this season. i know you hate the show but you may have more in common with it that you know.
yeah, i was surprised too. I figured they'd leave it for a way to end the show, he goes to train, several years pass, he remerges as supes. But yeah the season started with him having begun his training for several weeks. They show it peridocially. One episode, i missed, supposedly had him gain the power to hear peoples thoughts, to better understand what motivates people then at the end he lost the power and had to use what he'd learned to figure out how to defeat the villain. So most of it takes place off screen while being hinted at (that's also why i'm assuming clark can fight now as in the season premire, handled himself pretty well against a trained assasin without his powers) and then you have the occassionally episode where his training ties into the story.
actually daby the producers for sv has stated in their take it wont be yrs on yrs of training at one time like reeve movie did. His training has been the info he has learned from jorel, and all the trials he has gone through.
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Although I still think we need the origin in the film.
. What if this time the training is more active? I hope that Clark will be the one to choose his destiny, so when he announces to Jor-El that he wants to become a hero, Jor-El could organise a training regime aimed at honing his skills. In the comics Superman has a room in the Fortress where he fights robots, but he could also hone his skills by completing tasks around the world, or on other planets. Of course Jor-El will give him the usual lessons about everything, and especially morality, ethics and justice which we can hear while we watch the training scenes, like we were hearing Ras' lessons while watching the sword fight.
) and if done right, you'll love him too. If you can believe that Kryptonians look like humans, then just suspend your disbelief a bit more and accept that they also have dogs like ours and you shall receive the awesomeness that is Krypto. He can just appear in a few scenes, and then stay and guard the farm like he does in the comics. 
Does a great job illustrating what we haven't seen yet in the movies or on tv and how great it could be if done right. One i will say though, the way you described his training is exactly what's being done on smallville this season. i know you hate the show but you may have more in common with it that you know.
It has grown into one of my favorite shows. 
