Superman Returns

[Redlum]

I finally got around to seeing this after delaying so long that I wasnt sure I even wanted to see it anymore. I had been away from the cinema for over two months and I returned to find myself irritated at its idiotic adverts and smartarse patrons. But as soon as the credits started I was glad I went. This was a perfect refresher of the joys of big screen entertainment in the summer. There is no avoiding media chatter re:budgets and box office in this season and this film has taught me that I should always see a film in its opening weekend before that crap has clouded my mind.

All in all: job well-done.

My favourite bits: The x-ray elevator shot and subsequent "can you read my mind: part 2" sequence. And Martha Kent outisde the hospital.

[MacGuffin]

Jude Law Could Play General Zod In 'Superman Returns' Sequel
Source: StarPulse

Jude Law could be Superman's arch enemy. The Alfie actor is in talks to appear as the Man of Steel's most hated foe General Zod in the Superman Returns sequel. The role of General Zod was made famous by Terence Stamp, who played the character in 1980 movie Superman 2 – and producers see a resemblance between Stamp and Law.

A source told Daily Express newspaper: "Zod is going to be the main bad guy in the second film. Some say they should use an unknown but the director Bryan Singer is looking at Jude. The similarities between him and Stamp are clear."

The 33-year-old has so far steered clear of superhero movies, fearing they would typecast him and ruin his chances of starring in other film genres. Just two years ago Law turned down the role of Superman.

He said at the time: "My greatest fear is that a role like that would define me. Do I want to be known from here on in as Superman? I'd feel the same way about James Bond. They are iconic characters and there is also pressure in stepping into someone else's tights."

The Superman Returns sequel will see Brandon Routh return as the Man of Steel and Kevin Spacey will reprise his role as Lex Luther.

[MacGuffin]

Superman dead?
Source: Moviehole

Is the recently relaunched "Superman" series over before it's even begun? Maybe. Variety has an interesting article up today, suggesting that the Man of Steel might have flown by his cloud.

Anything you hear about the "Superman Returns" sequel – for instance, those rumours about Jude Law playing General Zod – is premature. A "Superman Returns" sequel isn't a sure-thing, because the first film has lost a trough of money, says the trade. If the studio does greenlight a second chapter, it will have to be much, much cheaper.

Warners and co-financing partner Legendary Pictures have a shot at breaking even on "Superman" once all the revenue streams are accounted for, but it's going to be a long, tough haul.

According to the trade, Warners and Legendary -- which splits all profits with the studio down the middle -- are counting on strong home entertainment sales to make up for slower-than-expected box office.

If the DVD does – excuse the pun – take off, then a "Superman Returns" sequel is possible – Bryan Singer has hinted that he'd be keen to get it in theatres in 2009 - but it's not going to be the uber-expensive venture that the first film was.

[Kal]

I dont think thats accurate... I mean the movie made $400 million worldwide, and even though its not a lot, its way more that the $250 it cost to be made. Add marketing costs and stuff, but then you can sure add another big chunk coming from sponsors, endorsements, and of course DVD sales and TV. At the end, you make money either way. Also, considering that the budget of the film wasnt $250, but a little less than $200. Problem was they spent a lot of money also trying to make this movie for years before they actually made it.

[Alexandro]

Finnally saw this and thank heavins I saw it on Imax, otherwise I'd felt completely pissed. I don't understand why they keep doing these dumb, empty action movies so incredibly long. They kill the emotion. I liked parts of it, granted, Bryan Singer has lots of classy touches, Spacey shows why he should play villains more often, some of the special effects sequences where jaw dropping. But it's just too long and not that interesting. Superman is kind of a boring character. No real dark side. They try to please everyone and cover every corner and we end up watching those dreadful last ten or fifteen minutes (maybe teinty?), when all it's said and done and time is spent on all those "closure" scenes, totally predictable even for hollywood popcorn summer crappy standards.

I noticed they carefully studied Spider Man 1 and 2 and aimed to extract the ingredients that worked for that one and use them here, and it was so evident to me that it kind of bugged me...

[Brazoliange]

yeah, this generally sucked.

[RegularKarate]

yeah, this generally sucked.

you are a valuable member of society

[Gold Trumpet]

yeah, this generally sucked.

you are a valuable member of society

We all can't be as insightful as you. I remember your Art School Confidential review.

a couple decent laughs, but overall, it's shit.

[RegularKarate]

Fair enough, but I didn't wait until almost 30 pages to write that... I was only a few reviews in.
Let's look at facts though... this is pretty much all he does.
I was mainly defending Superman using his own tactics.

[Gold Trumpet]

Let's look at facts though... this is pretty much all he does.

You and Pubes notice these trends. I seem to follow 10 posters and notice everyone else as a blur. I claim ignorance.

[MacGuffin]

Bryan Singer on the Superman Sequel

TODAYonline caught up with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer, who talked a bit more about the sequel. Here's a clip:

However, at July's annual Comic Con International in San Diego, a convention of comic book, film and science fiction fans, Singer had revealed that the follow-up film would have more action.

"I plan to get all 'Wrath of Khan' on it," he told convention goers at the time, referring to the 1982 film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Asked to expand on his remarks, Singer told TODAY: "What I was referring to was the fact that, when you do a first film like X-Men, for example, you're introducing a world and a set of characters.

"Once those characters are introduced, once we've lived with them for awhile and we know them, when you get into a second film like an Empire Strikes Back (sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope) or a Wrath of Khan, you can make an action-adventure film and you don't have to bank all that time getting to know the characters. Now you can raise the stakes, raise the jeopardy and make a leaner, meaner movie."

You can read the full interview in PDF format:
http://www.todayonline.com/pdf_open.asp?id=2209FCL056

[McfLy]

Looks like more action. The fact that Superman didn't pull one punch throughout the movie irritated me. When you have a budget of $270 million, I just assumed the movie was going to have absurd amounts of action.

[grand theft sparrow]

It's amazing to me that Singer has to feel ashamed of Superman Returns or at least make a statement that the next film will be better, not in the Joel Silver-Matrix Reloaded way but in an apologetic manner.  OK, you're trying to get the fanboys excited by saying that you're going to Wrath of Khan the next one but that implies that Returns is as bad as that first Star Trek movie. 

Regardless of what the reviews were and the fan reaction was (all of which seemed to be split right down the middle), he should at least stand firm behind his film and not be bullied by WB into making even subtle apologies like this just because it didn't make $200 million.

When you have a budget of $270 million, I just assumed the movie was going to have absurd amounts of action.

This is exactly why we shouldn't know how much these movies cost.  If the movie cost $50 million, you'd be amazed at how they stretched the dollar and you'd be impressed. The film's budget should have no bearing on our perception of it but there's no going back from that now, unfortunately.  Instead of letting the word out that these movies are costing so much money to show how big their dicks are, the studios should lie to us about how much a movie really costs.  They can lie to us about the quality but they can't lie to us about how much it costs? 

[MacGuffin]

Supe Sequel Flying?
Singer rumored to have green light for second Superman.

While the film's initial box office performance failed to floor Warner Bros., Superman Returns has now grossed over $200 million domestically. That could be enough for the studio to green light a sequel  to the Bryan Singer-directed flick.

In fact, the IESB.net website is reporting that a second film in the newly relaunched franchise is now officially "go." The site claims that Singer has just reached an agreement with Warners and that the movie will get underway next fall.

The catch is apparently that Singer's $260 million budget on the first film has been sliced and diced. The follow-up flick, which will reportedly feature more action than the first, may have a budget in the $140-$175 million range.

The website adds that Superman will have the "battle of his life" in the sequel while facing off with "one of the ultimate baddies" in the DC Comics universe.

[MacGuffin]

Sequel to 'Superman Returns' due in 2009

The sequel to "Superman Returns," which grossed nearly $200 million in the U.S. this year, will likely hit theaters in 2009, University of Hawai'i Academy for Creative Media director Chris Lee confirmed today.

Lee, who will return as executive producer of the film, hosted "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer and producer Jon Peters at a wide-ranging discussion with ACM students today at UH.

Singer and Peters are in Honolulu this week to celebrate Lee's birthday, and to begin planning the next Superman film, which will likely begin production mid- to late next year in a location yet to be determined. "Superman Returns" was shot in Sydney, Australia, with four ACM students serving as interns.

Singer acknowledged that he has also been approached to direct the next "X-Men" movie — he directed the first two well-received films before turning over the reigns for the third installment to Brett Ratner — but said he wouldn't have time to take on another large-scale project before the next Superman gets underway. He is interested, however, in seeing the script for the "X-Men" spinoff "Wolverine."

While Lee said that planning for the next Superman film is just getting underway, he did say that he would once again look at using Hawai'i-based businesses for some of the post-production.