Man of Steel

[Ubik]

Official: Man of Steel sequel to feature Batman

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/offi...eature-batman/

I fear the worst...

[Looney]

Official: Man of Steel sequel to feature Batman

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/offi...eature-batman/

[Ubik]

It seems like the movie mostly cares about smashing things over and over and forgets the interesting ideas about Superman's calling that it had established.

That would be Zack Snyder's hand at work. Sorry if i sound like a broken record here, but the man couldn't direct himself out of a box.

[Jonas]

I saw it yesterday, didn't really like it. Kevin Costner and Russel Crowe were great, but I thought Michael Shannon (who oddly resembled Matthew Lillard) overacted horrifically, and the script was not only propagandistic, but also utterly dull. It felt more like a summary of a movie than an actual movie - Lois and Clark don't have a single actual conversation, and yet they're supposed to be in love, the story jumps from one scene to the next with no connective tissue. It seems like the movie mostly cares about smashing things over and over and forgets the interesting ideas about Superman's calling that it had established.

[phazedout]

Saw it yesterday, goign to encase in spoiler tags although it's not really one, but I asked for them earlier so will not by a hypocrite in this.
One minor personal non spoilery quibble, we have two 3-D systems over here, real 3D and true 3-D, whether it's a visual cortex thingy with me or not, but real 3-d doesn't work for me, I don't see any 3-D at all, couldn't see it in non 3-d but that's not really relevant as the 3-D 2-D price difference in my decidedly non loca fleapit is one euro

There are two things that bothered me greatly and number of minor quibbles which I won't go in to. Coming off having seen the new Trek in New Hampshire with my author friend Jeffrey R DeRego he said that in battle scenes when non name characters are killed there's no consequences, no references to their deaths, I liken it myself, to use a D&D/RPG reference, as NPCs. Superman makes no effort to take the battle out of Metropolis an d cheerfully kills thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of people. Then, the killing of Zod, this really does violate every established aspect of Superman, he's supposed to be a force for good, how does this work casual slaughter of innocents and the deliberate murder of Zod, even evil superman didn't do that

Film wasn't too bad though, mostly enjoyable apart from the bits I refernced above

[Looney]

Yeah they don't make'm like they use to. Thanks a lot greed!

[Ubik]

Ha. So I didn't go see Man of Steel after all, turns out my local cinema had downgraded it to a smaller screen as the film is nearing the end of its run here. I didn't want to see it on a small screen as that kinda defeats the whole point of seeing it in a cinema.

I watched Tarkovsky's 'Solaris' (1972) instead. Every time I watch a Tarkovsky film I realise how lazy modern film has become. Solaris, like Stalker, carves out its own space... and completely envelopes you in the process.

I really miss film that's this slow, considered and sumptuous. It's perhaps the total polar opposite of what Snyder does, and I can find few examples of this kind of film making in modern cinema. Time well spent I think.

[Ubik]

Somewhat against my better judgement... but I'm off to see this tonight. Will report back!

[Jan]

Someone on twitter definitely noticed the similarities; he asked Joe why he didn't get a story credit on the movie. Joe said, "Three words: work for hire."

Yeah, I saw that. And I was kind of on the lookout throughout the movie but I can't say that much else struck me other than not taking the cape automatically. I really think that that similarity is a logical outcome of a reimagined Superman of today. These days we're not really big on thinking we've got a destiny to fulfill. And indeed, JMS' Clark was looking to be 'somebody' in the fields he explored rather than to blend in as this one.

Jan

[JoeD80]

I'd call it 'thoughtful and contemporary'. I rather liked seeing an origin story where some thought's given to his calling (though the similarity to JMS' Earth One did come to mind).

Someone on twitter definitely noticed the similarities; he asked Joe why he didn't get a story credit on the movie. Joe said, "Three words: work for hire."

[Ubik]

I'd call it 'thoughtful and contemporary'. I rather liked seeing an origin story where some thought's given to his calling (though the similarity to JMS' Earth One did come to mind). I *really* disagreed with Pa Kent's action but I can see how he came to that conclusion. For the most part, though there was an alien component, Clark didn't act all that different from any other adopted child.

Jan

I think I may have to go see it this week. I'd like to be able to discuss it in a more informed manner!

[Jan]

Surely that lighter palette is essential to the character and what he stands for? (Light and hope). I don't think a 'dark' superman film would be the way forward. Although, from what I've heard this film does have a more 'dark and brooding' tone.

I'd call it 'thoughtful and contemporary'. I rather liked seeing an origin story where some thought's given to his calling (though the similarity to JMS' Earth One did come to mind). I *really* disagreed with Pa Kent's action but I can see how he came to that conclusion. For the most part, though there was an alien component, Clark didn't act all that different from any other adopted child.

Jan

[Looney]

My opinion of Snyder

Dawn of The Dead (2004) = Meh, and it doesn't hold a candle to the original.

300 (2006) = Meh, liked the visuals and that's about it.

Watchmen (2009) = LOVE IT!

Legend of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) = Didn't see it.

Sucker Punch (2011) = Hated it! Some of the visuals were cool, but the rest of the movie ruined them.

Man of Steel (2013) = I thought it was okay. I had higher hopes, but wasn't completely disappointed.

[Ubik]

With reference to Snyder, I agree that this movie did seem to deviate. I am not a huge Snyder fan since Sucker Punch. In my opinion some of Snyder's visual style may have been hidden in this movie because I feel like he chose a visual theme for Man of Steel that is not typical for him. Snyder's previous films have had a darker edged visual style. I mean darker edged in reference to edges and shadows and so on. (I don't think this is really a spoiler so I am not going to hide it.) My opinion is that Man of Steel had a very light themed visual style or really used sunlight as a visual theme. There is a lot of brightness and much of the film takes place during daylight hours. Even the poster I am looking at on IMDB right now to remember the Cinematographers name, (Amir Mokri), shows Kal-El flying into bright light. So, with so much light used as a theme I feel this movie just may not have looked like a typical Zack Snyder film. But I do agree that there are other aspects that made me feel like it was a departure. I am trying to imagine Watchmen done with this theme of brightness and wondering if it would seem like the same director. I don't think so. I think there is more than just the bright quality that does not feel like Snyder.

Snyder's usual visual style would have been a disaster for this film. If he'd been left alone and not reigned in by Nolan... well, I dread to think what that might have looked like. Surely that lighter palette is essential to the character and what he stands for? (Light and hope). I don't think a 'dark' superman film would be the way forward. Although, from what I've heard this film does have a more 'dark and brooding' tone.

In any case, I'm not a fan of Synder, he seems incapable of subtlety of any kind. It saddens me that what Snyder does passes as cinema.

[Looney]

HA! Now that you said it I remember seeing that, but my brain didn't make the connection. LOL