Man of Steel

[The Joker]

I consider myself a major Superman fan. I'm definitely part of the MOS core audience. That's one reason I'm so happy right now. A very John Byrne-esque Superman is now part of the cultural zeitgeist.

Indeed. And something of which I was very glad to see upon my initial viewing of Man of Steel. As it was quite evident that John Byrne's fingerprints was all over this film. Speaking as as a fan who started reading during the Post-Crisis era, with Byrne's MOS being a very definitive take, this felt long long overdue, but at the same time, quite joyous. 

The critics adored Singerman, a film which I think is a stain on Superman and everything he stands for. The fact that they hated MOS told me that it was likely to be a movie I would appreciate. Without getting specific, I think a lot of comes down to ideology and worldview, things about which critics and I tend to be on completely different pages. Ergo, something that royally pisses off that many movie critics is probably going to be something I will enjoy.

Following having seen Man of Steel, the fact that SR was getting a more positive reception was just flat out incomprehensible to me at first. But without trying to think about Singer's abomination too much, I think some of that reception stems from a purely superficial standpoint in that it emulated, although in noticeably lackluster fashion (to say the least), what had already been presented previously. Which, as stale as that really turned out to be, was ultimately appreciated by critics who probably, and not surprisingly, only heed to the Reeve/Donner version. With Snyder's film, publicly adoring the Donnerverse became much less of a priority, and having steered away from that familiarity, the critical backlash became inevitable. With so much focus being on the destruction, and Zod's demise.

Which is unfortunate. As Superman did what Superman is typically depicted to always doing; whatever it takes to save lives. Ultimately, even with the toll that had already surely accumulated, Superman's act certainly saved more lives in the long run. Pragmatism, his chief virtue, was in full display, and even weighted with the idea of there being an emotional consequence for his actions. Superman's world isn't black and white, it's X-Ray; he can see more than the rest of us and consequently, probably suffers more for it.

In the end, since every fictional character is, open to many, many, often contradictory interpretations - no one here is wrong. All one can do, is have their own conclusions about if the take fits well enough with their sensibilities or not. For some, perhaps many, it will be successful, and for others it will not - and for most it will likely not matter all that much. And life goes on.

[johnnygobbs]

What is it about this Superman that corresponds with your world view colors, and Joker (assuming you agree), particularly in contrast to some of  the other ways Superman has been presented on film?

I'm not a MOS-hater but I'm not entirely comfortable with all the mindless destruction at the end of the film.  I don't think obliterating half of Metropolis to shreds was a necessary sacrifice for the 'greater good'.

[thecolorsblend]

Why do you ask?

[BatmanFanatic93]

Well to behonest when my mom took me & my brother (who is a big superman fan btw)to see it in theaters at first i liked it because there was alot more action in then the last film superman returns which i love btw & don't care what anyone says about it anyways after awhile i started to analyze & realize the things i saw in the film & my liking for the film started to go down!First let me just say i didn't mind the cast at all i thought they did a good job except for Amy Adams i uh...didn't really like her as lois lane at all anyways i felt the flashbacks going back & forth in the film was annoying,There was too much destruction for my taste & felt superman oh wait forgive me KAL should had led them or tricked them to fight in another place with no civillans i mean with all the blows they were trading it caused to buildings to crumble & people to get killed in the crossfire & don't give me the whole "Well he's just learning"skitch cause that's no excuse to not think first when your fighting a villain i mean that should have been kals mind when fighting everyone,2 i felt the moral in the film was weak & i felt empty when i was done watching it,3 bottom line at first i liked it cause there was alot of action in it that made up for what superman returns failed to delivery yet after awhile of thinking about the film i started to remember things that weren't very umm superman in the film & it's lack of moral to the story so yeah i still prefer the donner & singer version of superman mainly cause they had more emotion to their stories & made me feel for the characters man of steel just had action flashback action flashback that's pretty much it other thent that i didn't like the film. 

[johnnygobbs]

Why do you ask?

Because you brought up the point and I'm curious to find out what you mean.  Don't worry, I'm not going to attack you or engage you in a political argument once you've given your answer, even if the answer to my question requires a political rather than a simply philosophical answer. 

If you present your POV in a diplomatic, matter-of-fact way rather than as a prelude to a debate then I'm sure they'll be no need for any confrontations.

I'm always interested in reading into movies particularly subtexts etc so it's always interesting to find out what other people take from the films they enjoy. 

[johnnygobbs]

Well to behonest when my mom took me & my brother (who is a big superman fan btw)to see it in theaters at first i liked it because there was alot more action in then the last film superman returns which i love btw & don't care what anyone says about it anyways after awhile i started to analyze & realize the things i saw in the film & my liking for the film started to go down!First let me just say i didn't mind the cast at all i thought they did a good job except for Amy Adams i uh...didn't really like her as lois lane at all anyways i felt the flashbacks going back & forth in the film was annoying,There was too much destruction for my taste & felt superman oh wait forgive me KAL should had led them or tricked them to fight in another place with no civillans i mean with all the blows they were trading it caused to buildings to crumble & people to get killed in the crossfire & don't give me the whole "Well he's just learning"skitch cause that's no excuse to not think first when your fighting a villain i mean that should have been kals mind when fighting everyone,2 i felt the moral in the film was weak & i felt empty when i was done watching it,3 bottom line at first i liked it cause there was alot of action in it that made up for what superman returns failed to delivery yet after awhile of thinking about the film i started to remember things that weren't very umm superman in the film & it's lack of moral to the story so yeah i still prefer the donner & singer version of superman mainly cause they had more emotion to their stories & made me feel for the characters man of steel just had action flashback action flashback that's pretty much it other thent that i didn't like the film. 

Your mum took you and your brother to see MOS BatmanFanatic93?  May I ask how old you are?

[BatmanFanatic93]

Well to behonest when my mom took me & my brother (who is a big superman fan btw)to see it in theaters at first i liked it because there was alot more action in then the last film superman returns which i love btw & don't care what anyone says about it anyways after awhile i started to analyze & realize the things i saw in the film & my liking for the film started to go down!First let me just say i didn't mind the cast at all i thought they did a good job except for Amy Adams i uh...didn't really like her as lois lane at all anyways i felt the flashbacks going back & forth in the film was annoying,There was too much destruction for my taste & felt superman oh wait forgive me KAL should had led them or tricked them to fight in another place with no civillans i mean with all the blows they were trading it caused to buildings to crumble & people to get killed in the crossfire & don't give me the whole "Well he's just learning"skitch cause that's no excuse to not think first when your fighting a villain i mean that should have been kals mind when fighting everyone,2 i felt the moral in the film was weak & i felt empty when i was done watching it,3 bottom line at first i liked it cause there was alot of action in it that made up for what superman returns failed to delivery yet after awhile of thinking about the film i started to remember things that weren't very umm superman in the film & it's lack of moral to the story so yeah i still prefer the donner & singer version of superman mainly cause they had more emotion to their stories & made me feel for the characters man of steel just had action flashback action flashback that's pretty much it other thent that i didn't like the film. 

Your mum took you and your brother to see MOS BatmanFanatic93?  May I ask how old you are?

Uh 19 why? btw before you get the wrong idea keep in mind i told her i didn't want to see it at first because i wasn't really feeling up to it but she kept telling me to go just for my little brother so after a moments of feeling bad that she laid on i caved in & went 

[johnnygobbs]

Well to behonest when my mom took me & my brother (who is a big superman fan btw)to see it in theaters at first i liked it because there was alot more action in then the last film superman returns which i love btw & don't care what anyone says about it anyways after awhile i started to analyze & realize the things i saw in the film & my liking for the film started to go down!First let me just say i didn't mind the cast at all i thought they did a good job except for Amy Adams i uh...didn't really like her as lois lane at all anyways i felt the flashbacks going back & forth in the film was annoying,There was too much destruction for my taste & felt superman oh wait forgive me KAL should had led them or tricked them to fight in another place with no civillans i mean with all the blows they were trading it caused to buildings to crumble & people to get killed in the crossfire & don't give me the whole "Well he's just learning"skitch cause that's no excuse to not think first when your fighting a villain i mean that should have been kals mind when fighting everyone,2 i felt the moral in the film was weak & i felt empty when i was done watching it,3 bottom line at first i liked it cause there was alot of action in it that made up for what superman returns failed to delivery yet after awhile of thinking about the film i started to remember things that weren't very umm superman in the film & it's lack of moral to the story so yeah i still prefer the donner & singer version of superman mainly cause they had more emotion to their stories & made me feel for the characters man of steel just had action flashback action flashback that's pretty much it other thent that i didn't like the film. 

Your mum took you and your brother to see MOS BatmanFanatic93?  May I ask how old you are?

Uh 19 why? btw before you get the wrong idea keep in mind i told her i didn't want to see it at first because i wasn't really feeling up to it but she kept telling me to go just for my little brother so after a moments of feeling bad that she laid on i caved in & went 

Okay, it just sounded like your mother was still taking you to the movies.  Sorry if I'm seeming like a jerk. 

I have a lot of friends who still go to the cinema with their mother or father on occasion but they don't take them if you get what I mean.

[BatmanFanatic93]

Well to behonest when my mom took me & my brother (who is a big superman fan btw)to see it in theaters at first i liked it because there was alot more action in then the last film superman returns which i love btw & don't care what anyone says about it anyways after awhile i started to analyze & realize the things i saw in the film & my liking for the film started to go down!First let me just say i didn't mind the cast at all i thought they did a good job except for Amy Adams i uh...didn't really like her as lois lane at all anyways i felt the flashbacks going back & forth in the film was annoying,There was too much destruction for my taste & felt superman oh wait forgive me KAL should had led them or tricked them to fight in another place with no civillans i mean with all the blows they were trading it caused to buildings to crumble & people to get killed in the crossfire & don't give me the whole "Well he's just learning"skitch cause that's no excuse to not think first when your fighting a villain i mean that should have been kals mind when fighting everyone,2 i felt the moral in the film was weak & i felt empty when i was done watching it,3 bottom line at first i liked it cause there was alot of action in it that made up for what superman returns failed to delivery yet after awhile of thinking about the film i started to remember things that weren't very umm superman in the film & it's lack of moral to the story so yeah i still prefer the donner & singer version of superman mainly cause they had more emotion to their stories & made me feel for the characters man of steel just had action flashback action flashback that's pretty much it other thent that i didn't like the film. 

Your mum took you and your brother to see MOS BatmanFanatic93?  May I ask how old you are?

Uh 19 why? btw before you get the wrong idea keep in mind i told her i didn't want to see it at first because i wasn't really feeling up to it but she kept telling me to go just for my little brother so after a moments of feeling bad that she laid on i caved in & went 

Okay, it just sounded like your mother was still taking you to the movies.  Sorry if I'm seeming like a jerk. 

I have a lot of friends who still go to the cinema with their mother or father on occasion but they don't take them if you get what I mean.

No no i understand but to be honest the only time we go to the movies is only when there's a movie that we want to see & that's rarely cause i hardly have any interest in seeing any of the movies that are playing right now heck i'm just waiting for next year so i can see the new godzilla 2014 movie which i been dying to see.

[thecolorsblend]

If you present your POV in a diplomatic, matter-of-fact way rather than as a prelude to a debate then I'm sure they'll be no need for any confrontations.

Ah, I see. So you can ask about or say whatever you like but the burden is on me to be "civil". Got it. So hmm, I don't think I'll answer your question.

Joker can do as he likes.