Poll: Man of Steel or Superman Returns?

[Burnouts3s3]

I checked to see if this discussion happened already, but I could not find it. If it was, I apologize in advance.

So, with WB attempting to create a franchise out of Man of Steel, I would like to ask the following question: If you had to pick between Man of Steel or Superman Returns, which one would you pick?

I'll admit, I liked Superman Returns (I'm probably one of the few people who does). I liked the pathos of Superman and the burden he feels when he has to take care of the world, and questioning if the world even needs him. But, that's just my personal opinion.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I agree kind of. Superman Returns got the character just right. They actually got the internal struggle of Superman spot on. The knowledge that even he, with all his power can't save everyone, that even he can make mistakes and with all his power his mistakes can be dangerous, world changing even, that he just doesn't fit in. Other than that it was kind of a mess. But Man Of Steel was terrible in pretty much every way and didn't even get Superman right so by virtue of SR doing one thing right it was better.

Pretty much this.

The writers and directors of Superman Returns got the character totally right, they understood what makes Superman Superman, the problem was that they couldn't figure out anything interesting for Superman to do after that. On the other hand, Zach Snyder doesn't understand Superman, he just knows that explosions are cool.

So which Superman do I prefer? As just a movie I prefer Man of Steel, because as much as it's a bad movie (for multiple reasons, not just the fact that Snyder doesn't understand the character), at least stuff actually happens in it. Which interpretation of Superman I prefer however is a completely different story, I prefer the Superman from Superman Returns. Honestly, I kind of wish they'd made a sequel to Superman Returns, and just figured out something for Superman to do other than lift heavy things.

 

[LetalisK]

I agree kind of. Superman Returns got the character just right. They actually got the internal struggle of Superman spot on. The knowledge that even he, with all his power can't save everyone, that even he can make mistakes and with all his power his mistakes can be dangerous, world changing even, that he just doesn't fit in. Other than that it was kind of a mess. But Man Of Steel was terrible in pretty much every way and didn't even get Superman right so by virtue of SR doing one thing right it was better.

I used to absolutely hate Superman, but I later realized it was because I was watching tales of Superman told be people who completely didn't understand why he existed as a literary tool. Any time a writer focuses on just how amazingly strong, fast, etc he is, it's just boring as shit. Whenever he's used as a template with which to focus on more cerebral or emotional challenges without having to expend effort on explaining the physical, then it's usually pretty good.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I agree kind of. Superman Returns got the character just right. They actually got the internal struggle of Superman spot on. The knowledge that even he, with all his power can't save everyone, that even he can make mistakes and with all his power his mistakes can be dangerous, world changing even, that he just doesn't fit in. Other than that it was kind of a mess. But Man Of Steel was terrible in pretty much every way and didn't even get Superman right so by virtue of SR doing one thing right it was better.

Pretty much this.

The writers and directors of Superman Returns got the character totally right, they understood what makes Superman Superman, the problem was that they couldn't figure out anything interesting for Superman to do after that. On the other hand, Zach Snyder doesn't understand Superman, he just knows that explosions are cool.

So which Superman do I prefer? As just a movie I prefer Man of Steel, because as much as it's a bad movie (for multiple reasons, not just the fact that Snyder doesn't understand the character), at least stuff actually happens in it. Which interpretation of Superman I prefer however is a completely different story, I prefer the Superman from Superman Returns. Honestly, I kind of wish they'd made a sequel to Superman Returns, and just figured out something for Superman to do other than lift heavy things.

I will say that with a better script Henry Cavill could probably be a better Superman than Brandon Routh though.

I'm not inclined to disagree. I completely lay all blame for how bad Man of Steel was at the feet of Zack Snyder and David Goyer. The movie had tons of really great actors doing a piss poor job because of how poorly written and directed their parts were.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I'm more inclined to forgive Superman Returns for being underwhelming after finally seeing Man of Steel. That was something I didn't think would happen. Still doesn't mean I like Superman Returns over the classics however.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I prefer Man of Steel, which isn't to say I liked it a whole lot, but god forbid a movie be boring. And Superman Returns is so boring.

 

[Olas]

I kind of liked Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther in Superman Returns, I liked some of the comedic banter, but that's about where it ends for me. For the most part it was just a cash in on the nostalgia for the original movies.

Man of Steel was fresh and interesting. I don't give a crap if Superman wasn't goody two-shoes enough for some fans, it was a new darker take on Superman with fun visuals and action.

 

[lunavixen]

I prefer Superman Returns to Man of Steel, but I prefer the classics most of all (though not Superman IV, III was fine, IV sucked). I actually thought Man of Steel was worse than Superman IV, it was just so shallow and far too dark and gritty for Superman, it just wasn't right.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Man of Steel, sure Superman Return was a great homage to the previous films but to me it felt outdated (which the previous films were ok given the time period they were made in) and corny.

Granted I will say what I liked about Superman Return was that everyone view Superman as a beloved savior unlike the other superheroes films where the public tend to view superheroes as vigilante, threat or mistrust them in general. It just felt a refeshing changed.

Also I find Lex using Kryponite to make barren wasteland in a attempt at real estate property to be the biggest facepalm plothole ever (who the the hell want to move over then when from the look of it is just rocks, no soil, lake or trees etc?) than to why Clark went to seek out a priest for guadience over Zod motive than his hologram father.

 

[Autumnflame]

superman returns as a non hardcore superman fan i enjoyed it more than the DBZ wanna be fights of man of steel

 

[Nosferatu2]

Well a boring move because nothing interesting is happening, or a boring movie because I don't care what's happening. I'll give it to returns, at least I can say I cared. Not much but ten fold more then Man Of Steel.

 

[HardkorSB]

Both of them were boring.
Superman Returns was boring because there was little action and absolutely no tension.
Man of Steel was boring because the characters were there to push the story forward and not to be real characters.

I saw SR only once and I don't think I'll see it again.
I've tried to watch MoS for the 2nd time but I couldn't get invested in anything. The stuff on Krypton is ok since it looks interesting and it moves so fast that it's over before you know it but the middle part with young Clark and Kevin Costner is so dull. Even when watching it for the first time I was doing other things to keep myself entertained.

 

[tippy2k2]

I believe I've made my opinion on Man of Steel [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.841189-Poll-Man-of-Steel-Why-the-hatred#20681006] pretty clear as I feel like one of five people who actively loved it

So with that, I much preferred "Man of Steel". It's been a while but I remember absolutely nothing about "Superman Returns". It just did absolutely nothing for me. Superman had a kid (or did he?) and the kid was super special (or was he?). The movie also seemed to not know what exactly Kryponite actually does to Superman for one moment, he gets stabbed with a small piece and almost died and in another moment, he lifts a giant island of the stuff and throws it into space (or whatever he did with it, I seriously don't remember).

"Man of Steel" I thought absolutely nailed what a modern day Superman should be (it feels similar to what Captain America is in the films; a "good versus evil/black & white" hero in a grey world).

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Also I find Lex using Kryponite to make barren wasteland in a attempt at real estate property to be the biggest facepalm plothole ever (who the the hell want to move over then when from the look of it is just rocks, no soil, lake or trees etc?)

Have you ever seen how man made islands are created? First they shove a bunch of rocks together as a foundation, then that's covered with sand, and then soil on top of that. Lex basically just created the foundation for his beach front property. What did you expect instant tropical islands with palm trees and resort houses just popping up out of the ground?

 

[Scarim Coral]

Also I find Lex using Kryponite to make barren wasteland in a attempt at real estate property to be the biggest facepalm plothole ever (who the the hell want to move over then when from the look of it is just rocks, no soil, lake or trees etc?)

Have you ever seen how man made islands are created? First they shove a bunch of rocks together as a foundation, then that's covered with sand, and then soil on top of that. Lex basically just created the foundation for his beach front property. What did you expect instant tropical islands with palm trees and resort houses just popping up out of the ground?

What I was expecting was a better plan to make used of that kryptonite than to make more land. Even then who the hell would want to move in straight away if it's just rock since I do know it take a hell of a time for soil and tree etc to be form on top of it (yes I remember from that diagram of his, his land will engulf the rest of the continment so people will eventually move but still it not the most epic villain plans out there).