Man of Steel

Superman has plenty of recent comic book stories that are iconic in nature – “Birthright”, “Lex Luther Man of Steel”, and “Red Son”, but has no similarly iconic movie.  Some would say that “Superman the Movie” is that definitive movie, but it debuted in 1978, so it does not qualify as recent.  Although Christopher Reeve did a marvelous job bringing Clark Kent/Superman to life, but by today’s standards the special effects are dated, which takes away from the movie.  The Superman franchise needs a new reboot.

 Many thought that the 2006 “Superman Returns” would fill that role, but it did not.  It was not a good movie.  The movie tried too hard to be an extension of the original franchise.  It just seemed like Brandon Routh was imitating Christopher Reeve instead of putting his unique spin on Clark Kent/Superman.  Additionally, Kevin Spacey did not make a good Lex Luther because he tried to make him silly.  Lex Luther is a serious billionaire scientist who is both smooth and slippery.  Spacey would have benefited from listening to Clancy Brown’s portrayal of Lex Luther in “Superman the Animated Series” and “Justice League”.  He gets Lex Luther.  I also did not like the Son of Superman tease.  It was cheap and inconsistent with the character.  Superman would not have an out-of-wedlock child with Lois Lane.

 The other problem with “Superman Returns” was its lack of scope and lack of world destroying villain.  Lex Luther is a great co-villain, but a Superman movie needs a larger-than-life all powerful villain like a Brainic, Darkside, or General Zod.  It must be a person that only Superman can stop.

 According to ign.com, there is a new Superman movie in the works – “Man of Steel”.  The trailer debuts this Friday with “The Dark Knight Rises”.  Hopefully, “Man of Steel” will do what “Batman Begins” did for the Batman movie franchise.