CCI: "Man of Steel" Footage Reveals Darker Side of Superman

[J. Robb]

That chainmail look would work better on Captain America.

[Lex Von Doom]

Why does everyone have such a big problem with the idea of a dark Superman movie? Does everyone think fun and bright = good movie and dark = bad movie? I don't get it, I rather have a darker Superman movie that's actually good than a lighthearted fun one that sucks. I know everyone has their preferences and some people don't think Superman works in a darker setting but if Batman can work in more colorful settings (Brave and the Bold) why can't Superman work in the opposite?

I sometimes get the feeling that the majority of this board is anti drama somehow thinking drama and darkness is boring (just read any thread about Nolan's Batman movies) while the opposite is somehow always fun even if it's crap. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are 2 of the darkest shows I've ever seen but that doesn't matter because they're also 2 of the best shows I've ever seen while lighter shows like Two and a Half Men and Glee are awful imo. The tone doesn't matter guys the quality does.

[Guy1]

Not fond of Death & Return being touchstones.

I know EXACTLY which Superman story could be used to inspire the right tone in a Superman film. In fact, I can reduce it to a single issue... no, a single PAGE:

Superman in a nutshell.

[The Batman]

T
I just hope not everyone is confusing the media's words w/ actual reality.

From what I've actually read (and later ACTUALLY saw), the reality is, Snyder and company are trying to deliver a MATURE, realistic response to a being of Superman's nature, and an emotional take on this classic character.

Why is that so bad?

For curiosity's sake: What makes this take more "MATURE" than any other version of Superman?

[Alex]

Why does everyone have such a big problem with the idea of a dark Superman movie? Does everyone think fun and bright = good movie and dark = bad movie? I don't get it, I rather have a darker Superman movie that's actually good than a lighthearted fun one that sucks. I know everyone has their preferences and some people don't think Superman works in a darker setting but if Batman can work in more colorful settings (Brave and the Bold) why can't Superman work in the opposite?

I sometimes get the feeling that the majority of this board is anti drama somehow thinking drama and darkness is boring (just read any thread about Nolan's Batman movies) while the opposite is somehow always fun even if it's crap. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are 2 of the darkest shows I've ever seen but that doesn't matter because they're also 2 of the best shows I've ever seen while lighter shows like Two and a Half Men and Glee are awful imo. The tone doesn't matter guys the quality does.

Because i read the storyline where superman walked across the country and was a dick.

[Mike Pothier]

I'll reserve judgement of the trailer for when I actually see it at the DKR premier. And I'll wait till I read some concrete impressions from people who've seen the finished film. I'm excited for this movie. I know some people here don't like Zach Snyder, but I was happy from the start when he was chosen. If this movie is a bit darker than the Reeves Superman, so be it. I really, really doubt they will go all out and make Superman into a flying killing machine. DC knows what will sell, and people won't want to bring their kids to that kind of movie.

[Mr_Wayne]

I hope you're right. Problem is many industries, like the movie and video game industries confuse MATURE with dark, gritty, emo and often violent. I'll still see it but I Snyder's description has left me not feeling too excited. Return of Superman tried a more emotional take and failed and the last thing Superman needs is realism. Hollywood needs to learn Superman is about an alien with super powers that smashes other baddies through mountains.

Media industries are all about gimmicks and trend following. Dark is big and makes money right now. Its a quick trick to get people buying media thinking they are getting something deeper when more often then not its just dark and gritty for the sake of being so because its a trend. So I worry that is what's going on here. Plus, how many Snyder movies have you seen that aren't dark?

But, I see your point. Hopefully, its not some dark, gritty Superman but one that has more of a human element that connects to the viewers instead of just being a spectacle. Nothing wrong with that.

For the record, there are lots of movies about aliens that use some form of logic and realism to help tell the story.

What I mean by realism is, if an alien entered our atmosphere, how would the world respond? How would governments respond? How would people that wanna exploit this phenomena respond?

Superman's mythology is so rich and primed to be explored in more than just these old school, golden age, closed minded ways that fans have become comfortable with. To not much success as of late I might add.

Glad you see my point though.

For curiosity's sake: What makes this take more "MATURE" than any other version of Superman?

I was saying that they were going for mature... No one's seen the film yet, so no one can answer that. The media is dubbing it 'dark'. Not one time has anyone directly involved with the film called it 'dark'. From what I've seen and heard about the film from the people involved, it sounds like that's the take they're going for (mature etc).

By 'mature' I mean, growing up and thinking outside the box when filming a movie about an alien from another planet that wears a cape. In this generation there is some degree of maturity that needs to be injected into the story.

Hell, Green Lantern was helmed by a bunch of fanboys and look what happened...

I know all you Suerman fans would love for the world to see good ol' Kal El the same way you do, but guess what? The world doesn't. So to avoid another flop, how about we make a film for everyone.

[Captain Planet]

For the record, there are lots of movies about aliens that use some form of logic and realism to help tell the story.

What I mean by realism is, if an alien entered our atmosphere, how would the world respond? How would governments respond? How would people that wanna exploit this phenomena respond?

Superman's mythology is so rich and primed to be explored in more than just these old school, golden age, closed minded ways that fans have become comfortable with. To not much success as of late I might add.

Glad you see my point though.

But that cannot work in Superman like it can in others. You want to add realism to Superman then he needs to wear a mask. He would never be adopted by some farm people as a meteor hitting the Earth would be tracked and he would be found and if he wasn't how would the Kents make this mysterious baby legal and drum up documentation. That's just for starters. No, Superman cannot exist in reality and you can't try and make it too realistic because then the silly things, like Kent slicking his hair back is somehow a disguise, stick out as silly.

You need to embrace the unrealistic world of Superman completely, give him a human element and then give him a conflict that requires a Superman (i.e. a big baddie, not another Lex Luthor) if you want to succeed. That is what Superman 2 did so well. Embraced the Superman world, provided a relateable and human conflict and then gave him a villain he could throw a bus at.

I don't read Superman comics except some of what Morrison has done and have no attachment to comic Superman, especially not Golden Age so if your implication about being a closed minded fanboy was aimed at me, it doesn't apply. I AM speaking from the "everyone" point of view you mention in your post.

[Lord Bravery]

Why does everyone have such a big problem with the idea of a dark Superman movie? Does everyone think fun and bright = good movie and dark = bad movie? I don't get it, I rather have a darker Superman movie that's actually good than a lighthearted fun one that sucks. I know everyone has their preferences and some people don't think Superman works in a darker setting but if Batman can work in more colorful settings (Brave and the Bold) why can't Superman work in the opposite?

I sometimes get the feeling that the majority of this board is anti drama somehow thinking drama and darkness is boring (just read any thread about Nolan's Batman movies) while the opposite is somehow always fun even if it's crap. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are 2 of the darkest shows I've ever seen but that doesn't matter because they're also 2 of the best shows I've ever seen while lighter shows like Two and a Half Men and Glee are awful imo. The tone doesn't matter guys the quality does.

The tone does matter. Making Superman grim dark is the dumbest thing ever. If you can't comprehend why, you don't know enough about Superman.

That said, this trailer doesn't look "dark". It just looks more serious and their is more focus on the emotional side of things with his relationships with his two fathers.

So people, instead of getting all pissy over the title of an article, hunt down the footage and watch it. You'll see that it isn't "dark".

[kmeyers]

Why does everyone have such a big problem with the idea of a dark Superman movie? Does everyone think fun and bright = good movie and dark = bad movie? I don't get it, I rather have a darker Superman movie that's actually good than a lighthearted fun one that sucks. I know everyone has their preferences and some people don't think Superman works in a darker setting but if Batman can work in more colorful settings (Brave and the Bold) why can't Superman work in the opposite?

I sometimes get the feeling that the majority of this board is anti drama somehow thinking drama and darkness is boring (just read any thread about Nolan's Batman movies) while the opposite is somehow always fun even if it's crap. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are 2 of the darkest shows I've ever seen but that doesn't matter because they're also 2 of the best shows I've ever seen while lighter shows like Two and a Half Men and Glee are awful imo. The tone doesn't matter guys the quality does.

There's a difference. Superman in a dark movie, where he is the shining example for truth justice and all that jazz, is fine. But Dark Superman, isn't Superman.

Superman is the ultimate boyscout, almost ridiculously so. Dark boyscout is weird, wrong and probably a Superman villain.

[Simbob4000]

The real question is, will it have what all previous superman films have lacked?
Will it have guard polar bears and giant mechanical spiders?

And a little gay black robot.

[Simbob4000]

[Lancerman]

There's a difference. Superman in a dark movie, where he is the shining example for truth justice and all that jazz, is fine. But Dark Superman, isn't Superman.

Superman is the ultimate boyscout, almost ridiculously so. Dark boyscout is weird, wrong and probably a Superman villain.

I really think people are overeacting. Even All Star Superman touched on Dark themes. When people say dark nowadays they often confuse it for more serious subject matter. For instance you can go really dark with Lex Luthor, Zod, or Braniac. You can have Superman deal with more serious themes like a distrusting government or more true to life crimes. Even in that page that was posted earlier. I wouldn't call a suicidal girl Superman saved light in any way. There is a way to do it and be true to the material.

Most of this light vs dark tripe is people who think by dark Superman's going to be like Batman and scare the crap out of people before he beats them to a pulp while trying to get a lead on a sociopathic serial killer. No thats not going to happen.

[Mr_Wayne]

But that cannot work in Superman like it can in others. You want to add realism to Superman then he needs to wear a mask. He would never be adopted by some farm people as a meteor hitting the Earth would be tracked and he would be found and if he wasn't how would the Kents make this mysterious baby legal and drum up documentation. That's just for starters. No, Superman cannot exist in reality and you can't try and make it too realistic because then the silly things, like Kent slicking his hair back is somehow a disguise, stick out as silly.

You need to embrace the unrealistic world of Superman completely, give him a human element and then give him a conflict that requires a Superman (i.e. a big baddie, not another Lex Luthor) if you want to succeed. That is what Superman 2 did so well. Embraced the Superman world, provided a relateable and human conflict and then gave him a villain he could throw a bus at.

I don't read Superman comics except some of what Morrison has done and have no attachment to comic Superman, especially not Golden Age so if your implication about being a closed minded fanboy was aimed at me, it doesn't apply. I AM speaking from the "everyone" point of view you mention in your post.

I didn't imply anything. I said what I said. Was I aiming at you? No. You actually seem to raise some good points and even had the open mind to see other points.

I do see your points as well, those things can be viewed as silly and the world of Superman can be difficult to translate in a realistic sense. Difficult, yes... but certainly not impossible.

All those points about Superman and him being adopted and satellites and meteors and tracking. There are so many ways to fix those elements it isn't even funny. Besides, realistic doesn't mean perfect. There will be flaws.

With any film (especially sci fi) the audience has to have some suspension of disbelief.

You're absolutely wrong when you say that Superman can't work in a realistic sense.

Hell Batman Begins and The Dark Knight was realistic but there are several articles that point out the tech used in those films don't exists or wouldn't work like they did in those movies. Yet we still enjoyed and excepted the hyper-realistic tag line fed to us by the studio.

Real talk: You're going to seriously sit there and pretend that there is now way to fix those things you said above to make them fit in a hyper-realistic toned world around Superman? Really? I mean I know it's Superman but come on... Lol!

But again I can see where you would think that. I just happen to be among the ones that know full well there's a way to write Superman in a realistic, mature tone... for the comic sci fi genre, with suspension of disbelief of course.

[lead sharp]

This post has turned into a blog, needless to say the footage was more intriguing and frankly got me more interested in this than I am in TDKR.