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The Hidden S in Phone Booth
Debuting today (and hopefully appearing with some regularity) is a new column called "The Hidden S in Phone Booth." Your writer is Mark Rhodes, a man known within many magazine circles including The Christian Science Monitor, Opera and Wizard. He runs a site called the European Film Report that looks at the art of filmmaking, and will tackle whatever he feels like writing about (similar to Tedd in Hank McCoy (Before the Fur) except with less love of Dazzler). Hank McCoy (Before the Fur) has been moved to Fridays now, so be sure to check back in then if you want to see what else Tedd has to say about comics.
Superman: The Movie (1978) is arguably the most influential superhero film of all time. This was the first superhero film to have "A" production values, great, legendary actors (in nearly every role), a respectful, but witty script, a first rate and memorable score, believable special effects and, most importantly, a perfectly cast Superman in Christopher Reeve. Superman II was considered an even more effective and entertaining work. The sequels, sadly, are unmemorable at best. Still, this 30 year old film remains a big influence on young filmmakers. Christopher Nolan, for instance, cast well-known actors in nearly all of the speaking roles for Batman Begins in a similar way that Director Richard Donner placed Glenn Ford, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perinne and, most famously Marlon Brando in small, supporting roles.
Unfortunately, Bryan Singer's work in 2005's Superman Returns was greeted with mixed reviews, mixed feelings and a general shrug by the public. One of The main problems was a too reverential outlook on the character and the original Superman film from 1978. Indeed, many times the film felt like a remake of the 1978 film. The film was a hit, but the public isn't exactly clamoring for a sequel. Plus, there is the matter of the money it would take to make a follow up. Finally, Brandon Routh is not exactly a household name as a result of his work in Superman Returns. Despite all this, there is still a large degree of interest in a Follow up but a follow up that is a yet another reboot. How could this work you ask....?
1 Get an actor with some mystique: My favorite Superman is George Reeves from the Superman TV show from the 50's-He was confident, resourceful and charming. More importantly, his Clark Kent character was not a clod and was kind of a tough guy journalist, almost like a private eye. I was watching Mad Men the other night and I thought the actor who plays the lead Dan Draper (Jon Hamm) would be an interesting Superman. He has that toughness and mystique that might make Superman and Clark Kent more interesting. For a big name it is hard for me not to think about Viggo Mortnesen who would make a great Kingdom Come type Superman.
2. Make it a period piece; A lot of comic fans don't want to admit it but Superman is a nostalgic character that works best in the recent past (at least in the comics). For whatever reasons he is not a universal character (he resembles Captain America in this regard) so put him in the context where he makes the most sense. I love the Superman cartoons from the 40's where the Fleischers paid a lot of attention to the Art Deco design of the time. This might also allow Warners to take a sensible step back with regard to reports that they are trying to figure out how to "reboot" the franchise.
3. Lighten up on the Judeo-Christian angle of the myth: Superman is often seen as a kind of comic book version of God, or Jesus Christ. This was especially apparent in the Singer version. It is understandable why this is the case and it is not inaccurate. However, the problem is that a character like Superman should not have this burden placed on him. It stifles the character and turns him into a symbol rather than a recognizable individual.
4. Pick an offbeat actress to be Lois Lane. For instance, why not a foreign actress like Penelope Cruz, or Audrey Tatou? Why not an actress like Thandie Newton?
5. Stay away from Lex Luthor. He is worn out as a character in the movies, television and even the cartoons. In fact, it might be more interesting for Superman to deal with real world issues in some way (like World War II if it were a period piece) than to deal with a supervillan.
A couple of these moves are gambles and I don't know if Warner is in a gambling mood with Marvel outpacing them on every front. Warner can afford a mistep with the Batman series, but not Superman. It is reasonable to think Warner will go in a different direction if and when superman series reboots - Plus, there is the potentially complicating factor of a JLA film so it is hard to say what the cinematic future of the Man of Steel is at least for the moment...
Debuting today (and hopefully appearing with some regularity) is a new column called "The Hidden S in Phone Booth." Your writer is Mark Rhodes, a man known within many magazine circles including The Christian Science Monitor, Opera and Wizard. He runs a site called the European Film Report that looks at the art of filmmaking, and will tackle whatever he feels like writing about (similar to Tedd in Hank McCoy (Before the Fur) except with less love of Dazzler). Hank McCoy (Before the Fur) has been moved to Fridays now, so be sure to check back in then if you want to see what else Tedd has to say about comics.
Superman: The Movie (1978) is arguably the most influential superhero film of all time. This was the first superhero film to have "A" production values, great, legendary actors (in nearly every role), a respectful, but witty script, a first rate and memorable score, believable special effects and, most importantly, a perfectly cast Superman in Christopher Reeve. Superman II was considered an even more effective and entertaining work. The sequels, sadly, are unmemorable at best. Still, this 30 year old film remains a big influence on young filmmakers. Christopher Nolan, for instance, cast well-known actors in nearly all of the speaking roles for Batman Begins in a similar way that Director Richard Donner placed Glenn Ford, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perinne and, most famously Marlon Brando in small, supporting roles.
Unfortunately, Bryan Singer's work in 2005's Superman Returns was greeted with mixed reviews, mixed feelings and a general shrug by the public. One of The main problems was a too reverential outlook on the character and the original Superman film from 1978. Indeed, many times the film felt like a remake of the 1978 film. The film was a hit, but the public isn't exactly clamoring for a sequel. Plus, there is the matter of the money it would take to make a follow up. Finally, Brandon Routh is not exactly a household name as a result of his work in Superman Returns. Despite all this, there is still a large degree of interest in a Follow up but a follow up that is a yet another reboot. How could this work you ask....?
1 Get an actor with some mystique: My favorite Superman is George Reeves from the Superman TV show from the 50's-He was confident, resourceful and charming. More importantly, his Clark Kent character was not a clod and was kind of a tough guy journalist, almost like a private eye. I was watching Mad Men the other night and I thought the actor who plays the lead Dan Draper (Jon Hamm) would be an interesting Superman. He has that toughness and mystique that might make Superman and Clark Kent more interesting. For a big name it is hard for me not to think about Viggo Mortnesen who would make a great Kingdom Come type Superman.
2. Make it a period piece; A lot of comic fans don't want to admit it but Superman is a nostalgic character that works best in the recent past (at least in the comics). For whatever reasons he is not a universal character (he resembles Captain America in this regard) so put him in the context where he makes the most sense. I love the Superman cartoons from the 40's where the Fleischers paid a lot of attention to the Art Deco design of the time. This might also allow Warners to take a sensible step back with regard to reports that they are trying to figure out how to "reboot" the franchise.
3. Lighten up on the Judeo-Christian angle of the myth: Superman is often seen as a kind of comic book version of God, or Jesus Christ. This was especially apparent in the Singer version. It is understandable why this is the case and it is not inaccurate. However, the problem is that a character like Superman should not have this burden placed on him. It stifles the character and turns him into a symbol rather than a recognizable individual.
4. Pick an offbeat actress to be Lois Lane. For instance, why not a foreign actress like Penelope Cruz, or Audrey Tatou? Why not an actress like Thandie Newton?
5. Stay away from Lex Luthor. He is worn out as a character in the movies, television and even the cartoons. In fact, it might be more interesting for Superman to deal with real world issues in some way (like World War II if it were a period piece) than to deal with a supervillan.
A couple of these moves are gambles and I don't know if Warner is in a gambling mood with Marvel outpacing them on every front. Warner can afford a mistep with the Batman series, but not Superman. It is reasonable to think Warner will go in a different direction if and when superman series reboots - Plus, there is the potentially complicating factor of a JLA film so it is hard to say what the cinematic future of the Man of Steel is at least for the moment...
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