With Zack Snyder’s take on Superman coming to our screens in the summer of 2013, there comes from many a fanboy plenty of apprehension regarding another take on such an iconic character. How will he approach the source material? Another origin story? Will it “flop” like the prior yet underrated Superman Returns or Snyder’s last big screen effort Sucker Punch?
While these are valid concerns, we should all spend our time embracing what’s to come with the rebirth of pop culture’s biggest icon.
And here’s just several reasons why:
1. The Proof is in the Pudding
Zack Snyder is many things, but a shoddy filmmaker he is not. Take time to revisit everything he has directed or had his hands in: “Dawn of the Dead” was arguably his best work, and it was a remake of a classic horror film which he followed up with the ground breaking “300.” Let’s not forget his take on “Watchmen,” which for this writer was an excellent telling of a tale sometimes very hard to read in its lengthy comic form.
Snyder’s also been behind the amazing children’s film “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole;” and he last had “Sucker Punch,” while a commercial flop, it was still an immersive viewing experience on the big screen. I, for one, couldn’t be more excited for who has the reins of my all time favorite comic book character and his rebirth into cinema.
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2 Comments
I partly agree with you. Rebooting the Superman franchise presents a golden opportunity to capitalize on all that has happened prior. The first two Donner films established the basic recipe for the superhero movie and at the time pushed the limits of visual effects. I think that decades later it is more than time to reinvent the character and update him using the current technology which is light years ahead of where they were when they created the 1978 version. In addition, movie styles and the evolution of comics and characters have made it possible to create deep meaningful and well as entertaining and visually spectacular movies.
Where I disagree is that if the reboot does not coincide with a Justice League universe, the studio will in effect be creating two people that the current generation will identify with Superman (assuming they forget about Brian Singer). That would be a mistake of gigantic proportions. I think that was the beginning of the downfall of the Batman films begun by Michael Keaton. As a result, I also wonder if the Justice League is being rushed. If carefully done the studios could methodically create a movie experience that has the gritty emotional drama characterized by the Nolan films and visually alluring starting with Snyder’s take on superman.
Looks good! The Watchmen and The Dark Night Trilogy were great, can’t wait for a more mature take on Superman.