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BvS Will Honor Superman – Answering Superman Fan Fears

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Nov. 5 update: Remastered video, normalized audio, and added footage of Snyder saying Superman is his favorite superhero.

  • Some Superman fans are afraid that Superman is going to be disrespected by Batman at Snyder’s hand in the upcoming Batman v. Superman.
  • Some believe that the realistic tone of Man of Steel shows favoritism towards Batman.
  • Some fear that Snyder prefers Batman over Superman and that alleged bias means building up Batman at Superman’s expense.
  • Some fear Snyder is trying to adapt The Dark Knight Returns into BvS and shoehorn its Superman into the DC Cinematic Universe.
  • There are concerns that BvS will be a Batman-centric film and that Superman will be short-changed his development before Justice League.

While combing through hours of interviews for Man of Steel Answers Insight Commentary (MOSAIC), I’ve quickly put together some of Snyder’s comments which would tend to dispel or address those fears.

BvS is not a DKR adaptation. It’s a film that will develop Superman to the point that we can get to a Justice League. After carefully cultivating a realistic tone for us to relate to Superman, Snyder isn’t going to betray that for Batman. Snyder holds Superman in too high regard for that.

Please excuse this draft until I can get my hands on better video editing software.

For additional insight into the minds of the filmmakers:
https://www.manofsteelanswers.com/answers/creative/

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Why Superman and Open World Gaming Don’t Mix

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How to make players act like Superman without resenting restriction?

Superman is more than mechanics.  A game must prevent players from resenting restriction and the people of Metropolis. Can a players be instilled with the feelings, attitudes, and values of the noble Superman?

I appreciate the thoughtfulness with which many approached the issue of an open-world Superman game. However, I respectfully dissent that such a game would be well-received by general audiences. I’ve reflected since the 2005, anticipating Superman Returns, and believe that Superman and open-world gaming do not mix… yet.

The appeal of open-world gaming comes from balancing:

  • The Environment and its Traversal (World)
  • Providing As Much Freedom As Possible (Open)
  • Immersing Player into the Character (Game)

Superman presents unique challenges: read more

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Why Luthor Should Endorse Superman

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Originally published June 27, 2013
(Everything changes with Kryptonite! – Doc, July 6, 2015)

 

Q: How do you speak ill of an invulnerable alien who is faster than a speeding bullet, can see your secrets through walls, can hear your every whisper, can incinerate you with just a glance, or disappear you in orbit without anyone knowing?

A: Very carefully.injustice-gods-among-us-prequel-comic-book-issue-8-cover

 

I don’t think a smart Lex can exploit xenophobia the way many are assuming he can… at least, not in a credible fashion.  The only way they can speak against Superman is if they earnestly believe he won’t hurt them (and have valid support for that belief), undercutting their entire message. Killing Zod sets a precedent that lets the filmmakers refresh the Lex Luthor character so that he isn’t tritely trying to discredit Superman in public like he traditionally has done in the last few decades of the comics. read more

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Did Jonathan Kent die for a dog?

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kevin_costner_and_friends_by_elspethmac-d34c9j1Did Jonathan die for a dog?

No, he died for Clark’s future. Jonathan believed Clark’s destiny was to change the world. However, Jonathan also acknowledge that Clark could grow up to be a man of bad character. If the world discovered Clark before he had answers, before he was ready, it would have captured him, persecuted him, and experimented on him. Clark would have been tormented by questions that he couldn’t answer and subjected to all that, his character likely would have soured. A being with Clark’s strength and abilities who had been made to hate the world would not change it for the better. Jonathan was convicted that the world wasn’t ready for Clark and Lois (and Perry) agreed. read more

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A Realistic Approach to Hope and Morality

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I disagree with the Comic Alliance editorial’s position that Man of Steel is devoid of hope and morality, rather, it is a realistic view of hope and morality.

Originally Posted by Comic Alliance

This is not a movie about truth, or justice, or heroism, or sacrifice, or hope. Hope gets a mention. We’re told the symbol on Superman’s chest represents “hope,” but I can’t think of any moment in the movie that shows us that ideal. The characters standing in the wreckage at the end of the movie seem to represent grim endurance rather than hope. We do see a glimpse at the end of the movie of young Clark Kent playing outside with a cape around his neck. That seems hopeful. But as it’s a moment from his past, before everything went to hell, it also suggests that hope is naive.
ASSM_HC2

If he reads the film as presenting hope as naive, I think he’s confusing the message of the film versus his 4-color image of hope which is naive. Hope takes endurance, not just idle and effortless wish fulfillment.

If you step outside the film for a bit, Henry Cavill was a kid who’s nickname was “Fat Cavill“, nevertheless he determined to be a Hollywood Actor at around 16. Not just an actor, doing theater and what not, he wanted to be in big pictures and big roles, across the pond in America. He had hope. Back then a big star, Russell Crowe, supported his hope, but told him no lies… he instilled into young Cavill the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” read more