Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:26 am**

In the climactic scene of More's trial before an ecclesiastical tribunal, Mr. Smith notes again and again the director's restrained approach. More is frequently shot from behind, often little more than a small figure in the middle distance. For historical accuracy, Zinnemann also places neither the king nor More's family in the courtroom with him.

"Imagine how much drama you could cull from cutting to them in any given scene," Mr. Smith said. "I always thought that was really brave. It would have been so easy to play the family card and have these reaction shots of his wife and daughter, tearful and worried. That's how they do it in most courtroom scenes, right? But Zinnemann doesn't do it at all. It's just More and the court, that's it. It's so powerful and restrained. It's all about the language and the arguments."

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:31 am**

Good point. I agree that restraint could've easily been used for Superman's entrance, rather than the emotional overture Singer decided to use. But I also think both choices are equally viable and could have been masterfully done. The movie is open for grand gestures and intimate moments, as its appeal is a broad, almost mythological one, with characters being ripped straight from, well, comic books.

To me, the emotional choice was well done and not far-fetched at all. We have an audience who is full of anxieties about Superman; it's his first big screen appearance in some time, and his long waning popularity has a chance of improving some. There's a lot pent-up, and I think the tension of Superman crawling from that wreckage excellently matched the notes coming from the audience. In a way, he's falling into our arms too, asking us to take him back (I don't swing that way, though).

Then again, restraint could have done the same thing. In any case, I thought Singer accomplished some pretty subtle stuff in that one scene, like any great movie maker.

As for A Man for All Seasons: restraint seems an easier choice for that film. Its tone is far more sober than a fantastical comic book adaptation, what with its historical basis and focus on character and dialogue.

Posted: **Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:02 pm**

According to an article in this week's Newsweek, Superman II will be re-released on DVD in November. This time, it will be Richard Donner's version, not the theatrical version. As you may recall, Donner was fired after heated feud with Salkind, the producer, and another director whose name escapes me took over. Donner has always said that the movie was not as good as what he envisioned, thus the re-release of his version. According to Newsweek, there will be footage never before seen.

Posted: **Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:41 pm**

Well, that means I have a decision to make. I barely remember the film, so either I get a copy of the dvd now, or wait till November and get the revised one. Either way, what I watch next is the one I and my kids will remember.

Posted: **Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:40 am**

Thanks for the news, dlb. I never thought this sort of thing would ever happen. Did the Salkinds make peace with Donner at last?

I loved Superman II as a kid, but now I think it's pretty silly - even for a superhero flick.

I may still get the November DVD out of plain curiosity, but we'll see.

Nice defense of Superman Returns, Foul. Well-said as usual.

I think I'm just becoming more and more impatient with conventional superhero stories these days. Maybe it's because I'm getting older? It's possible. Maybe I'm just getting tired of the flimsy logic of superhero films? As I said, I don't even enjoy Superman II all that much anymore. All I see are the flaws now. So it's not like I'm saying Singer's Superman is crap and Donner's is pure gold, I'm tired of superheroes in general.

Which leaves Batman. Thank goodness there are some non-superpowered comic book heroes left in the world. Thank goodness for V For Vendetta, too. And Sin City.

But again, IF the story in Superman Returns had been stronger, then maybe I wouldn't be griping about the movie. IF the sense of danger had been stronger, I wouldn't be griping. Come on, man, this movie cost a quarter-billion dollars to make! For that kind of budget, I expected a lot more than what I saw onscreen. Frankly, I thought James Cameron's Titanic was more impressive and entertaining, and that flick cost "only" $200 million. And I felt a greater sense of danger in Titanic as well!

Posted: **Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:12 pm**

For that kind of budget, I expected a lot more than what I saw onscreen.

My thoughts exactly.

Posted: **Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:56 pm**

Though there have been many that predicted that Superman Returns wouldn't gross 200 mil domestically, I for one am not suprised at the current take although the overall domestic take is still (currently) 70 mil short of the production budget. Thank goodness for the overseas market takes and the upcoming dvds.

www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=superman06.htm

Posted: **Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:49 pm**

me either. BS wants to make a "wrath of Khan" kind of second movie he has said.

Posted: **Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:45 am**

Well I just did my part in the DVD rental. Couldn't stand the very beginning, but thank god they gave Eva Marie Saint a decent role (last one was terrible in some Sam Shepard movie called Don't Look Back...or some crap like that.) Wasn't impressed by Bosworth either. Once I suspended disbelief it worked very well as a 'comic book' movie-not a great preformance by Spacey, did it would have died without him. Liked the kid alot...

Now I'm trying to figure out the best comic book movie ever...I don't know haven't seen Blade and they haven't made Dr. Strange, The Silver Surfer or Thor yet. OOO **licks chops** give me 2 billion dollar budget and I'll give you a modern version of Ragnarok that will shake the universe!!!

Posted: **Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:27 pm**

danlo wrote:Well I just did my part in the DVD rental. Couldn't stand the very beginning, but thank god they gave Eva Marie Saint a decent role (last one was terrible in some Sam Shepard movie called Don't Look Back...or some crap like that.) Wasn't impressed by Bosworth either. Once I suspended disbelief it worked very well as a 'comic book' movie-not a great preformance by Spacey, did it would have died without him. Liked the kid alot...

Now I'm trying to figure out the best comic book movie ever...I don't know haven't seen Blade and they haven't made Dr. Strange, The Silver Surfer or Thor yet. OOO **licks chops** give me 2 billion dollar budget and I'll give you a modern version of Ragnarok that will shake the universe!!!

Spiderman 2 is the best comic book movie ever made. With Spiderman 1 and Batman begins close at its heels.

I am looking forward to seeing whatthe Silver Surfer looks like in the new FF movie (kinda cheesy franchise s ofar, but enterttaining). My guess is that it will be a precurser to FF3 ...Galactus!

Posted: **Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:42 pm**

Say, has anyone gotten Superman II: The Donner Cut? How is it?

I'll probably get it just to satisfy my curiosity, but I'm not eager to pay full price for it - unless it's really something special.

Posted: **Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:59 am**

lets see. Superman had Richard Pryor in one movie and the Nuclear Guy in another. seems I don't need to harp about quality. bye.

Posted: **Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:50 am**

Yeah, that nuclear nincompoop was one of the worst superpowered villains ever. You couldn't pay me to watch Superman IV again.

(Well, actually you could, but never mind...)

Posted: **Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:23 pm**

Meh, there's other options. Darkseid, for one. It would make sense (or create more market viability $$$$) than Atomic Sailor Man. Heck, I've never heard of these people till now. They sound like a G.I. Joe doll I lost behind the couch.

Posted: **Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:01 pm**

www.angelfire.com/mi2/dcuniverse/atomicskull.html
the Atomic Skull
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_Skull

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:38 am**

We are having a Superman marathon this weekend.

Tonight was Superman, which I have not seen in its entirety in years.

I had honestly forgotten how good it is.

Christopher Reeves was just adorable.

He was so cute as Clarke Kent and so great as Superman as well.

There was some good chemistry between he and Margot Kidder.

The special affects were a bit cheesy by today's standards, but they certainly have not aged any worse than the original Star Wars movies have.

And the soundtrack blew me away.

John Williams was at the top of his craft here.

Then we saw the Donner cut of Superman II. Now, I have not seen that film in its entirety in years, either, though I have seen frequent clips from it on various cable channels. So I honestly could not tell you what differences there are between the Donner version and the theatrical version. Not as good as the first, but still watchable and enjoyable, IMHO.

As soon as we can, we will be having our first viewing of Superman Returns.

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:12 pm**

I've been meaning to watch the Donner cut, but so far neither Blockbuster nor Netflix has it, and I really don't want to buy it right now.

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:06 pm**

dlbpharmd wrote:I've been meaning to watch the Donner cut, but so far neither Blockbuster nor Netflix has it, and I really don't want to buy it right now.

Naw. Netflix has it - that is how I got to watch it.

There is a bit of a wait for it, though.

I am mailing my copy back today, so if you get mailed a copy from the netflix center in Lansing, Michigan, that would be the one I watched.

(Yes, I did get a dvd mailed to me from Flushing, New York once. Now that was a surprise, as all of the other ones I have rented came from Lansing.

)

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:13 pm**

Well, I'll be.....sure enough, there it is. Thanks, I looked for it a couple of weeks ago and didn't find it. It's listed as "very long wait" though.

BTW - I tried Blockbuster Online and so far it's much, much better than Netflix for me. Being able to exchange DVDs at the store alone makes a significant improvement over the long delays from Netflix. I'm probably canceling my Netflix soon.

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:18 pm**

One of my friends at work told me the same thing about Blockbuster but all of the video places near me are either mom & pop operations or are Hollywood Videos. She likes Blockbuster because she can use her mail membership at the stores, but none of their stores are particularly convenient for me.

Otherwise I would also check it out.

Netflix has gotten a lot better about the timliness of their deliveries - but I still keep getting very dirty, skippy discs from them, and that is so anoying it makes me want to scream sometimes when I am in the middle of a good movie.

They need to hire a few employees to just go around and wash their discs!!!

Kevin's Watch

Superman Returns (possible love connection with Spectre?!?)