Man of Steel: Empire Magazine

This is a pretty epic cover for the March issue of Empire Magazine. Since it was announced, Zack Snyder has been walking a tightrope suspended over a mine-field. Fans have been scrutinizing his every move waiting to pounce on anything that looks suspicious. Not only is the fate of the world at stake but the future of Warner Bros/DC film universe. In my opinion, so far so good. I love this cover and the couple of trailers we have seen so far. June 14th can’t come soon enough. What do you think?

Superman: Man of Steel First Poster

 

Superman: Man of Steel Official Teaser Trailer #1

Superman

New Superman banner releases. Thoughts? Leave your comments below.

Russel Crowe as Jor-el

This news came as a surprise to me, because before now I didn’t know Russel Crowe was in Zach Snyder’s ‘Superman: Man of Steel’.

Superman: Man of Steel set photos!

Photos via Ign.com

Shot in Illinois where ‘Man of Steel’ is filming.

First Look at Henry Cavill as Superman

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

The Smallville Finale

After 10 long years, the boy becomes a man- or rather a superman. Baby Kal-El first landed in the humble farm town of Smallville on October 16, 2001 thanks to the WB Network (now CW). The origins series leaped tall nerd expectations with a single bound as fans buzzed about this new ‘Dawson Creek’ meets comic books show. Filled with a young, vibrant, and good looking cast, this modern day re-telling of a 70 year old legend had much potential. We all knew Superman would eventually fly- but I don’t think any of us knew it would take 10 years to get there. As a HUGE Superman fan for over 25 years, I have to confess that I haven’t tracked with Smallville over the years. After the first couple of seasons, the ‘freak of the week’ formula was getting too contrived for me. That was probably the biggest complaint among fans which is the reason why season 2 was the highest rated one during it’s prolific run. However, the core fans stayed faithful keeping it on the air and earning it the longest running comic book series in TV history. I did still drop back in for special episodes like the introduction of Flash, Hawkman, Aquaman, the Justice League, and epic appearance of the late Christopher Reeves. To me, the show got overly ambitious by ‘shoe-horning’ in every DC character and story arc from the Superman mythology and after a while, I just fell too far behind to care. But when the conclusion of the series was announced, I had to ‘fan up’ and join back into the journey at the start of this final season to see how this would all end (and how Superman would begin).

The episode was what you might expect from a finale 2-hour story. There is a lot of wrap up conversations with most of it focusing on whether Clark is ready to take on the mantel of responsibility as the man of steel. It’s evident that these conversations are carrying the burden of 10 years worth of expectations as all the ramifications are explored and weighted. If you were a fan of the show, you probably relished in all the angst about if Clark should suit up or not. Non-fans may have found it a bit tedious. Of course there is a wedding and of course it is rudely interrupted by a super villains attack. In this case, a Darksied possessed Oliver attempts to give Clark a red kyptonite ring that would steal his powers forever. Considering how long Oliver had been under the influence of Darksied, I thought the quick exorcism was rather unsatisfying and unrewarding. You accept it because it needed to happen but it wasn’t particularly creative nor compelling. The finale also focused on the return of beloved characters like Jon Schneider’s Jonathan Kent. Which I have to admit was pretty touching in scenes but then got a little creepy when he started showing up around every corner. I felt like Clark was starting to ‘see dead people’ a la Sixth Sense. I know they were plucking the sentimental heart strings but I think the ‘less is more’ approach would have made a longer lasting impression.

In another conjured storyline, Lex Luthor is ‘frankenstined’ together and brought back to life with the help of some spare clone parts and the spirit of Darksied. Conveniently, his memory is wiped which erases the past 10 years, along with his knowledge of Clark’s real identity. This whole subplot was pretty ridiculous but it was needed to get the future continuity that we know and love back on track. As contrived as it was, it was great to see Clark and Lex share a final moment together. Michael Rosenbaum is a fantastic actor and the tension he brought to Smallville was irreplaceable. After all, the strongest element of Smallville has never been the storytelling but the casting. Clark, Lois, Lana, Lex, and the Kents were all near perfect choices and no doubt was the reason for our 10 year love affair.

After 10 years of build up, we are only teased with Tom Welling as Superman. Even though he suits up in the final few minutes, we are only treated to a few distance shots of him moving the planet of Apokolips away from Earth. Those long shots are clearly CGI and while heroic, felt unsatisfying. The only close up we are rewarded with, is a final shirt ripping scene in the closing shots of the episode. I have to admit, while brief and underscored with John Williams Superman theme, this scene gave me goosebumps. It really is too bad that Brian Singer’s Superman Returns reboot failed since Clark’s suit is from the same version as that one. The continuity would have been strong- and if anyone appreciates strong continuity it’s us comic book fans. I would have preferred a solid shot of a super Clark in action but I am sure it was cost prohibitive to craft an appropriate suit for just a few minutes of screen time. I guess we are left with our imagination which is less painful than a disappointing Tom in a sub-par suit.

All is all, what Smallville was able to accomplish was more powerful than a locomotive. More importantly than helping us believe a man could fly, it helped us believe that the superhero genre could fly as well. The current superhero renaissance in TV and film that we are enjoying was largely contributed to by this small non-network show. It helped usher in a new era and firmly established it’s place in our pop culture lore. Where Superman was under threat of being forgotten in film, Smallville helped keep his legacy alive. Regardless of our gripes, there will never be a series quite like this one. So while there were some complaints with the finale, I turned off my TV with a smile and satisfied with the series overall. Someday, I will sit down and return to all 10 seasons on DVD, perhaps to introduce my son to how a boy became a man.

I give the finale a 2.5 out of 5 Babbles

Smallville with a big ending

You blink and suddenly it’s 10 years and 10 seasons later for one of WB’s longest running series Smallville. As a life-long Superman geek, the conclusion of this show is a momentous occasion for fans everywhere. However, I have not been a fan of the show over the years. I started pretty faithfully for the first couple of seasons but the ‘freak of the week’ formula turned me off and tuned me out (along with a lot of others). I did still drop back in for special episodes like the introduction of Flash, Hawkman, Aquaman, the Justice League, and epic appearance of the late Christopher Reeves. To me, the show got overly ambitious by ‘shoe-horning’ in every DC character and story arc from the Superman mythology and after a while, I just fell too far behind to care. But when the conclusion of the series was announced, I had to ‘fan up’ and join back into the journey to see how this would all end (and Superman would begin). 

Returning back into Season 10 was not as traumatic as I thought it would be. I kept up enough to know of the major new happenings like the exit of Chloe, Lex, Lana, Lionel, the new romance with Lois, and the new environment of Metropolis. A LOT is happening right now to wrap up all the loose ends. Clark, known as ‘The Blur’ to the rest of the world, is on the verge of revealing himself as a public hero. There is a witch-hunt for heroes making it illegal for vigilantes to operate- it’s very similar to Marvel’s Mutant Registration Act or the ‘Legends’ mini-series from the DC universe. A particularly emotional moment was when fans of The Blur posted their gratitude for their unseen hero. This was the pivotal turning point for Clark with his decision to come out of hiding. Clark and Lois are newly engaged so wedding plans are in full swing while fending off Darkseid and his minions. What I am finding really enjoyable and what sets this apart from old Smallville is that it feels more grand set in Metropolis. No longer are the claustrophobic storylines contained to the a small town but it finally gets the scope it deserves. The solid chemistry between our super love birds is reminiscent of another great old show, Lois and Clark. The focus right now is the how Clark evolves into his ‘mild-manner’ persona and his reasons not to be a masked hero. In this past episode, he dons the glasses for the first time and has his first humbling and bumbling Clark Kent moment. I have to admit, I was smiling all the way through. All in all, this is geek heaven for Man of Steel and DC universe fans. At this past San Diego Comic Con, Smallville fanatics were treated to a glimpse of the suit (probably passed down from Superman Returns) which was a magical moment.

No doubt that geeks, fans, and nerds from all over will tune into the epic finale of Smallville. It’s not too late to get acclimated- I am certainly glad I did. I am looking forward to believing again that a man can fly.

Long time fans, let me hear what you think and how this season compares to the past. While my rating for Smallville has gone up and down over the years, I give this current season 10 a 4 Babbles out of 5. Check it out!

Introducing the new Man of Steel

As the third mortal to wear the super suit on the big screen, Henry Cavill will be Zack Snyder’s new Superman in the upcoming reboot targeted for Dec 2012. Auditioning for both James Bond and Batman, it looks like Cavill snagged the most powerful character ever created as the man of steel. He was also set to play Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga but lost that role to Robert Patterson (thank goodness). He is flying in from nowhere but the 27-year-old Brit is best known for his role in the US TV show The Tudors. Next, Cavill will first be seen in the swords-and-sandals epic The Immortals for director Tarsem Singh, in which he will play the role of Greek warrior Theseus. So what do you think? Can a Brit fight for the American way? Does he have what it takes to carry the burden of the red cape? Let us know what you think.

Here he is in an interview about The Tudors:

Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam

Superman/Shazam The Return of Black Adam is the latest incarnation of the DC Showcase line of animated features. This one however is a little deceiving since the main feature with Superman and Shazam is only a half hour long. This is the origins story of Captain Marvel and his first meeting with Superman. They are both drawn together to oppose Black Adam (the evil version of Captain Marvel). Because of the title, apparently Black Adam was returning from somewhere and is not very happy. There is very little story with the exception of the Shazam wizard imputing powers onto a young Billy Batson. The strongest part of animated short is the combat between the three. There are some great exchanges and the collateral damage is high. After a few of these DC Showcases, I am starting to wonder if it’s an asset or liability to have a hero live in your city. I can imagine there is special ‘superhero’ insurance clause just in case your vehicle gets flung into a building or something- but I digress. Overall this is a fun and polished looking short. Done in an japanese animation style, the detail is high and the animation is fluid. Two thumbs up for how it looks.

Zack Snyder will direct Superman film

From Hero Complex of the LA Times by Geoff Boucher 

Zack Snyder (Los Angeles Times)It’s official: Zack Snyder will direct the Warner Bros. revival of Superman, the first and most famous costumed superhero of them all.

The director of “300” and “Watchmen” will work side-by-side with producers Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, the tandem that pulled the Batman character back toward cinematic credibility with the films “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” the latter grossing more than $1 billion at theaters worldwide. David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins”) is writing the script and shares the story credit with Nolan.

The 44-year-old Snyder sounded thrilled Monday over the phone.  “I feel awesome,” he said before correcting himself. “I feel super awesome.”

Snyder has shown a flair for kinetic hyper-reality and he says that in recent days he finds that he “lays awake at night” thinking about the ways to present a Man of Steel who flies across the skylines of a city called Metropolis. He declined to talk about the story or the casting — “He has to be a man … that’s as far as I’ve gotten” — but he said the film production will target a holiday 2012 release.

The producing team also includes  Charles Roven (“The Dark Knight”) and Deborah Snyder , the director’s wife and filmmaking partner.  Thomas Tull of Legendary Pictures will executive produce. Snyder is best known for R-rated fare — with the exception of the just-released “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” — but he said his passion for comics and a character that dates back to 1938 likely earned him the coveted job of relaunching the signature franchise.

“I can’t say why they came to me other than the fact that they know I have a fondness for the character and a real desire to understand him and present him to a new audience,” Snyder said. “The challenge is huge but you know with Chris and Emma and Debbie I have a lot of people I can rely on. And Chris and David have given this the shape with a great story. It is a hard character to crack.”

Snyder met Nolan at ShoWest in Las Vegas in March and their conversations about the possibilities of the Superman revival gathered momentum through the months. The modern superhero cinema puts an emphasis on dark antiheroes and haunted souls, such as Batman and Wolverine, or lovable hard-luck cases, such as Spider-Man and Hellboy while Superman has been dismissively described as a “big blue Boy Scout” for his wholesome  aura and that classic mission statement of fighting for ”truth, justice and the American way.”  The perception that the character may have a bigger past than future may have been reinforced by the solid but unspectacular success of  Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns“ in 2006.

Snyder said the modern movie mode does present a challenge in a pop-culture era of  Red Dead Redemption and “Inception” but he refuses to think that a character that rivals Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus in recognizability can ever be considered a relic.  “I think he is viable, yes,” Snyder said. “He endures. We all want to know, ‘How will he come to us now?’ He is the biggest and the baddest of them all. The greatest of them all, right? We all want to know how the next chapter takes shape. I want to know how it will take shape.”

– Geoff Boucher