Updated.
Never mind The Dark Knight Rises. Let’s talk about the Man of Steel trailer.
Not much to it. Basically it’s an announcement from the filmmakers that they are in fact working on a Superman movie and here’s some random footage to prove it. All it tells us about that movie is that, apparently, there’s a sequence in which Clark wanders the world, putting off the decision to become Superman, a decision Tom Welling’s Clark Kent avoided for several seasons on Smallville, so no news there.
It looks to me, though, that these shots of Clark on the bum are are meant to evoke the scenes of Bruce Wayne wandering the world trying to figure out his destiny in Batman Begins. Henry Cavill with his beard and matted dark hair even resembles Christian Bale with his beard and matted hair. That makes a connection between Man of Steel and the Dark Knight trilogy even though there is no connection. Man of Steel takes place in a different DC universe, one, DC, Warner Brothers, and fans are praying includes Wonder Woman, Flash, a thoroughly rebooted Batman not played by Christian Bale, and the rest of the Justice League.
What got to me, though, was the awfulness of the voice over. The Kevin Costner version played before the showing of The Dark Knight Rises we were at. There’s a version with Russell Crowe as Jor-El speaking. Costner plays Jonathan Kent and I hope what’s in the trailer isn’t indicative of either his performance or the dialog in general. It’s terrible writing and as advice to Clark it’s empty and worthless and a a result heartless. Doesn’t come close to this exchange between Clark and Jonathan in the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie. I can’t find a clip so you’ll just have to imagine the perfect modesty of Glenn Ford’s delivery:
Jonathan Kent: Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son?
Young Clark Kent: [going over to Jonathan] Um... I didn't mean to show off, Pop. It's just that, guys like that Brad, I just want to tear him apart.
Jonathan Kent: Yeah, I know, I know.
Young Clark Kent: And I know I shouldn't...
Jonathan Kent: Yeah, I know, you can do all these amazing things and sometimes you feel like you will just go bust unless you can tell people about them.
Young Clark Kent: Yeah. I mean every time I kick the football I can make a touchdown. Every time! I mean, is it showing off if somebody's doing the things he's capable of doing? Is a bird showing off when it flies?
Jonathan Kent: No, no. Now, you listen to me. When you first came to us, we thought people would come and take you away because, when they found out, you know, the things you could do... and that worried us a lot. But then a man gets older, and he starts thinking differently and things get very clear. And one thing I do know, son, and that is you are here for a reason. I don't know whose reason, or whatever the reason is... Maybe it's because... uh... I don't know. But I do know one thing. It's *not* to score touchdowns.
And that’s what makes Clark Superman.
Monday morning: Found the clip!
Posted by: Gary Farber | Monday, July 23, 2012 at 12:21 AM