Mieko_Siede

@skywise Yes, I too am one of those deeply invested in the characters. Some more than others obviously. I'm fine with certain variations for there are certain elements to comics that don't translate to screen very well. There are always variations when we see them done, be it with subtlety or total reworking. I can't expect a 100% exchange between screen and page. Look at Watchmen, that was a total mirror image to the comic and it fell flat with total lack of appreciation for its art. Just keep my basic elements in tact. Certain stories don't always work for a modern setting and thus they have to change. All I look for is the basic elements, the base cast serving their functions, and a relate-able (if at all possible depending on the extremes) yet recognizable plot. Don't totally change the property we know for the sake of film or new audiences.

Man of Steel looks as though it's for a new generation of fans with all the base elements, story, and plot devices that we all knew growing up with it's variations that make it translate for an interesting film watching experience. It doesn't appear to alienate those who came to love the character as he's evolved over time. With other films like Wonder Woman, though she hasn't been to the big screen, she had a television series that some people still remember. It was as campy as Adam West's Batman series and never exploited her correctly for the character and her history. She's been in several animated platforms and has a fantastic comic book series flowing in the New 52. But putting it to screen, big screen, can still be touchy for those who truly know the essence of her character. There are certain portrayals of her people would like to see. But if she was to be made into a movie much like we see with all the talk on these message boards about Man of Steel, there will be expectations. Especially when we know these characters as well as we do certain family members, we naturally have some expectation of what we'd like to see done to them. Tarnishing the integrity of something and alienating fans is disappointing enough in itself without any overall great expectation of a final film product.

@Brizzy You know what they say about great minds.

@superman81 The entire Dark Knight trilogy was special to me. I think it managed to do what no other comic book adapted movie has been able to thus far. The Avengers had a lot of eye candy but there wasn't much substance. In fact, most of those Marvel movies, however coveted, lack maybe not a lot but quite a bit in substance. They're mostly kid-friendly movies that target teens and younger with stories that imply depth but not much else. They have a lot of dazzle and bring you in with awesome action in a lot of cases. The level of maturity and depth the Dark Knight trilogy brought allowed you to get involved. You cared about Bruce. You felt his plight. You saw the dread in what he chose to become and ultimately depended on the persona of the bat to balance his normalcy for him. And yet, it alienated him from the rest of the world. He was lonely and desperate to be rid of it all the same as he was so determined to protect the people of the city from the terror he'd lost his parents to. There's a level of commitment that goes into that sort of story telling that doesn't glamorize the life of a hero but ultimately portrays that choice as a burden. That takes layers that no other series has brought to the fray in such a dramatic fashion. They always seem to find a bright side or light hearted way of conveying the turmoil of these characters. The Amazing Spider-Man came quite close at showing the true depth of Peter Parker's life and the choice that complicate it. Spider-Man, in all sincerity, is not a light hearted story either and Marc Webb for all his criticism has made a remarkable attempt at bringing that to light. There were other engrossing and deep comic book adaptations, but those are technicalities given that they are seldom recognized as that. You had Road to Perdition and A History of Violence that were greatly intriguing and engrossing for what they were.

A story such as Superman is also layered. He's a character that holds no contempt for the world but houses great insecurities for all his abilities and gifts. He's challenged emotionally because as a child he knows he's different, that he doesn't belong in the crowd...the ultimate loner partially by choice and by force. To know he was born under another constellation of stars later and that he would never be human and yet lived as one his entire life...Eventually to become the champion of humanity against threats both domestic and mostly alien...a great degree of the thought it took to bring Nolan's Batman to life is required to make this incarnation of Superman truly work. And as you and I have both stated before, it appears from what little we have been given that they have captured that essence to bring a relate-able Superman into sight. One with as much aggression as he is gentle and mild-mannered. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome.

@superman81 Unfortunately most movies promise there is more to come after the trailer seemingly gives it all away. Not to say this is the case for this film. I feel like even with as much that has been exposed I still don't know what to expect. I can, however, honestly say that with so many comic book movies that we've seen in the past I can't remember being this hype to see one since Batman Begins. And that's simply for me. I've been stoked and intrigued to see other movies but not like this. I believe it's because Superman has been in film for such a long time and we had yet to see the Man of Steel in all his glory waiting for technology and the right eye to catch up to the true character and his rich mythology. We didn't have anything to measure Spider-Man against when it came out with Toby McGuire. We didn't have a measuring stick for Iron Man or Thor. The Hulk has always been touchy to try and he's one of the most simplistic characters to put on screen. But Superman pioneered with the introduction of beloved super heroes on the big screen with Richard Donner at the helm. It started something that took quite a while to become perfected eventually as more of them would surge onto the screen in different spurts. I believe studios finally understood that there were rich stories, a wealth of them, in comic books. They just needed the right formula to convey them to screen. Superman has seen several treatments on the small screen. He's had several outings on the big screen. But he was never the Man of Steel we were captivated by when turning the pages of DC comics. Only through the animated films did he get to shine against a range of worthy foes that gave us a true sense of danger for the boy in blue. It appears here we're going to get a range of emotions, internal conflicts, and a villain worthy for his first outing that could present a taxing challenge. I see the makings of an epic series and an expansion to the DC Universe in film.

Too much cgi? I'd say from the looks of it you couldn't get much better when it comes to an interstellar plot with a story that is based on a character born on the other side of the universe. Let's not forget that not only is this a story spanning from the life and death of one planet to the beings of that planet adversely effected by the solar energy of our yellow sun awakening immense powers within each of them. Man of Steel is about SUPERMAN! What would one have? A man in blue tights flying around catching airplanes and fighting a mortal who happens to be a genius somehow two moves ahead of him with an even better understanding of the hero than the hero himself? Wait a minute, that's been done four and a half times already.

A Superman movie should be epic with basic principles not basic with the only thing epic in its tone is its theme music. Come on, this looks like it's exactly what it should be.

@bawnian-dexeus For sure, this one can be quite tricky my friend. With a majority of the characters have straight line stories. Something creates them to be what they become. A purpose drives them to seek justice. They encounter their equals in villains that are drawn out by their character alone that otherwise didn't seem to be a threat until they had a challenge. Thor is Marvel's equivalent of Wonder Woman given the fact that they both have mythological backgrounds. It was my opinion that the first Thor was not well done at all. But I agree, if they had the right team that can find the perfect or at least near perfect balance a story like this needs, I'd be thrilled to see it. It's not quite as linear or as cut and dry as a Superman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Batman etc.

@bawnian-dexeus That would be quite interesting. And yet, I fear with a character like this that they could handle the mythology so loosely. I'd hate to see it mishandled. And again, for her, I'd probably like to see that element you suggested as a hint of a recollection of sorts but not the bases. I'd like to see deeper twists and elements to her story that could give it that epic fantasy feel as she's drawn to our modern world. How a war of the gods could spill into our realm with her involved. There are quite a few ways it could go and yet so easily tarnished by carelessness.

I am always amused with these little back and forth arguments. I forgot about pictures. I totally forgot about what this article was supposed to be about reading all the comments below. lol!

@skywise I wish I could hug you my fellow comic book follower. You seem to be deeply invested in these mythologies.

I believe with the successes of The Dark Knight trilogy and with Marvel cornering the market with their numerous titles, Warner/DC are going to continue to approach the next several ventures with care. I don't think that they'd just try to cash in on the success of Man of Steel and throw a piece of garbage in the guise of a Supergirl film out there again...unless it goes straight to DVD. I think they have a formula now that they are unwilling to compromise for the sake of their current competition with Marvel. It wouldn't be hard to best them, they just needed the right moving parts to make them happen. Man of Steel as it has been stated numerous times, is their new blueprint. I wouldn't mind seeing Supergirl introduced in the sequel as an added highlight and a figure that would deepen his history a bit as he continues to find out who he is.

As for Wonder Woman, if they put the right pieces of her story together it could make an interesting film. Again, they have to make a seamless mesh between the world she comes from and the world we live in. It has to be quite unique and thought out enough that it can be as open as they claim the Man of Steel to be in terms of allowing room for this blended DC universe. They need to allow characters to be more inclusive even more so than the Marvel mash ups. They almost need to be dual films. But we will see where they eventually end up in the scheme of things with their roster.

This may be the role that totally transforms his career. This could very well turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

@skywise It would be nice to see an expansive story on Supergirl too. I'd like her to be done right especially with the fact that her roots are closely tied to Kal-El and if they've captured the formula correctly with Man of Steel I don't see why they couldn't create a good film for her to sort of conjoin things a bit if she would indeed be a part of the Justice League. My fear with Wonder Woman is the script and them keeping her story interesting. She'd do well if they stuck to the mythological roots of her story and not so much in trying to bring her to a modern setting in a city unless it is to bring her closer to those she'd be in arms with as team mates of the Justice League. I'd just hate for them to make a campy incarnation or one that took itself too seriously with a over shadowing dark tone. I'd like to see how her world could mesh with the modern world and somehow make it all feel apart of the same universe as the other characters. If they could do that without having her in brawls with average thugs and the usual nonsense of the common man I'd be more than interested to see it. And please keep the invisible plane out of it!

@skywise I've always been a tough critic. I was sorely disappointed when I saw that movie because I was expecting so much more. The only thing Brian Singer has ever done that I don't turn away from is The Usual Suspects. I have to respect the fact that the X-Men took a leap and dared to do something that to that point no other company had the ambition to try. I can't say it was exceptionally well done in my eyes. I can't say that it was pulled off. It was just as much random as it was pulled together. The effects and make-up left much to be desired. And the story failed to resemble what we truest fans even knew. They were just the characters with names we knew and certain basic elements that made them passable. I certainly wanted more...expected more. X2 had even more random assets to it than structured development. It was just a great backdrop to throw a few more cool characters we all knew, but they weren't well done. Most characters we only knew by name because we knew of the comics or the cartoon series. Though Ian McKellan is a great actor and he embodied Magnito, he couldn't embody the physicality of the character of the comics though his age was appropriate. And there is still so much about the series I could pick apart. But that's just my opinion of it.

And yes, as long as they keep the core of the character with Johnny Storm and Sue I don't have a problem with ethnic changes. Just don't do it for the sake of a "WOW" factor. But I digress, it is true that this is only a rumor until proven otherwise.

What about this poster reminds anyone of Superman Returns? How could this, given not only the still shots and any other previous poster for this movie make anyone think of Superman Returns...especially this poster? He isn't hovering above the earth nor doing the classic hands to the hip hero pose in front of the Daily Planet. Wow, people seem too eager to criticize. Not that I'm cheer leading for this or anything but thus far, everything about this movie has been far removed from anything that has been done before it.

@ejk1 I knew I had that wrong. I remembered there was a Lantern before Jordan. Thank you for that correction.