I saw Superman the Movie in a theater in 1978. It was a moment in movie history before MTV or the internet when filmmakers were creating pelikula to be experienced in a movie theater. These pelikula used special effects the way Stanley Kubrick did in 2001: A puwang Odyssey. The visuals were like a paint brush creating broad strokes across the screen meant to mesmerize viewers. Like Close Encounters or bituin Trek the Motion Picture, Superman was about the larger than life world it played out in. But unlike 2001, these pelikula also had endearing characters and situations that you wanted to spend time with. People see them as a little quaint now. After bituin Wars and Indiana Jones pantasiya films kicked things up a notch audiences preferred a faster pace. And it wasn't long before Terminators and Rambos were the norm instead of bayani who looked at the big picture and tried to do the right thing, saving people for the simple reason that they were trying to better the world (like Superman). And sa pamamagitan ng the end of the 80s the another big superhero film ended with Batman rather casually letting the Joker drop to his death off the tuktok of a building. So much for bayani saving people.
In the wake of Superman Returns people complained that Superman was too much of a "boy scout" and compared him derisively to Wolverine, a character that (I'm sorry) is about as tough as the Fonz from Happy days as realized sa pamamagitan ng Hugh Jackman. Superman Returns was like a much belated sequel to Superman II. It was nice. It used the old John Williams theme to get us excited again. But it also reminded us that it wasn't what it was pretending to be. Christopher Reeve was very good in the role and Brandon Routh was reduced to playing a madami serious version of Reeve's portrayal. Plus he was saddled with a super pag-ibig child that no one really asked for in a weird attempt to "improve" (??) the old Superman / Lois relationship.
Now a new Superman movie is on the way and I think it's actually promising that they are not trying to do a sequel to Superman Returns (which was really a sequel to Superman the Movie). It won't be Superman the Movie. It'll be something else. I just heard Amy Adams is playing Lois Lane and she's a fun actress. I hear that Christopher Nolan is producing and Zack Snyder is directing. I don't know exactly what they have planned. I hear it's "darker." (I cringe at that.) That they have a new angle. But you know, I'm getting used to the idea. Superman: The Man of Steel won't be a belated sequel. It may have some creativity and new things to offer, which is what happens when a character like Superman has been around as long as he has. All I ask is: whatever they mean sa pamamagitan ng "darker" or "a new angler," they just be true to the spirit of superman. Let's not have him dropping any bad guys to their death. We're talking about Superman after all.