We already believe a man can fly… but can he still entertain us?
The trailer is out. Here are 13 QUICK THOUGHTS:
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1. The trailer immediately puts the lie to the notion that this will be just a shiny happy movie. It appears to be a Superman for a modern age — determined, inspirational, and yet one who will face genuine danger and challenges. More than anything, it’s the rocked-up John Williams score that sets the tone.
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2. That said, let’s not forget that this is a trailer, or in more coarse terms, a commercial. We don’t generally believe in everything a commercial is trying to sell us, do we? So, let’s enjoy this for what it is. But we are a long, long way from finding out whether this is actually a good movie.
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3. After all, here’s the first trailer to Man of Steel. It captures that same aura but the movie itself was just OK, with a horrendous, head-twisting ending that assassinated Superman’s character.
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4. And James Gunn can be uneven. I liked the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, detested the third, and really enjoyed the Christmas special. The Suicide Squad had its moments but it was hardly a home run.
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5. Somebody online — I don’t recall who, I’m sorry — said that John Williams’ Superman theme should always be used, just like the James Bond theme. Couldn’t agree more. You don’t mess with perfection.
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6. I love the “Look Up” tagline and its double meaning. Superman is who we should aspire to be. He does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. Every one of us needs someone like that to look up to.
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7. David Corenswet immediately sells that Clark and Superman could never be confused for one another. Christopher Reeve would approve.
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8. I generally don’t go bananas about casting decisions one way or the other. But as someone who really loved The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan was the perfect choice. I cannot imagine that not working out.
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9. Seeing Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) in that ridiculous haircut is hilarious.
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10. Metropolis should always be a stand-in for New York, but I love that the movie sets the city in Delaware. Die-hard, old-school comics fans know why.
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11. Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor looks downright scary, and just about unhinged. I’ll buy it.
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12. I have a feeling Pa Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is gonna die in this one too. Clark looks pretty concerned.
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13. Krypto steals the show!
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MORE
— James Gunn’s SUPERMAN Puts METROPOLIS Firmly in… DELAWARE. Click here.
— SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE Turns 45: Celebrating the Ultimate MAN OF STEEL. Click here.
December 19, 2024
It may only be a trailer, but I like what I see. Of course, just give me Krypto, and I’d be happy. I do like the color pallettes- and the style- Just like the old movies- but updated. To your point, not much about the plot is revealed- but I like the overall aesthetics.
December 19, 2024
Well as anyone who’s read the Atlas knows, Metropolis is in Delaware. Across the bay from Gotham in NJ.
December 19, 2024
KRYPTO made me well up. What a good boy!
December 19, 2024
Thanks for the posts. Just a maybe for me. Although Krypto is cute. But will the totally invulnerable Sup pull of vulnerable ?
December 19, 2024
A horrific ending lulz. Dame ensing as Superman 2 or one of the John Byrne stories.
December 19, 2024
I have seen a lot of “YAY!” comments about it but I don’t feel that way. From the opening shot of Superman bleeding in the snow, I was disgusted. Batman always gets mythic interpretations. Superman…of whom I am a fan…let’s just have him in the snow bleeding. And bleeding. Then the image of Clark with all that curly hair led to an “Oh, geez…”, and not in a good way. The rest of it — I am so tired of Luthor being in the Supes flicks and getting some other actor’s interpretation. Rachel, yes. The rest…ehh. Then back to bleeding in the snow. I walked away from the computer for a few minutes, but thinking about what I saw stuck with me and a distaste grew.
December 19, 2024
Guess you don’t remember him bleeding in the diner in Superman ll , which was a masterpiece.
December 19, 2024
I really enjoyed the trailer and have a good feeling about this film. It’s addressing some of the same things the Snyderverse films did, but there seems to be an underlying lightness and hope to it, on the other side of the darkness. Embracing the inherent Silver Age goofiness and charm of Krypto is a huge step in the right direction.
And I loved all three Guardians films. I just can’t make myself rewatch the third because I don’t want to become a blubbery moron over CGI animals again!
December 19, 2024
RE: John Williams’ Superman theme . . .. You don’t mess with perfection.
Exactly–And I do like the idea that the Williams’s theme should be the always-opening music for Superman films given its iconic identification with its specific superhero.
The other thing concerning the opening credits to the first Superman movie (and still the best Superman movie.) is how much I actually enjoy watching this movie’s opening credits (one of the few–and I just had to watch it here. Kudos, Dan for posting it!).
The idea of having the credits three-dimensionally project like that with that bold but unpretentious san serif typeface was a masterstroke by Robert and Richard Greenberg (and done before there was any CGI!).
It’s the only movie I can think of where the credits and the music so perfectly and reciprocally bolster each other’s immensity and monumentality (the animated credits make the music even more sweeping and majestic while the music reinforces the animated credits’ colossal sense of scale for the epic film it is introducing). A seamlessly and perfectly integrated visual and auditory unity. Stupendous.
December 19, 2024
I’m definitely interested in the film – more so now that I’ve seen the trailer. I’ve been concerned about the costume from the photos that were leaked. We don’t get a great view of it in the trailer but I can see enough of it to be encouraged that it will look better than the photos. Krypto is great – I always envisioned him as being a little bigger than he is in the movie but I am still glad to see that he’s a part of the DCU. Guy Gardner looks like Guy Gardner. Hawkgirl (from what I could see of her) looks nice – I’m aware that her and Guy Gardner’s costumes reflect that fact that they both work for Maxwell Lord. Mr. Terrific looks (of course) terrific. I’m anxious to see more of Metamorpho. Lex Luthor – I’m not sure what it is but he has kind of a General Zod look from Superman II. Maybe its the eyebrows and the pointed chin. All in all – this trailer inspires me to go and see the movie. And isn’t that the whole point of a trailer?
December 19, 2024
I like the trailer. Love the dog. The other characters are intriguing. Looking forward to the movie.
December 19, 2024
Loved it!! I read somewhere that Platinum (from the Metal Men) was supposedly in the Superman movie. Could the robot in the preview be all that remains of her?
December 19, 2024
I hope this Superman is closer to the original, that is strong, but not crazy strong. The blood may be an example of that. Hopefully no other Kryptonians or Doomsdays, as that’s been beaten to death. Love the bright color palette too.
December 19, 2024
I thought the trailer was okay, but I have an issue with the casting of Krypto. I feel like the dog picked to play Krypto should be a bigger dog sort of how Krypto looked during the silver age.
December 19, 2024
It looks fine. I loved the Justice League Trilogy (my three favorite super-hero films), but I’m open to other interpretations (I also love the Tim Burton Batman films and Superman Returns). But I’ve really, really disliked all of the James Gunn films that I’ve seen (they’re like fingernails on a chalkboard to me). I also wasn’t a Zack Snyder fan prior to Man of Steel, but that film won me over, so maybe this will too.
December 19, 2024
I completely disagree about John Williams’ theme. I would have preferred John Ottman to have been allowed to compose his own theme for Superman Returns. The music is was I liked least about this trailer. The expression on Nathan Fillion’s face is funnier than the hair.
December 19, 2024
Guy Gardner has a punchable face? Check!
Enjoyed this, looking forward to the movie.
I’m sure Krypto gained many new fans from non-comic readers from this trailer. I read somewhere that Gunn chose a dog that resembled a dog that meant a lot to him. I took that as a (good) sign he’s taking the project personally.
I think the Theme and the Love Theme from Superman are John Williams’ best works. He really does evoke flight.