10. METROPOLIS: Superman’s stomping ground should be based in the REAL WORLD in a similar fashion to DARK KNIGHT’S GOTHAM CITY was based on CHICAGO. Perhaps base the fictional city on NEW YORK as a city that never sleeps.
09. THE DAILY PLANET: Clark Kent’s place of employment should seem like a REAL MULTI-FORMAT MEDIA OUTLET much like CNN or THE TIMES. It should be realized as a continually busy environment with people everywhere. This should not look like a standard set, but a real news room.
08. A DECENT looking LOIS LANE: My hat’s off to Noel Neill and Margot Kidder, but Kate Bosworth gets a perpetual THUMBS DOWN for her strained portrayal of the character. The “New” Lois Lane should be a combination of just above average beauty and pit-bull tenacity as a reporter.
07. SUPERMAN DEALING WITH REAL WORLD ISSUES: The new film in the proposed Nolan produced franchise should have the title character deal with certain issues like the war on terror and other social issues as well (if only as an aside.). How would Superman deal with terrorists, suicide bombers in the Middle East while trying to appear impartial? [No more of: “Does he still stand for Truth, Justice and all that other stuff” which was implemented in the Singer film.]
06. SMARTER CRIMINALS: The audience would like to see “smarter criminals” and not continually have their hero engaged in a perpetual Cain-n-Abel like struggle with signature villain Lex Luthor. It would be great to see cinematic versions of Bruno Manheim and Inter-Gang out fitted with weapons and equipment tailor made to deal with the man of steel.
05. CLARK KENT: “No Nonsense” should be the mantra here as elements of Kent as an uncoordinated social nerd should be jettisoned altogether. Perhaps Kent should be modeled after Sam Donaldson, Edward R. Murrow & Ted Coppel. Clark Kent should be an actual Investigative Reporter when not dealing with global and national issues as Superman.
04. INTERGALACTIC / COSMIC SCOPE: The New Superman films need REAL, THREATENING VILLIANS & some equally POWERFUL allies to aid the man of steel in times of crisis when his powers will simply not suffice.
For this reason, Jack Kirby’s 4th World should be merged with this franchise. Characters like High Father could be alluded to and Orion should be a reoccurring character (Personally, I would turn James Marsden’s Richard White character into an alter-ego for Orion.).
Plain & Simple: SUPERMAN needs DARKSIED.
03. BRANIAC and DOOMSDAY: Braniac has yet to get a decent introduction to the cinematic audience. (No disrespect to James Marsters.) DOOMSDAY is kind of similar to the HULK and would make a good, physically imposing and threatening foil for the man of steel.
Perhaps, Braniac uses the mindless juggernaut as an avatar, projecting his consciousness into the creature. Threatening the world when Braniac is disabled and the beast begins razing the earth.
02. JOHN WILLIAMS SIGANTURE THEME: The youthful fanboy generation can for the most part, take it or leave it, but generation x and older identify John Williams rousing ICONIC score with SUPERMAN … period. Perhaps use the score as a framing device around another composer’s work.
… And finally.
01. THE “CLASSIC” SUPERMAN COSTUME: Singer’s idea of a muted almost burgundy colored costume left many people putt off and irritated that he would change something so well, Iconic. The studio and the filmmakers need to realize that SUPERMAN is LARGER than LIFE.
The costume does not need to be “updated”.
Note: I have an extreme dislike of Singer’s version of “Superman” but I have provided an impartial view in this article. I do feel as though Brandon Routh should be given another chance to embody the character of SUPERMAN, abet with a BETTER DIRECTOR.
Shadowgeek10 returns to the shadows once more….
THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO
CHRISTOPHER REEVE
September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004