Superman the movie was created in 1979 by Richard Donner and starred a young actor by the name as Christopher Reeve in the first major motion of his career. Reeve had studied acting at the Julliard Academy in New York city, New york and was ready to take his place among the Hollywood elite. He was casted as Superman because he his acting ability, height and lack of star prowess. He, along with Richard Donner, helped create the world of Superman for the big screen. Donner created his vision of Krypton and set the wheel into motion. He had casted well, picked the musical score well and he had his own personal take on Earth's mightest superhero.
Superman the movie set out to do what Reeve, Donner and Superman himself wanted to do. They inspired the hearts of million--including Christopher Nolan--into believing a man can fly. Reeve was crowned Superman and with a great box office success, they were green lighted a seconded movie. Superman 2 was another box office success, although not as big a blockbuster as the first. Since then, the Donner universe produced two flops that made Warner Bros. decided to bring an end to the franchise. WB had struck gold with their new Batman franchise and decided to put Supes on the back burner. Although they had plans to revive their once profitable series all attempts at it were squandered. After the horrid Batman and Robin movie, WB decided that it was time to reboot both superhero franchises and give the two heros a new take for the new melenium. Christopher Nolan's created his Batman series starring Christian Bale. His Batman had nothing to do with Tim Burton's Batman and did quite well at the box office implementing his view on Batman. Then, it was Bryan Singer's turn to reboot his franchise--Superman.
Singer decided to take the safe route. We were promised a Superman reboot. I, at the time, a huge Smallville fan wanted Welling to be casted as Superman. He had already been playing Clark Kent for over 5 years and had been handed the mantle of Superman from Christopher Reeve before his death. Welling was not casted, Singer opted for a relative unknown named Brandon Routh. I was disappointed, but it was a Superman movie. I went to the theater with some friends (Huge Batman fans) to see Richard Singer's Superman Returns. We watched until the movie and I even gave a standing ovation for Superman when he saved the plane. I was jubilated at the site of my favorite Superhero doing things that my friends' favorite could not. Then, the movie continued. From the time Routh boarded the plane after he saved it I started to grow weary. Singer had shot a shot for shot remake of the original Superman. Where Donner made a movie suited for his audience (A 1970s version), Singer had made a movie suited for that same audience. The glee that I once had from the movie started to vanish and more and more Singer's bad casting choice kept rearing it's ugly head. Routh had no fluidity in his movement, he was to robotic and stiff. He read his line as if they were being fed to him. He had no chemistry with his other actors and was continuosly outperformed by his fellow castmates (especially Sam Huntington who played Jimmy Olsen). Kate Bosworth did a good job, but she was too young (20 when Return was shot) for the role of Lois Lane. Spacey did his best to mirror Hackman, but Spacey's Luthor was made for the '70s. He wasn't menacing, he was stuck on land schemes and he had hired goons. He wasn't the business mogul that he had become in the new millenium, he was still "The greatest criminal mind of the 70s. The whole movie stunk, from the casting to the acting of Routh to Singer lame duck story. What people had hoped for would be a fresh take on Superman turned out to be a basterdized I love Superman 1 movie. Many people who were kids when Superman 1 first came out loved the movie. It was a chance to see Christopher Reeve, or Singer's best look alike, as Superman once more and they instantly took to Routh because of his likeness as Singer was. Singer didn't even audition people for the role of Superman, he just looked at tape of previous auditions, saw Routh and gave him the lead in a 200 million dollar movie. Where Richard Donner casted an actor to play Superman, Bryan Singer casted a model to play Christopher Reeve.
On this site, the popular thing to do is to bash Smallville and praise Brandon Routh, but it was sad to see that even on this site Routh isn't considered the Superman of our generation. Tom Weling beat him ignominiously by garnering nearly 53 percent of the vote. Routh fans claim that Routh has gotten better at acting because he was casted in Chuck, but the acting in Chuck is awful. It's Smallville with spies. They also try to use Chuck Pilgrim as an example, but Routh didn't act. He was just an outlet for the comedy that the writers wrote. Routh has yet to earn a lead in another movie, he's yet to even star in a 100 million dollar movie. Routh fans say he looks the most like Superman, but that's because only himself and Dean Cain have donned the tights since Reeve. Tom Welling, who I think looks more like Supes, has yet to wear the tights on Smallville, but I'm sure when he does he'll light up the screen.
I don't want Routh anywhere near the reboot. Superman must begin like how Batman was. My choice for the Man of Steel is Mad Men's own Jon Hamm. Jon Hamm resembles Alex Ross' Superman from the Kingdom Come comics. So we know he has the looks. He's 6'1, but with good editing he can appear 2 inches taller. He has the range to play a character like Superman. He has the charisma fortitude to lead. He proves that night in and night out as Donald Draper that he can take control of the screen and lead a troop of talented actors. He can play a role that requires duality because he's proven that he can play both Dick Whitman and Donald Draper. He has chemistry with every female he's every been on screen with. He's a man among men and he is a trained actor, like Reeve.
Angelus said that Routh is a good choice for Supes because Routh is from the mid-wes and he's humble (Lame reason, but fine.). Jon Hamm is more Superman than Routh. Jon lost both his parents, his mother at a very young age, he knows what it's like to lose someone you love. Many Routh fans like to say that Hamm is too old to play Superman, but they are wrong. RDJ is 45 and he still plays Ironman. Superman is the oldest Superhero, he should look more like a man with problems. A man carrying the weight of the world. A Man of Steel, our Man of Steel!
He can do comedy
He can do it all.
We deserve a fresh take on Superman, a true reboot. A new Superman for a new age. Give us Hamm or give is death!
HAMMBOOT!