The Manic Maniac: Superman vs. Everybody - Aug 21, 2008 - 05:14am
Although I appreciated Bryan Singer's overly faithful homage to the Richard Donner Superman, I agree that the iconic nature of the first true superhero and the potential for popularity demand a "soft reboot," like what was done with Ed Norton's Incredible Hulk (but hopefully with better box-office results). I have no problem with Brandon Routh as the fundamentally decent Kal-El/Clark Kent, but I would lose the child subplot. As Superman II and Smallville have shown, there is the possibility of internal conflict for Superman. A being as powerful as a Kryptonian must resist the temptation to use his abilities for selfish ends, whether to retreat from humanity or to rule over it. It's only Clark's upbringing and adult relationships that keep him honest, and a proper antagonist must tempt his ego (Lex Luthor, General Zod) or significantly challenge him physically (Parasite, Doomsday). I'd rather see the circus strongman learning to try to defend Metropolis than the planetary messiah. I wouldn't mind seeing a slightly less powerful Superman fighting multiple giant robots, as in the Max Fleischer cartoons, or needing the help of the Justice League, because even he can't be everywhere at once and solve every crime. Superman's secret identity should not be threatened in every movie, but his friends (Lois, Jimmy, Perry) are part of his emotional and intelligence-gathering support network. Don't go the angsty route of Batman Begins/Dark Knight or even Spider-Man; Superman is about action, science fiction/fantasy, and wish fulfillment!

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Purefoy Ready to be the SAINT - Mar 10, 2008 - 10:43am
Having read the original Leslie Charteris novels and grown up on the 1960s Roger Moore television series, I hope that they'll do justice to the spirit of "The Saint," who's more of a benevolent con man than an action hero. Sure, he occasionally gets into fisticuffs, but Simon Templar should be better at outwitting the police and villains than at fighting them. The Val Kilmer movie got only some of this right, with a suave star but a bit too much emphasis on action and the end of the Cold War.

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Doug Jones Updates on SILVER SURVER - Oct 26, 2007 - 06:58am
"Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer" might not have been the best superhero movie ever made, but I thought it was reasonably good for light family entertainment. Not every comic book adaptation has to be dark, adult, and angsty. Of course, I'd also like to see more of Galactus (rendered faithfully) in a Silver Surfer flick. Doug Jones played the amphibious Abe Sapien in "Hellboy" (and its animated and upcoming live-action sequels), was the faun in the critically acclaimed "Pan's Labyrinth," and was one of the creepy "gentlemen" in the classic "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer" episode "Hush." So, stop the hating and let's hope this guy is given a chance to really shine as Norrin Rad!

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