My choice for a villain in the first of a trilogy would be a time-travel tale featuring Vandal Savage. At some point in the story, in the future, something about what happened to the Justice League in the past is revealed, giving Superman a clue about the organization he will eventually become a part of. Somewhere near the end of the film, of course, there will be a guest appearance by a fellow Leaguer (perhaps Bruce Wayne, Hal Jordan, Wonder Woman, Barry or Bart Allen, J’onn J’onzz, etc.), and the suggestion that they coordinate better on the larger threats.

The second film of the trilogy would feature the intergalactic threat of Brainiac (a space-faring Brainiac and not the earth-bound being served up on ‘Smallville’).

Due to severe damage and loss of life on Earth in the 2nd movie, a large anti-Superman (maybe anti-superhero) campaign is initiated with media backing, and Superman is forced into exile for the ‘betterment of humanity’. (Yes, this is similar to a story done by DC some years back…) The Guardians of the Universe could be in the film, along with other characters. In his absence, Darkseid’s forces invade the earth. With a contingent of New Gods, Superman returns, the threat is eliminated, and Superman is properly recognized for his place in the world. (A JLA-crossover would be great, too…)

Dreaming in technicolor, I know…!

One last comment: producers should *NOT* be afraid to create 3-hour feature film which pay proper homage to the characters and scope of stories comic book fans are used to. Yes, they cost more, but if properly cast and implemented, I’d pay extra money to see it. I really would.

I feel all queezy and sick inside when I think of Superman Returns, but I will try to get through this posting.

I am probably one of the top 10 Superman fans in existence, having followed the Superman comic book storylines since I was a child. As previously posted, I also enjoyed Superman I, and loved Superman II (I still enjoy watching that one!), while the remaining of the original films were (let’s face it) jokes (and Christopher Reeve knew it… he essentially did Superman IV for charity).

I had so many hopes for Superman Returns, and based upon the media coverage thought the new actor, Brandon Routh, could work. However, I was always worried about the comments Singer made about Routh looking like Reeve. “But can he ACT?”, I asked myself?

The movie had a ridiculous plot which borrows directly from the original 2 films (and so has been WAY overdone now) — the premise that Lex Luthor is *still* interested in part of California. We are in the 21st Century, folks… and people expect a little more than a plot to steal some property, even if it does turn into kryptonite and create a dangerous situation for our favourity Kryptonian. However, we were teased with the fact that Superman had been in space for quite some time, but they do not involve any space-faring characters, or even have a scene with him in space (other than the poster-targeted scene above the Earth).

Boring plot, lack of creativity, and pitiful, 2-dimensional acting by Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and everybody, except maybe for Perry White’s son (Lois’ husband), but in my books he shouldn’t even be a character.

The ‘son of Superman’ shouldn’t exist, and the drama and tension should revolve around bigger issues.

I have to mention again that Brandon Routh couldn’t portray Superman if he was covered by a large cloth bag the entire time… I still wouldn’t believe him, and the same goes for Lois. Neither character showed emotion… they simply read lines.

We have a large-screen HDMI-capable theatre setup at home, and based upon the cost of movies these days I choose carefully which films I go to see in theatres. If the storyline continues from Superman Returns, and the same primary actors remain, I will certainly purchase the blu-ray kit (but only out of my obligation to the character of Superman, or should I say, habit!), but I will *not* pay to see it in theatres.

It was just disappointing, and that is my 2-cents’ worth.

I’ve been looking online about pre-Crisis Superman, and, of course, most of it is about Supes vs. Goku (rather stupid debate). I would love to see pre-Crisis Supes in an animated film; a live-acting one would be too expensive.

On a slightly different note, one series they could look to for inspiration for the next film is “Superman: Secret Identity” which posits that a man in our real world is named Clark (last name is Kent) as both tribute and inside family joke to the legacy of the Superman comics. The twist is that, as a teenager, he really DOES develop superpowers and grows to create a secret identity celebrating the hero who inspired his naming. It is well-written and extremely interesting, possessing a lot of action (all of the saves he performs as well as the government initiative attempting to discover his identity and recruit him to government “secret weapon” work), romance (the woman he meets, falls in love with, and eventually marries; she is not Lois Lane but is HIS Lois), and humanity (the source of his powers is never revealed; other super-powered beings are hinted at; he later has a family which further develops the initial twist; he finally meets the agent assigned to track him down all these years…their conversation is actually one of the best and finest scenes in the entire story).

This would not only meet the need for a new “Superman” movie but would do so in a unique way and perhaps even attract some non-comic-fan filmgoers. Just an idea…

Go Routh!