Has Henry Cavill replaced Christopher Reeve?

[Hector]

Every person who played Superman made an impact and impression, though some more than others.

Chris Reeve - He brought a humanity and genuine goodness to the role. There was a purity to his performance, that while still pretending to be a bumbling fool, you never questioned his motivations or his heart. He truly was the big blue boy scout.

George Reeves - He had the quiet confidence and manliness tha would come with being Superman. He always had that look about him that he was the smartest one around and never had to question his decisions as he knew they were right and just. His presense commanded respect and attention, just like Superman should.

Brandon Routh - While he was obviously directed to channel Reeve, his own nuances came through. His Superman seemed quite emotionally vulnerable and maybe a little devoid of a sense of humor. Just being Superman would be extrememly demanding and stressful keeping up with his self-appointed duties and might wear down on the soul.

Dean Cain - He showed that even being the strongest being in the universe, you still have day to day stress of workplace woes and human problems. THe previous films touched on this briefly, but Cain's Superman had real world issues involving work, paying rent and romantic shortcomings.

Kirk Alyn - He made it his mission to separate Clark Kent from Superman. While G Reeves was basically the same in uniform or not, Alyn concentrated on making Clark and Kal as different as possible to maintain the illusion, even changing his posture and voice inflections.

So when you look at the big picture, each actor left somewhat of a legacy to the role. Every generation is influenced by the previous, even if it isn't obvious. Every modern metal band owes it's career in some way or another to Black Sabbath. In twenty years, when Superman is reborn on film (or holograms in our brain, it will be 2033)people will look back at Cavill's performance and take something from it. I haven't seen it yet so I have no idea what that would be, but no doubt he will be as influential as his predecesors were who donned the cape and S.

Thank you for not listing and mentioning Tom Welling, I'm so proud of you, I love you, fantastic post, lol.

[Hector]

I have no idea why this Superman related thread morphed into bullies and barflies, lol.

[EMCE Hammer]

Tom Welling will always be my alternate universe Superboy.

[Hector]

I'd take John Haymes Newton over Tom Welling for that role.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^What about Gerard Christopher, the 30-year old Superboy?

Chris

[palitoy]

^What about Gerard Christopher, the 30-year old Superboy?

Chris

I liked him!

[Hector]

Chris Reeve will never be replaced, he is the one who made me believe a man could fly way back in 78.

Having said that, I fully accept Cavill as Supes now.

[Random Axe]

^What about Gerard Christopher, the 30-year old Superboy?

Chris

Forgot about him. My criteria was actually being in the blue suit and having man in the title. Welling had neither. I would have liked to see that direction play out as I think he would have been impressive with the cape, far better than Cain.

[Hector]

I hate on Tom Welling because he never wore the suit until the very last episode, and even then it was from afar, that's why I don't see him as Supes.

Had he donned the suit on a regular basis, yes, he would've been a hundred times better than Dean Cain for sure.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I liked him!

I like him now. Season 1 of Superboy is almost unwatchable now as it was then, but I could tell Season 2 was a GREAT improvement. But I felt, at the time, Newton was the better Superboy...better built and looked more the part. But I was 13 or 14. Now I can see Christopher was the better actor, and the 2nd season is just much better all the way around.

I did felt a bit cheated that Welling never really donned the suit. I think he could have pulled it off well. Cain isn't as bad as I remember him being, but he never exuded the inner confidence and strength that Reeve and Cavill have in spades.

[palitoy]

I like him now. Season 1 of Superboy is almost unwatchable now as it was then, but I could tell Season 2 was a GREAT improvement. But I felt, at the time, Newton was the better Superboy...better built and looked more the part. But I was 13 or 14. Now I can see Christopher was the better actor, and the 2nd season is just much better all the way around.

I had totally dismissed Superboy the series during that first season, I was surprised how it turned into "Arg! I missed Superboy!" when Christopher took over.

I did felt a bit cheated that Welling never really donned the suit. I think he could have pulled it off well. Cain isn't as bad as I remember him being, but he never exuded the inner confidence and strength that Reeve and Cavill have in spades.

Dude looked the part, just always thought his voice didn't suit the character.

[Captain_Mego]

Just my take on the subject. Reeves was great and he endorsed Tom. Tom Welling embodies superman perfectly. He was Wholesome. Good natured, well tempered and looked the part.
I seen the movie the other night ,,it was a big time let down. I'm sorry to say me and the wife weren't impressed. Superman disregards peoples safety by throwing stuff threw buildings? He now kills people? I never felt the connection with him and his earth dad. Seemed forced. But that's just my take on it. I'm not sure I want a superman that kills and has no regard for peoples safety. I think superman would have let them chase him to a neutral ground taking hits all the way not destroy half the city and countless people. what a bummer. I wish they would make a made for tv smallville version with the suit . A 2 hour special With Tom.

[Hector]

Welling is done, he'd be selling real estate in late night informercials (like Erik Estrada) from now on.

[B-Lister]

If you can't respect where the material evolves from without being juvenile about it, then you no more understand the current character as he's written, than you do the one developed long before your existence was considered. Enjoy your self-induced coma on the subject.

"Resorting to name calling suggests you are defensive, and therefore find my objections valid."- Spock

The torch has been passed. Farewell to the relic. It is a bolder and better Superman's time to shine.

[spacecaps]

Wow. I'm sorry but for me, Tom Welling was the best Superman. I'm not really sure why there's so much hate for Smallville here but seriously that show nailed the embodiment of the character. It was all about Clark learning to become Superman and Welling played it so well that he's the guy I hold as the standard of who and what Kal-el should be. The show which spanned a decade captured Clark's early years in high school, going off to college and becoming an adult all while learning to embrace who he was in that time. Six movies over thirty years haven't been able to do that. When Smallville's Jonathan Kent died it resonated with the audience becuase for John was such an integral part of the show for several seasons and the bond been father and son and the chemistry of Welling and Schneider was palpable. Aside from Lana Lang, the show had near perfect casting and terrific story arcs that included the formation of the Justice League and Superman's Rouges Gallery of Villains. It hit on all the major parts of the mythos and most importantly took a bland and boring character and made him relevant.

Christopher Reeves as Superman was good but the movies he played him in are terrible. Even the first one. The third and 4th installments are so bad they shouldn't even count. He also took the role a bit too far in his later years. I know the guy went through a lot but to hear him talk he made it sound like he was Superman for reals. The last Superman movie was horrific in it's own right and I've already stated my feelings on the Man of Steel. Also who cares about Welling never donning the costume. I always viewed that as a way of saying that the costume doesn't make Kal-el super, it's his family values, upbringing and friends that make him the hero he is.