Does anybody else think Superman died with Christopher Reeve ?

[samurainoir]

[Godzilla]

Exactly Ed. While I love Reeve, another me also expects Sups to say "Up, up and away" every time he takes off. The animated series and the Superfriends were just as important for me and the character.

[huedell]

It's an insult to one of my top favorite fictional characters of all-time to place it's value in one man.

IMHO, the best Superman movie is quoted from in my signature below (Superman Vs. The Elite), and Reeve had nothing to do with that movie.

Speaking of SVs.TE, if one of the reasons you love the Superman character is for the same reason I do, that being Superman's ability to be such a respectable guy in spite of his great power, you just HAVE to see that movie.

IMHO, SVTE displays the best that the Superman character has to offer... ironically, with a set of villains who aren't part of his classic rogues gallery (IMHO, yet another piece of proof that Superman's rogues gallery is every bit as good as Batman's or the Flashs').

[MIB41]

I think the Superman from my generation was a product of Christopher Reeves AND Richard Donner. They gave him a reverence that just doesn't exist anymore. I thought his sensibilities matched his code of honor. This new one is more one dimensional. He looks like he was designed for X-Box with about as much sensibilities as the characters in those games. No real regard for human life. Just another hero with a cape. I can't connect. Now had Christopher Reeves Superman met the modern day Batman? That would have been a classic contrast of heroes. Today's version carries too much of the same cynicism as Batman, so I don't see enough contrast to make that interesting. And Bruce Wayne looks like he will be the DC version of Tony Stark with his armored Bat Suit. It all looks a tad derivative of the established Marvel cinematic characters.

[PNGwynne]

I'm not a great Superman fan (I prefer Batman, but esp. Aquaman, Capt. Marvel. & Doom Patrol). But Reeve's first two films seem, even today, nearly perfect to me. He was and is, "my" Superman. I certainly agree that it is generational, but I can watch even George Reeves with an enjoyment now that was impossible for me in 1978.

I guess my stamp of approval for Reeves/Routh, plot details of their films not withstanding, is that I see that portrayal of Superman as iconic for me.
I can always turn to the Timmverse for probably a better portrayal of Supes & Bats, but I know deep-down I'll never see a Batman film, or a film other than Reeve's, that satisfies me with its interpretation.

I'll agree with Dwayne in saying only Evan's Cap approaches that iconic feel; I liked his first film and portrayal enormously.

[PNGwynne]

It's an insult to one of my top favorite fictional characters of all-time to place it's value in one man.

Perhaps, though I think "insult" is a strong word. I suppose it would be a disservice in the same sense of equating Batman only with West, Tarzan with Weissmuller, Holmes with Rathbone, or Connery with Bond. I'm fickle: sometimes I'm a purist, sometimes not.

But these characters, in adaptation, have an increased resonance with broader culture. Considered so, I think it's fair game to gauge their success and impact in relation to a specific portrayal.

Bias and idiosyncracy play in, too: I prefer Meredith & Williams' Penguin to DeVito's & Taylor's--with righteous justification IMO--but I can see why others might like other interpretations.

[Hedji]

I'll agree with Dwayne in saying only Evan's Cap approaches that iconic feel; I liked his first film and portrayal enormously.

Do you feel like some of that feel was lost in Winter Soldier?

I agree It's nice to see a hero who is squarely heroic and uncynical for a change.

[PNGwynne]

^ I confess to not seeing Winter Soldier. I figured I'd catch it on cable.

[enyawd72]

Do you feel like some of that feel was lost in Winter Soldier?

I agree It's nice to see a hero who is squarely heroic and uncynical for a change.

Just the opposite Andy. In fact, the scene where Cap says to Nick Fury that his tactics aren't freedom, bur fear resonated deeply. Fury's comment that SHIELD sees the world as it is, while Cap sees it as he'd like it to be speaks volumes of Cap's eternal optimism...something he shares with Reeve's Superman.
Captain America is the moral compass of the Marvel Universe. Steve Rogers' inner strength and courage are what makes him a hero, not the super soldier serum. He always knows what is right and stands for the common man. That's what makes him the most like Superman.

[jwyblejr]

Yeah,I don't think Cap lost it either in Winter Soldier. Especially near the end when he's trying to save Bucky.

[huedell]

Fury's comment that SHIELD sees the world as it is, while Cap sees it as he'd like it to be speaks volumes of Cap's eternal optimism...something he shares with Reeve's Superman.

Top notch observation... and one of the reasons I am an admirer of both Reeves' Superman portrayal AND Evans' Cap portrayal (if not always a fan of their movies as whole films).

Captain America is the moral compass of the Marvel Universe. Steve Rogers' inner strength and courage are what makes him a hero, not the super soldier serum. He always knows what is right and stands for the common man. That's what makes him the most like Superman.

i HOPE so. That's what I want from both characters... but, it's not always portrayed that way.

On that note, I've always absolutely loved the Timmverse Superman, yet it's interesting to watch Supes interact with Captain Marvel the one time that he shows up in that series (the "Clash" episode). I thought it was a brilliant "compare and contrast" of two similarly-minded heroes. I saw it as Captain Marvel was a young Holden Caulfield (Catcher In The Rye protagonist) while Superman was just too jaded with "Luthor-rage" to behave as he should have...and it made Supes look bad.

A notable moment in that notable episode was when Superman acknowledged his falling prey to his Achilles Heel (the Luthorian chink in his demeanor armor, so to speak). Despite Batman's usual "keep the Kryptonian uber-creature in check" attitude tells Superman that he believes that Superman was "set up". It was if Batman was trying to offer some empathy to Superman, despite Superman's questionable behavior---and I thought it was---a nice gesture from the usually unforgiving Batman.

[Mikey]

Never been a fan of square-face cartoon superman

IMO superman should not be square-faced

[Bruce Banner]

Always loved the character. Been reading Superman comics as long as I can remember and watched every animated version that was ever produced.
The comics will always be my favourite medium for Superman action. Especially the Bronze Age era.

But as far as live action screen portrayals of Superman go, Reeve will always be the one I remember most fondly.
Nobody since then (except for Henry Cavill) has impressed me in the role.

Dean Cain and Tom Welling? No thanks.

[samurainoir]

[huedell]

Never been a fan of square-face cartoon superman

IMO superman should not be square-faced

Maybe.

Ya know. .. after Super Friends, there was a Ruby Spears Superman cartoon which had a traditional looking look to its characters. But I was too old to appreciate the show's writing which pandered to a younger audience almost as young as Super Friends did.

At that time the Timmverse was just coming into being with the Batman cartoon, and, frankly, I was not into it.

Looking back, I realize it was because I didn't wanna see "square-faced Batman".

It was only after many years of DCAU square faces and the first appearance of a Supervillain team akin to the Legion Of Doom in the Timmverse DCAU Justice League episode "Injustice", that I put my cartoon artistic styling prejudice aside, and focused on looking for solid portrayals of characters I love. I haven't looked back since.

Just food for thought