Only because I like talking about comic book stuff do I feel compelled to report that British actor Henry Cavill has been cast as The Man of Steel in Zach Snyder’s Superman reboot.
That sound you hear is me loudly shrugging my shoulders in indifference.
Here’s the thing: unless you watch The Tudors, you probably have no idea who Henry Cavill is – and that’s fine! In fact, I think it’s smart to go with an actor that conventional audiences aren’t familiar with. Superman as a character is larger than any actor, so you might as well go with an “unknown” so audiences don’t ascribe any preconceived notions on the performance.
My indifference comes from Zach Snyder directing.
I know that Snyder has his fans. I know that some people think 300 and Watchmen were two of the greatest movies ever. But when I comes to Snyder, I check out. I think he’s the clearest example of “falling upward” in Hollywood and this wunderkind status he’s been afforded really rubs me the wrong way.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – he’s a mimic. A very convincing mimic. And he doesn’t have an original idea in his head. Maybe Sucker Punch will prove me wrong. But I cast a cynical eye on that one, too. Steampunk ninja robots? “I’ll take ‘Things The Internet Likes’ for $1,000, Alex.”
So, anyway… yeah. Henry Cavill is Superman. Whoopiety-do.
As a fan of the Tudors I am quite happy with this news. I may not be a huge fan of Snyder but his movies haven’t bothered me so I am looking forward to seeing what he does with the Man of Steel.
As long as the script is better than normal Snyder fare, I’m game for him doing Superman. His visual style will bring some freshness to the franchise.
That said, I don’t like the idea of Superman having a British accent. He’s born and raised in rural America!!
Now, a Russian accent, that’s another story altogether. Ten points to whoever gets that reference. đŸ˜‰
I’m not too worried about Superman being played by a British actor. Look at Andrew Garfield. Look at Christian Bale.
Of course, if James Bond were to be played by an American, can you imagine the push back?
Your reference is to Superman Red Son, naturally. That would be a cool movie.
But yeah, lots of Brits have been playing Americans for years without anyone noticing. They’re just better at accents than us. I usually forget that Christian Bale is Welsh because he never speaks with his accent in movies.
I don’t get the hate on Zack Snyder… he’s one of the very few directors out there where you can immediately recognize his style. At the very least, his his movies are all visually pleasing, and frankly, it won’t take much to be a better film than the 2006 one. Not that it was bad, but it certainly wasn’t memorable… other than Spacey being in it, I honestly don’t remember much from that movie. Snyder pretty much guarantees that it’ll be memorable.
Snyder has a style, but none of it is organic. It’s all adapted from comic books and previously existing source material that he adheres to paint-by-numbers style. That doesn’t take a lot of talent, in my estimation.
Most egregiously, he was the guy who developed the super slo-mo shot during action sequences and abused the hell out of it in less than two movies.
I’m just not a fan.
Cavill is an actor, people, and a very good one, who is also really good-looking, sharply masculine, with dark hair and a great jawline and good eyes. Think he’ll be able to do the accent, and he’ll look like Superman. If you’ve seen him in The Tudors you also know he’s a very strong actor. this is a really tough role to pull off.
Being unfamiliar with Cavill’s work, I have no strong opinion of him either way.
It’s Snyder as the director that causes my trepidation. Negated only somewhat by the fact that Christopher Nolan is producing.
I’m sure Cavill will be a fine Superman. But until I see the performance, the uproar surrounding the announcement is misplaced, I think.
Don’t forget his appearances in Stardust and the Count Of Monte Cristo (the Jim Caviezel version)…
I have to say I’m a little pleased about this choice. You have to admit he does look a little like the typical Superman apperance. As for Zack Snyder directing… *shrugs* Long as it’s not the Superman equivilant of Batman And Robin I’m not fussed.
Speaking of, anyone else hoping they don’t royally mess up the Bane character in Chris Nolan’s upcoming “Christian Bale growls at everyone for 2 hours” film?
So I saw the trailer for Sucker Punch tonight before The Green Hornet (enjoyable movie btw). Completely unimpressed and honestly, I felt a bit dirty after watching it.
You know how there was a really high budget porn version of Pirates of the Caribbean? And it was such a huge hit that they took the porn out to make it safe for tv? Sucker Punch looks like it went through the same process.
Ohhhh, snap! đŸ˜€