In a recent interview with MTV, James Marsden talks about Superman and why he thinks audiences didn't react as well to "Superman Returns" as Warner Brothers Executives had hoped for. Enjoy the interview:
This guy doesn't get it! We don't want SUPERMAN to be dark! He is a character which should embody pure good!
He should never be dark! But the movie just sucked! It had no action, and while SUPERMAN can inspire love, and fight for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" he should also have more then women issues to deal with.
How about giving him a bad guy to challenge his power, and have a real fight scene in the movie, and not just have him lift heavy things.
That gets boring real real quick... I especially think that also giving this generation their SUPERMAN is very important! Once a face is linked to a character like this there should never be two actors playing him at once, and believe me Brandon Routh was hurt by the fact that everyone see's Tom Welling as this generations SUPERMAN.
Routh didn't have a chance from the start, and it's sad for him because I'm sure he's a nice kid, and all but seriously he had no chance!
Kid lacked acting ability, got a craptacular script, and a director who's a total hack!!! And worst of all his badguy is going full retard with his latest land scheme that makes no sense!
Oh, and the fact that almost 90% of the crap Superman said we're lifted from the Reeve movies! That's sad! Talk about living in the mans shadows.
I would have much rather had Tom Welling in a big screen Superman movie, and or waited until the show was totally off air before I re-started the series with just the right actor who could take the title of "This generations Superman."
If Tom Welling never wears the suit it will be a sad thing because so many fans want to see him as SUPERMAN! He just simply looks the part, and for now going on 8 seasons he has become the mental picture we get when we think of what SUPERMAN looks like.
He has the same charm in the role that Chris Reeve had, and his acting sometimes reminds me of George Reeves!
So given all this Brandon seriously had no chance, and still it's sad that all this time later these people just don't seem to get it.
SUPERMAN is not a dark character!!!!! But DOOMSDAY IS! Brainiac is, and Lex should be pure evil!!! Not some rich widow with a grudge for SUPERMAN!
Give SUPERMAN the right actor (Welling) right director, Writers, and a supporting cast that rivals that on the Nolan/Batman movies, and I am 100% positive that the movie will bank!
Give the fans what they want! It's like Field of Dreams! "If you build it they will come!"
Monday, September 29, 2008
Superman/Superboy Lawsuit in WB Quarterly Report
SECinfo.com has published the Time Warner Inc. Q-10 quarterly report, which has a summary of the on-going lawsuit over the rights to Superman and Superboy. On October 8, 2004, certain heirs of Jerome Siegel, one of the creators of the 'Superman' character, filed suit against the Company, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Plaintiffs' complaint seeks an accounting and demands up to one-half of the profits made on Superman since the alleged April 16, 1999 termination by plaintiffs of Siegel's grants of one-half of the rights to the Superman character to DC Comics' predecessor-in-interest. Plaintiffs have also asserted various Lanham Act and unfair competition claims, alleging 'wasting' of the Superman property by DC Comics and failure to accord credit to Siegel. The Company answered the complaint and filed counterclaims on November 11, 2004, to which plaintiffs replied on January 7, 2005. On April 30, 2007, the Company filed motions for partial summary judgment on various issues, including the unavailability of accounting for pre-termination and foreign works. On March 26, 2008, the court entered an order of summary judgment finding, among other things, that plaintiffs' notices of termination were valid and that plaintiffs' had thereby recaptured, as of April 16, 1999, their rights to a one-half interest in the Superman story material, as first published, but that the accounting for profits would not include profits attributable to foreign exploitation, republication of pre-termination works and trademark exploitation. The remaining issues in the case are scheduled for trial starting in November 2008. The Company intends to defend against this lawsuit vigorously.
On October 22, 2004, the same Siegel heirs filed a second lawsuit against the Company, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Warner Communications Inc. and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Plaintiffs claim that Jerome Siegel was the sole creator of the character Superboy and, as such, DC Comics has had no right to create new Superboy works since the alleged October 17, 2004 termination by plaintiffs of Siegel's grants of rights to the Superboy character to DC Comics' predecessor-in-interest. This lawsuit seeks a declaration regarding the validity of the alleged termination and an injunction against future use of the Superboy character. Plaintiffs have also asserted Lanham Act and unfair competition claims alleging false statements by DC Comics regarding the creation of the Superboy character. The Company answered the complaint and filed counterclaims on December 21, 2004, to which plaintiffs replied on January 7, 2005. The case was consolidated for discovery purposes with the 'Superman' action described immediately above. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment or partial summary judgment on February 15, 2006. In its ruling dated March 23, 2006, the court denied the Company's motion for summary judgment, granted plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment on termination and held that further proceedings are necessary to determine whether the Company's Smallville television series may infringe on plaintiffs' rights to the Superboy character. On January 12, 2007, the Company filed a motion for reconsideration of the court's decision granting plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment on termination. On April 30, 2007, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment on non-infringement of Smallville. On July 27, 2007, the court granted the Company's motion for reconsideration, reversing the bulk of the March 23, 2006 ruling, and requested additional briefing on certain issues. On March 31, 2008, the court, among other things, denied the Company's summary judgment motion as moot in view of the court's July 27, 2007 reconsideration ruling. To the extent any issues remain, the Company intends to defend against this lawsuit vigorously.
You can find the full Q-10 report at the SECinfo.com website.
The CW have released the official synopsis for 'Smallville' season 8, episode 5 - "Committed"
The CW have released the official synopsis for 'Smallville' season 8, episode 5 - "Committed": The episode is expected to air October 16th at 8pm ET. CHLOE TELLS JIMMY HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT CLARK
After they leave their engagement party, Chloe (Allison Mack) and Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore) are abducted by a psychotic jeweler (guest star David Lewis) who was emotionally scarred by his wife’s infidelity and is now kidnapping couples and subjecting them to a kryptonite-enhanced lie detector that shocks them if they lie. The abductor asks Chloe if she is in love with anyone else. Meanwhile, in an effort to find Chloe and Jimmy, Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois (Erica Durance) pose as a couple and are kidnapped themselves then, asked how they feel about each other. Allison Mack and Erica Durance also star. Glen Winter directed the episode written by Bryan Q. Miller.
Justice League Movie Updates
E! Online have posted an article discussing the the status of the Justice League film and what the future holds for the project. Here's an excerpt:
Superman vs. Batman didn't fly. A hyped Aquaman TV show went belly-up without ever airing and the movie is an Entourage joke. A Wonder Woman movie is struggling to get off the drawing board.
The heroes may be down, but they're definitely not out.
In news guaranteed to give fanboys conniptions, Warner Bros. is developing an ambitious feature film based on DC Comics' Justice League of America that will gather together some of the biggest superheroes, according to Daily Variety.
"The Justice League of America has been a perennial favorite for generations of fans, and we believe their appeal to film audiences will be as strong and diverse as the characters themselves," the studio's president of production, Jeff Robinov, told the trade.
Armie Hammer, the unknown picked to play Batman in the film, went on to tell E! Online that the Justice League actors endured months of vomit inducing physical training, and that he actually got to try on the Batsuit.
Considering that back in August, Robinov said that the studio has backed away from the Justice League film and has decided to go a different route and the fact that IESB reported just previous to Robinov's statements that George Miller is off the project, it is quite stretch to believe that the film is currently moving forward.
We will keep you updated as any further news becomes available.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Exclusive Video Interview: Cassidy Freeman of 'Smallville' Answers Fan Questions for BuddyTv.com
Cassidy Freeman is the newest actress to join the cast of Smallville, whose eighth season debuts tonight on the CW. With the departure of Michael Rosenbaum from the cast, Smallville needs a new resident baddie, and that person will be Cassidy Freeman's Tess Mercer.
With Lex Luthor missing in action, Tess Mercer has control of his estate and all his holdings. This means that she'll also be running the Daily Planet, so she'll no doubt be butting heads with Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois (Erica Durance) soon enough.
judithharris2 said: I haven]t watched it yet but I am very interested to see how the season develops especially Doomsday see all » hikinggirl70 said: Cassidy sounds like a great new addition to the Smallville cast. I can't wait to see how her character inte... see all »
suwanwaiwan2 said: see all »
With Lex Luthor missing in action, Tess Mercer has control of his estate and all his holdings. This means that she'll also be running the Daily Planet, so she'll no doubt be butting heads with Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois (Erica Durance) soon enough.
judithharris2 said: I haven]t watched it yet but I am very interested to see how the season develops especially Doomsday see all » hikinggirl70 said: Cassidy sounds like a great new addition to the Smallville cast. I can't wait to see how her character inte... see all »
suwanwaiwan2 said: see all »
The character of Tess Mercer is new to the Superman universe. Her name was inspired by Miss Teschmacher and Mercy Graves, Lex's loyal assistants from the movies. It's great to have a character without any prior baggage on this show; it'll be interesting to see where the new showrunners take her this season.BuddyTV got a chance to hang out with Cassidy at the Smallville studio for a little while after she was done filming for the day. We interviewed her in the set of Tess Mercer's office. She had just finished shooting a contentious Tess-Clark scene there with Tom Welling.
As you can see from the photo above, Cassidy's adorable dog joined us for the interview. Unfortunately, I don't speak dog, so I didn't get to ask it any personal questions about Cassidy.One thing about Cassidy is that she seems like a really fun person, and the entire crew unanimously talks about the great energy she brings to the set.
Smallville has been around for so many years that it must be nice to have some new faces to work with. She's also very down-to-earth. W.en I told her that I'd be asking her questions from fans, she said something along the lines of, “That's a lie. I don't have fans yet. This can't be real.”So please enjoy the video below of Cassidy Freeman answering your questions.
I know that it's very short – we only had time to ask her two questions – but I promise that there will be more from our conversation later. Please change your YouTube settings to “high quality” for best results.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Superman Comics Shipping This Week
Shipping This Week: September 17, 2008
The following products are expected to ship to comic book specialty stores this week. Note that this list is tentative and subject to change. Please check with your retailer for availability.
The following products are expected to ship to comic book specialty stores this week. Note that this list is tentative and subject to change. Please check with your retailer for availability.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
'superstar' artist Jim Lee in the production of DC Universe Online MMO as the game's scribe.
Sony Online Entertainment has revealed that Geoff Johns, one of the key writers from DC Comics, will join 'superstar' artist Jim Lee in the production of DC Universe Online MMO as the game's scribe.
Johns currently writes key titles such as Action Comics (the longest-running Superman title) and Green Lantern, having written the likes of the blockbuster Infinite Crisis, Teen Titans and The Flash in the past. In a nutshell - he knows his DC comics. He calls himself a gamer, listing the like of Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and GTAIV among his favourites.
Speaking about what we should expect of the game, Johns said that things will kick off in true comics style with a 'secret origin'. "In a secret origin, something happens to you and you make a choice; what are you going to do?... There are lots of different stories or offshoots you can do. The story that I've created, is really just the first story but within that story, there are dozens and dozens of others."
He also hinted further about crossover between the comics and the game, saying, "There are some things in it [the game] from there that for people who know my stuff will be familiar. And there might be certain pieces of stories or certain big stories that might be adapted later on. But for now, the first big story is the secret origin story."
Earlier in the year Jim Lee, executive creative director on the game, hinted that we may see elements of the game being brought into the comics, too.
This will be the first time Johns has been officially teamed up with Lee (Batman, Superman, X-Men).
No longer up in the sky, The Man of Steel & his superhero brothers (& sisters) have landed at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood, Ohio.
Visitors to the special exhibit "Zap! Pow! Bam! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950" can learn all about those legendary characters who fought evil and injustice. They can also learn about their predominantly Jewish creators. The exhibit, which opens September 16th and runs through January 4th, will delight visitors of all ages. It has a high nostalgia quotient for those who grew up during the 1930s and '40s, some of whom may have been Glenville classmates of Superman's co-creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel. Baby boomers, too, will get a kick out of revisiting the diversions of their youth, whose characters were popularized even further by television in the 1950s. The historical significance of the comics may be lost on the youngest visitors, but they'll be tickled by a ride in an original, kid-sized, mechanized Batmobile, or a chance to emerge in full superhero regalia from a vintage phone booth.
Originally developed by The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta, the exhibit's guest curator was Jerry Robinson, who worked with Batman creator Bob Kane. Robinson is credited with naming Batman’s young protégé Robin and co-creating Batman’s nemesis, The Joker. Many items from Robinson’s personal collection are on display.
The exhibit describes the genesis of the American comic book as a 20th century phenomenon, with roots in the 19th century pulp paper magazines and dime novels. Initially, the books were comprised of reprints of strips from the Sunday newspapers reduced to half-tabloid size. These were hugely successful and by the mid-1930s publishers ran out of previously printed material and began to employ writers and artists to create new stories. This creative opportunity was particularly attractive to many young, educated, ambitious Jewish men in New York City who were out of work during the Depression.
"Zap! Pow! Bam!" includes over 70 artifacts n vintage artwork, rare early comic books, scripts and original toys and games. Visitors can listen to audio interviews with many of the superheroes' creators, and view 1940s serials in the old-time movie theater. Those who get footsore can peruse an assortment of vintage comics while they rest a bit on a thoughtfully placed park bench.
For more information and ticket prices, call 216-593-0575 or check out the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage website.
DC Comics have released their December, 2008 solicitations featuring images for new comics and products.
One new item that fans have been requesting from DC Direct for years is the official first ever "CHRISTOPHER REEVE AS SUPERMAN STATUE" sculpted by Karen Palinko. Official Description
It’s the quintessential Man of Steel!
One of the most fondly remembered depictions of Superman is now available as a commemorative statue exclusively from DC Direct. Christopher Reeve strikes an iconic pose from the classic 1978 feature film Superman – the movie that made the world believe “a man could fly” and turned the actor into a star.
Standing atop an S-shield base, the Christopher Reeve as Superman Statue is a limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue.
This amazing statue will be available in May of 2009 and will retail for $195. Also, please note that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
Click here to check out the DC Comics December 2008 solicitations for all the Superman-related comics and products to be released soon.
Save the home where SUPERMAN was created!
Early Tuesday morning, sales in the second of four eBay auctions reached $18,996. That, combined with last week's auction proceeds of $34,459, puts the two-week total at $53,455, surpassing the original goal of $50,000. Two more week-long auctions will be held over the next two weeks.
The money will be used to replace the roof and rebuild the exterior of the former home of Jerry Siegel on Kimberly Avenue on Cleveland's East Side in the coming weeks.
Money raised in excess of $50,000 goal will be used for interior repairs and other work.
The Cleveland-based Siegel and Shuster Society and novelist Brad Meltzer came up with the idea to raise money to restore the house by asking comic book and Hollywood royalty to contribute art or unique opportunities to be sold over the Internet in four auctions this month.
The biggest seller in the most recent auction was a drawing by Superman artist Curt Swan, which sold for $7,600. The biggest seller so far was $14,101 for a piece by artist Jim Lee, which would depict Superman and the auction winner. Upcoming auction items include a walk-on role on television's "Heroes"; a Superman T-shirt autographed by Jerry Siegel and original art by Alex Ross, Adam Kubert, John Buscema and Paul Dini. Click here to view a complete list of the auction items.
Brad Meltzer at Jerry Seigel's Childhood Home
Four new clips from the Season 8 premiere of Smallville + Spoiler Pictures!
Warner Brothers has provided MovieWeb.com with four brand new clips from the Season 8 premiere of Smallville, which returns to the CW Network on Thursday, September 18 at 8PM ET. Click below to get some sneak peeks of the premiere episode entitled "Odyssey" before you tune in.
The CW has released 12 stills (pictured below) from "Smallville" season 8, episode 3, entitled "Toxic". The new episode, which airs October 2nd at 8pm, explores the origins of the Green Arrow and brings doomsday one step closer. Here's how the CW describes the show:
The CW has released 12 stills (pictured below) from "Smallville" season 8, episode 3, entitled "Toxic". The new episode, which airs October 2nd at 8pm, explores the origins of the Green Arrow and brings doomsday one step closer. Here's how the CW describes the show:
Oliver Flashes Back To His Days On The Island And Learns More About His Parents’ Demise — Oliver (Justin Hartley) collapses at a charity event and reveals he only has 24 hours to live. Clark (Tom Welling) and Chloe (Allison Mack) call Davis (Sam Witwer) for help but his prognosis is grim. Delirious, Oliver flashes back to when he was stranded on an island and first learned how to use a bow and arrow. He also recalls meeting Tess (Cassidy Freeman) for the first time on that island after she had been kidnapped by a drug runner. Meanwhile, Chloe decides to use her new powers to help save Oliver, shocking Clark. Mairzee Almas directed the episode written by Caroline Dries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)