In fairness, he did the same thing in The Godfather, and they gave him an Oscar for it.
When you’re an experienced Shakespearean actor, you can make any dialogue sound authentic.
Brando was famous for the cue card shtick. The theory is, if you recite lines from memory, it will sound dull and mechanical. But if you can get the basic idea of the line from the cue card, and improvise the details, you will get better results.
I enjoyed the movie. Laughed most of the way through it. Loved the very corporate setup with Lex’s employees. The reveal of how Ultraman was controlled casting everything in the light of kind of calling out video game controller moves was great, too. Krypto was fun. Eve Teschmacher crazy for Jimmy was hilarious - it so completely fits certain versions of Jimmy. Loved the selfie-tactic. The distaste Jimmy had for her was less funny.
I know a lot of people in the comic book forums didn’t like the Els reveal, but I hate Jor-El and Lara having sent Clark to earth to save earth these days. I didn’t mind it in the first movie, but absolutely loathe how much it got repeated. I don’t mind them wanting to Clark to dominate earth in this movie. I would hate it in the comics (they’ve made so many parents evil in so many ways, Els not excepted), and would very much prefer them sending Clark to earth only to save Clark, with no regards to what benefits earth at all. But if choosing between Space!Jesus Clark and this, I’ll take this any day of the week. The again, I do favor (but we were never going to get), a golden age setup, where Clark knew nothing of his home planet until after he became Superman. I’d have also been fine with the Kents already deceased (the shouting at phone thing was not funny and didn’t even make sense). Though I am also happy that they had Jonathan say it was Clark’s choices, and didn’t have him “raised to be a hero.” I prefer Clark being a hero because it’s his nature. Yes, because he was raised with good values, but not because it was what either set of parents told him to do or that it was his destiny (though I acknowledge that goes back a long way). It’s one of those things I used not to mind, but became more and more against the more screen/page time it got (or rather, the more I was exposed to it).
I liked this version of Lex. Brilliant. Obsessed with Superman, ego the size of space, and willing to kill as many innocents as needed to assuage his own ego. I like his pettiness on imprisoning ex-girlfriends. That’s one thing I liked back in the stories around when Superman died - killing his martial arts instructor and all. Of course, the movie didn’t really have him lose control of his emotions like he did in the comics, which I also enjoyed.
So many questions about Kara and Krypto. At first I was thinking this was maybe movie version of Apokalips and their version of boom tubes and that Lex had New God technology. Then we found out it was a pocket universe, and I was thinking of that version of Supergirl as a some kind of post-credits tease. That didn’t turn out to be the case, of course. And so I’m wondering where these two came from/what the backstory is. Argo City or not? Did she ever know Krypton or know anything of Jor-El? I was thinking of her born years later, but that’s not necessarily the case. That’s my default version of her, though.
I don’t mind the DP staff having little to do - there’s only so much time in a movie. Not like Perry had tons of action in the first movie. They just exist to flesh out the world. Oh, and I did like that scene with Jimmy and Perry being way more aware than Lois and Clark (or was it just Clark?) gave them credit for. Certainly those Cat, Ron and Steve were just name-recognition shoutouts for comic-book fans, but I didn’t mind that.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was good to me. I enjoyed it. I do hope to have a villain that isn’t Zod or Lex next time (if there is a next time). I know we’ve got a setup for Bizarro, but I’d prefer not to do him, as I’d like a different powerset for my villain.
I suspect if there is enough backlash I think they have given themselves just enough wiggle room to retcon it away as a Luthor scheme if they want to backtrack on the Jor El and Lara as invaders angle.
Was the idea that Kal-El was sent to Earth to dominate it something that was in the comics?
Just got back from it:
- Liked it pretty well. Definitely a strong move in the right direction.
- That said, I found Clark/Superman to be a little too much his own character, one among many, and not enough of a hero to listen to and strive to be. It felt like there were obvious moments to make stronger points and they just didn’t.
- And I feel like Gunn just prefers characters like Green Lantern, Peacemaker, or even Krypto, the dog. A straight laced, no-fun hero just isn’t his cup of tea.
So I do like it but I also wouldn’t say that it feels like the property has found its proper auteur in Hollywood, yet. Maybe Taika.
I’m surprised no one has made the Goku comparison yet. The only difference in their origin stories was that Goku was sent to earth to conquer it, and now they’ve come full circle with Superman copying the copy.
The animated series My Adventures with Superman had the same plot.
(I thought it was great and recommend it, if you don’t mind a light anime aesthetic.)
Not that I’m aware of, but I wouldn’t swear to it. There have just been so many stories - elseworlds and main continuity, and while I have read some eras, I’m woefully ignorant of post-New52 continuity (I read a while right Rebirth and on-and-off until shortly after Jon was aged up, then quit again) and don’t generally read elseworlds. I was referring more to to “Mister Oz” a Superman villain later revealed as Jor-El, who didn’t die on Krypton (I didn’t read it, and I still don’t like it). My understanding is that the fandom believes it was originally planned to be Jonathan Kent (also a terrible idea, IMO), but I don’t know if that was confirmed by any writers. Zor-El is or was Cyborg Superman and also evil at one point, because hey, why not make Supergirl’s dad evil, too?
Just got back from seeing it. Lots of fun. Not much to add to what’s already been said.
One minor nitpick: Kansans don’t talk like that. They have more of a twang than a drawl.
One small detail I liked is that Superman doesn’t have to save Lois at any point, but she saves him.
Epic Rap Battles of History to the rescue!
While watching the movie, I thought that Mr Terrific was played by the same actor who plays the sheriff on Resident Alien. But Googling after, it’s not.
I thought so too! The whole movie I kept trying to place where I had seen him before and thought it was Resident Alien. 
Not actually familiar with his own work so I guess the two just have a very similar vocal style.
So I saw the movie last night and while I enjoyed it well enough, I can’t say that it really stuck with me to the point that I’m really looking forward to the next installment.
Couple of things:
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Not being a particular fan of comics as a kid, I don’t know much about the supporting crew in this movie. Specifically, is the Green Lantern’s haircut that terrible for any particular reason?
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The folks involved in making this movie must have had the same kinds of small- to medium-sized poorly-behave dogs as I have. That part was written from deep knowledge.
It’s this particular Green Lantern (Guy Gardner; there have been a whole lot of others), and yeah, it’s because he usually has the Moe Howard haircut in the comic books.
Writer/director James Gunn said in an interview with NPR that he adopted a little dog that was a real terror at first, and the stray thought came that he was happy that dog didn’t have superpowers. That thought inspired him to put Krypto in the movie.
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5036409
GUNN: Every time I walked across the floor, he was biting my feet really hard. He’s completely the world’s worst dog. And I said, well, thank God he doesn’t have superpowers.
So yes, it absolutely came from direct knowledge. He had that movie dog modeled after his real dog Ozu.
I really liked it. Great reboot of the character.
- Superman is a Boy Scout - the Superman that the Iron Giant wants to be
- The supporting characters are great. Gunn brings the chaotic fun of GotG to those characters. They are NOT Boy Scouts, but appreciate Superman anyway.
- Great comedic moments, from a poorly trained super dog.. monkeys writing internet comments.. Superman ignoring the weird glowing monster.. Luthor throwing something on the ground in frustration, telling his assistants to pick it up, then when they’re about done, casually knocking something else over.. “I don’t need your help, I’m Mr. Terrific.”