I don't think WW84 is a worthy successor either. The first WW movie was great,
even with a weak third act. This one evoked the era nicely yes and the creators
hearts were in the right place I guess, but the movie was weak on many levels.
And it didn't need to be so. Changes to WWs powers to shoehorn in a great
classic WW prop came and went in the blink of an eye and for no reason other
than to be there once (and not again in battle)? And we haven't really
addressed the weird guy (again oddly unnecessary and somewhat tone deaf to the
times). My older daughter cried as we left the first WW and my wife was close
to tears at the wonderful portrayal of a powerful woman protagonist, WW84 was
generally given the "it was good but" review.
Both WW and the Donner Superman have 2 huge strengths, the star is perfect
casting in the costume and in bearing and the producers wanted to do the work
justice. I think too much of WW84s flaws are overlooked due to those 2 factors
remaining but not nearly as on point as they were the first time around.
I hope we see Cheetah again. In a movie with Gal Gadot as WW, how does Kristen
Wiig steal the show?
On January 17, 2021 at 3:52 PM Ken Penders <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Michael,
According to Elliot, he spent a couple of days smoking cigars with Mario
Puzo explaining Superman to him as Mario really hadn’t a clue of the material
he was dealing with. Elliot actually read Mario’s script prior to it being
rewritten by the Newmans, which did feature Superman dealing with the nuclear
missiles Luthor launched, but lacked the time travel element which the
Newmans later added. Elliot was asked to write a novel - eventually released
as LAST SON OF KRYPTON - that was to be released between the 1st 2 Superman
films for marketing purposes, as Mario contractually had to be offered the
novelizations of the 1st 2 films. As he never got around to either
adaptation, the publication schedule of Elliot’s novel was moved up, with the
publishers using the cover art that had been prepared for Mario’s
novelization. (As a side note: Elliot was offered the job of adapting the
script of SUPERMAN III as a novel but turned it down as he didn’t like the
story, preferring instead to work on his own material.)
Personally, I think you’re looking at WW84 from the wrong perspective, as
the Donner SUPERMAN films will always rank high with both Elliot & myself.
Both of us look at WW84 as a successful invocation of an era long ago done
with love and respect. The creators hearts were definitely in the right
place. Donner’s SUPERMAN also has the benefit of 40+ years of setting the
standard for everything to come after. WW84 is a worthy successor in many
ways that many films which came after haven’t been. You can’t say that MAN OF
STEEL or BATMAN V SUPERMAN are anywhere near worthy successors of the Donner
films.
Ken Penders
> > On Jan 17, 2021, at 6:34 AM, Michael Lustig
<michael.lustig@xxxxxxxxx mailto:michael.lustig@xxxxxxxxx ;> wrote:
WW84 certainly wasn't the worst superhero movie, but it *cannot* be
properly compared to 1978's Superman! Without getting into the details of
superior cinematography (Unsworth), script (lots of tinkering), director
(Donner), and stars (Brando!, Hackman!, etc.), the mere fact that the
points where the plot/origin presented in Superman deviated from the
previous canon - and then ultimately became the new canon - speaks to the
deep influence of the movie on the comics. It essentially reversed the
'natural' creative direction! From a pure-movie standpoint, Superman &
WW84 are so not-in-the-same-league, such that it's somewhat embarrassing to
even be having this discussion. With all due respect to Elliot S! Maggin,
I must disagree with his comparison.
I watched the movie on its first day of release on HBO Max, but I'm
definitely *not* rushing to see it again. It's worth a first viewing if
you can see it for 'free', but having seen it already I would now tell my
three-weeks-ago self that there's no reason to make any special effort to
see it.
-Michael
On Sun, Jan 17, 2021 at 2:22 AM Andy Mangels
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;> wrote:
> > > I also found it better on the second viewing,
allowing my expectations to calm down, and to realize that some of my
complaints HAD been addressed by small bits of dialogue that had sailed by
on the first viewing.
>
It's not the first film, but neither does it deserve some of
the critical bricks thrown at it.
Best,
Andy Mangels
AMangelsSW@xxxxxxx mailto:AMangelsSW@xxxxxxx
http://www.andymangels.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: Kin Wong <skizzoid@xxxxxxxxx mailto:skizzoid@xxxxxxxxx ;>
To: comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, Jan 16, 2021 5:13 pm
Subject: [comicart-l] Re: WW1984
I recognize that there are (several) flaws with the movie,
but I still really enjoyed it in spite of them. It didn't meet my high
expectations going in, but a second viewing helped me appreciate it for
what it wants to be/say. The comparison to the Donner Superman movies is
apt.
On Sat, Jan 16, 2021 at 5:49 PM Malcolm Bourne
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;> wrote:
> > > > So who has seen WW1984? We watched it this
evening on TV, it’s on a “rent for 48 hours” basis in the UK just now.
Anyone got any opinions?
> >
Malcolm
Sent from a galaxy far far away
> > >
