The many incarnations of Superman
Dean Cain, Tom Welling, Christopher Reeve… these are the Super men I have known. I look forward to the coming movie of the man of steel but I have trepidations regarding the plot my loving wife has repeatedly told me about. I would beleaguer this post with the distressing stress that story arch has caused in me, but I will instead admit that it will take a great deal for this new Superman to win me over. Dean Cain was not Superman until he proved that, indeed, he was Superman. Tom Welling has never had to ‘be’ Superman so I have never had an issue. But there is a definitive difference in playing Superman than in any other role.
Primarily it is because Superman is an icon. Everyone knows who Superman is and what Superman stands for. Secondarily it is because there is such a complete difference between Superman and Clark Kent – a difference in character that would be hard for any one actor to pull off convincingly and well. And every single Superman-to-be has to stand next to the man Superman became… Christopher Reeve.
I miss him. I am not the only one. (Scroll down to October 11th) But at the same time there are other people in the world thinking this. But more to the point Christopher Reeve was able to negotiate the difference between Superman and Clark Kent and have both be believable. It took Dean Cain a long time before I felt he was truly Clark Kent and not just Superman. By the time I felt he was comfortable with the role the show had ceased to be entertaining on a plot level.
I am very much looking forward to the Superman game, but I doubt that I will actually get to play it – since it won’t come out on the archaic Xbox – but will instead come out on the full circle 360 – and with buying a new house I don’t think full circle Microsoft is on the “in this lifetime” list.
Kyle
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