Man of Steel 2 was just one broken promise in a decade of Kryptonian controversy.
The colors won in the end.
Kal-El died in his next movie, then came back twice.
Henry Cavill as Superman in ‘Man of Steel’.Clay Enos/Warner Bros
The theatrical release ofJustice Leaguein 2017 resaturated beforeZack Snyder’s Justice Leaguedesaturated in 2021.
They have identical shots with irreconcilable differences.
Both endings promise adventures that won’t happen.
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Multiverse plus nostalgia ensures Cavill’s return someday maybe aging Earth-2 Superman, certainly a cartoon voice.
But Cavill’s older thanChristopher Reevewas afterhisfour Superfilms.
The window to play Classic Supermanity is closing.
Which means Cavill’s proper ending as this character was one last tease.
In the mid-credits scene ofBlack Adam,Dwayne Johnson’s 5000-year-old lightning guy welcomes a surprise cameo.
“It’s been awhile since anyone made the worldthisnervous,” says a voice in the darkness.
Out steps Superman and heshines.
The yellow is mustard yellow.
The “S” looks foil-embossed.
InZack Snyder’s brightest day the costume looked dusty.
Now, in this darkest night, the cape is red as movie blood.
“Black Adam,” says the last son of Krypton, “we should talk.”
The color contrast tells a tale of many conflicts.
Debate raged behind the scenes, while war raged through fandoms: How should a Superman be super?
Snyder made the Boy Scout a neck-snapper.
America’s Dad was out, replaced by Christ imagery and ripped abs.
He suffered, he screamed!Joss WhedonreshotJustice Leaguein a different direction.
His Superman took questions from kiddies (“Did you ever fight a hippo?")
and raced Flash for brunch.
Every decision angered somebody.
Now the new regime is scorching the earth.
The logic is creativeandfinancial, I think.
DirectorJaume Collet-Serraisn’t as distinct as a Whedon or a Snyder.
He’s a vulgarian professional, though, someone you trust with Liam Neeson on a murder plane.
SoBlack Adamlooks like a toy aisle after an earthquake, all garish Justice Society golden-green.
I’m curious to know what authorship he had with Cavill’s cameo.
Superman walks on withJohn Williams' famous score.
Was there some obvious needle-drop Collet-Serra would have preferred?
“Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down?
“Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas?
I’m having fun, because this Superman mostly didn’t.
Let’s declare a truce and meet in no man’s land for a moment of shared grief.
I love the silly iPhone scene from the theatricalLeague, non-mustache and all.
One kid asks, “What’s the best thing about Planet Earth?”
The actor’s reaction is marvelously theatrical.
There are obvious things an actor like that can do with Superman.
Every Clark Kent scene could be a goofy, a human anvil in nerdface.
Cavill’s journalist just looked, well, hot: A hipster newscaster, maybe a start-up CFO.
Snyder, let’s agree, is heavy.
So Cavill lost dads and died hard.
Meanwhile, 2018’sMission Impossible Falloutturned Cavill into a bad attitude on legs.
Because I liked him so much in those films, I waited patiently for the mythicMan of Steel 2.
A direct sequel promised cruising altitude: No origins, no deaths, no superteam.
It’sAmazing Spider-ManandX-Men Origins: Wolverineall over again, huge money and long years spent producing commercials for future endeavors.
It’s notable, I think, that Cavill has a couple more spy movies lined up.
It’s also notable, I worry, that two-ish cameos post-Justice Leagueutilized Williams' 1978 theme.
It’s also bummer paradox!
a scene Cavill skipped.
Instead, a stunt double rocks the “S” and carries a lunch tray to surprise a super-fanboy.
Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) gasps, so shocked he’s actuallyscared.
The cut to black is funny, but still disappointing.
Don’t you want to know what Superman talks about at lunchtime?
See the hero moments before thatShazamappearance, arriving at the cafeteria, grabbing a tray.
He is Superman, and he waits in line like everybody else.
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