Hollywood Road

Superman saved many people and the city of Metropolis itself, a fact witnessed by many. Compared to the victims of the Battle of Metropolis, these supporters were in the majority. To some extent, they recognized Superman as the hero who saved their city.

At the end of the film, the ruins from the battle between Superman and Doomsday in Metropolis had been cleared and transformed into a memorial square. At the center of the square, Superman's admirers unveiled a statue, solidifying his status as a true hero of Metropolis.

However, as the camera shifted, the outskirts of the square were blocked off by police and filled with protestors holding banners labeling Superman as a monster and a murderer, with some even burning costumes resembling Superman's outfit.

Inevitably, the public was divided over Superman, with some worshiping him and others despising him.

"Man of Steel" ended here.

In a private screening room in Chicago, Roger Ebert stood up, leaning on the armrests of his chair, and then started clapping. The applause was monotonous but expressed his stance clearly.

How could an alien with immense power who has not yet mastered self-control be a perfect hero?

"This is the best superhero movie I've ever seen," he directly told Richard Lope. "Dark, deep, restrained, substantial..."

Richard Lope nodded and added, "In past superhero movies, the damage caused by battles is always overlooked, but is that really a good approach?"

Although he posed it as a question, his answer was obvious.

In the New York State Theater, applause surged like a tide, enduring and strong. Doug clapped and asked his companion, "How did it feel?"

"The visuals are undeniable, very textured, and the style is distinct," his companion couldn't help but praise. "The battle between Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doomsday was incredibly thrilling, especially Wonder Woman's entrance with her own BGM—absolutely electrifying. But after it ended, I just felt it wasn't enough; I can't wait to see the Justice League."

Doug laughed heartily, and his companion continued to chuckle, both delighted by the film.

In the front row, Murphy and the main members of the crew routinely dealt with the crowd that came to congratulate them, and then entered the press room through a VIP corridor reserved in front.

Unlike previous premieres, Warner Bros. had arranged a press conference following the screening.

In the film, Chris Evans played the leading role, but during the press conference, almost all media attention and questions were directed at Murphy, indicating that this film was distinctly different from other movies.

"Man of Steel" was neither like any existing superhero film nor like the typical homogenized summer blockbuster popcorn flick. It stood out, exuding a dark yet enchanting aura.

"Director Stanton, we just saw a reimagined Superman, different from past films and the comic book character," a reporter from "Premiere" magazine stood up first. "Could you explain why you decided to portray Superman this way?"

Murphy's microphone malfunctioned, and after signaling to Gal Gadot, she swapped her microphone with his.

"Superman is indeed a very challenging superhero to film. Many people know him, but they don't truly understand him."

After adjusting the microphone, Murphy looked at the packed press room and said, "For me, the most challenging part of creating a Superman movie is showing people this god-like character in a relatable and deep way. When Warner Bros. executives approached me, I realized it was a great opportunity to see Clark Kent's struggles, to see reflections of themselves in him, to truly understand him; to experience with Clark the great responsibilities he must face and embrace, to grow with him into that superhero, that icon."

He paused, then added, "Reimagining Superman was one of the reasons we made this film. He's always been a great idol, known to all, but when you realize there's so much about him you didn't know, the experience can be very special."

A reporter from "The Hollywood Reporter" stood up to ask, "How would you evaluate Ms. Gal Gadot's performance and her portrayal of Wonder Woman?"

"Her performance was perfect."

Considering his relationship with Gal Gadot, Murphy chose not to elaborate much, simply stating, "She played a very important role in this movie, serving as a prelude to other heroes in the Justice League."

The film involved few heroes besides Superman and Wonder Woman. The only other traceable character was Batman. A reporter with a "Entertainment Weekly" tag asked, "We saw in the film that Metropolis's Wayne Tower was destroyed during the battle between Superman and Doomsday. Is the next DC superhero movie related to Batman?"

"Sorry..." Murphy shook his head. "I'm just the director of 'Man of Steel.' For how the series will develop, you'd have to ask Warner Bros. and the DC Comics planning team."

So far, Murphy hadn't heard from Warner Bros. about renewing his contract for subsequent films, and according to Bill Rosis, Warner Bros. executives were still very concerned about his high salary.

Murphy wouldn't lower his demands; he took on "Man of Steel" precisely for the high compensation.

Murphy handled these initial questions with ease, but soon someone posed a more challenging inquiry.

A British female journalist stood up, "In the final battle between Superman and Doomsday, why did Superman choose to fight in Metropolis? Didn't he know this would cause collateral damage? He seemed very irrational and inexperienced in the battle..."

"I'm surprised by your question..." Murphy's face showed disbelief. "To me, this is part of Superman's character. Every superhero shouldn't just appear out of nowhere; everyone needs time to learn and accumulate experience in handling crises, even Superman."

Another reporter from "The Wall Street Journal" also expressed doubt, "Superman's duty is to protect civilians. He could have drawn the battle away to a deserted wilderness instead of fighting in a busy district, ultimately causing such horrific casualties."

"Superman is just a rookie, having only been through two battles so far," Murphy replied calmly. "As I made very clear in the film, the entire battle was dominated by the born killer Doomsday. Superman and Wonder Woman had no choice of battlefield."

Undoubtedly, "Man of Steel" showcased the extensive damage uncontrolled power can inflict on civilians, breaking from Hollywood's traditional portrayal of civilian casualties, a focal point for many journalists.

As with any change that brings fresh excitement, there will always be questioning and controversy.

Just like the public and media's view of Superman in the film, real-world journalists regarding the settings of "Man of Steel" were divided into two camps, though skeptics were in the minority.

Compared to the media, tonight's audience had a more uniform opinion about the film, especially those who attended the premiere and advance screenings—either Superman die-hards or Murphy's supporters...

Past Superman movies have lacked a distinctive style and character, which this one undoubtedly had, winning the hearts of many Superman fans.

Even if some were somewhat dissatisfied with the portrayal of such a serious and somber character, they still gave positive reviews during interviews and surveys.

As Doug was leaving, he encountered a field surveyor from CinemaScore, took a small gift from him, and said, "A+! It's definitely an A+!"

He gave his rating, then continued, "This isn't a happy movie, but Murphy has taken the comic hero movie to a new height with its profound style and internal dilemmas, adding a significant depth to DC heroes."

A few feet to his left, a male spectator was being interviewed by a TV station.

"Murphy has given Superman the darkness and depth I adore!" The fan was still excited. "Wonder Woman was dazzling, the music was amazing, surpassing all expectations! It totally beats 'Spider-Man 3' that premiered recently by a long shot!"

In North America, many spectators who attended the advance and premiere screenings participated in CinemaScore's on-site consultation. These ratings and comments were immediately sent to CinemaScore's headquarters and detailed for specific forecasting data.

"The special effects, combat scenes, and music were electrifying! As a hardcore DC fan, I'm still excited! The visual effects were stunning!"

"It's a conflicted like. Knowing Superman was portrayed too dark, yet still being shocked by Murphy Stanton's brilliant design."

"After watching, all I can think about is Wonder Woman! She was so cool! The interplay of the public, powers, media, villains, and superheroes was also good. Murphy's personal style and Superman nearly perfectly merged."

"This is definitely the best-looking Superman, even the best-looking superhero movie ever, even though there are a few flaws in the plot. But by the end, the battle between Superman and Wonder Woman against Doomsday completely outclassed Spider-Man, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four."

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT