David S. Goyer On The "Collateral Damage" In MAN OF STEEL

David S. Goyer On The "Collateral Damage" In MAN OF STEEL

Bleeding Cool have posted their interview with Man Of Steel writer David S. Goyer in full, and in it he discusses an element of the movie that seems to have angered quite a few fans and critics - the reckless destruction and (likely) civilian casualties resulting from the battles.

By MarkCassidy - Jun 16, 2013 02:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Bleeding Cool

A lot of people have a problem with the levels of destruction caused by the battles (particularly the climactic one) in Man Of Steel, as they feel maybe Superman doesn't do enough to save the potential victims of the carnage. I have my own take on this, as do many others, but what does the writer of the movie think? Well, it turns out he also thinks that lives were very likely lost, but at the end of the day that's just what would happen.



"One of the things we were hoping to depict is that Superman is not a god. We say he’s a god-like figure but he’s not omnipotent. Even in the comic books he cannot save everyone. I think people die [in Metropolis]. Clearly hundreds if not thousands of people have died while the gravity machines are going off. There were probably even people who died in Smallville.

When you’re dealing with a threat like this, there will be collateral damage. This is something that hadn’t been depicted in comic book films is what it would be like if these powerful figures did clash, if The Hulk and Thor fought, people would probably die. Particularly in this case where Zod and the Kryptonians really don’t care if people die. I think people died and I’m sure that upsets some people."


What do you guys think of that explanation? Could they have taken care to show Superman do a bit more to ensure the safety of the civilians? Or are you happy enough that he did all he could while fighting off several God-like beings?
SUPERMAN: First Trailer For James Gunn's Reboot Could Release Online Sooner Than Expected
Related:

SUPERMAN: First Trailer For James Gunn's Reboot Could Release Online Sooner Than Expected

SUPERMAN Actor Frank Grillo Teases First Trailer: My Skin Was Hot And I Had Goosebumps
Recommended For You:

SUPERMAN Actor Frank Grillo Teases First Trailer: "My Skin Was Hot And I Had Goosebumps"

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3 4 5 6
ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 6/16/2013, 2:40 PM
lol sod the people who say thats something bad about the film...erm in the video ''supermans best punch'' he punches darkseid through about 5 buildings that have people in them...
Moohika
Moohika - 6/16/2013, 2:41 PM
Bring on the Justice League
LordoftheThrones26
LordoftheThrones26 - 6/16/2013, 2:44 PM
I loves the fact that they showed that in the film! This movie was awesome and I feel that people are either nitpicking it or are expecting a movie like the 1970 Superman! No this is ZACK SNYDER'S SUPERMAN!!! David Goyer is an awesome writter! I domt het all the hate! Sure he might be unexperienced as a director but as a writter hes the best in the industry!
LordoftheThrones26
LordoftheThrones26 - 6/16/2013, 2:45 PM
BRING ON JUSTICE LEAGUE!!!!!!!
MrReese
MrReese - 6/16/2013, 2:50 PM
"if The Hulk and Thor fought, people would probably die."

No...No they didn't ;)

Bring in Lex for the sequel!
Luminus
Luminus - 6/16/2013, 2:54 PM
There's nothing wrong with the movie. It's perfect. PERFECT. So.... now do we get a Justice League movie. Yes? I have a few girls that will suck.... They cook, too.
LordoftheThrones26
LordoftheThrones26 - 6/16/2013, 2:57 PM
Oh COME ON YOU PEOPLE ARE SUCH NITPICKERS! HE'S THE BEST GUY OUT THERE!!!! I mean maybe you guys had your heads so much up your asses you could'nt enjoy the movie but it was EPIC! David Goyer is the man!
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/16/2013, 2:59 PM
that end scene would of broke america financially,911 cost to replace the world trade center was between $3,000,000,000 & $4,500,000,000.
ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 6/16/2013, 2:59 PM
does anybody think supermans blood that was taken will be used for something in the sequels? hmm
thorhulk77
thorhulk77 - 6/16/2013, 3:01 PM
God help those people
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/16/2013, 3:05 PM
The guys that were sucked into the black hole didn't necessarily die! We might see Hamilton again, as I think he'll have something to do with Brainiac.
knighted
knighted - 6/16/2013, 3:07 PM
"Thanks for killing Professor Hamilton....douchebag"

That's what I thought too. But wasn't he just sucked into the phantom zone with the rest of the Kryptonians?
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 6/16/2013, 3:07 PM
Makes sense to me, if he spent time saving everyone the Kryptonians would have just terraformed the planet, killed more people and ended up winning, he prioritized and he choose the right thing to focus on during the battle.
beane2099
beane2099 - 6/16/2013, 3:07 PM
Yeah, one of my only problems with the film was that there was very little attention paid to the collateral damage. Maybe this origin will be used to explain why he's so conscientious later on (I hope so anyways). I don't know that the world would readily accept this Superman after all that. Hopefully they explore that. Cause these events would totally justify Lex not being a fan of Superman. Maybe the next one won't be quite so depressing (c'mon it was a little depressing). I loved it except for those two things.
SAZMD
SAZMD - 6/16/2013, 3:07 PM
@Netman0007

Agree about Goyer. Good overall story, less than optimal dialogue and pacing.
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 6/16/2013, 3:07 PM
chose
knighted
knighted - 6/16/2013, 3:10 PM
I actually hope they manage to somehow bring Faora back for one of the Justice League movies. I would love to see her fight Diana.
beane2099
beane2099 - 6/16/2013, 3:10 PM
A this point, I also have to wonder where do you go from here on a Justice League movie? The stakes in this were huge (and rightly so). Does anyone else think we might see Faora and crew again? I mean they didn't exactly die. For that matter (and I may be wrong) but I swear I saw Hamilton get sucked into the black hole. There was so much happening at that point that I could totally be wrong.
Minotauro
Minotauro - 6/16/2013, 3:10 PM
@RorMachine - You think so?
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 6/16/2013, 3:11 PM
No Ror.

No Lex creating him or anybody creating him.

Brainiac as Johns Superman: Brainiac. Do that.
SuperSam
SuperSam - 6/16/2013, 3:11 PM
I knew that major damage to property would be inevitable but I at least expected Superman to try and direct his fight with Zod and the others somewhere with less civilians. He could've talked with them to think about what they're doing before the big smackdown. I know I'm nitpicking but it's something that's easy to notice when Superman is launching Nam-Ek into a train.
inkslinger616
inkslinger616 - 6/16/2013, 3:11 PM
I think that was a well crafted balls answer now I want to see how they pull off Big Blues "disguise"....
CBFan
CBFan - 6/16/2013, 3:12 PM
SO glad Goyer says that Superman is NOT a god! I think DC needs to chill whenever they call members of the Justice League gods..*ahem*..Injustice: Gods Among Us*...and Geoff Johns eluding to this in the New 52 JL comic. Anyway, I figured that people died in those epic battles and I was okay with that. Great film. Can't wait to see it again and own it on blu ray! :)
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 6/16/2013, 3:12 PM
Superman doesn't have a power that allows him to save thousands of people from a collapsing skyscraper.

The destruction points to one conclusion: Superman needs SUPERFRIENDS.
SuperSam
SuperSam - 6/16/2013, 3:12 PM
And thanks for reminding me that Professor Hamilton is most likely dead. -_-
SKetCH
SKetCH - 6/16/2013, 3:13 PM
In the end, the World Governments should have seen Supes in the same light they looked at Zod in.

Superman was on an unfortunate vendetta run.

C'mon, he nonchalantly hops over a gasoline tanker pushed at him by Zod, just to get out of the way, not caring that it explodes and destroys a parking garage behind him... Most likely where people were getting into the cars they parked to get out of the war zone.

Hey, people, you died because Superman didn't wanna lift, literally, a finger to stop the truck.
englandlover77
englandlover77 - 6/16/2013, 3:14 PM
It was depicted in The Avengers.
In the end, they showed memorial wall for all the people lost in the battle.
THAT was realistic.
Man of Steel sucked.
Carnage67
Carnage67 - 6/16/2013, 3:14 PM
who cares. its there for the visuals. to make it look as bad-ass as possible and causing a bunch of mayhem. throwing superman through like 5 buildings was pretty awesome. obviously people would die, but who honestly thinks of this? obviously people died but thats not the point, the point is to make things look cool on screen.

i loved the movie and ive never been a huge dc fan, but i was really looking forward to it (and zack snyders visuals) and i thought it was awesome!
Happy11
Happy11 - 6/16/2013, 3:15 PM
People didn't moan about the collateral damage done in the transformer movies or even the avengers. Its a fantasy film you leave your brains at the door. Bring on MOS 2.
jarel93
jarel93 - 6/16/2013, 3:15 PM
Okay, that's all well and good, but there is still the fact that, "at the end of the day," Metropolis is supposed to revere Superman as their guardian. So, I ask, could they really still view him in such a way after all of that destruction?
mr2324jgf
mr2324jgf - 6/16/2013, 3:18 PM
I just wanted it to be known that if you didn't enjoy this movie you can kiss my ass. Thanks.
1 2 3 4 5 6
View Recorder