In 300 and Watchmen, spectacular films, the physiques of Gerard Butler and Dr. Manhattan were a spectacle unto themselves. Here were aggressive and in your face examples of physical achievement and superiority that Snyder represented as the pinnacle of masculinity. Of all our present directors, it is Zack Snyder who has come up with the most potent representations of masculinity, masculine concerns and specifically the masculine image through his cinema. Some have criticized his representation as perhaps over-macho or politically incorrect but Snyder is trying to locate the exceptional qualities of nobility, hardness and strength in his leading male characters that have ceased to be represented today it seems. A noted fitness freak himself, Snyder knows the value of a great physique, the unprecedented screen presence and power that derives from it and creates truly spell-binding performances full of authority, passion and vigor as in Gerard Butler in 300 and Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen. He has again put his leading man, Henry Cavill, through the wringer to craft another evocative representation of idealized masculinity and it seems he has found the perfect vehicle in Superman, THE all-encompassing masculine ideal and possessing all the qualities of man - kindness, courage and strength. Snyder creates men who are the paramount of fitness and health, and inspiring figures to the young men who watch his films, the demographic Snyder truly understands and makes films for.
Snyder talks to HeyUGuys about about designing such icons through his films.
We see human peak physical fitness in Watchmen with Dr. Manhattan and Gerard Butler in 300. How important was it to convey that (in Man Of Steel)?
I like designing male icons I guess that's how it is - fitness icons - that's the real goal. No it's true and I guess I bring it on myself a little bit (to design these icons). It was really important from the beginning. I told Henry, "Listen, you are gonna be wearing this skin tight suit and I want you to look like... you know... a freak... like you should be in crazy shape." And he really said he embraced the concept a 100% because (of) you know the idea that you see the suit and you can see his body underneath it and you think "Oh that's gotta be a rubber suit, right?". (So) then I really wanted to include a scene where he had no shirt on so that you could say, "Wait a minute, that is what's under there".
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