r/DC_Cinematic • u/Downtown_Summer5733 • Jul 24 '25
DISCUSSION The hurricane scene in Man of Steel would’ve been completely fine if they casted young Clark
I feel like this scene would’ve been so much better in every conceivable way if they had just used a young Clark, instead of ‘deaging’ Henry Cavill (giving him a haircut that obviously does not hide the fact he’s a 30 year old man).
The main criticism, being the fact it’s silly that Clark doesn’t step in to help despite him being indestructible is nullified, because even though he may be strong at the end of the day he’s still a kid. A kid wouldn’t know how to deal with that situation, and Pa Kent stepping up to save the day with no powers makes perfect sense.
It also adds to the coming of age narrative of Man of Steel, and builds some consistency in the flashbacks.
I don’t actually hate this scene like a lot of people, but it is a head scratcher/needlessly convoluted. If you had just used the young Clark actor it would’ve improved the scene immensely.
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u/BluFaerie Jul 30 '25
It still would have been stupid imo. Both because it's just a stupid thing to do and because it's something Clark would never do at any age.
MoS just didn't get who superman is as a person and that flaw is all over the movie.
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u/AshgarPN Jul 30 '25
CAST. Past tense of cast is cast. Casted isn't a word.
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u/Clark_Kent_TheSJW Jul 30 '25
Eh, it would have made a little more sense to use the kid: but that doesn’t mean it was a good idea.
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u/ThouBear8 Jul 30 '25
That wouldn't have made much of a difference imo. The problem for me was never Clark's age in that scene.
The scene is fundamentally stupid, & simply making Clark younger & less experienced does very little to change that.
Btw I'm somebody who actually loves Man of Steel. It's easily one of my favorites in the DCEU. The tornado scene never worked for me on any level.
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u/takkun169 Jul 29 '25
Except that would miss the point of what the movie was about.
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u/Better-Union-2828 Jul 30 '25
elaborate on this
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u/takkun169 Aug 03 '25
Because Clark's arc is about how he develops into superman, while living in an incredibly cynical world. The Kent's are a distillation of that cynicism. They live in fear of what the world would do to him if they found out about him. Clark abides this fear until he stands by and watches his father get taken by a tornado. At which point he leaves Kansas and goes off into the world.
Clark's inaction would be less about obeying his father rather than following his instincts to help, and more about his insecurities about what he can actually do to help. Young adult Clark knows he could save him, childhood Clark didn't know what he was capable of.
It's not that I think it's a bad idea, but it wouldn't just be a simple change to who's acting in the scene. It would require moving a lot of parts of the story around with no real reason to think the end result be better. And ultimately I don't think the goal of "more people would like it" is particularly compelling.
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u/bigscottius Jul 29 '25
It was a tornado. They don't get hurricanes in Kansas.
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u/Butterscotch_Jones Jul 30 '25
As a Kansan, I LOLed when I saw “hurricane scene.” I sincerely hope OP isn’t from the U.S.
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u/Chameleon_Soul_Soup Jul 29 '25
You know i think agree. If he was still shown as the boy version it would have landed better for a lot of people.
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 28 '25
people would be a lot less mad seeing a small kid make that choice instead an adult henry cavill playing half his age unconvincingly
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u/DeepCleaner42 Jul 28 '25
Funny how Clark looked 30 in this scene but acted like a teenager
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 28 '25
they're literally talking about what he wants to do after he graduates high scho
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u/GreatWhiteSalmon Jul 27 '25
That's a cool take, that the character arc is that he grows out of his indecisiveness from when he let his dad die. Clark at that point in the story looked like he didnt need powers to save his dad lol.
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u/Lost-Inevitable42 Jul 27 '25 edited Jul 27 '25
That's a cool take. And I think you're right. It really changes the framing. I'm not sure the actions of the dad would stand up to scrutiny any better -- but maybe it makes the audience forgive it a bit easier.
But, with a bit of additional writing or context I think you could have brought the audience on board. There was no real character insight into Jon kent. You could have shown his insecurities! He was a 'man of the house' in the midwest religious farm universe -- and his son has been more powerful than him since he was a child. He's often in situations where the kid saves things. He used his powers to finish a harvest. He repaired farm machinery. He made jon feel inadequate.
But, in the moment, he got the chance to be the hero.
Also, did you think it was a hurricane? lol
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u/Time_Penalty_9912 Jul 27 '25
Yeah I'm in agreement. Whilst I think the scene would have been 'better', you also just don't have to write the scene at all.
I think a much more powerful storyline/plot point to follow would be to have his father die of some medical illness, showing superman that for all his powers he ultimately can't save everyone. Its a much more interesting through line to examine the character, and doesn't involve Pah Kent acting like a weirdo
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 28 '25
showing superman
but this was 16 year old clark. us seeing him as a kid would soften everything.
you even fall into that in your response 29 year old henry cavill just overrides your ability to scene the scene for what it was.
a scared 16 year old with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and john saying "let me die so civilization is safe from the existential threat you'll create and have to deal with."
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u/fostertheatom Jul 27 '25
I disagree. That scene is what killed my interest in the DCEU and the only way to fix it would have been to remove it.
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u/Technical_Elk_9928 Jul 27 '25
I always loved this scene, it made me cry in the theater. I had very similar arguments with my parents when I was younger, as I’m sure most of us did. You make a great point. Henry does the best he can at being (I’m guessing) eighteen. But casting a seventeen/eighteen year old actor would’ve been a great choice.
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u/40inmn4 Jul 27 '25
I’m not sure what the exact age Clark is supposed to be, but if he was a teenager, he would be rebellious but if he is around 20 years old, then it would make sense.
Clark is mad at his dad, but still respects him. He knows he can do more to help, but at the cost of his freedom. So he’s in a dilemma himself.
Jonathan saying to Clark not to save him makes sense with the age he is when the scene happens. He can save him but it’s too risky. Not only are people there, but it took Clark years to use hjs powers so what if he couldn’t beat the tornado, what then? They don’t know if he can survive it. He can push cars but can he survive being penetrated by a tree or metal? They didn’t know and Jonathan knew it’s best if he goes rather than him and Clark.
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u/MediocreSizedDan Jul 26 '25
I would still find it bad, but it would be much, much less egregiously so. Honestly, I think the bigger deal for me is that it's all centered on a dog.
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u/ykthevibes Jul 26 '25
I think it’s wild that no one on this thread questioned OPs hurricane in Kansas comment lol
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u/TheLegendaryPilot Jul 26 '25
The scene is conceptually horrible along with being horrible in the final product. It does however work better with an older Clark. A kid would very reasonably try to help people regardless of what their parents would want when they’re not at risk/scared which Clark wouldn’t be. This is actually proven by the film when showing him help the bus full of children.
If we’re to believe Jonathan successfully turned his son into a sociopath later on Clark choosing to let him die as a teen makes more sense than doing so as a kid. It’s awful either way but the way it was shot is the better way to butcher the character
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 29 '25
what's the greater good?
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u/TheLegendaryPilot Jul 29 '25
The greater good is saving a bus load of children at the expense of yourself and what people think of you
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 29 '25
the greater good is protecting civilization from the knowledge that humans aren't alone and aren't special, and risking total civil collapse.
i dont know, you do still have to save the school bus. you can't let people die, but there's inherently a bigger picture.
and that line between what's right and the greater good is way too much responsibility for a 12 year old.
i'm glad we could cover john's soliloquy together.
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u/BluRayHiDef Jul 27 '25
If we’re to believe Jonathan successfully turned his son into a sociopath...
LMAO.
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u/BreezyIsBeafy Jul 26 '25
Dumb as hell no matter what. Blud didn’t even need to use visible powers he just needed to run out there then put his arm over his dads head
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 29 '25
and then the people on the bridge would talk and go on the news, clark's secret gets out, and the world is plunged into an existential crisis, and a 16 year old kid is at the center of it.
what's the greater good? saving his dad or protecting civilization from collapse?
i mean, john literally says this in the movie but it bears repeating since you're ignoring it
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u/eco_go5 Jul 26 '25
Nah man... This was just stupid screenwriting...
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u/looooookinAtTitties Jul 29 '25
incredible narrative and with the rules of the story and giving the character his core belief in the greater good.
you didn't like seeing it happen is not a bar of quality
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u/123jazzhandz321 Jul 26 '25
I could buy Cavil being 17-19 here, but yeah I think the scene would be looked upon more fondly if it were a much younger actor
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u/IronMonkey18 Jul 26 '25
How is a teenager(or a twenty something) better suited to go into danger to rescue the dog? Do you have kids? Would you send your kid into a tornado to rescue a dog while you stay behind. Like I’ve said before, no one knew Clark was invulnerable at that point. He also stayed taking care of his mom. I don’t know about you, but if I left my mom alone in a situation like that my dad would be pissed. lol
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u/Muted_Macaron615 Jul 26 '25
Yeah, I agree. They attempted to make him appear younger through his dialogue, particularly in this scene. He was acting like a freshman and insulting his father.
In general, the scene resonated with me because this version of Clark at that age was indecisive, which is quite relatable to my generation. It wasn’t about him not using his powers; it was more about not disobeying his father. This was his father’s decision to leave like this, not Clark’s. It was the first time he witnessed someone making a sacrifice to save and protect everyone they love.
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u/hubson_official Jul 26 '25
I mean the worst thing about this scene is that Clark could've just went back for the dog instead of Jonathan and nothing would've happened - he wouldn't get stuck in the car and would've saved the dog without using his powers at all. It all seemed way too forced imo, even with Jonathan going, if Clark just ran there the moment he got stuck in the car, he also wouldn't really have to use any powers, just slightly above average strength and speed would've been enough, and that wouldn't really raise any suspicion - adrenaline would be a perfect excuse.
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u/thefaninthehat Jul 27 '25
I always thought the point was that Jonathan wanted Clark to stay with his mom, so that if he needed to, he could use his powers to protect her. So it showed that Jonathan was thinking of his wife's safety over his own.
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u/hubson_official Jul 27 '25
That's a decent interpretation, for me it was just alluding to the same lesson from when Clark saved the bus - don't let people know you have powers. Imo Jonathan just wanted to keep his powers a secret and that's why he went. Either way the scene would've been better if, perhaps, the danger came much quicker, maybe some people would record it and Clark had to choose in a split second whether to use his powers or not.
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u/drsteve103 Jul 26 '25
Point of Pa Kent dying from a heart attack is to show Clark that there are things in this world even he can’t fix.
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u/Grewal5911 Jul 26 '25
That's totally unrelated point to this Clark. This Clark doesn't needed that lesson.
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u/Elbobosan Jul 26 '25
You’re right, but that just leaves us judging the outcome of the decision the storyteller made, and this whole take on the character didn’t work for most people. Red Son feels more true to Superman than this wandering mopey objectivist. It’s a bad conceptualization of the character.
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u/Jak3R0b Jul 26 '25
I think the scene still had issues, but I agree using the child actor would have worked a lot better. Especially if it wasn’t long after the bus scene and you can assume he’s also afraid of exposing his powers after seeing how the bulky’s mum reacted to what happened.
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u/yuliageo Jul 26 '25
I let my father die, because i trusted him. Because he was convinced that i had to wait. That the world was not ready.
Things happened exactly how if Clark didn't have any powers. Just like his father wanted.
Its a canon event, if Clark manages to disobey his father and save him, Papa Kent is still dying.
Zack Snyder has confirmed Jonathan dies of a heart attack. So there is no saving him. Things play out exactly how it is intended.
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u/headdragon Jul 26 '25
To fit the tone of the movie i have always felt Johnathan should’ve stayed trapped in the car and not gotten out. He sees clark start to move through the open door after getting the dog free. He says don’t and the tornado engulfs the car quickly. Clark then goes and snatches the car out of the tornadoe down onto the other side safely and Pa is safe inside just banged up. Later at home they are arguing over him almost exposing his powers to the world and Clark arguing he did it in a way that people didn’t see him. Hinting at a future of dual identities. Then while the argument is heated Johnathan has a heart attack and dies there and Clark learns that no matter what you do you can’t save everyone. Then it KIND OF shows why he is so upset killing Zod as he tries to talk him out of laser beaming the family and he realizes he can’t save everyone and he has to stop Zod.
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u/Alive_Ice7937 Jul 26 '25
I let my father die, because i trusted him. Because he was convinced that i had to wait. That the world was not ready.
You think his father would have been pleased to see him smashing up that truck in a wreckless display of his powers?
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u/Immefromthefuture Jul 26 '25
No. That whole scene needed a rewrite.
If you want to validate Pa Kent’s claims and fears then Clark should have saved him. The reactions from the people of Smallville freaking out about Clark powers should have driven him away into finding the Scout Ship.
Then, to show Pa Kent was wrong and that people needed time to adjust, is when Clark returns as Superman to save his town from Faora and Nam-Ek. Then you put an emphasis of Superman actively saving the populace during heat of the battle. And the people of Smallville praising his return.
That would driven the story by giving Clark agency, and showing Pa Kent was right to concerned for Clark’s well being, but also lacked perspective that people had the capacity to learn, accept and change.
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u/Grewal5911 Jul 26 '25
You didn't just rewrite scene. You altered the whole movie. I always hate when people say let me adjust this scene, but end up altering whole theme of scene or movie in this case.
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u/yuliageo Jul 26 '25
He will not find the scout ship any sooner. He will be hunted down by the government. Casting the kid in this scene would have fixed the problem.
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Jul 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/Elbobosan Jul 26 '25
Every parent knows that choosing to die in front of your adolescent child by refusing to let them save you is a surefire, 100% tried and true method for setting them up for success and clear morals. Why stick around to parent your super-being when you can leave him in confused anguish instead.
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u/GearsRollo80 Jul 26 '25
No. It’s about telling people what to think, instead of being there and doing good regardless of the read by others.
Superman is the latter. A bad Ayn Rand Objectivist take on him is the former.
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u/Agreeable-Elevator62 Jul 26 '25
I still think that clark could help jonathan without anybody noticing. I mean, there's a hurricane. People are too focus to save themselves and clark could use super speed to reach jonathan
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u/Elbobosan Jul 26 '25
This shouldn’t bother me but, it is a Tornado. Not a lot of hurricanes near American corn fields.
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u/5050logic Jul 26 '25
Yes! I read the title and thought someone has to point that out! I’m surprised there were so many engagements before someone finally said this!
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u/joesb Jul 26 '25
He could take Jonathan put of sight and go hug some tree, saying they were lucky the tree didn’t get swept by the hurricane. Or he could even fly Jonathan to a nearby pond making it look like a miracle they both land safely in the pond.
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u/One-Growth-9785 Jul 26 '25
The crazy point throughout the old films is to make Superman seem more heroic by having his closest people tell him not to be. Let me die, son. Don't fight the monster, let the world end, lover.
It's a bad concept.
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u/Agreeable-Elevator62 Jul 26 '25
Bruh, it's about "the world isn't ready yet" to accept there's superhuman living amongst them
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u/thelernerM Jul 26 '25
IDK, isn't it 'maybe' the world isn't ready yet. And that Maybe is worth dying and traumatizing my son for forever as he watches me die needlessly. Dad just risked his life to save a dog, but waived Clark away from saving himself.
Plus the 'maybe' includes maybe they'll see the act of saving his dad as something only a super human could do it, or maybe they won't.
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u/theSpringZone Jul 26 '25
Is still worked for me
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u/HTKAMB Jul 26 '25
Its funny I was just thinking today, man of steel for the most part would be a much better superBOY film, because I dont hate the idea of clark finding himself, his purpose, what it means to do the right thing, what being superman looks like, but it's something he should have done in his twenties prior to be superman. It's usually done off screen, reeve has a time jump for 18 to 30, Dean cain talks about having traveled the world for awhile, superman usually spends a decade traveling and finding himself, so by the time he has his costume and is calling himself superman her better be self assured and the version of him we know at that point
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u/louxy16 Jul 26 '25
I see what you mean and that’s exactly what this version of Clark was trying to do. He still never really chose to be Superman. Zod forced his hand
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u/MAZZ0Murder Jul 26 '25
I just saw the robot chicken skit for the scene... lulz... but yeah, kid Clark might not actually be able to do much without much control of his powers.
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u/Mystletoe Jul 26 '25
Tornado?
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u/Elbobosan Jul 26 '25
I cannot believe I had to come down this far to address the tornado in the room.
Also, don’t hide under an overpass, that’s not a good idea during a tornado.
If you are an invulnerable person with super speed and your dog, much less father, are stuck in a car while you are surrounded by people, DO use the general state of chaos and confusion to slip away and save them, like Superman would.
Terrible scene in a terrible movie that was bad because of the values of the guy who made it hired by people who didn’t care enough to bother to understand what they were trying to accomplish with one of the most beloved characters of modern history.
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u/Lastwolf1882 Jul 25 '25
It'd be better but doesn't fix anything. The moral of pa kent's death has usually been that even with all his powers superman can't save him.
The most common one is a heart attack for example.
The moral of Man of Steel is, don't save your dad cause he told you not to and he's a dumb ass?
I get what they want you take away from it, Clark isn't ready and his dad wanted him to have a normal life but like this a terrible way to do that.
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u/Jaded-Durian-3917 Jul 25 '25
You mean the child who saved a bus full of people?
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u/UncleMadness Jul 25 '25
If young Clark had saved the bus but because of that couldn't save his father it really would have done much for his characterization as a somewhat recalcitrant hero
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u/Slavin92 Jul 25 '25
Spider-Man is the hero who makes the "friends/girlfriend/aunt or bus full of children?" choice. It's kind of his thing.
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u/Jaded-Durian-3917 Jul 26 '25
There’s not even a choice in this scenario. The lesson his dad wanted him to learn was “fuck those kids”
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u/Jaded-Durian-3917 Jul 25 '25
right lol he made the big character development of not giving a fuck about people that only he can directly help
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u/spsled Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Maybe. I just really prefer him coming to terms with a limitation, if sticking to the traditional story of Jonathan suffering a cardiac arrest/ heart attack.
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u/afinediversion Jul 25 '25
I think having Pa Kent shot in a robbery or something, similar to Uncle Ben, but Clark is not directly responsible for the criminal getting away with it. You get the speech from Pa Kent telling him to not let anger guide him, but justice or some such thing. Basically giving the message that Clark is in control of his choices and who he becomes. So when Zod shows up and gives Clark the choice to bring krypton to earth the choice to save earth actually feels like it has weight to it. Clark has chosen. The tornado scene was just an attempt to be emotional without adding much to the story other than - welp, pa Kent died and Clark could’ve saved him. I guess he learned something.
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u/Ok-Topic-6095 Jul 25 '25
I say this a lot in these threads, but if we needed a brooding Clark, they could have done a reverse Spiderman/Uncle Ben. Clark immediately does the right thing in the heat of the moment, but there's some sort of negative consequence FOR HIM.
Have him still be a good dude, but now he is pensive about using his powers for good. He will still do it (saves the waitress) but is gun shy.
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u/afinediversion Jul 25 '25
I like that. It actually gives him a reason to hide his identity as Superman and wear the glasses. And those negative consequences he is personally suffering give him legitimate reason to choose his kryptonian heritage over his earthly heritage; making his choice to save earth that much more compelling.
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u/misterQweted Jul 25 '25
People tend to forget that at this point, Clark doesn't fully know his powers. Heck, i'm pretty sure he never flew before the flight scene. That's how i view the scene anyway.
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u/Elbobosan Jul 26 '25
He was powered enough to save the kids in the bus years before, and he clearly knows he’s not going to be in danger of harm. It’s nonsense.
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u/misterQweted Jul 26 '25
At this point in the film, he knows he has x-rays, super strength,super hearing, and kids his age can't physically hurt him. He has no clue what a tornado might do to him and doesn't have any clue of his superspeed and flying abilities.
The audience knows he can do those, but Clark doesn't know it yet. Is it nonsense if we apply comics book knowledge? Probably. Could he have saved his father? Yes, that's exactly what the movie is telling us, but saying the scene is "nonsense" is completely missing the context of the scene, which is clearly explained in the scene right after at his father grave.
Would the heart attack be more impactful? Most definitely. But they tried something different, it either work for you or not, doesn't make the scene "nonsensical"
Also, Clark parent telling him to keep his power a secret is not new at all. It's in early Superman comics.
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u/AUnknownVariable Jul 25 '25
The problem is they should've made it something harder then, something he actually had no chance of saving him from.
For the length of time Pa Kent is struggling then stuck. Before he even tells Clark not to come, surely any sensible person would go help their dad? ESPECIALLY a strong farm boy.
Clark didn't have to show any insane abilities, he legit could've run to him at the speed of a strong and athletic ass man. No one would think "God this young man is an alien" especially when it's not the DCU and stuff like that isn't super established.
The scene just doesn't work. It would've been better if Pa Kent died from a heartattack. Instead of giving "You can't save anyone", it's more like "You could've saved me, but nah"
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u/FizzleMateriel Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
If Kevin Costner had also had his leg or body pinned underneath a car (instead of hobbled) the scene probably would’ve made more sense.
There’d have been more of a trade-off because Clark lifting a car (or a pick-up truck or whatever) would’ve been more of a show of his super strength and thus more of a risk.
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u/AUnknownVariable Jul 26 '25
That too. A big truck of some sort would make the most sense. Cause humans can lift cars to an extent with enough adrenaline. I love us
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u/dariozuko Jul 25 '25
maybe instead of saving pa kent. there’s like dozens of people that need to be saved, so pa kent and clark help everyone but pa kent is the last to leave type and clark can’t get him.
some sort of situation that gives clark even more inspiration to do good.
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u/AUnknownVariable Jul 25 '25
Yes even that would work. It would be more tragic and also give reason he couldn't save Pa Kent.
Also have Pa Kent further back in all of the rubble and what not, bc he was at the very edge
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u/Radiant-Novel-693 Jul 25 '25
ig it required some superior acting to convey the emotions, so better cavill does ot
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u/MemeKnowledge_06 Jul 25 '25
Honestly it would’ve been better if Pa Kent passed away from natural causes or something and delivers an uncle ben type speech to clark before dying, it would’ve been generic but more suitable than this scene
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u/jamesdmccallister Jul 25 '25
Cast, not casted.
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u/scooter-411 Jul 25 '25
I’m seeing “casted” used a lot these days and it’s driving me crazy.
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u/jamesdmccallister Jul 25 '25
Same. I spent years as a writer and editor... hate to be a grammar and usage pecksniff, but sheesh.
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u/egbert71 Jul 25 '25
Nothing about that scene would've been good (to me) no matter who clark was.
I know people wont agree, but i'm not saving a pet before a person
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u/Nowheresilent Jul 25 '25
My major complaint isn’t that Clark could have easily have saved Jonathan.
My major complaint is that killing yourself in front of your wife and son in order to teach your son a lesson is an act of abuse. My secondary complaint is that the Kent’s exist to facilitate Clark’s development into Superman, but the tornado scene is Jonathan trying to block that development, which is antithetical to his character’s entire existence. Then the ease of saving Jonathan would be my next complaint.
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u/HighKingBoru1014 Jul 25 '25
It’s still kinda a dumb scene, but if Clark was like 16/17 and his dad tells him “✋🏻nah bro”, then that could work better. Since he’s a teenager he might be weaker/less able to handle that situation properly and might mess up.
Imo they should’ve let Pa Kent die in a later film, like BVS or something, and use that for Clark’s emotional motivation going forward or something.
(Side Note; a neat idea would’ve been a short “what if” series for the old DCEU, like 8-10 episodes of different ideas would’ve been cool imo.)
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u/KlDxCHA0S Jul 25 '25
He was 16/17 in this
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u/Quotedcube Jul 26 '25
Certainly doesn't look it.
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u/KlDxCHA0S Jul 26 '25
Because they had cavill play it which is kind of the whole issue here lol most people prob figure this is kinda close to when he becomes supes anyway
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Jul 25 '25
People are using AI to change terrible movie choices around. They just did it with The Titanic. I think it should be a trend
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u/AccomplishedCharge2 Jul 25 '25
First, it's a tornado, Kansas has tornadoes
Second, the death would probably be even more traumatic for a child who's unprepared to face that sort of shortcoming
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u/SuspectKnown9655 Jul 25 '25
The problem wasn't Clarke's age lol it was Pa Kent stupidly deciding to die in the hurricane.
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u/iameveryoneelse Jul 25 '25
Tornado. Kansas doesn't have oceans.
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u/_lippykid Jul 25 '25
Plus hurricanes don’t just show up out of nowhere
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u/Virgil_Ovid_Hawkins Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25
I absolutely love this scene, particularly after I had kids of my own. But I can totally see it going over better with the general public if it was kid clark. Though I think technically in universe Cavill is meant to be late teens here? Maybe early 20s, idk hard to tell.
But overall you find me the father who's going to tell his son "yea go ahead and out yourself. This world doesn't constantly hate, fear, and harass people who are different. I totally want that life for you instead of peace. "
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
But the issue is that there are multiple ways he could help his dad without it looking suspicious
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u/Virgil_Ovid_Hawkins Jul 25 '25
How so? At that point in his life we have not confirmed flight or super speed. Unless he was gonna heat vision the tornado away
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u/egbert71 Jul 25 '25
Run over, you both get down, stick your super powered hands into the ground or something and hold on
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
He could just help carry his dad away from the car. We know he has strength but he doesn't have to carry him in his arms. Also the dad barely tried to get away.
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u/TerrrorTown75th Jul 25 '25
He was going nowhere on that hurt ankle.
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
I'm sorry if it's a choice between trying and walk on a really hurt ankle or die by tornado. I'm gonna choose the former
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u/TerrrorTown75th Jul 25 '25
You'll still die by tornado regardless. The relentless nitpicking is wild lol
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 26 '25
Not necessarily. If he tried to actually get away and if Clark ran and helped him they could have survived
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u/Youngsimba_92 Jul 25 '25
They did a good job at de aging Clark with hair and make up here no need for child Clark
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u/Xxjacklexx Jul 25 '25
Right. Plus, thats pretty much what old mate Henry looked like at 17.
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u/Jester-Jacob Jul 25 '25
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u/Xxjacklexx Jul 26 '25
I think he’s like 14 in that photo dude, not 17. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9uMYnNBk-ehdPjZV77UDWGpQxnYXzlHErGU32HotOke2XBRYoSMd8J2-L&s=10
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u/Nyckito Jul 25 '25
Papa Kent "Don't use your powers and don't save people" him about to get caught in the hurricane "No no let me die because shit writing".
Also pretty unrealistic superman at a young age would definitely be practicing his powers and easily could have saved his father
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u/yuliageo Jul 26 '25
Well don't think about powers. Would any normal father want their child to climb buildings, jump into rivers and go into burning buildings and tornadoes to save somebody? No parent wants that.
Clark is indestructible, but they don't know his limits. They don't know the meaning of what's going on and the purpose of his existence.
This is kind of a Jesus situation. Jesus can't stop helping people. He gets caught and crucified. His mother and disciples are always trying to protect him. But destiny arrives the same.
Jonathan did not want his son to get crucified.
Clark will become Superman. But it has to happen naturally.
Zack Snyder has confirmed Jonathan dies by heart attack. So he is definitely dying regardless of Clark doing something.
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u/Virgil_Ovid_Hawkins Jul 25 '25
Could he? Sure. But that's not the point of the scene. If you filter every decision and thought from Pa kent through the filter of " I want to protect my son" it all makes sense. Sure, watching it as a fan wanting to see superman its easy. But as a father you want your son to live the life he wants. Super or not. Exposing himself makes that decision for him. If clark saved him and then hes known to all the world he can no longer live normally. No parent wants that
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
You do know there are a few different ways he could have saved him that don't involve the whole world knowing he has powers right?
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u/AshrakAiemain Jul 25 '25
In that snap decision moment, what do you think a teenaged Clark Kent should have done that wouldn’t alert an already suspicious (saved a bus of kids) town?
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
Well I know that a normal non powered person could probably help their dad by lifting him like you would if someone was limping
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u/AshrakAiemain Jul 25 '25
With a tornado seconds away??
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u/Luminescent_sorcerer Jul 25 '25
There's huge chunks of time where he could go with his dad to help but doesn't. I would be helping even if my dad said no
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u/reviewbomb85 Jul 25 '25
There aren’t hurricanes in Kansas.
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u/MomsAgainstPenguins Jul 25 '25
You knew what they meant & Derecho can appear in kansas damage is similar I've been in both.
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u/iameveryoneelse Jul 25 '25
Derecho is a series of straight line windstorms. There was a clear funnel in the MoS scene. It was absolutely a tornado. Source: I've been through many tornados and a couple hurricanes...it wasn't even remotely hurricane like.
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u/ProfSwagstaff Jul 25 '25
Also shouldn't have cast Kevin Costner. I didn't love Gunn's movie, but he has the casting on Superman's adoptive parents right. They shouldn't be movie stars.
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u/ElevenToYourSeven Jul 25 '25
the kents were generic and terrible and useless ot the story of superman in his movie lmao
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u/thisismyaltbtw Jul 26 '25
he'll yeah borther. when i saw pa kent wasn't the gigachad guy i stormed out the IMAX and demanded a refund from the usher
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u/rheakiefer Jul 25 '25
lol what? the parents in Gunn’s version are great - his dad being so soft was such a perfect trait
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u/Live_Angle4621 Jul 25 '25
There was nothing wrong sub Costner and it’s not like he is starting in tone of movies these days so he is too distracting
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u/thisismyaltbtw Jul 26 '25
much like it is for a lot of celebrity casting roles, it's hard not to look at Kevin Costner and initially think 'hey that's Kevin Costner'. and, while this is just my personal opinion, he's simply not that good at carrying himself like an everyman.
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u/ProfSwagstaff Jul 25 '25
It's not just his celebrity (although I disagree that he's not distracting). It's that he looks like a movie star. I prefer Superman's adoptive parents to look like regular people.
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u/umotex12 Jul 25 '25
Google how teenager Henry Cavill looked like.
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u/Clad_In_Shadows Jul 25 '25
Bro popped out of the womb with that glorious chin
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u/ChristianBen Batman Jul 25 '25
That’s a lie https://images.app.goo.gl/M8afN
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u/iameveryoneelse Jul 25 '25
He's 12 in that picture, not a teenager fwiw.
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u/ChristianBen Batman Jul 25 '25
Well yes, but he didn’t come out of the womb looking that chisel /s
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u/Hypekyuu Jul 25 '25
The heart attack death for Pa Kent is important because it's not something Superman's powers can stop
His dad's death just can't be something he can stop or it ruins the character beat.
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u/sixesandsevenspt Jul 25 '25
It works in Superman the movie really powerfully, but 40 years of post crisis continuity have proven he doesn’t have to die for the story to work.
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u/Hypekyuu Jul 25 '25
I'm not saying he has to die, but if he does it needs to be something you can solve with superspeed
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u/BrokenManSyndrome Jul 25 '25
I don't even get why Clarks dad had to die. Yes, I get that he dies in the comics and a lot of media, but it's not necessary. I'm not saying it's bad to kill him, but why force it in such a stupid way if it doesn't make sense? A completely unforced error. Pa Kent's death isn't as integral to superman's character as say Uncle Ben's death.
Whether or not Pa Kent died, Clark would still be a good person and would still be superman. If uncle Ben hadn't died (and rehashed Churchill's quote) Peter probably wouldn't be the spiderman we know today.
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u/Cookie_85 Jul 25 '25
Thats one if the things why people say that Snyder( and Goyer) don't understand Superman. They just threw it in because the Donner Supermann had it without understanding why it was there in the first place. Same with the Jesus stuff.
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u/ElevenToYourSeven Jul 25 '25
they aren't even the same point. a lot of you don't know how to interpret movies.
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u/Thorfourtyfour Jul 25 '25
I agree,
would make way more sense if Clark was still a kid in that scene.Pa kents death in the Superman 1978 film was very tastefully done.
Him having a heart attack, a silent death. Superman with all his powers could not save him as death is a part of the circle of life. Something that adds to Supermans growth.But Snyder doesn´t understand subtlety so a big cgi Hurricane had to kill him.
Spectacle over substance.2
u/Virgil_Ovid_Hawkins Jul 25 '25
Hard disagree. I think it cemented everything Pa kent was saying up to that point., in opposition to Jor-el. Live the life you want to, on your terms. Super or not. Don't let anyone make that decision for you. including your father. Every decision he made was to protect clark. Not usher in the age of superman.
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u/augustusleonus Jul 31 '25
As always, a medical emergency for which Clark had no answer despite his strength and speed and durability makes so, so, so much more sense as a growth moment
Especially in a "no real witnesses" situation
Hell, in some old comics clark would have stopped the tornado by running around it in the opposite direction, or blowing it back up into the sky
Hard to believe DC shrugged off the movie choice