The Death of “Superman Lives”: What Happened? (“1999”): I Want This Movie in My Life So Bad [Joey’s Review]
“Making of” documentaries have been a long-standing tradition and companion piece to films, whether they’re shorts that are included on the DVD release, or full-blown masterpieces (like HEART OF DARKNESS). Lately, though, there have been a few documentaries made in a similar — but more heartbreaking — style: documentaries about movies that were never made.
One of my favorite documentaries from 2014 was JODOROWSKY’S DUNE, which looked at “what could have been” in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s adaptation of Dune. This would have happened before David Lynch tackled Frank Herbert’s novel, but ultimately fell through for a variety of reasons. The concept art alone makes the documentary worth checking out; had this movie been made, it could have been one of the best science-fiction movies of all time. Instead, the project died, and other movies (including STAR WARS) went on to borrow from Dune’s ideas and concept art.
The other example that comes to mind is the reason we’re here today: THE DEATH OF “SUPERMAN LIVES”: WHAT HAPPENED? In the late 1990s, we were three weeks away from a Tim Burton-directed Superman movie featuring Nicolas Cage, Sandra Bullock, Chris Rock, Christopher Walken, and Kevin Spacey entering production. THREE. WEEKS. But because Warner Bros. was in the midst of a streak of box office flops, the studio pulled the plug and left us wondering, “What if…?”
Whether or not this movie would have been any good is up in the air. The documentary gave me the impression that a lot of the behind-the-scenes personnel were selected by figuring out who would best be suited for that job, and then giving that job to the complete opposite kind of person. Oh, someone who doesn’t really like Superman? Sure, fire Kevin Smith and hire him as a screenwriter! A European concept artist? Yeah, let him tackle the most American superhero of all time! Examples abound.
As skeptical as those examples might make you, there’s just as much — if not more — to be excited about. First of all, there was that incredible cast. In the documentary, Nicolas Cage talks about his reverence for Superman, and it’s clear to see that he would have given the role the respect it deserved. The whole thing was spearheaded by Tim Burton, who gave us the great BATMAN and BATMAN RETURNS. And as crazy as some of the costume concept art was, Cage in the classic red, yellow, and blue looked GREAT.
It’s clear that I love Nicolas Cage. I also love superhero movies; as much “Marvel fatigue” as there is in today’s Hollywood landscape, I will watch (and probably love) new Marvel movies forever. Those facts make what I’m about to say pretty obvious, but I’m going to say it anyway: I WANT THIS MOVIE IN MY LIFE SO BAD.
If everything clicked, it could have been the best Superman movie ever. (To be fair, there have really only been two good ones. It’s not like the competition here is steep.) But even if it was bad, it would have been right up there with SUPERMAN III, which I love unconditionally for so many reasons. No matter the outcome, we would have had a Superman movie starring Nicolas Cage. Like, what! Come on! That would have been the best.
It also leads me to wonder what kind of future Cage would have had if this movie really took off. (Superman in flight pun… not quite intended?) It would have released the year after Face/Off, and would have marked the fourth straight summer with a massive action movie starring Cage. Would he have continued on that trajectory? Who knows? I like just about every kind of movie, but there’s something special about big budget action movies. A world with more of those starring Cage is the kind of world I want to live in.
How can I watch it? I think you have to pay (a not insignificant amount of money) to buy this one on the film’s site.
What’s up next? Cage teams up with one of the greatest living directors, Martin Scorsese, for BRINGING OUT THE DEAD! This one is really, really great.
