Why is it so hard to make a good Superman movie?

Superman is the most famous superhero ever created. There is no debating that. He was the pioneer for superheroes for many media outlets (comics, radio, TV).  He's the first superhero we learn about. Supes represents the best of humanity and what we should all aspire to be.  He's inspired songs (Superman by Lazlo Bane, Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down), clothing, nicknames and even NBA rivalries (Retired center Shaquille O'Neal actively hates Dwight Howard for "stealing" his Superman title.  Calling someone Superman is pretty much the ultimate compliment.  He's a cultural icon in America. But there's a problem...

There hasn't been a good Superman movie in over 30 years, (not since Superman II with Christopher Reeves).  In this time, Batman, Spiderman, Ironman, the X-men and even Captain America and the Hulk have produced movies that were critically accepted.  Superman's attempt in 2006, "Superman Returns", was widely panned. To make matters worse, most people can't even think of a Superman plot line that would make them rush to the theaters.  In an era where Superhero movies have captured our imaginations and gained mainstream appeal, we can't even THINK of a good Superman story line.  There's a reason for that...

Weirdly, the answer isn't Superman III although that was a great guess.

Superman is an inherently boring character. He's too "goody two-shoes" for our liking.  He's the guy in class who would remind the teacher that he/she forgot to collect the homework.  He's the guy who walks to the end of the sidewalk on an empty road because jaywalking is illegal. He doesn't kiss on the first date. He doesn't let himself get angry. The Wire was too edgy for him. He's boring.  We get it, truth, justice, blah, blah, blah. There's only so much we can take of someone who is that pure, that nice, and that good. We live in a cynical society, and that's why we have overwhelmingly chosen Batman and Marvel characters like Iron Man over Superman. They have flaws. They make mistakes.  They let their emotions get the better of them.  Movie writers are afraid to tarnish the legacy of Superman by showing anything less that perfection.  Therein lies the problem.

The Solution: Tell the Superman story that has been written before but never brought to the big screen. The story that you would expect if someone gave you a character who wanted the world to be good and was immeasurably powerful.

This Guy. Give this guy a movie.

There is a comic called Superman: Red Son.  It is set in an alternate universe where Superman landed somewhere in Soviet Russia as a baby instead of Smallville, Kansas.  He is raised with communist ideals and eventually emerges during the Cold War with the US.  They could have easily made this a "Russia =bad, US = good" story but they didn't. Superman still wanted to help people, regardless of where they were from. But because he was raised in a system where the government was more comfortable exerting their will for the "good of the people", he was, reluctantly at first but then more willingly, able to compromise some personal liberties to help achieve his ultimate goal of paradise. He was able to get most of the world to go along with him, except the United States of course.  This was a different Superman willing to use methods that the more known Superman would never consider. The fact that he is so controlling becomes a major theme of the story.

Another comic is called Superman: Speeding Bullets.  It also takes place in an alternate universe where Superman landed in Gotham City. He was found by Thomas and Martha Wayne, otherwise known as Batman's parents.  They decided to adopt him, and as a result he was named Bruce Wayne and the Bruce we all know was never born.  In this storyline, his parents still die but unlike our Batman who used the moment as motivation to become strong enough to be able to protect the innocent, Superman later finds out he was strong enough all along and has added guilt because of that.  As a result, this Superman, who goes by the name Batman, uses levels of violence not even our Batman could condone.

A third is called Kingdom Come and is set as a possible future where Superman has retired because the people as a whole celebrated when a new superhero killed the Joker eventhough he had been found innocent by reason of insanity.  He later comes out of retirement when he sees how violent and reckless this new generation of superheroes are. He himself becomes much more violent, to the point that Batman actively opposes him as well saying neither side is provides an adequate solution.

I am in no way suggesting an alternate universe Superman where his origin is drastically changed. I think that would play very gimmicky as a movie. The reason I gave a synopsis of the three books above is because they ignore the boy scout most movies portray Superman as and they instead tackle an often ignored but very interesting theme:  Superman is the most powerful person on Earth yet he can't seem to make the people of Earth as good as he would like. He grew up on a small farm in a small town where people seemed inherently good. He comes to a big city and realizes people are corrupt and no matter what he does there is still violence, and innocents still suffer.  Instead of portraying him as having infinite patience, they portray him as an angry diety who has decided to take matters into his own hands.  This is a story that we have never seen on the bigscreen.  It is gritty, cynical, and really gets to the heart of humanity. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely".

This is the Superman we need to see. Angry, frustrated, but still wanting to do the right thing. A movie of this ilk would bring Supes back to the forefront of superhero folklore. Instead of just making a movie with a strong opponent, let us question his morality. Superman isn't human, add a little bit of alien coldness and you strike cinematic gold. Or kill Jimmy Olsen...he's been asking for it.