Superman Re-write

This is the story I would have pitched in lieu of what became a boring 2 hr 40 min monstrosity:

Act 1: Lex Luther is up to something really bad, like destroying an entire city with some type of super weapon with a crew of serious gangsters/criminals (not Kumar). Superman saves the day, but there is some issue with territory as the FBI or cops or someone felt they could have prevented Luther from hatching his scheme. Luther goes to jail and there is a little bit of backlash against Superman. Perhaps a bureaucrat or politician or FBI leader develops an anti-Superman movement. Then, Superman misunderstands or tries to save someone who didn't really need to be saved and he gets accused of being an egotist and a relic from the old days. A big anti-Superman movement begins and everyone turns against him. Clark Kent is the only one who continues to stand up for him, and the straw that breaks the camel's back is when even Lois Lane thinks Superman is no longer necessary, especially after Luther has been all locked up. Kent is given the task of telling Superman, and he is heartbroken.

Act 2: Kent is sad because everyone is excited that they can fend for themselves and no one needs Superman. People start to mock and satirize Superman. Kent is sad monkey, and even grows to dislike Lois Lane for her disloyalty to Superman. At his lowest point, Clark meets a woman - Delilah who seems to be the answer to all his problems. She falls in love with Clark and he finally seems to have found a woman who notices him.

Meanwhile, Clark is given the task of following the new task force that deals with all criminals. Their abilities are remarkable and they are doing a great job of keeping the streets safe. Even Clark begins to buy into the idea that Superman is no longer necessary. He grows happier and happier. He incidentally grows cockier and cockier and begins to take on some of Superman-like traits without the super powers.

Lois notices the change in Clark and doesn't like it. Finally she starts to notice Clark, but for all the wrong reasons. He still has feelings for her, but decides to stick with Delilah because Delilah is honest and good to him.

Midpoint: Lex Luther gets out of jail on a technicality and goes free. The task force is confident they can keep him under wraps. Lois Lane goes on the story.

Luther assembles a great big gang to hatch another scheme. They all are wary of Luther, don't trust him, and figure Superman is going to screw them over again. Luther indicates that he thinks he's solved the Superman problem.

It turns out the Delilah character did some study to discover who Superman was and figured out it was Clark Kent. She went to work for Luther while he was in jail and they've hatched a scheme for world domination.

While Clark is happy, going along with the Task Force, Lois Lane discovers what Lex Luther and Delilah are up to.

She tries to confront Clark and Clark needs to figure out who to believe, Delilah or Lois Lane. He chooses Delilah. Meanwhile, chaos has started to break out. Luther's thugs are running wild and the task force is having trouble controlling them. They keep trying new tactics that don't quite work.

Since they can't beat Luther, they broker a truce with him, giving him exactly what he needs (set up before) for world domination.

Act 3: Clark somehow discovers that Delilah has been lying to him and is working for the bad guys and is heartbroken. Even so, he can't summon the courage or energy to be Superman again, despite the fact that Luther is running wild. Lois Lane finds Clark and begs him to contact Superman again, that he is needed. Superman goes back into action and does some kick-ass shit, semi-breaking up Luther's plan.

But Luther and Delilah fight back by exposing Clark Kent as Superman. Superman again needs to save the day, and somehow also prove that Clark Kent and Superman are different people, which he pulls off while saving the whole world.

Suck that, Bryan Singer!