Which makes Superman II a lesser movie for my money. In fact the end of it is really, really weird. The Donner cut reveals that Zod, Ursa and Non lived but I’ll agree it’s a damn obvious saving throw.
But Superman, 1978, is one of the best representations of Superman as he was at the time and it’s an interpretation that looms large. Fairly or not. I mean if they wanted a more contemporary Superman then that’s cool but I feel the DCAU beat them to it with Superman: the Animated Series and his continuing appearances on Justice League. They could literally have copied and pasted that with a few tweaks and been sweet as a nut.
Superman doesn’t have to be a saint; but one fairly common part of his character I have observed is that he did what he did because he could. Because he believes that these powers, God like in their breadth, are there and within him to do good. I stand by it that WB have lost the best Superman talent they are ever likely to have for the next twenty years when Cavill left.