Superman is nothing without people believing in the idea of Superman.
That is the idea at the heart of Superman Returns, and why I feel the film succeeds so well. The movie isn’t perfect, specifically the casting of Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, a role Ms. Bosworth is simply not at a high enough level to portray. Lois is a sassy and brassy dame, and delights in going toe to toe with both Clark Kent and Superman. There’s just not the right tone to her independent streak where she refers to Clark as “Smallville” or slyly asking Superman what color underwear she’s wearing then turning beet-red when he gives her the x-ray answer.
Otherwise, Superman Returns discusses how the Man of Steel relates to the world and how the world relates to him. It is about the balancing act that exists for the most powerful being on earth, who could rule like a king but makes the conscious choice to be at the beck and call of man in his most dire moment.
At the beginning of the film Superman has been gone for five years, off on a quest to find out with his own two eyes whether his home planet of Krypton still lives or not. Upon his return, he realizes that he left the world that is his only true home and exchanged it for the cold solitude of space (at least, there’s no mention of whether he ran into a Green Lantern or two). How will the world receive him? More importantly, how will Lois react to his return?
In a spectacular sequence that on a technical level blows away the previous films, Superman saves a space shuttle and a doomed plane - at the same time. Succesful (of course), the sequence ends in a packed baseball stadium where the game is an afterthought and on the Jumbotron is Superman received by a standing ovation. Soon, the buzz becomes palatable - Superman is back, and the world quickly remembers the upside of having Jor-El’s only child on their team.
Brandon Routh eerily echoes Christopher Reeve’s now legendary balancing act between the confident Superman and the bumbling Clark. When your sole disguise is a pair of glasses, you better make the two men not even remotely similar. Even Lois thinks that Superman and Clark are different heights!
But what about Lois? Again, this is my only disappointment in the film. Ms. Bosworth doesn’t spark with Superman until later in the film, and while I understand that she is pissed for him leaving without saying goodbye, this is just out of character for Lois. Their love for each other has literally overcome space and time in the almost seventy years of Superman’s existence. In the original Superman you’ll remember he interfered with the rotation of the earth in order to spare Lois’ life. The one redeeming element is this film’s version of Lois’ flight with Superman, in which he demonstrates that his version of flying blows away her pilot boyfriend.
It is fitting that Superman’s arch enemy is not another god, but simply a balding criminal - Lex Luthor. Kevin Spacey is perfect. Luthor is a genius. Luthor is a madman. Luthor is a whiner. LL is all that and more. The plan he has hatched after getting out of jail and swindling an old rich woman out of her fortune is somewhat silly, but it demonstrates Luthor’s zeal for the audacious. It’s not every day someone grows a new continent. The best element of Spacey’s Luthor is the hatred he has for Superman. Gene Hackman’s version was annoyed by Superman, wanted him out of the way so he could make a quick buck but Spacey seethes over him. Superman is what he hopes to be, but wastes his power (in Lex’s eyes) by being “good”. I really felt it when Luthor finally gets Superman right where he wants him. It has been building and Luthor will have his pound of flesh.
Often, the argument is made that Superman makes things too easy. Batman is a guy in a suit, Spider-Man is a kid with some extra powers, but Superman is a god. Yes.
The movie treats him this way, and gives him tasks to achieve that would have destroyed Batman or Superman or the X-Men in a second. Superman must literally move mountains and part seas in order to set things right because he is the only one that can.
(A point of digression: why hasn’t anybody ever just shot Batman in the mouth - where he’s unprotected? Ditto for shooting Spider-Man, who’s skin isn’t invulnerable.)
And it is in the course of those actions where Superman Returns truly becomes about the people, the ordinary average everyday people, and how much they believe in Superman. As the final events unfold, his relationship with Lois becomes more complex than even in the comics, while the question of whether he should have returned or not is solidly answered.
He’s back. He’s great. He’s super, man.
Rating: 4/4
Note: There’s been a lot of caterwauling by the right over the patriotic correctness of Superman being for “truth, justice, and the American way”. For a long time its been clear that Superman is not a lackey of America. He’s not beholden to any president or party. He makes his home here, he is a proud American, but Superman works for those who need help wherever they are. Frankly, Superman doesn’t usually have the time to mouth snappy slogans about whether he’s for “truth, justice and the American way”. Stuff needs to get done. People need to get saved.
Note 2: Michelle Malkin says she has no stomach for superheroes that don’t acknowledge 9/11 and terrorism. Again: Lex Luthor is trying to destroy an entire continent, and Superman has to (literally) change the face of the earth to stop him. Sounds like terrorism, a definite villain, and about as clear cut a hero as fact or fiction have ever devised. Malkin also once again shows that when it comes to comic genius Frank Miller she has no idea what the hell she’s talking about.
Good thing I saw it this afternoon. Thanks for having no spoiler warning. I guess you just assumed everyone on Earth has been to see it already.
I thought Lois Lane was played perfectly. I don’t know how many perky girls you know, but to the best of my knowledge (i.e., college campus) feminism has virtually slain “perky.”
The new, modern Lois had already been “kickin’ it” with Superman, before she “hooks up” with the boss’s nephew.
Is that what you mean by perky? We used to call that “easy.”
For a long time its been clear that Superman is not a lackey of America.
Is that what you call patriots? Sickening.
He makes his home here, he is a proud American
Proud of what? — there is no concern for America, according to you. “The American way” is just part of a “sappy slogan.” That attitude coming from you doesn’t surprise me at all, after all, you all but act like someone who landed here from another planet, even though you’ve been here, what, 25, thirty years? But saddling Superman with that “Who cares about America — I’m a citizen of the planet” jazz is nuts — it’s exactly why we can’t win the GWoT.
The two special effects extravaganzas were well worth the price of admission*, but if anything was sappy, it was Superman mooning over Lois, instead of just sidling up to her and saying, “Lose the zero and get with the superhero.” In his Clark persona, he was handling things better than Superman, who acted like Archie pining over Veronica.
If you’re going to make a movie out of a comic book, don’t make it into a Soap Opera.
“Son of Supe” has real potential.
* I paid nothing. I had a pass for Cars, a surprisingly nostalgic and technically spellbinding feature, that in feeling and spirit, kicked Superman’s “S”. Then I walked on down the hall.
Frank, what I wrote was practically spoiler free.
And you need to get out more with people who were born after the 50s sock hops. There’s plenty perky out there. If you’re going to play Lois Lane, someone should be aware of the character.
No, patriots are not lackeys of America, but theyre not blind servants either. I never said anything about a “sappy slogan”. I’m not a citizen of the planet, I’m a proud American, but Superman is clearly not just for America. He doesn’t fight crime in the 50 states and DC and stop there. Evil knows no borders and he will go everywhere to stop it. You’re certainly old enough, have you never read a Superman comic?
Superman would never ever have told Lois Lane to ditch her beau, and I swear you didn’t watch the movie or don’t get it, he clearly understood that in his absence she had created a family unit. Aren’t you all about preserving the familial unit against the scourge of the gays?
Cars was okay, not anywhere close to Superman or the other Pixar features (especially The Incredibles).
So Frank… you were theater-hopping? Isn’t that… kinda stealing? You paid for one movie and saw two? I thought you were all about law and order in America…
Hypocrisy: THAT’s why we can’t win the GWoT…
Was Superman gay? Was Superman Christ?
No. And No.
But… I think a case could be made for “Superman is Sleeping Beauty”. Duh, spoiler alert: He wakes up after a kiss.
1) You wrote a summary of the movie. What did you leave out?
2)I go to a college campus filled with people around half your age, and I have two teenage sons who actually give me a tiny bit of credit for being “cool” which is more than most kids give their parents. (Not to mention the fact that I probably spent more time “in the streets” before you were born, than you have since.)
3) I’ll bet you can’t tell me the difference between a “blind servant” and a “lackey” in 100 words or less.
4) have you never read a Superman comic?
Now you’ve hit a nerve. I’ve read Superman / Superboy / Supergirl / Kypto / Bizarro comics by the hundreds. I was reading Superman comics when he built the Fortress of Solitude, when the various “colors” of Kryptonite were found, when he “married” Lois Lane — fantasy issue, when the new JLA was started, and when World’s Finest comics became the home of Superman and Batman — all before you were born.
5) Lois didn’t “create a family unit”. She was raising an illegitimate son by Superman (as if Supe wouldn’t instantly recognize his own son until she told him), and she was “shacking up” (there’s a modern word for you) with the boss’s nephew. There are your “traditional values.”
6) You’re entitled to you’re opinion about Cars, but it had way more substance, and technical panache than The Incredibles, and, as I said, in terms of message and nostalgia (which I thought was the raison d’etre of making comics into movies, Cars beats Superman all hollow.
Oh boy! A list of Points!
1) He didnt say anything that the trailers didnt show, or that other reviewers didnt mention. I’m pretty sure thats the qualifier for spoiler, and he didnt hit it.
2) Bragging that your kids tell you they think you’re cool… is not, in point of fact, itself, cool. Comes off as kinda needy, desperate to be accepted as Cool… and needy isn’t cool. Ya dig?
3) Blind Servant has a sort of religious connotation of one who serves unquestioningly because they lack any ability to question, but will be ultimately rewarded for their faith. (Isaiah 42:19 - Who is blind, but my servant?) The distinction is that Blind (or deaf) servants do not need to be told what to do in order to serve the lord/their master in this context, whereas a Lackey must be constantly commanded. 70 words.
4) I think the point he’s making is that, even though youve clearly read many Suparman comics (Including the truly epic and heartwrenching Krypto series) its curious how you can still have this idea of Superman as an American entity. Hell he’s an illegal alien after all, taking jobs away from the real Americans who would otherwise be catching Airplanes and fighting Doomsday and stuff. In a “good, patriotic” view, whats so American about that?
5) We dont know if theres any way for her to have previously knows who’s kid he was though, after all Superman leaves, maybe she hits the rebound hard and finds White’s nephew and they hit it off, and only after that point does she realize she’s late or something. Could’ve happened, prove that it didnt. Also, owning a house together for years and raising (as far as they know) their child in it isnt really deserving of the connotation “shacking up” gives it, dont you think?
6) …you… thought Cars… was better… than… The Incredibles…
…you know man, every time I get dense enough to think you can be reasonable you go and say something like that. Cars that tell jokes have more substance than a superhero family unit… and a CGI movie has more nostalgia and message than… than Superman… just plain wow, man… I wonder what the barrel of this gun tastes like…
Does Lois Lane wear thongs?
And I should point out that Lois was engaged to Perry’s nephew- its not like she was whorring herself out to people.
Bragging that your kids tell you they think you re cool
I wasn’t bragging.
Blind Servant has a sort of religious connotation of one who serves unquestioningly because they lack any ability to question, but will be ultimately rewarded for their faith. (Isaiah 42:19 - Who is blind, but my servant?) The distinction is that Blind (or deaf) servants do not need to be told what to do in order to serve the lord/their master in this context, whereas a Lackey must be constantly commanded. 70 words.
You weren’t the one I asked. I wanted to know not how they might be differentiated, but how Oliver differentiated them. You dig?
I think the point he s making is that … its curious how you can still have this idea of Superman as an American entity.
Once again, you have attempted to enter the wonderfully curious mind of Oliver Willis. In actual fact, while Superman flew around the world innumerable times, and occasionally saved Big Ben, or the Eiffel Tower, he was indisputably an American hero. He was transformed into an international character by the filmmakers. They have the right to do whatever they want — they could have had him live in space forever — but it is not true to the comics. And your lack of knowledge of the comic is dismally displayed by your failure to realize that Krypto’s appearances in the comics were humorous, not heartwrenching, and there was no “series.” But why let ignorance stand in your way? You were on a roll.
We dont know if theres any way for her to have previously knows whose kid he was though, after all Superman leaves, maybe she hits the rebound hard and finds White s nephew and they hit it off, and only after that point does she realize she s late or something.
So, she has sex with Superman, and he leaves town before she misses a period (28 - 56 days), and she’s so inconsolate over the loss of Superman that she jumps into the sack with Perry White’s nephew, and she gets pregnant so quick she can’t imagine it’s Superman’s “love child.” What kind of “perky” modern woman acts like that, aside from the fact that she would never have sex in this day of AIDS and roses without protection. Now, prove that did happen.
owning a house together for years and raising [a] child in it isnt really deserving of the connotation shacking up .
It’s not “the shack” that gives the meaning to the term “shacking up”, you dig?
6) & you& thought Cars& was better& than& The Incredibles&
One animated feature was better than another? Yes
a CGI movie has more nostalgia and message than Superman? Yes
Why? Did you think that film somehow conveys more feeling than CGI animation?
So I guess the fantasy “The Wizard of Oz” couldn’t have nearly the emotion or spirit of a great “realistic” film like “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”?
Rex, I know you have no intelligent opinions, but I didn’t know you had no intelligence, either.
Post-modern Supeman…
Superman’s original incarnation was a vigilante, not an all-American hero. Still it’s interesting that Superman no longer stands for “The American Way.” In this age of post-modernism I suppose that truth will be the next casualty….
It’s funny, Dana, I don’t even remember that scene. It’s funny what people focus on when they see a movie, you know?
(Not to mention the fact that I probably spent more time in the streets before you were born, than you have since.)
That strikes me as funny, Frank, don’t ask me why. Were you making a living in the streets, or were you just walking around them?
I see Superman as a metaphor for Al Gore. Once he stops being Clark Kent, watch out!
Hattie: I spent time in the streets doing things that would shock a liberal — and that ain’t easy.
The problem with Al Gore is that he’ll never stop being Clark Kent’s weaker, less assertive, dorkier brother.
I loved Superman Returns. I tend to agree about Kate Bosworth’s Lois Lane-although I warmed up to her over the course of the movie-maybe that was the point that she starts off with emotional scar tissue…
I loved the part of the plane rescue when you see the plane plummeting past really fast and then Superman flies past EVEN FASTER.
Did you get to see the IMAX 3D? I found the putting on and taking off of the glasses to be distracting and some of the 3D a little fuzzy. A true super-fan like yourself will enjoy it, but if you can’t make it for a little while, don’t feel too bad.
Frank since most of the things you talk about are just opinions ill discuss mine here.
Cars SUCKS, i talk from not only being an animator, but also enjoying animation not only for its nostalgia but its usually stronger stories. Also Cars was created around the time when pixar wasnt bought out by disney, they had just finished making incredibles, which was by far their best movie ( each one progressively added something to the pixar franchise), and they had ONE LAST MOVIE THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE UNDER CONTRACT BEFORE THE CONTRACT WAS UP, so what did they do? they made a throw away movie, something that mabye they enjoyed making but one they could create fastly and most likely something that Disney wanted badly. i have made it an effort of mine to watch every pixar film that has come out, mainly because each trailer has sold me. but upon seeing cars i knew right away it was crap. you frank are the target audience, the kind of person who thinks racing a car around a track is not only fun to watch but a sport.
also let me correct you on something frank nostalgia refers to something that you experienced as a child and are now watching again. superman can do this, cars cant. there have been many superman cartoons, and movies in the past, no previous car movies have been made. mabye there were past talking cars, like nightrider, but no exact pixar/ disney made car movie. and no who framed roger rabits talking taxi cab doesnt count either.
look out of all of the liberal blogs ill say that oliver is close to being one of the worst, but thats why i love coming back to it, its a train wreck and as humans especially americans we love that shit. Usually people who make comments here usually have it better, but that does not include you frank. enjoy your rantings on a blog that is not heavily seen. try this shit on daily kos my friend and you will get so wrung out that what ever so called “street cred” you have will fade away
enjoy life frank get laid more often if you dont already, it might loosen you up. if not you may just have asbergers, and just see things from one side with absolutes ( i know this because a friend of mine has asbergers, guess what hes republican i can get more into it. just look into the symptoms itll make sense )
i just spat on you…. with my thoughts (get it?) now im going to shower while our friend frank wastes time writing a response
doug — I agree. That “Gee whillikers, Clark, why don’t you cover that Rhino live birth at the zoo, while I handle that quadruple homicide / attempted suicide / hostage situation in the UN” business was getting old when the TV series ended.
Warning: Highligting the blank spaces will uncover huge spoilers! Proceed with caution.
Which movie did you watch?!? True there was not even a trace of the gay, but you had to have been blind to miss the Christ metaphors.
For goodness sakes, he even struck the crucifixion pose after throwing Lex’s continent. Not only that, he died and was ressurected. You don’t get much more Christ-like than that.
My only real complaint (other than Kate Bosworth didn’t seem old enough to … you know…) was the utter lack of Lex/Superman interaction. One stinkin’ scene?
Can’t wait for SRII. Maybe we’ll finally see Mr. Mxyzptlk, my personal favorite villain.
I apoligize to everyone. It worked in preview mode!!!!
Well…, Christ was stabbed in the front and Superman was stabbed in the back. It’s …like …totally different.
Of course, Spiderman also struck some Christ poses but for cryin’ out loud, the human body can move only so many ways.
First, I want to thank Frank for truly spoiling the movie: Willis never said anything about the baby or anything not in the trailers, but you sure did. Thanks for the warning. What hypocrisy. I guess you just assumed everyone’s seen the movie.
Second, Frank, you’re absolutely wrong about Superman not being a global hero. For starters, the two are not mutually exclusive: things that we value as American are things other cultures can and do value. He’s the Man of Tomorrow, not the Man of America.
“. . . they could have had him live in space forever but it is not true to the comics.” You’ve not read Superman beyond the 40s then because you clearly don’t remember the Otto Binder stories, for example, which included the introduction of Braniac and Kandor, the discovery of Supergirl, the first appearance of Bizarro, the discovery of Krypto, “Three Supermen from Krypton,” and such stories that placed Superman in space and alien settings and that made him more earth’s hero than America’s, particularly as Superman became more and more powerful. The stories from the 60s and even the 70s continued these types of stories in which Superman was saving the world. Eliot S. Maggin’s “Must there be a Superman?” in ‘72 is a good example of not only Superman in space but of Superman as earth’s hero.
The point is that, for the most of the stories, Superman spent his time saving his friends, Metropolis or the world, not America. You’re confusing an American hero (which Singer acknowledges) with a hero for America, the latter of which was practically non-existant after the WWII issues. Superman is an American hero in that he represents virtues and actions that Americans value, not because he constantly mouths patriotic platitutdes or because he defends America from enemies. But for the conservative crowd, they want their American flag, probably eternally flapping in the corner of the screen as it does on Fox News, which is about as simple minded about being American is as it gets.
That you blame something you think you saw in a movie with the reason we can’t win the GWoT (which contradicts Bush and conservatives who have said we’re winning) just shows that you’re pretty confused.
Finally, I want to correct something that a commentor wrote here a while back on one of the Superman threads: John Byrne did not get rid of Superboy. Crisis on Infinite Earths did that, and Byrne retold Superman’s story in the new universe after that series. (Then, again, it’s amusing that folks don’t like changes in the Superman mythos when the introduction of Superboy itself was a departure from the Superman mythos to that point.)
I just saw the movie, and it was amazing. I echo the sentiment on Kate Bosworth. Although, Ive never really liked her as an actress. However, the entire story was engrossing. I found myself sitting forward and forgetting I was even in the movie theater.
I would like to defend Lois Lanes character a bit. She slept with 2 men in 9 years. That, an easy girl does not make, Frank. I mean, come on. This man she had been in love with just disappeared on her, and she was heartbroken. Us gals typically need a rebound after a heartache, and sometimes it works out. Hell, my fiancee was a rebound. There was barely a week between this relationship and my last one. So, I dont think you should judge a girl on the speed she goes from one relationship to another.
Although, to be fair, it is pretty dumb to be debating a fictional character’s love life on a blog anyway……
Why would the wingnuts latch on to Supe when the guy’s an illegal alien?
txbubba: You started writing your post, before you read al pf mine, didn’t you?
I said I knew about Krypto, Supergirl, and Bizarro.
It just so happens that I do remember the Braniac stories, and Kandor, too.
But what I said was, “they could have had him live in space forever”, which you even quoted. Did he ever “live” in space? Nope.
Did he ever get involved in adventures outside of America, after he beat the Nazis and the Japs, with the help of FDR, right, Oliver? =:-}
The rest of what you wrote is just typical liberal hogwash. You shouldn’t have wasted your time. As irrelevant as it is, it is even more irrelevant to the story of Superman.
I wasn’t suggesting that Superman was a conservative hero, or that he tie a yellow ribbon around an icicle at the entrance to the Fortress of Solitude.
But, there was a time when you could be a liberal or a conservative, and not hesitate to call yourself an American, and choose to ally yourself with clearly defined American values, for which Superman stood (remember “the American way”? What do you think that meant: Universal one payer health care? Abortion on demand? Tax cuts? Anti - flag burning amendments?)
It’s not Superman’s fault that liberals denigrate patriotism, while conservatives act like they own it, in addition to defining it.
And I didn’t say that’s why we can’t win the GWoT. I said that’s why we’re not winning the GWoT. And, just because liberals stand around not thinking until DU and DailyKOS, and, of course, Oliver’s Krypton Central, update; doesn’t mean I get my marching orders from the White House, the RNC, FOX News, or talk radio, for that matter.
deets: Maybe I was a little harsh on Lois. But if she was really carrying a torch for Superman, and remember, she didn’t know he wasn’t coming back for five years, why jump into a new relationship (read “bedpartner”) in less than 56 days?
You’re right about one thing, though: “It is pretty dumb to be debating a fictional character s love life on a blog anyway”.
So leave Rush Limbaugh alone.
dagnabbit: Suoerman was made an American citizen (couldn’t avoid rubbing that in) by an act of Congress, years ago.
txbubba: Have you been out in the sun too long? I said twice (now three times), they could have had him live in space forever
live in space forever
live in space forever
LIVE IN SPACE FOREVER!!!
I didn’t say the “space” stories didn’t matter. Not. once. not. ever.
So let’s end this, because you’re aggravating me.
One final note:
I m glad to see you apologize for both your spoilers and your hypocrisy.
1) To make a mistake is not hypocricy — check the dictionary.
2) And if you think I owe an apology to bumbling oafs like you who have insulted my profession, my age, my children, my personality, my intelligence, questioned my sanity — as Bluto frameone likes to say, “No quarter has been asked, and no quarter will be given” — you are sadly, woefully, mistaken.
I didn’t make the rules of engagement here. (See the last paragraph of this comment.)
I’m glad to see you apologize for both your spoilers and your hypocrisy.
No, Frank, I read your confused post in its entirety. You can’t say, Oh I know about Brainiac, etc., but I’m just saying that they don’t matter. They do, Frank. Those stories were a significant part of the Superman stories.
Nobody is hesitant to call Superman an American hero: You clearly did not read the Singer quotes I linked to where he said that Superman is an American hero but fights for the world. This argument started because you disagreed with this statement: “He makes his home here, he is a proud American, but Superman works for those who need help wherever they are.” Again, my citing those Binder and later stories reinforces the statement that he helps and acts beyond America’s boundaries. It’s called “evidence” not “hogwash.”
Where’s the denial of being an American? More importantly, where is your argument? You have nothing but unsupported claims.
Nobody has “denigrated” patriotism. But you’re clearly not above making up accusations.
As for Superman not spending time away from earth, you better think again. Try Superman #141 where he spent several weeks at least when he went back to Krypton. Then you might try the “Exile” stories from 1989-90 that crossed Superman, Action Comics and Adventures of Superman. Then there’s Denny O’Neill’s “Sandman sage” in ‘72 that was a break from stories like “The Starry-Eyed Siren of Space,” “The Demon Under the Red Sun,” and “Planet of the Angels” because Denny kept Superman on earth. Again the point is that Superman doesn’t stop at America’s borders.
I could go on, but you clearly don’t know your Superman stories. And you have no idea what you’re even arguing. Conservatives like you feel the need to find a unpatriotic boogeyman wherever you can. It’s pathetic.
Frank, you came here insulting people. You started the name calling with me so get off your self-righteous stick pony. Where did I insult you in all the ways you claim? I didn’t (though I’m tempted to if I’m going to be accused of something). It’s more of your fevered conservative compulsion to be a martyr. Don’t foist your forum baggage on me. That’s your problem, and conflating me with others is indeed a problem. You’re angry and you should get some help.
As for your insistence on “forever,” that’s neither here nor there, but I understand why you cling on a single word when you can’t make your argument. I established the point of contention and the whole frame for the space examples–that Superman is a global hero beyond America’s boundaries. If you’re too stupid or lazy to understand that, then you need to stay away from public conversations, especially if you can’t control your emotions as you clearly cannot.
This should settle one thing at least:
From an interview of ‘Superman Returns’ director Bryan Singer, by Michael Kress
How has our culture in America–or our reality–changed in the two decades since the last “Superman” movie came out, and how did that influence the way that you made decisions in creating this movie?
I wanted to make him a more global superhero. I think he’s always, in his heart, an American superhero. He was raised on a farm in Kansas. That’s his background, besides his Kryptonian background. But in today’s world, I felt he should be more of a global superhero. I wanted to really re-state the notion that he can be everywhere on the earth. He’s Earth’s greatest protector. He’s not just America’s greatest protector.
also let me correct you on something frank nostalgia refers to something that you experienced as a child and are now watching again.
Let me correct you, my salivating cartoonist.
“Nostalgia” comes from the Layin for “our pain”, It was defined by Freud when he encountered it in Swiss mercenaries, who were apparently emotionally debilitated by their longing to return to Switzerland. Amazing what a little reading can do, eh?
superman can do this, cars cant.
The movie was not about cars — did you see it? It seems you did not. The cars represented people — people whose very lives were taken away by the Interstate. People like that really existed, unlike superhuman flying men from a far off planet that was so technologically advanced that they could launch a space ship across galaxies, but couldn’t use a seismograph. Right. Superman was more real that cars.
You just spat on yourself, by making embarassingly pretentious remarks about someone who did nothing to you. Do you know the story of Route 66? Did you ever ride for two and one half days on US Highways that passed through towns? I doubt it. My simple minded friend, there are not enough showers in the world to clean that polluted dustbin you pretend is a brain. And of course I don’t have Asberger’s, because it’s spelled asperger’s, you dim bulb. And I have a friend with Asperger’s who has better social skills than frameone, and he spends his days listening to Pacifica radio — ever heard of it? You know, Democracy Now, Noam Chomsky, stuff like that?
txbubba: are you just busting my chops? Did you not read the director’s words? What is wrong with you? The only reason you can “control your emotions” is because you seem to lack a cerebral cortex.
And the piece de resistance:
no previous car movies have been made
Hehe
txbubba: You now say that Superman was a global hero, because he had space adventures.
All I was saying was that in the comics I read (from about 55 to 65) Superman was not an international character, i.e., global.
You proceeded to get all huffy,telling me I was confused, telling me I hadn’t heard of characters I had already mentioned, then you get pouty and tell me I’m insulting people.
The original discussion was about (IMHO, anyway) what happened to the “American way”. I tried to tell you that it was deliberately done away with by the film makers, and you tell me about Brainiac and Kandor.
Then I actually quote the director saying that he thought of Suoerman as an American hero, but it was his choice to make Superman a world savior, and somehow, I’m “too stupid or lazy to understand” your incorrect observation.
I certainly understood what you were trying to say, but you were wrong.
[...] Some of the blog guys are in disagreement over the new Superman film. Oliver Willis liked it and gave it 4/4 stars. Ezra Klein disagrees. I saw it yesterday and am voting with Oliver on this one. I was thoroughly entertained. It s especially fun to watch on an IMAX screen; some scenes are in 3D. Way cool. [...]
Frank_D Said:
What is wrong with you? The only reason you can control your emotions is because you seem to lack a cerebral cortex.
If you re too stupid or lazy to understand that, then you need to stay away from public conversations, especially if you can t control your emotions as you clearly cannot.
If you re too stupid or lazy to understand that, then you need to stay away from public conversations, especially if you can t control your emotions as you clearly cannot.
And you have no idea what you re even arguing. Conservatives like you feel the need to find a unpatriotic boogeyman wherever you can. It s pathetic.
The problem with Al Gore is that he ll never stop being Clark Kent s weaker, less assertive, dorkier brother.
It s not Superman s fault that liberals denigrate patriotism
Rex, I know you have no intelligent opinions, but I didn t know you had no intelligence, either.
Remember folks, Frand_D doesn’t insult anyone.
if you stopped reading Superman in 1965, you should really shut it and stop pretending you know anything about Superman. As stated above, Superman is American and he fights for the world. The filmmakers are following in the footsteps of the numerous artists and writers who have worked on Superman from the past until now. Its not like Bryan Singer woke up one day and decided to make Superman a “globalist”. When earth came under attack in “Our Worlds At War”, Superman was on the frontlines.
Ok, enough already, it’s a comic book!
Is there some reason why when I no longer post, the thread is ended?
Doesn’t anybody ever have anything to say that isn’t about what a bad person I am?
Is there some reason why when I no longer post, the thread is ended?
Frank, it’s because when you’ve finished posting, we all have to use both hands to keep our heads from exploding.
“My brain hurts…”
Now you can tell me how that is impossible since I have no brain…
Pwease, pwease, won’t SOMEone pway wit me?
Is there some reason why when I no longer post, the thread is ended?
Doesn t anybody ever have anything to say that isn t about what a bad person I am?
I think my questions have been answered.
Roni, you’ve been attempting to play with me since your very first post.
That might change when you reach puberty. We can only hope.
Or, you could buy a parakeet — that’s budgie to you.
I don’t think you’re a bad person, Frank. You’re mean and angry much of the time, but i don’t think you’re a bad guy.
For the record, you can a ton of Superman DVD’s here
http://www.hidefdvd.com/
Frank_D Jul 7th, 2006 at 4:39 am
For the record, you can a ton of Superman DVD s here
http://www.hidefdvd.com/
Gee, Frank, you enjoy pointing out other commenter’s grammatical errors, ending with a “heh”. There is no verb in your sentence … are you referring to stealing? Downloading? Buying?
Everyone else can buy.
You’re too young; you’ll have to find an adult.
Heh