It was the late 70's when the Superman movies came out. We had come through the horrors of Vietnam to see victory stolen from our grasp by the Watergate scandal. We were sitting through high inflation and a presidency that seemed to be paralyzed into in action. For Americans, hope of a better world was slipping out of our grasp.
They say movies and art in general reflect the times. Maybe, the real world sometimes reflects the movies. Superman made us believe once again in truth, justice and the American Way. He made us believe that there are good men who are willing to put aside what they want, to do the impossible, to be there for people when they need someone to save them.
The 80's reflected the rebirth of hope in America. Inflation came down. Unemployment came down. There were no more gas lines. America finally stood upto Communism where before she had let Communism spread throughout the world and ravage numerous countries under the yoke of tyranny. Terrorism was checked, and the movement to lessen governmental control over people began. I think it was the Superman movies that helped give us that hope, that ability to overcome our challenges. "they're a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, they're capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son."
In the 80's, Superman was the light.
Then came the 90's. At the end of the that decade, I sat in a literature class, where a professor of mine asserted that every generation had a movie that defined it. She said hers was Cleopatra, with Liz Taylor. I quipped that ours would be Batman, and she laughed and said maybe.
I think I was right. The 80's ended with the fall of Communism, but the 90's began with dark times, that reflected the darkness of the Batman. While Superman represented the best in man, and hope of a better world, Batman represents the darkness that is in the soul of man, and a world that is harsh and twisted. Superman fights for good out of responsibilty, Batman for revenge. The 90's represented a time of corporate greed and malfeasance. A rise in unchecked terrorism. A rise in the banning of books, of an increase in thought control, a change in the idea that Good and Evil are absolutes and that they can be redefined based on popularity of thoughts and cultures. Ethics seemed to go out the door, and the country headed back into a recession.
We still live in a dark dark world. Post 9/11 kept things from changing. But in recent years, we have shyed away from darkness and are returning to hope. Movies like the Fantastic Four, the Incredibles, Spiderman have made us think about what it is like to stand for Good, to do what is right and that you don't have to kill and destroy and beat people up to be a positive force.
And now Superman Returns.
What an awesome movie. Brian Singer brings us back the magic of the first two movies and ignores the awfulness of the latter two. Superman is Savior, Superman is Hero, Superman is once again back to fight for truth, justice and the American Way. And to fight for his woman.
See, Superman, right after he defeated Zod in the second movie, went on a 5 year trip to see if Krypton still existed. During his time away, Lois had a child and became engaged. When Superman comes back, of course he wants to see her. But she is with another man....
And then there is Lex Luthor....upto his old plots again. He has a small group of cronies, including Kitty Kowalski, an able replacement for Miss Tessmacher(sp) from the first films.
The film is wonderfully acted, has great special effects, and truly makes you believe that someone like Superman could...well...be Superman. Brandon Routh fills in admirable for the near irreplaceable Christopher Reeve. My only complaint is he needs to bulk up a bit. Kate Bosworth...she is adorable as Lois Lane. Maybe too cutesy and not at all the brusque Lois Lane of the early movies and the comics, she is still a go-getter and has a great knack for getting in trouble. Kevin Spacey is charming as Lex Luthor. I feel he needed an Otis though as a foil for his genius. The rest of the cast are well done, though Perry White seemed cold and distant.
The story I have already touched upon, but I will say this...to me it seemed like the middle part of the movie was very short. It didn't really get into the meat of the central conflict of the story...that Lois has moved on ( or has she?), and how she really feels about his return, how he will deal with things, and so on.
The movie has some incredible special effects. I never felt that Superman was hanging on wires. He saves planes from falling, buildings from crushing people, outraces flames and puts them out with his superbreath.....but not once does he use his "repair the great wall of china vision." I think this movie sets a new standard for super hero special effects. I know they are expensive, but to break through the wall and make people believe they are seeing superheroes, they need to spend the cash to make it look real, and do it enough so that you don't sit there being bored and wondering why the heroes don't do more heroeing.
If I have any criticism of the flick its that it relies too much on the old Superman movies for some of the cliches. Yet I loved them then, and love them now. I still get that thrill when I hear John Williams theme.
I truly hope this movie ushers in a new age for America, where we regain the can do spirit, the unity of our country, the belief that the American Way of freedom and living one's dreams is the right way. We need Superman, because we can be a great people. Let us hope he lights the way.
1:24 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
They say movies and art in general reflect the times. Maybe, the real world sometimes reflects the movies. Superman made us believe once again in truth, justice and the American Way. He made us believe that there are good men who are willing to put aside what they want, to do the impossible, to be there for people when they need someone to save them.
The 80's reflected the rebirth of hope in America. Inflation came down. Unemployment came down. There were no more gas lines. America finally stood upto Communism where before she had let Communism spread throughout the world and ravage numerous countries under the yoke of tyranny. Terrorism was checked, and the movement to lessen governmental control over people began. I think it was the Superman movies that helped give us that hope, that ability to overcome our challenges. "they're a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, they're capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son."
In the 80's, Superman was the light.
Then came the 90's. At the end of the that decade, I sat in a literature class, where a professor of mine asserted that every generation had a movie that defined it. She said hers was Cleopatra, with Liz Taylor. I quipped that ours would be Batman, and she laughed and said maybe.
I think I was right. The 80's ended with the fall of Communism, but the 90's began with dark times, that reflected the darkness of the Batman. While Superman represented the best in man, and hope of a better world, Batman represents the darkness that is in the soul of man, and a world that is harsh and twisted. Superman fights for good out of responsibilty, Batman for revenge. The 90's represented a time of corporate greed and malfeasance. A rise in unchecked terrorism. A rise in the banning of books, of an increase in thought control, a change in the idea that Good and Evil are absolutes and that they can be redefined based on popularity of thoughts and cultures. Ethics seemed to go out the door, and the country headed back into a recession.
We still live in a dark dark world. Post 9/11 kept things from changing. But in recent years, we have shyed away from darkness and are returning to hope. Movies like the Fantastic Four, the Incredibles, Spiderman have made us think about what it is like to stand for Good, to do what is right and that you don't have to kill and destroy and beat people up to be a positive force.
And now Superman Returns.
What an awesome movie. Brian Singer brings us back the magic of the first two movies and ignores the awfulness of the latter two. Superman is Savior, Superman is Hero, Superman is once again back to fight for truth, justice and the American Way. And to fight for his woman.
See, Superman, right after he defeated Zod in the second movie, went on a 5 year trip to see if Krypton still existed. During his time away, Lois had a child and became engaged. When Superman comes back, of course he wants to see her. But she is with another man....
And then there is Lex Luthor....upto his old plots again. He has a small group of cronies, including Kitty Kowalski, an able replacement for Miss Tessmacher(sp) from the first films.
The film is wonderfully acted, has great special effects, and truly makes you believe that someone like Superman could...well...be Superman. Brandon Routh fills in admirable for the near irreplaceable Christopher Reeve. My only complaint is he needs to bulk up a bit. Kate Bosworth...she is adorable as Lois Lane. Maybe too cutesy and not at all the brusque Lois Lane of the early movies and the comics, she is still a go-getter and has a great knack for getting in trouble. Kevin Spacey is charming as Lex Luthor. I feel he needed an Otis though as a foil for his genius. The rest of the cast are well done, though Perry White seemed cold and distant.
The story I have already touched upon, but I will say this...to me it seemed like the middle part of the movie was very short. It didn't really get into the meat of the central conflict of the story...that Lois has moved on ( or has she?), and how she really feels about his return, how he will deal with things, and so on.
The movie has some incredible special effects. I never felt that Superman was hanging on wires. He saves planes from falling, buildings from crushing people, outraces flames and puts them out with his superbreath.....but not once does he use his "repair the great wall of china vision." I think this movie sets a new standard for super hero special effects. I know they are expensive, but to break through the wall and make people believe they are seeing superheroes, they need to spend the cash to make it look real, and do it enough so that you don't sit there being bored and wondering why the heroes don't do more heroeing.
If I have any criticism of the flick its that it relies too much on the old Superman movies for some of the cliches. Yet I loved them then, and love them now. I still get that thrill when I hear John Williams theme.
I truly hope this movie ushers in a new age for America, where we regain the can do spirit, the unity of our country, the belief that the American Way of freedom and living one's dreams is the right way. We need Superman, because we can be a great people. Let us hope he lights the way.
1:24 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
