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Superman Captures the Fall of 20th-Century Liberalism
The American Spectator ^ | July 29, 2025, 10:04 PM | Shiv Parihar

Posted on 07/30/2025 5:43:15 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

His story and his principles are meant to be unifying touchstones for us all.

The 2025 iteration of Superman is worth a watch if the subject matter at all catches one’s eye. Eschewing a decade of attempts to twist the character into darkness, this reboot embraces the morality at the soul of an American icon.

Gone are the attempts at a moral middle ground or a blurring of the story in an attempt to subvert tropes. The film’s heroes are unquestionably morally good. Its villains are unquestionably depraved. In short, it represents a cinematic return to normalcy.

That is not to say that Superman deserves no criticism. Leaving the classic slogan “truth, justice, and the American way” unsaid was an unfortunate decision. However, political analyses of the film from either side of the spectrum often read more politics than necessary into the film.

Many of my compatriots on the right were quick to denounce director James Gunn for calling Superman “an immigrant” in a pre-release interview. Gunn wasn’t wrong, per se. His status as an alien from Krypton is often referenced by his on-screen nemesis Lex Luthor. The minor comment was unfairly blown out of proportion by most political observers in an attempt to coddle or cudgel the director.

Superman is all-American, and he chooses to be so. This theme resonates throughout the film, eventually culminating in several examples of him choosing the Americans that raised him over the alien parents he never knew. Choosing the forebears of America and her values is an essential part of the integration of newcomers and their descendants.

Other conservatives critiqued a storyline where a dictatorial nation suggested to be a U.S. ally invades a hapless neighbor, whose unarmed populace sport hijabs and Afghan caps. The victims were certainly based on Gaza, but the invaders...

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
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1 posted on 07/30/2025 5:43:15 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I just want to see a flying dog.


2 posted on 07/30/2025 5:44:44 PM PDT by Rio
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I grew up in the 50’s watching George Reeves as Superman, and have seen enough Superman reincarnations. I won’t be watching this one.


3 posted on 07/30/2025 5:49:37 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: mass55th
I grew up in the 50’s watching George Reeves as Superman, and have seen enough Superman reincarnations. I won’t be watching this one.

LOOK! UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE! IT'S SUPERMAN!

4 posted on 07/30/2025 5:52:58 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of racism, anger, hate and violence.)
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To: Rio

Immigrant Superman is seen by many as immigrant Elon and immigrant xx and immigrant yy. Immigrants are a key part of what makes America great.

Luther also is an immigrant. Neither played Mother-May-I with the government. But Luther is an undesireable immigrant. We must always make that distinction between the immigrant who goes to church, works hard, takes care of family ..... and the immigrant who murders, rapes, robs, DUI, is Drunk and Disorderly.
Congress can enact this.

The undesireable immigrant who has papers should have those papers revoked and deported.


5 posted on 07/30/2025 5:54:02 PM PDT by spintreebob
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To: Rio

Immigrant Superman is seen by many as immigrant Elon and immigrant xx and immigrant yy. Immigrants are a key part of what makes America great.

Luther also is an immigrant. Neither played Mother-May-I with the government. But Luther is an undesireable immigrant. We must always make that distinction between the immigrant who goes to church, works hard, takes care of family ..... and the immigrant who murders, rapes, robs, DUI, is Drunk and Disorderly.
Congress can enact this.

The undesireable immigrant who has papers should have those papers revoked and deported.


6 posted on 07/30/2025 5:54:02 PM PDT by spintreebob
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To: Rio

Underdog!


7 posted on 07/30/2025 5:57:46 PM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Also, when Superman was portrayed as "non binary". Crazy how the Sugar Hill Gang predicted this back in 1979 (Rapper's Delight).
"🎶I said by the way baby what's your name
She said I go by the name of Lois Lane
And you can be my boyfriend surely can
When I dump my boyfriend Superman
I said he's a FAIRY don't you suppose
Flying through the air in panty hose...🎶
Crazy!😉
8 posted on 07/30/2025 6:00:30 PM PDT by Impala64ssa (Laiken Riley is my daughter!)
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To: mass55th

Yeah, I’ve had enough Superman to last a lifetime myself.


9 posted on 07/30/2025 6:01:58 PM PDT by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's ok---- I wasn't married to it.)
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I know how Superman flies.
His super strength allows him to force the cells in his body into any direction he wants to go. Similar to how leaning one way or another makes a person on a motorcycle turn left or right. Being Kryptonian, this forcing is massive in scale and momentum.
It’s not levitation or some other thing. It’s purely another physical attribute to being from Krypton and supercharged by our yellow sun.

Laser eyes, though? I have no theory on how this would work.


10 posted on 07/30/2025 6:02:16 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Leaps tall buildings at a single bound.

Truth, Justice, and the American way.

11 posted on 07/30/2025 6:10:15 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: All

And yet the director of the new movie very publicly hates conservative American citizens and wants us overrun by invaders.

Sorry, I just can’t juxtapose that with claims that the movie is traditional American Patriotism.


12 posted on 07/30/2025 6:12:23 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

If it ain’t broke....


13 posted on 07/30/2025 6:29:11 PM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: Autonomous User

“When Polly’s in trouble, I am not slow, it’s hip, hip, hip, and away I go!”


14 posted on 07/30/2025 6:43:54 PM PDT by Rio
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To: Rio

The secret compartment of my ring I fill with an Underdog super energy pill!

L


15 posted on 07/30/2025 6:48:48 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I was buying 10 cent Superman comics back in the day.

Gene Hackman will always be my favorite Lex Luthor.


16 posted on 07/30/2025 6:50:33 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try - AND - Every Time You Fall Down, Get The Frak Up! )
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To: Rio

LOL !!!

Lois Lane couldn’t hold a candle to Sweet Polly Purebred!


17 posted on 07/30/2025 6:51:47 PM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: Rio

The flying dog was fun.


18 posted on 07/30/2025 6:51:52 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Rio

They have one in Doug and Bob McKenzie’s “Strange Brew”.


19 posted on 07/30/2025 6:51:54 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("Kamala Harris would have been the next Abraham Lincoln". - Jeff "Dumber" Daniels.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Actually, Kal-El of Krypton was a refugee.

His home was destroyed, similar to the countless Jewish families trying to flee persecution in Europe after losing their homes to the Fascists and Communists during the lead up to World War 2.

He started out as a New Deal progressive but evolved into an American icon over the course of the war.

In the beginning he was a glorified circus strong man but by the time the Axis had surrendered, he, like the United States, was the most powerful force on the planet.

That’s why to me, (sorry Cap) he is the literary embodiment of the USA.


20 posted on 07/30/2025 7:01:48 PM PDT by Bratch
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