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Superman eschews longtime patriot act
The Hollywood Reporter ^ | 6/30/06 | Tatiana Siegel

Posted on 06/30/2006 8:01:53 AM PDT by Roberts

Nevermind Superman's sexual orientation. Here's another identity-related question that is likely to spark controversy as the Man of Steel soars into theaters nationwide this Fourth of July weekend in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Superman Returns": Is Superman still American?

Ever since artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel created the granddaddy of all comic book icons in 1932, Superman has fought valiantly to preserve "truth, justice and the American way." Whether kicking Nazi ass on the radio in the '40s or wrapping himself in the Stars and Stripes on TV during the Cold War or even rescuing the White House's flag as his final feat in "Superman II," the Krypton-born, Smallville-raised Ubermensch always has been steeped in unmistakable U.S. symbolism.

But in the latest film incarnation, scribes Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris sought to downplay Superman's long-standing patriot act. With one brief line uttered by actor Frank Langella, the caped superhero's mission transformed from "truth, justice and the American way" to "truth, justice and all that stuff."

"The world has changed. The world is a different place," Pennsylvania native Harris says. "The truth is he's an alien. He was sent from another planet. He has landed on the planet Earth, and he is here for everybody. He's an international superhero."

In fact, Dougherty and Harris never even considered including "the American way" in their screenplay. After the wunderkind writing duo ("X2: X-Men United") conceived "Superman's" story with director Bryan Singer during a Hawaiian vacation, they penned their first draft together and intentionally omitted what they considered to be a loaded and antiquated expression. That decision stood throughout the 140-day shoot in Australia, where the pair remained on-set to provide revisions and tweaks.

"We were always hesitant to include the term 'American way' because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain," Ohio native Dougherty explains. "The ideal hasn't changed. I think when people say 'American way,' they're actually talking about what the 'American way' meant back in the '40s and '50s, which was something more noble and idealistic."

While audiences in Dubuque might bristle at Superman's newfound global agenda, patrons in Dubai likely will find the DC Comics protagonist more palatable. And with the increasing importance of the overseas boxoffice -- as evidenced by summer tentpoles like "The Da Vinci Code" -- foreign sensibilities can no longer be ignored.

"So, you play the movie in a foreign country, and you say, 'What does he stand for? -- truth, justice and the American way.' I think a lot of people's opinions of what the American way means outside of this country are different from what the line actually means (in Superman lore) because they are not the same anymore," Harris says. "And (using that line) would taint the meaning of what he is saying."

But for Superman purists looking for a nod to the big blue Boy Scout's nationalistic loyalties, he is still saving Americans, albeit many with suspiciously Aussie accents. He foils Lex Luthor's nefarious plan to send millions from the nation's heartland to a watery death. And in his most impressive scene, the hero saves the day while a plane hurtles toward a baseball stadium full of fans enjoying America's pastime. Although there is no indication that it is an American baseball game depicted, the scene was one of the few shot on U.S. soil, at Dodger Stadium.

Nevertheless, the long-standing member of the Justice League of America seems to have traded in his allegiance to the flag for an international passport.

"He's here for humanity," Dougherty says.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americahaters; bushhaters; cinema; film; hollyweird; hollywoodleftists; moviereview; movies; pcsuperman; superman; supermanreturns
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To: Huck

Now this is beautiful....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ACJRuGVXCc&search=batman%20adam%20west


121 posted on 06/30/2006 2:56:20 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Names Ash Housewares

Allison Mack of Smallville was asked why the show was a success and she said, "I think it’s because the show has this American feel to it. A vibe of pro-America, and American values and all that stuff. It’s a very traditional show." She gets it. Plus, she's really cute. ;-)


122 posted on 06/30/2006 2:57:21 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: Roberts

Its a bird, its a plane no its Superwimp!

Pray for W and Our Troops


123 posted on 06/30/2006 2:57:47 PM PDT by bray (Hey Zaqueeri, say hello to Hitler, Stalin and Mohamhead)
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To: Screamname

LOL! Dude, that was friggin' hilarious. "Watch it chum, pedestrian safety". "Oh yeah, sorry." [cue dorky sounding xylophone]


124 posted on 06/30/2006 3:00:38 PM PDT by Huck (Hey look, I'm still here.)
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To: Names Ash Housewares

LOL! Just noticed, her quote includes "and all that stuff," like the contentious quote from Returns.


125 posted on 06/30/2006 3:01:21 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: Huck

lol! That riff has got to be the all time coolest guitar riffs ever, that and Peter Gunn. I was at a wedding last year and at the reception the band actually played it if you can believe it, and everyone went nuts!! (Especially me)...They even sang the "Batman Batman" word perfect. Check this out, you ever see youtube.com? I`m totally addicted to this website. You type in anything and practically 99% of the time someone has a video on it....Look at all these Batman vids they have...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=batman%20adam%20west&sort=relevance&page=2


126 posted on 06/30/2006 3:04:56 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Screamname

Dude...yer nuts!! Yes, I like youtube.


127 posted on 06/30/2006 3:06:53 PM PDT by Huck (Hey look, I'm still here.)
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To: Huck

Look at this, tons of clips of TV interviews with Ann Coulter..Damn, I LOVE this website!

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=ann+coulter&search_type=search_videos&search=Search


128 posted on 06/30/2006 3:07:27 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Roberts; All

translation

skip "superman returns"

no thanks not my money.

I would be willing to bet even the "Expert fans" on TV are being paid by viral PR firms.

Hollwyweird made super man into a superpansy.

Special effect do not change the fact this movie is a propaganda film for the left.


129 posted on 06/30/2006 3:09:51 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Roberts

Uh, Superman didn't say that in the movie, Perry White did and it was in the middle of an exhortation to cover Superman to the detriment of covering Lex Luthor's plan. This is what happens when people who don't see something make comments on it.


130 posted on 06/30/2006 3:10:16 PM PDT by Skywalk (Transdimensional Jihad!)
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To: Screamname

I am totally hooked on YouTube. Old music videos, foreign commercials, great sports moments, you name it, they've got it.


131 posted on 06/30/2006 3:11:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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To: Huck

LOL! Ya gotta be nuts to like Batman! Because Batman is nuts!! LOL! Look at this clip...What sane person would think like this guy?? To have a hook to hang window guards on a wall?

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=ann+coulter&search_type=search_videos&search=Search


132 posted on 06/30/2006 3:12:29 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Roberts

Did he get his eyebrows plucked and a manicure, too?


133 posted on 06/30/2006 3:12:58 PM PDT by hershey
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To: Huck

Wait, wrong link...Here it is....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ACJRuGVXCc&search=batman%20adam%20west


134 posted on 06/30/2006 3:13:26 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Xenalyte

newsflash,

He was ADOPTED by Mr. and Mrs. Kent. Keep in mind when superman "Arrived" you were not logged, carded and digitized. In fact in the original comic, winter passes and Mrs Kent "gives birth" and it is recorded as having been born.

Actually superman was held up as an example for adopted children. (even the adopted children can be super.)

He was american, he fought in the US military, the only vomit PC came out when Reeves push his Stupidman V:"quest peace" pablum upon the public.


135 posted on 06/30/2006 3:14:10 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Celtjew Libertarian
Come to think of it, the phrase, "Truth, justice, and the American Way," implies that these are three separate things... that truth and justice are not a necessary part of "The American Way."

Although the statement does not syntactically imply that they are part of the American way, the progression of items from specific ("truth") to general ("the American way") is a construct that often suggests that former items are included in the latter. If someone is beloved in his home town, his country, and the world, does that imply that his home down is not part of the world?

136 posted on 06/30/2006 3:16:18 PM PDT by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
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To: Roberts
"We were always hesitant to include the term 'American way' because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain,..."

I agree, it's uncertain. Are we still lovers of individual freedom and personal liberty, or are we "all socialists now?"

137 posted on 06/30/2006 3:19:56 PM PDT by Sam Cree (Delicacy, precision, force)
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To: dfwgator

I just wish there was a way you could download them to save them. I was watching Evel Kneivels fall at Ceasars palace last night, daaaaamn! I swear, the last time I saw that must have been at least 30 years ago, yet I remembered everything about it... how he landed and how you could see his leg bone showing through his pants. How people find these videos to post on that website is beyond me. Look at this, tons of videos on RR....

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=Ronald+Reagan&search_type=search_videos&search=Search


138 posted on 06/30/2006 3:22:23 PM PDT by Screamname (Support PETOV... People for the ethical treatment of vegetables...Let us end the carnage!)
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To: Screamname

I noticed that they do save in your Temporary Internet Folder, but I haven't figured out yet how to play them locally.


139 posted on 06/30/2006 3:23:46 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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To: durasell

"Global audience needed for a $200 million investment. Global motto required."

They should have picked an international superhero to make a movie about then. You know, like . . . um. . . wait a second . . . it'll come to me.

Yep, that's right - Superman landed in the US. Loser's like that German blue poofy X-Man land in Germany.

Bryan Singer is a citizen of nowhere in particular I guess. He's fallen from great heights since the Usual Suspects. Maybe you only have one great movie per career?


140 posted on 06/30/2006 3:24:06 PM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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