Brokeback Superman!
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.
This revisionist superman is a product of a group of creators who hate the USA.
Superman IS a representation that the AMERICAN way is the BEST way for the world. The BS is that they are trying to appeal to an international audience. Superman is about right and wrong. American Way is the right way, the socialist/communist/facist ways were wrong. The left is trying to say American Way is not international.
This is a lie from the left, they are trying to promote the antiamerican attidues by re-envisioning an anti american superman. This will appeal to the parts of the arab world which routinely use Mein Kamf as a guide for their vision of supermen.
Saying "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" IS international.
I special effects are super. For that alone, it is worth seeing.
script is online.
movie is online.
reviews have been revialing enough.
Advertising speaks volumes.
No "american way"
Lois Lane is a slut and an unwed mother.
Jimmy Olsen was supposed to be a homosexual but that hit the cutting room floor because of public outcry (this time)
The fact the trailers are emphasising the special effects points out this is a PC turkey. They have to HIDE the story. Two dimentional acting, just more pretty posing scenes.
There is no reason to allow children to be indoctrinated even a little with this left winger superman.
it is not worth seeing just for special effects. They pumped up the special effects to create "sound bytes" for commercials.
Wait for the free TV release.
The fewer people who see it in the theater the faster it will hit the free tv.
that should read- THE special effects are super. For that alone, it is worth seeing.
we must have paid viral promoters hitting FR.
(aka schills paid to lurk on websites to promote a movie.)
I think oreily had a paid expert on superman to promote the movie last week.
If you haven't seen any of them... watch Michael Keatons first, then Batman Begins. Skip the rest.
I have not seen any of the commericals on television but have seen the movie.
I take it you have seen the movie and are not basing your comments soley on the commercials you happen to catch.
Superman is a promoter of the American Way to the world. He took on the mantle of saying "american way" because the american way is BETTER than any other way.
The people who made this movie do not have the mental capacity to understand that, they only grasp the culture of personal failure that embodies the governance of the EU and promoted by the UN.
If they made a pro american superman, it would be an instant classic (ala patriot)
This is just another overbudgeted special efects sound byte that will be forgotten by the next movie. Look at what this is coupled with, a disfunctional "my ex girlfriend is a superhero" man hating movie.
Holyweird could not shout horray for the american way because they are still mourning the fall of the USSR.
Brokeback Superman!
Superman Returns is a PRODUCT
The promotion and advertising is to entice people to see this PRODUCT
Spending $$$$ on a product to decide to buy the product is absurd.
Lois is a slut and unwed mother
Superman no longer stands for the american way
Superman is now a PC wimp
THAT is what is being used to entice people to see this PRODUCT.
You can be a sucker to PAY $$ to decide if this PRODUCT is propaganda for the left or not. However, that does not change the fact this is just another Hollyweird left wing hit piece on america. Saying I shout PAY MONEY to see a PRODUCT in order to pass judgement on such a hit piece is illogical.
Please talk to your viral promotion boss.
Amen! Fortunately our Inet enables people to discover the fugly truth about a movie before actually wasting money and precious time in one of those brick and mortar churches that Hollyweird calls theaters.
(s) How dare you show an image of the twin towers with superman. Don't you know the twin towers are a symbol of "american way" imperialism! EVIL EVIL EVIL!
Superman is a internationalist hero of the antiamericans! Conservatives are trying to steal superman the way they have stollen the american flag.
In fact Superman and the American Flag are also forbidden!!!
(/s)
There's lots of negative adjectives I'd apply to the character of Lois Lane, but sleeping with two men in five years doesn't qualify a contemporary female for the term 'slut'. And who left who anyways?
As far as the politics go, given the absurdly left wing no-nukes slant that the old Superman movies started to take, this one is a nice step in the right direction. I thought that the movie was a little slow at times, and way to focused in on Lois's feelings, but my liberalometer only went off when, surprise!, the jaded liberal character of Perry White was speaking.
a step in the right direction does not chang the fact the Superman movies CONTINUE to be left wing propaganda tools.
That is insufficient to take money out of my wallet.
I have seen the script and there are more than enough spoiler sites on the internet that have provided an attack by attack play of this turkey.
Those who say "pay money and then judge" just prove that this movies word of mouth is 100% accurate. Those are the same people who wanted the public to see the homosexual sheepherder movie and then judge it was a homosexual sheepherder movie.
no thanks.
PC superman returns wimpification is D.O.A.
Yeah, it's not four stars by any means, but as a summer movie it is definitely worth the price of admission. The special effects are finally at a point where they can simply tell whatever story they want. I wondered what a remake of Superman II with current technology would look like. As it was, there were a few scenes that were very memorable, and Superman finally flies like you always imagined he would.
Kevin Spacey did a fine job as Lex Luthor, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed disliking him.
I would feel free to zone out anytime Lois is speaking, however. She's become the female equivalent of Kryponite. About halfway through the movie, it dawns on you that her character is so completely self absorbed, whiny and irritating, the only reason you were ever interested in her in the first place was because you were expecting her to be the old Lois Lane. She's not.
Now, I just question Supe's taste in women. He's a good kid, and has so much going for him. Why waste his time on such an enervating, man-hating harpy? It truly boggles the mind.
Agreed. Most movies are.
The promotion and advertising is to entice people to see this PRODUCT
Agreed. Most movies do that. Though in this case, I have not seen any of the commericals, but because I am/was a fan of Superman and like movies with special effects, I chose to see this film.
Spending $$$$ on a product to decide to buy the product is absurd.
Something about the way that sentence is constructed is absurd.
Lois is a slut and unwed mother
Lois was a slut when she slept with Superman in the previous films. What's new? Superman no longer stands for the american way
Agreed. Whatever he seemed to stand for in this film, it wasn't the American way. Superman is now a PC wimp
Agreed.
THAT is what is being used to entice people to see this PRODUCT.
What enticed me was that I had time to myself that particular night, I liked the character, and I dig special effects.
You can be a sucker to PAY $$ to decide if this PRODUCT is propaganda for the left or not. However, that does not change the fact this is just another Hollyweird left wing hit piece on america. Saying I shout PAY MONEY to see a PRODUCT in order to pass judgement on such a hit piece is illogical.
Thank you for allowing me to spend my money the way I see fit. I agree, it is yet another left wing hit piece on America. But its one with really super special effects! : )
Please talk to your viral promotion boss.
I am my viral promotion boss. Nifty term there by the way.
I see - I was too quick to jump at the bait myself. Wish I could blame it on a lack of coffee, but I had plenty of that.
Anyway, the movie's pretty good. If there's any doubters out there, go see it. At least, this time of year, most of us could appreciate the two plus hours of free air-conditioning.
I am glad I'm important enough that gays would want to appropriate my prestige as part of their agenda. I'm not saying I'm Superman or Socrates good, but I might be up there with one of the shabbier X-Men.
Dammit. I hate when one of you guys figures it out.
(said quietly but hopefully) Your mom is a lesbian....?
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