My sister's dead.
Haven't you heard?
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.
Yeah, this ain't the real Superman. This is Supermetro. Even Bizarro Superman would kick this guy's ass!
Hitlary clinton has bigger testicles than this metosexualfied pc superman.
Is that why it provoked you to comment? Do you think this version of Superman is "too gay?" By your logi, the question has the same likelihood of being answered correctly as "Have you stopped beating your wife?"
SO now, having seen the movie, I can say that this version of Supes is not "gay." Your peristence in bringing it up will, however, call you into question -- but only by your own logic, whatever fuel may be inspiring it (I suspect Old Milwaukee).
I think the gay buzz that has been discussed on this thread has two sources: A) rival studios wanting to dim the show's earnings, and B) gays wanting to claim yet another part of the culture. You've been off the cultural battlefield too long if you don't understand B).
Keep up the good fight, brother, and say hi to your sister's girlfriend for me.
Have you?
Viral Promotion for those who don't know, it a way for street level promotion via paid word of mouth.
Thus you PAY someone to come onto FR and then promote the movie by artificially creating word of mouth.
It is akin to when sony pictures was making up positive movie reviewers and their fake positive reviews.
Viral Promotion is very real.
Will go see Cars in the theater.
My sister's dead.
Haven't you heard?
And we all know how great Phantom Menace was.
People like you are the reason Lucas destroyed Star Wars beyond any hope (pun intended).
I'm trying to promote Win32.Worm.Netsky.
A metrosexual kind of line.
For anyone who wants a DRY run through of the blow by blow of the Superman movie,
go here:
It reveals all. The bottom of the page has a short one paragraph synopisis.
No need to spend money, it is all there.
Wow, that must be the invisible link.
Here's the trade association for viral marketing...
http://www.vbma.net/
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/supermanreturns.html
forgot the link
complete movie synopis begining TO THE END.
Sounds great. I should cancel my Netflix, and stop going to the movies, because now I can just read a paragraph on line. I mean, I COULD watch movies for myself and make up my own mind, but why not let some anonymous crank on the internet decide for me?
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/supermanreturns.html
the link to the spoiler.
very dry but a blow by blow.
You really hate evil Hollywood, huh?
I saw it Earlier in the week.
Did not have an American feel at all.
I think they tried to tie too much Christ like things in with Superman as well.
Should have had an American version for America and cut it for global consumption.
I think Americans will be bitter about what they did.
May divorce be with you. Always. ;)
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