[Roberts]

Great. Even Superman is P.C.

[Bernard Marx]

"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."

Translation: foreign box office receipts are a lot more important to the writers/producers than "the American way." To non-liberals the American way's meaning hasn't changed a bit.

[Bommer]

The dirty little truth is that Superman is a Mexican from another planet. He came into this country illegally and does the dirty jobs that Americans refuse to!

[itslex71]

"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."

Let's see...back in the 40s and 50s we stood up to the Nazis, Japanese bullies, and communists with the intent to set people free of terrorism and brutal dictatorships. We spread democracy, set up military bases in foreign nations, and laid out plans and rules for those nations to reform and rejoin the fold of the free world. We also had the balls to use nukes when necessary, put people in camps who we suspected were our enemy, and tried and convicted people for treason. Agreed, those were much more noble days. Sounds like these Hollywood losers don't understand the truth they speak.

[Rastus]

"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."

"Mr. Harris, an illegal can never be considered an American."

"You wicked, wicked person! Take it back!"

I believe it has been retconned that Supes *was* born in America anyway. He was a matrix and only became a person when the pod was opened, or some damn thing.

Not surprised these guys wrote X2. The contempt for the military seemed apparent. I couldn't stand that movie.

[Caipirabob]

Forget "Superman" and bring on "Miracleman"...

The "Overman" has come, and boy, is he pissed off...

[rjp2005]

Last straw. Not going to see it.

[tarheelswamprat]

"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."

This is nothing more than self-justifying hypocracy. With regard to other, more trivial aspects of the Superman mythos, these same "creators" have shamelessly claimed and touted their faithfullness to Superman "canon", yet they deliberately choose to undermine this major, essential component of that same canon.

As far as foreign audiences are concerned, their opinion of what "the American way" means is irrelevant. In a movie about Superman, what is supposed to matter is what Superman thinks it means. It is the responsibility of the movie's creators to convey that meaning to the audience through their portrayal of the character, not to redesign the character to pander to their audience's ideology.

Of course, it's their movie - they have the right to do it however they please. However, we also have the right to point out their self-serving hypocracy and disingenuousness. Their protestations of and claims of faithfullness to the Superman canon/legend are rendered hollow by their cynical, transparent manipulations.

[Rastus]

The Democrats are the party of "do not question my patriotism!" So why is it that--just knowing what I know from reading the article--I can state with a degree of certainty that these writers are liberal democrats?

[subterfuge]

Won't be seeing this until its on "free" tv, and maybe not even then.

It's all about the $$$$ for Follywood.

[rlmorel]

If they are unsure, HERE is one compelling component of what "The American Way" is...

http://www.freerepublic.com/^http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm

Narrated by John Wayne...nearly brought tears to my eyes. And this is only the physical component.

[FreeManWhoCan]

The movie was fantastic. Who cares what Dracula says.

[BallyBill]

I'd have been surprised if they DID say "..and the American Way.."

Just ain't gonna happen in Hollywood Ver. 2.0

[mewzilla]

[LexBaird]

This entire thing can be summed up in one word. Money. If this movie makes any, it will be because of worldwide distribution of DVDs and showings, so some beancounter weenie had a stroke and told the makers that if they wanted to make Superman, they better downplay the Americana.

I'll bet that's why they cast an Aussie, when there are probably 1,246,892 unknown actors in Los Angeles who would have killed for the chance. That way their international press releases can emphasize the "international hero" talking point.

[Bratch]

[Milhous]

Pitching an All-American classic makeover to a Eurotrash audience

My red state intuition warned naggingly of a gathering foul stench with this stinker. Classic Hollyweird mythology predictably produces prodigious piles of steaming PC cr@p dubbing it "tentpole."

INTERVIEW: Dan Harris & Michael Dougherty Talk About Writing Superman Returns

. . .

Is Superman more universal in your movie?

Michael Dougherty: When it comes to the "American Way", I think it's tricky.

Dan Harris: I don't think the American Way means what it meant in 1945.

Michael Dougherty: Yeah, it's not quite as defined these days.

Dan Harris: There was a concerted effort to make this an international Superman. Yes, he landed in Kansas. Yes, he was raised by Americans but he is an alien. He is from Krypton. He has come to the Earth to be kind of a savior for this world. Not for our country.

Was all the Christian imagery in the movie a conscious choice?

Michael Dougherty: It's existed as part of the character since he was created. Moreso in that he's a classic mythological actor. It's Judeo-Christian. Christianity has it's roots in the Jewish religion. These two guys created a character which is non-denominational. It embraces and uses elements from Greek mythology, Christian mythology... it cherry picks ideas.

Dan Harris: Superman shows up to the earth ala Moses. There's a great deal of discussion in the movie about Greek mythology... the nature of Gods and what Gods are. Then it kind of moves into Christian mythology.

[BaBaStooey]

Wasn't this the same attitude which caused Superman IV to tank at the box office?

Even the one with Richard Pryor did reasonably well at the box office.

[Vasilli22]

Truth, Justice, and the U.N. way!!!

[atlaw]

For what its worth, the original superman in comic book format fought only for "truth and justice."

In the 1948 movie serial, the phrase became "truth, tolerance and justice."

The phrase "truth, justice and the American way" was coined in the superman radio serial (not the comic book) that ran from 1940 to 1951, with "the American way" only being used between 1942 and 1944, after which it was dropped, and "tolerance" was again inserted.

"The American way" was then picked up again in the television series that ran in the 50's.

[jordan8]

They could have avoided this by just leaving it out. Now it seems like a purposeful slap.

Superman is the gayest, lamest, dullest, least imaginative superhero ever. He's just too super.