The World Doesn't Need A Saviour
"...but every day I hear people crying for one."
I just went to see Superman Returns today. I don't understand why people have bagged Superman so much. Yes it is cheesy and so sweet it hurts at times but that is just part of the charm. Superman to me is the archytypical superhero: he is iconic of all things that superheros are and strive to be. All other superheros are just weak copies of this all-American hero. His truth, justice, and a hard-boiled egg whilst they make us gag for the cliches are noble and true virtues that all people long for. I confess that I felt a thrill of excitment when Clark Kent doffed his mild manner guise and tore open his shirt to reveal that logo. And I found myself internally cheering at Superman's first heroic save since his return to Metropolis, unsurprisingly involving Lois Lane who in characteristic fashion faints afterwards (a la Superman the original). Yes Superman almost always predicatable and you can predict what will happen in a lot of the movie, but the film writers kept it interesting in spite of this. And how Superman managed to beat Lex Luthor's latest ingenious scheme I could not foresee. Some people thought poorly of the movie as it used audio and visual clips from the first movies (for the voice and image of Jor-El, Superman's father), however, I personally thought that it was awesome that they did so. It created a continuity with the old movies to see and hear Marlon Brando counselling Superman. I for one rate it as a movie a few laughs and a feel goodness to the movie that can only come from mum's apple pie.
For those of you that haven't yet seen it thebasic storyline is Superman had left and now has returned (can't get simpler than that). Astronmers had discovered what looked like the fragments of the planet Krypton and Superman left to investigate it for himself. However, he left without saying goodbye to Lois Lane and therefore while he was away she wrote a Pulitzer prizewinning article entitled 'Why the world doesn't need Superman'. He returns to earth to find her with a son and dating/pratically married to the nephew of Perry White. While this is going on Lex Luthor had been released from jail as one of the key prosecution witnesses, Superman, failed to show up for the arraignment. Once again Lex has a plan of feindish cunning to kill lots of people and make loads of money and Superman has to stop him.
In her article Lois wrote that "the world doesn't need a saviour". Its an interesting and very provacative statement. Superman responds to her when he returns "You wrote that the world doesn't need a saviour, but every day I hear people crying for one" (quotes from here). Its interesting looking back at the first movie and hearing what Jor-El says that his mission on earth should be, "Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son" (quote from here). Superman was sent to earth not so much to save people but to show them how to save themselves. Superman lead by example showing the world the way that people should live in relation to one another. Not trying to do what Superman can do but rather to give what they are able to give to one another without expecting recompense, to do justice, love kindness, and live together in harmony. But people became complacent and let Superman do all the work. Rather than looking to his example and trying emulate it they let him do all the work, worshipped him and praised him for what he was doing but then did not do anything in response. This is what Lois meant that the world does not need a saviour; this is not the type of saviour the world needs one that people look to but do not try to emulate. But Superman is correct the world is constantly crying out for a saviour and unless we all try to save the world and bring peace, wholeness and harmony on earth what is the purpose of the saviour. The saviour the world needs is a light shining in the darkness to show the world the way rather than a flamethrower throwing back the darkness causing the world to have no need to fight the darkness.
I just went to see Superman Returns today. I don't understand why people have bagged Superman so much. Yes it is cheesy and so sweet it hurts at times but that is just part of the charm. Superman to me is the archytypical superhero: he is iconic of all things that superheros are and strive to be. All other superheros are just weak copies of this all-American hero. His truth, justice, and a hard-boiled egg whilst they make us gag for the cliches are noble and true virtues that all people long for. I confess that I felt a thrill of excitment when Clark Kent doffed his mild manner guise and tore open his shirt to reveal that logo. And I found myself internally cheering at Superman's first heroic save since his return to Metropolis, unsurprisingly involving Lois Lane who in characteristic fashion faints afterwards (a la Superman the original). Yes Superman almost always predicatable and you can predict what will happen in a lot of the movie, but the film writers kept it interesting in spite of this. And how Superman managed to beat Lex Luthor's latest ingenious scheme I could not foresee. Some people thought poorly of the movie as it used audio and visual clips from the first movies (for the voice and image of Jor-El, Superman's father), however, I personally thought that it was awesome that they did so. It created a continuity with the old movies to see and hear Marlon Brando counselling Superman. I for one rate it as a movie a few laughs and a feel goodness to the movie that can only come from mum's apple pie.
For those of you that haven't yet seen it thebasic storyline is Superman had left and now has returned (can't get simpler than that). Astronmers had discovered what looked like the fragments of the planet Krypton and Superman left to investigate it for himself. However, he left without saying goodbye to Lois Lane and therefore while he was away she wrote a Pulitzer prizewinning article entitled 'Why the world doesn't need Superman'. He returns to earth to find her with a son and dating/pratically married to the nephew of Perry White. While this is going on Lex Luthor had been released from jail as one of the key prosecution witnesses, Superman, failed to show up for the arraignment. Once again Lex has a plan of feindish cunning to kill lots of people and make loads of money and Superman has to stop him.
In her article Lois wrote that "the world doesn't need a saviour". Its an interesting and very provacative statement. Superman responds to her when he returns "You wrote that the world doesn't need a saviour, but every day I hear people crying for one" (quotes from here). Its interesting looking back at the first movie and hearing what Jor-El says that his mission on earth should be, "Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son" (quote from here). Superman was sent to earth not so much to save people but to show them how to save themselves. Superman lead by example showing the world the way that people should live in relation to one another. Not trying to do what Superman can do but rather to give what they are able to give to one another without expecting recompense, to do justice, love kindness, and live together in harmony. But people became complacent and let Superman do all the work. Rather than looking to his example and trying emulate it they let him do all the work, worshipped him and praised him for what he was doing but then did not do anything in response. This is what Lois meant that the world does not need a saviour; this is not the type of saviour the world needs one that people look to but do not try to emulate. But Superman is correct the world is constantly crying out for a saviour and unless we all try to save the world and bring peace, wholeness and harmony on earth what is the purpose of the saviour. The saviour the world needs is a light shining in the darkness to show the world the way rather than a flamethrower throwing back the darkness causing the world to have no need to fight the darkness.
1 Comments:
Superman ain't got s#it on me.
scttfgg
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