Skip to content

Posts tagged ‘movies’

Jun 24

12 Comments

Movie Quote Monday – Man of Steel

**Spoilers Ahead**

Lara:  He’ll be an outcast…a freak. They’ll kill him.
—Jor-El:  No. He’ll be a god to them.

The question is, what kind of god?

In killing Zod at the end of the movie, Superman has done something unthinkable in the minds of his super fans. In a really compelling argument/review, JR Foresteros says, “There’s no such thing as a no-win scenario for Superman. That’s what makes him Superman.”

I was hoping for that romanticized version of Superman as well: “I don’t mind if Superman has struggles, but I want him to overcome. And to make the right decision…even if it hurts. I want (a) Superman who wouldn’t do the wrong thing, because more than any other super hero, I want to feel good about who Superman is. Not only because it makes me think I can be good too, but more importantly because it makes me want  to be good too.”

But then I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that Superman is only able to be that guy because he’s a fiction. 

Superman is able to overcome the no-win situation because the story is written that way. In other words, there’s no such thing  as a no-win situation in the Superman universe because the writers give him an out before the story reaches the point of no return.

When I am in this real world and faced with an actual no-win situation, what then does that neatly arranged Superman truly have to offer me in the way of real guidance and hope?

The more I think about it, the more I realize it’s quite a lot.

In Man of Steel, when Zod didn’t get sucked into the black hole with all the other bad guys, the writers took away the easy out and forced Superman into a true no-win situation. Zod is another super power, an even match; no prison could ever hold him. So, what are the options?

Superman’s shoulders should be strong enough to bear the weight of doing the right thing. But what is the right thing? Destroying Zod is the only solution. And that, for Superman, is not a win.

More importantly, it’s not a win for us either.

Zod said to Superman, “There’s only one way this ends, Kal; either you die or I do.” He set the terms. And instead of proving Zod wrong, instead of finding a solution that didn’t compromise his goodness, Superman accepted evil’s conditions. And in so doing, he loses everything that Superman is supposed to be.

And if violence is Superman’s only recourse, if he doesn’t even make an effort to find another solution, why should I ever look further? But that’s not the kind of guidance I want. And instead of being a beacon of hope, this Superman story is basically telling me there is none, so don’t bother looking.

And now I’m back to my beginning.

In my opinion, this was a fun superhero film, but I have to agree with others that this is no Superman  film. Superman represents the idea that good is bigger than anything else. Good prevails, good overcomes, good is so GOOD that it wins just by being good. Evil cannot stand against it. Ever. Evil cannot corrupt it, or sway it, or manipulate it in any way.

Probably I can never achieve that Superman level of goodness, and I know I’ll never be in a desperate, save-the-world scenario. But every day I’m faced with a thousand tiny situations that ask me who I am. That require me to choose between truth or lie, selfishness or sacrifice, condemnation or compassion. Good or evil. 

So I do  want that ideal Superman to look up to, who tells me that goodness is the path to take. Who tells me that goodness will always  find a way, will always win. And I don’t care that Superman is able to overcome the no-win situation only because the story is written that way.

I want  his story to be written in a way that allows him to be Superman. Not just a dude in a cape who fights bad guys.

I want Superman to offer me something unique in the world of superheros: his pure goodness. I want him to be the ideal I strive to achieve, the hope that good will always overcome evil.

And still remain good.

.

Did you see Man of Steel?

What are your thoughts on Superman?

♦

Items of Interest:

Why Man of Steel isn’t a Superman Story by JR. Foresteros
Storymen of Steel (podcast)
Choice And The Moral Universe Of ‘Man Of Steel’ [Opinion] (comicsalliance.com)

.

Jun 6

New Podcast – Star Trek Into Darkness

The latest episode is up – I chat with JR. Forasteros about Star Trek old and new . It was a lot of fun! Continue reading…

May 27

8 Comments

Movie Quote Monday – Enchanted April

If I could only use one word to describe this movie, it would be “lovely”.

It is a movie full of nooks and crannies, with the story gently bubbling up to fill all those spaces.

Every now and then, it fills in a spot I hadn’t realized was there. And I am surprised and delighted. And I am also filled.

It’s the story of four women, strangers living in a cold and rainy and dreary London. They come together through newspaper advertisements to rent a castle in Italy for the month of April. Each lady is looking for a temporary escape from her London life, and in one way or another, they are running from their loneliness and unhappiness.

In one of my favorite little scenes, it’s raining when two of the women get off the train in Italy. Rose asks, “How is this different?” Lottie answers, “Well…this is Italian rain.”

On the one hand, wherever you go, there you are.

On the other, sometimes we do need the illusion of distance between ourselves and our problems in order to get a better perspective on both.

But there’s one scene that stops me in my tracks every single time. It’s a moment in which Lottie and her husband Mellersh have finally come together as a couple. Mellersh brushes Lottie’s hair as he talks to her, a loving gesture that conveys the intimacy bourgenouing between them.

Mellersh:  In my profession…a man is always helped by having a clever and attractive wife. Lady Caroline thinks you’re attractive…so do I.
—Lottie:  Do you think I’m attractive, Mellersh?
Mellersh:  Yes I do. One thing puzzles me though…why weren’t you attractive sooner?

Why?

This always makes me think about the relationships in my life and how I value and nurture them.

And how I don’t.

Am I seeing the beauty that’s right in front of my eyes? Or do I need to adjust my perspective?

♦

May 20

5 Comments

Movie Quote Monday – Star Trek Into Darkness

Don’t worry, no major plot spoilers here! Just a little talk about theme. And I do love a movie with multiple themes! Give me my money’s worth, filmmakers!

I definitely got my money’s worth with Into Darkness. So much so that I’m gonna go give them some more of my money and watch it again this week.

As for this viewing, this is the quote that jumped right out at me:

Kirk:  I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I only know what I can do. The Enterprise and her crew need someone in that chair who knows what he’s doing. That’s not me. That’s you, Spock.

Have you ever not known what to do in a desperate situation? Were you able to let go of control to someone who could handle it better than you?

In a big way, this is a movie about making choices. Choosing who and what to trust, and whether or not you can trust yourself and your own instincts. Choosing between following the rules and doing what you believe to be right. Choosing between what is moral and ethical versus what will fulfill your own desires. With friendships and love, choosing whether to hold on or let go, whether to go your own way or follow the other person.

Another huge theme is relationships. In the first Star Trek, we saw the characters coming together for the first time. Ok, second I guess, since it takes place on an alternate time line. But it was great to watch those personalities mesh or clash as they navigated their way toward becoming a team. With Into Darkness, it was wonderful to see a smooth continuation between the two movies in how these relationships continue to grow and evolve. Specifically Pike and Kirk, Kirk and Spock, Spock and Uhura. But also the relationship between Captain and crew.

In our relationships, we have to make choices all the time of when to lead and when to follow, when to question and when to trust.

By the end of the movie, each relationship has progressed  further, and I’m loving that as an overall series arc. As much as I enjoyed the plotline in Star Trek Into Darkness, I loved witnessing the maturing of the characters and their relationships probably even more. 

Did you see the movie?

What did you think?

♦

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »