Superman has saved the world so many times. Too bad the world can't save Superman. Kryptonite isn't his biggest weakness. Bad writing is. On Fourth of July weekend comes word that the makers of the new Superman movie have airbrushed, like the guns in the ET rerelease, a politically inconvenient part of the man of steel's most memorable catchphrase. "Truth, justice, and the American way" becomes "truth, justice, and all that stuff." What's next? Will Captain America become Captain Humanity? Superman is "an international superhero," contends screenwriter Dan Harris. Fellow screenwriter Michael Dougherty concurs: "He's here for humanity."
I have no intention of seeing the movie. In addition to bad writing, it's sure to be full of obvious computer generated effects. I'm waiting for Lady in the Water before I venture back into the theater.
Harris and Dougherty need to creat their own character, not mess with Superman. Why not make Huck Finn black like Jim? How about Audrey Murphy as the most decorated vet of WWII? What about a secular Jesus? Cripes, put on your own party and stay out of ours.
You would expect that the producers of this flick who are more worried about how this movie plays and markets globally and don't have to b@ll$ to make an accurate offering have, by all accounts, created a watered down remake with little real content.
You know, I don't have a HUGE problem with this, just the way they did it. It's all true, Superman is alien, and he's a SuperHero of the "good" kind, which means that he'll help anyone in need, regardless of country allegiance. What bothers me is that he grew up HERE! In the US! So, while technically not born in the US, or a US citizen, his journey from youth to Supermanhood was decidedly American.
I wouldn't have a problem with them proclaiming the fact that he's not technically American and is here to help mankind (I'd even tolerate personkind), but to refer to "The American Way" with such a dismissive phrase is stems from the disdain that so many hold for the West and its way of life.
Not to say that those who despise the West do not have some good points, but this is a juvenille, incoherent way to make one...
Since Superman wasn't born here, and probably didn't become a naturalized citizen, doesn't that make him an illegal alien?
And let's not forget the Book of Exodus:
...but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then, whether by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or ass or any of your beasts, or the alien who lives with you.
Seems like the Good Lord knew about our little visitor to Smallville...
By divine coincidence, I just finished Exodus (I'm slowly reading the entire Bible). In my translation, they refer to "the stranger that is within thy gates" rather than "the alien who lives with you." (Exodus: 20, 10) A stranger, of course, is not exclusive of aliens, so perhaps the passage refers to space aliens in general, and Superman (or Aquaman) in particular. Someone please consult the Da Vinci Code and get to the truth of this matter.
It's the NAB translation.
