2006-07-08 - 1:31 p.m.
Superman has been one of my great loves since I was 5 years old.
Back at that time, the world was still a place where the good guys
always won and when everything looked terrible, somehow it would all work out.
As I have grown up, I embraced Superman the movie with Christopher Reeve -
loving the first two films and still loving the mediocre 3rd and 4th only because it was Superman.
I grew up even more watching Lois & Clark, still loving the heroics and of
course mooning over Dean Cain the actor who played Superman, as any 12 year old girl should.
As an adult I enjoyed Smallville, all the while loving seeing how the heart
and love of Superman would one day grow into the iconic hero I have loved all my life.
Last night, despite the fact I have plans to go see Superman with coworkers on Tuesday (at the IMAX no less),
and despite the fact that the people I was to go see it with cancelled, I went to see Superman alone.
I'm glad I did.
For almost 3 hours I got to close myself into the world where the bad guys always got caught and no matter how bad
things got, when the last glimpse of hope was fading, a blur of red and blue would streak across the sky and save you.
If you haven't seen the movie - stop reading and go now.
Also I will probably get a little bit spoilery - so if you want to see the movie and not know what
happens... probably stop reading now.
I loved at the beginning of the movie, it wasn't clear what time period you were in. There was an exterior shot with a lot
of old fashioned cars and we saw the Kent farm with a man saying goodbye to Martha as he drives away. Is it Mr. Kent?
I knew there was a boy cast as the young Clark so I wan't sure how much flashbacking we'd be doing.
As I saw Martha's face, she was older than you'd expect her to be back when Clark was a child. The lack of fear on her face
and her immediate approach to the vessel when it crashed, clued me in that we would be seeing Clark as an adult.
The action in this movie was unbelievable. From the plane rescue(and the wonderful ovation in the baseball field) to the
boat rescue..everything was amazing. A favorite moment of mine was when a robber shot Superman in the eye and they slow
down the shot so we can see that bullet crumble as it comes into contact with a much stronger surface. And the amused
glint in Superman's eyes was worth the price of admission.
Most of the action had such an emotional source. The Planet ball falling, Superman racing to save the people but the
emotion also of it being the world on his shoulders and he lowered the huge globe to the ground. Saving Lois, her son
and fiance the cooperation between two rivals and the tension continued even after the physical danger had passed.
There was the emotional danger for both men, nearly having lost Lois and the possiblity of her living and still losing her.
This movie was much more emotional than I expected it to be. I felt bad that Jimmy Olson was really the only person in
Metropolis that seemed to notice or care that Clark had left. I understood Lois' sense of betrayal at Superman's leaving.
I understood why she was angry, but yay for Lois and all but I'm on team Superman and I want her to get over it and
understand why he left so things can get back on track.
I loved the plot with Lois having a son. Being so sure of who's he was and then having evidence that that wasn't it at all.
Then the speech at the end given by his father... such a call back to another time. I don't even want to get detaield on it
on a spoiler review. It's something that must be seen and felt.
I also loved the part on the plane when Lois goes back for Superman and once he is able to fly again, how he tells her
goodbye. The meaning behind it being doubled by the fact earlier in the film he had said (both as Clark and Superman)
that he couldn't say goodbye to her because it would be too unbearable. So for him to say goodbye, was apologizing for
not doing it before, and baring his soul to let her know how hard it was for him - despite all that he would leave her so
that he could die to save the world, so that she could continue to live.. even if it was without him. He didn't know if
she would choose him or Richard in the end. But he wasn't willing to give up, no matter her choice.
I found myself despairing as Lex's plot unfolded. How on earth could Superman overcome a mountain of Kryptonite? I knew
this was the first in hopefully many sequels to come, but it just seemed so impossible. The moment I saw Lex and Superman
face to face and suddenly the sweat bead down Superman's brow I grew anxious. I almost couldn't watch the brutality as Lex
and his thugs beat Superman. It was just so vicious. The extra added evil of Lex actually breaking off the kryptonite "knife"
just made me shudder. Seeing Superman on the ground, fighting for his life - but still with that desire to live and be
who he was meant to be, he stood to his feet and looked Lex in the eye before going over the cliff.
I truly had no idea how it was all going to work out. I just knew in Superman... it has to...
There was of course such danger in lifting the island, but the real emotion came out for me as I saw the kryptonite inching
closer and closer, I was as nervous as he, wondering how on earth he was going to be strong enough to get the island off the earth.
Then all at once, gravity lost it's battle and the fight was over. Until the strain of his feat, sent Superman plumetting to the
earth again.
One thing I never thought I'd see is Superman being rushed into a hospital ER on a gurney. I thought he would strengthen and
fly away with that trademark half smile. Seeing them rip open his suit to give him defibrillator treatment was jarring.
An aspect of Superman I had never really thought of was in the event of Superman being in a hospital or being hurt, his mother was
not able to see him and be at his side, because to the world she has nothing to do with Superman. The close up on Martha Kent's face
as Lois was rushed into the hospital was just heartbreaking.
In true Superman fashion, this movie dazzled with heroics and gave hope to a world that sometimes seems to not have much hope anymore.
Yes it's a movie, but it speaks so much to what we as human "could be" if only we cared enough to do it. We may not have
superstrength or the ability to fly, but I truly believe it wasn't just those things that make Superman as powerful and
effective as he is. It's his love. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good, at usually no gain to himself.
As a christian, I have very strong ties to this concept. Watching this movie doesn't just make me remember when I was an
idealistic 5 year old, but it steels me in my faith, to go into the world and make a difference. And for that above all I am thankful for this film.
Great job guys.
2006-08-15-So good.
Make This A Favorite
2006-08-05-Ahhh...
2006-07-31-The Truth
2006-07-26-Zzzzzzzzzzzz
2006-07-14-Interesting