Eric's Deconstruction of Superman
Anyone who's watched a season of Smallville or enjoys comic books knows who Superman is-- Kal-El, last son of Krypton. His only weakness is close proximity to a chunk of rock from his home world. But enough of that... To the point.
Previews for Superman Returns look awesome. The previews alone beat the pants of Christopher Reeve's Superman. But that's not the late Mr. Reeve's fault; films of the 70's and 80's weren't given the same kind of treatment they are today. Michael Keaton's Batman for example; by far the best of the original franchise, but not even close to the outright coolness of Batman Begins... Different times, different treatments.
The comics, though, invariable portray these mythic characters in equally mythic proportions; gargantuan size and muscular structure-- None of these guys could walk into a JC Penny and pick out a suit off the rack. This is where film and television get it right, especially in Superman's case.
How much can Superman lift? A building the size of, say, the Empire State Building? Is there a limit to his strength? As to that, yes... he does have limits. So how does Superman train? Does he benchpress Fort Knox every morning for an hour to work up a good sweat and get his heart rate up. Even Superman needs cardio work, right?
Herein in the flaw in our perception of Superman. Kal-El is not "super" because of his size, his musculature, his trained and honed strengths. He is Superman because the light of our sun reacts to his body differently than ours. Why? Because he is an alien... Not of this world. Christopher Reeve, who was in good phyical shape perfectly depicts what Superman should look like. The same with Tom Welling of Smallville, and Brandon Routh will be no exception.
Moving on... Clark Kent would not be able to hide who he is if his physique was that of the aforementioned gargantuan specimen male-ness-- I find it surprising he can hide himself at all in a suit and glasses, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief-- it's all in good fun. But herein is another contradiction in terms of the average superhero. Peter Parkers alter-ego is Spiderman, David Banner's alter-ego is the Hulk, Bruce Wayne's alter-ego is the Batman. But it would be incorrect to say that Clark Kent's alter-ego is Superman. It is in fact the other way around-- Superman's alter-ego is Clark Kent. Clark Kent is the costume, Kal-El is the reality.
Almost every other superhero puts on a costume-- and almost always outlandish --that tells the world around them that they are a cut above the Average Joe... they are men and women with special purpose. But not so with Clark Kent, because Clark Kent IS the costume... Clark Kent is Superman in hiding.
I intend to enjoy Superman Returns-- not because I intend to, but because it has everything that appeals to me as a movie goer. And I'll readily admit that a buff and muscular Superman is more appealing, despite the fact that in Superman's case it's completely unnecessary. Superman, after all, could be a 80lb overweight slob, and he'd still be able to jump over tall buildings in a single bound, he'd still be able to catch a plummeting jumbo jet and set it safely on the tarmac. He'd still be able to cut you in half with his heat vision.
Clark Kent is nothing more than a facade. And a poor one at that.
UPDATE: Speaking of Spiderman, I watched the new, and so far 1st trailer for Spiderman 3... Awesome. Too bad we have to wait 11 months.
Previews for Superman Returns look awesome. The previews alone beat the pants of Christopher Reeve's Superman. But that's not the late Mr. Reeve's fault; films of the 70's and 80's weren't given the same kind of treatment they are today. Michael Keaton's Batman for example; by far the best of the original franchise, but not even close to the outright coolness of Batman Begins... Different times, different treatments.
The comics, though, invariable portray these mythic characters in equally mythic proportions; gargantuan size and muscular structure-- None of these guys could walk into a JC Penny and pick out a suit off the rack. This is where film and television get it right, especially in Superman's case.
How much can Superman lift? A building the size of, say, the Empire State Building? Is there a limit to his strength? As to that, yes... he does have limits. So how does Superman train? Does he benchpress Fort Knox every morning for an hour to work up a good sweat and get his heart rate up. Even Superman needs cardio work, right?
Herein in the flaw in our perception of Superman. Kal-El is not "super" because of his size, his musculature, his trained and honed strengths. He is Superman because the light of our sun reacts to his body differently than ours. Why? Because he is an alien... Not of this world. Christopher Reeve, who was in good phyical shape perfectly depicts what Superman should look like. The same with Tom Welling of Smallville, and Brandon Routh will be no exception.
Moving on... Clark Kent would not be able to hide who he is if his physique was that of the aforementioned gargantuan specimen male-ness-- I find it surprising he can hide himself at all in a suit and glasses, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief-- it's all in good fun. But herein is another contradiction in terms of the average superhero. Peter Parkers alter-ego is Spiderman, David Banner's alter-ego is the Hulk, Bruce Wayne's alter-ego is the Batman. But it would be incorrect to say that Clark Kent's alter-ego is Superman. It is in fact the other way around-- Superman's alter-ego is Clark Kent. Clark Kent is the costume, Kal-El is the reality.
Almost every other superhero puts on a costume-- and almost always outlandish --that tells the world around them that they are a cut above the Average Joe... they are men and women with special purpose. But not so with Clark Kent, because Clark Kent IS the costume... Clark Kent is Superman in hiding.
I intend to enjoy Superman Returns-- not because I intend to, but because it has everything that appeals to me as a movie goer. And I'll readily admit that a buff and muscular Superman is more appealing, despite the fact that in Superman's case it's completely unnecessary. Superman, after all, could be a 80lb overweight slob, and he'd still be able to jump over tall buildings in a single bound, he'd still be able to catch a plummeting jumbo jet and set it safely on the tarmac. He'd still be able to cut you in half with his heat vision.
Clark Kent is nothing more than a facade. And a poor one at that.
UPDATE: Speaking of Spiderman, I watched the new, and so far 1st trailer for Spiderman 3... Awesome. Too bad we have to wait 11 months.
from the mind of... Eric | 2:34 PM
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