tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post8641675618780579781..comments2024-03-29T09:23:53.797-05:00Comments on The Signal Watch: No Country For Old Men: Let's talk about Superman vs. Batman (and initial reviews and whatnot)The Leaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-48010231442900553032016-03-23T20:38:46.076-05:002016-03-23T20:38:46.076-05:00I agree that Marvel's done a great job with Ca...I agree that Marvel's done a great job with Cap. I always felt like his character got a bit more of a pass by virtue of the fact that he's literally a figure from a bygone age, though. And there's something about Superman's near omnipotence that seems to make people especially skeptical of the notion that he can consistently keep his ideals intact. But you still make a good point.J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03903186469796595837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-41151427317175842112016-03-23T16:38:09.752-05:002016-03-23T16:38:09.752-05:00At this point, the take on Superman from WB tells ...At this point, the take on Superman from WB tells me more about WB than it does about modern audiences or the difficulty of the character. But, yes, I see writers in the comics wrestling with this, and most are faking it at best, and even good writers have fumbled the ball. It's the best Superman comics that have this ideal firmly in hand.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-23688365249548806722016-03-23T16:21:12.371-05:002016-03-23T16:21:12.371-05:00@JS but at the same time Marvel has rolled out 4 m...@JS but at the same time Marvel has rolled out 4 movies starring Captain America who is a character that is devoid of cynicism and is every bit as morally resolute as Superman. So, it really is possible to write such a story even a super hero story without giving into the dourness that DC is going for.<br /><br />Superman should be an ideal that we strive for, a better version of ourselves. We shouldn't drag the character down to our level.Simon MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14749383583517044214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-51626231447203847772016-03-23T16:00:14.795-05:002016-03-23T16:00:14.795-05:00I think that part of the problem is that good Supe...I think that part of the problem is that good Superman (and I will say, yes, good Superman for the modern audience) is probably difficult to write. It's hard to write a character who remains as morally resolute as Superman without having the character seem silly to an increasingly cynical modern audience.<br />That being said, I think it would be not only possible to write such a script, but that it would be extremely well received if it was effectively done. If you can acknowledge the fact that we live in a world where terrorists are beheading people and lighting people on fire in cages while still writing believable hero who adheres to the absolute sanctity of human life, you could really say something (particularly if you show that it is often very difficult to try to protect every life as sacred when you're carrying on battles on an epic scale- this, by the way, is clearly what Snyder got so terribly wrong in the last movie). Equally, given that our modern political leaders, media figures, and CEOs all seem extremely prone to corruption when tempted by even small amounts of power, it could be incredibly compelling to see those flaws contrasted against an individual of nearly limitless strength who, nonetheless, appears unwavering in his attempts to remain ethical and principled. The trick is to portray Superman in a way in which he maintains those qualities while feeling like more than a caricature. Easier said than done. I don't think the answer is to make Superman more cynical, though, or to make him despondent or mopey or filled with escapist fantasies. Superman is the guy who does the job of saving the planet without a lot of complaint because it's his duty by virtue of who he is, and he's the only one who can do it. I think it's weird to think of Superman as someone who's resentful of that responsibility. Maybe, like other immigrants, he has a heightened sense of responsibility to live up to the obligations of citizenship in his new home. I'm not sure. Anyway, Superman needs good writers. Really good writers.J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03903186469796595837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-79145660626175438732016-03-23T14:14:55.540-05:002016-03-23T14:14:55.540-05:00Let's be honest - Disney saved Star Wars. Luc...Let's be honest - Disney saved Star Wars. Lucas was ready to just keep pile driving it into the dirt. <br /><br />There will have to be a major shift at WB and DCE before they "modernize" Superman properly. Which I think is do-able. It's a pretty pathetic state of affairs if all "modern" can mean to young audiences is "mopey and in need of a hug".The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-3174019274986719992016-03-23T14:06:53.093-05:002016-03-23T14:06:53.093-05:00Sure, the prequels redefined Star Wars for almost ...Sure, the prequels redefined Star Wars for almost a generation. But it came back!<br /><br />With superman, we're talking about an idea that's weathered almost 80 years of *constant* reinterpretations. And in the last 30 years, almost all of that has been looking backward. They still haven't cracked the code on how to effectively modernize Superman.<br /><br />Like Star Wars, Superman is a pure and unique idea. It may wander a bit, but it will come back.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16334865373173505274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-57231359173172497902016-03-23T13:52:59.408-05:002016-03-23T13:52:59.408-05:00I actually don't think Superman will survive i...I actually don't think Superman will survive in the form we keep telling ourselves he will. The current WB approaches are in opposition to the idea I have in mind when it comes to Superman, and we're informing a generation of movie-goers of what Superman is via the images of these movies and the growing DCU Cinematic franchise. Just as the Donner movies informed our generation, these movies will inform the cultural conversation when we're pushing up daisies or until there's a shift in a generation to a different tone or a reboot that's general welcomed by the populace in the way the Daredevil series has wiped away the Affleck Daredevil film.<br /><br />But it's clear DC Comics and DC as a studio are on a trajectory to revamp and reimagine the character into something different. On that, I think we can agree.<br /><br />And while no one has ruined my childhood, I don't buy entirely into the "it doesn't affect me" approach to how a franchise is handled. I was one of millions of people who didn't care for Star Wars Episodes 1-3, and it did, in fact, make me just want to ignore Star Wars altogether. It's what Star Wars became. It was author's intention to drive the series in a way that I found preposterous. No, it didn't travel back in time and make me an unhappy kid sadly playing with a landspeeder, not sure why he was feeling a creeping ennui, but it had a lasting impact on my impression.<br /><br />If Mel Gibson comes out and reveals himself as an utter jack-ass, I can still enjoy Road Warrior, but to say it doesn't have any impact, cumulatively, can't possibly be true. <br /><br />I agree that genre film is often not treated kindly by critics. I was a huge fan of "John Carter", which was rated so poorly, you'd think John Carter had insulted the critics' mothers. <br /><br />But I don't reject film criticism. I can't. Not every critic will "get" every bit of genre film or find it to their taste. But as much as I believe in critical analysis in comics or film, I believe in the mixture of the two. And, RT is a fascinating bellwether for the overall filmic quality of whatever we're getting. Now, if we're admitting "sometimes I just like crap. Give me Beastmaster!", then I'm right there with you.<br /><br />But it's hard to ignore the critical surprise and delight at almost every Marvel release, even as they predict the doom of the superhero genre, they say "but this one! This one is okay!". <br /><br />And, yes, talking about Oscar Bait movies is it's own discussion altogether, and its problematic for both the industry and audiences.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-8313367377146482432016-03-23T12:40:44.961-05:002016-03-23T12:40:44.961-05:00First: that is a *great* Tommy Lee Jones anecdote ...First: that is a *great* Tommy Lee Jones anecdote that I'd never heard, so thanks for that.<br /><br />You know that I come from a similar place, and I sympathetize with most of what said. I've had those same awkward in-person discussions about Man of Steel on a fairly regular basis for the last three years.<br /><br />Man of Steel definitely wasn't what I would've done with an opportunity to reestablish the character, but there were some things I liked about it. Moreso as time's passsed. But I believe Superman is a strong enough character to wheather multiple interpretations, that the core idea will still survive. The DCEU's Superman will never be *my* Superman. And that's okay. I can still enjoy it for what it is.<br /><br />On the one hand, it doesn't really matter to me what they do with these characters, because I have my stories already and they're always going to be there. But on the other hand, I enjoy being part of the new and the anticipation. I enjoy the idea of maybe sharing a big screen Wonder Woman with my daughter. So, I'm kind of just having fun with there being a movie out there, and celebrating that. And if it's not good, oh well. No skin off my nose. But if I do like it, then all the better.<br /><br />The other thing is: I don't put so much stock in critical consensus. Some of my favorite films of the last decade have RT scores in the 50s and lower. And many Oscar nominees (and winners) I have zero interest in. I think critics more concerned with crosstalking one another than in doing the job of consumer reporting. I'd rather take things in and decide for myself.<br /><br />I don't regret all time I spent anticipating Superman Returns, even though that turned out to be not so great too. Or reading comics in the 90s.<br /><br />So, I get it. Your perspective is your own, and it's earned. I just think it's more fun to be in the game than to sit on the sidelines.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16334865373173505274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294499213897153104.post-62540398768755956282016-03-23T11:16:51.629-05:002016-03-23T11:16:51.629-05:00Ryan, I am so with you on this one. At some point ...Ryan, I am so with you on this one. At some point in time I will probably end up seeing this film on a plane or something where I need to kill a couple of hours but I won't be seeking it out.Simon MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14749383583517044214noreply@blogger.com