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Superman

DC League of Super-Pets: Pup, Up and Away

July 28, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

They may be super but they’re not heroes yet.

Set in Metropolis, DC League of Super-Pets tells the story of Krypto the Super-Dog (Dwayne Johnson), Superman’s fearless Kryptonian pup and his best friend since childhood. Together, they are a powerful and (almost) unstoppable crime-fighting duo, ready to stand up to the most fearsome of villains. However, when Superman (John Krasinski) and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped by a surprising foe, Krypto must assemble a pack of newly-powered pets to save the day. As Krypto tries to whip them into shape, these rookie heroes—Ace the Hound (Kevin Hart), PB the pot-bellied pig (Vanessa Bayer), Merton the turtle (Natasha Lyonne) and Chip the Squirrel (Diego Luna)—may be powerful but can they work with their new leader?

While the live-action films tend to take themselves more seriously, DC League of Super-Pets has no such concerns. Directed by Jared Stern, Super-Pets is fueled by goofy silliness, making it an entertaining entry into the DC Universe. Somehow, Stern manages to walk the line between both honoring and satirizing the source material. For example, John Williams’ iconic theme underscores Superman’s heroism, yet there’s also a subtle arrogance about him that stems from over-confidence. As such, Stern playfully mocks the Kryptonian while never causing us to lose respect for him. This type of sardonic humour flows throughout Super-Pets, engaging kids and parents alike. (In fact, there’s even some deep cut references for those who are paying attention, such as a shout out to Orwell’s dystopian Animal Farm.)

Though, what truly makes Super-Pets special is some strong work from its performers. Anchored by the real-life friendship of Hart and Johnson, Super-Pets features some delightfully over-the-top performances from its cast. Diego Luna, Vanessa Bayer, Daveed Diggs, Olivia Wilde, Jameela Jamil, Ben Schwartz and a joyfully pompous John Krasinski are all more than game for the film’s fast and frenetic tone yet still manage to bring emotion to their characters. (Also, I did not realize that I needed a Keanu Reeves-led Batman film until today. Make that happen WB.)

Though, amidst the all-star cast, the true stand-out remains its villain. Voiced by Kate McKinnon, Lulu the guinea pig (Don’t call her a hamster!) is an absolute delight as the sinister, all-powerful ‘beast’. With her team of monstrous guinea pigs behind her, Lulu yearns for world domination with maniacal aplomb. McKinnon has always been at her absolute best when she is allowed to go completely over the top and this works particularly well for the fiendish Lulu. 

Beneath the super action, Super-Pets is really a film about trusting others. Having been best friends since childhood, Superman and Krypto have an incredible relationship. They are always there for one another, willing to sacrifice themselves for each other whenever called upon. However, as Supers begins to settle down with Lois lane, Krypto becomes jealous. If Lois moves in, he fears that it will drive a wedge between the super buddies. Believing that he’ll be pushed aside, Krypto struggles to believe that his relationship with Superman is strong enough to survive this perceived interloper. 

In the same way, Krypto also seems to struggle to trust the abilities of his new super team. As each one of them grows in their powers, he sees the potential that they have yet, when push comes to shove, he still wants to do things himself. He believes that the responsibility to save humanity (and pets) lies with him and he refuses to put them in harm’s way. While some may think this is noble, it very much stems from his own sense of pride. For Krypto, heroism and arrogance are blended together in a complex mixture that taints his ability to lead. However, as he begins to humble himself and trust in the abilities of others, so too does he begin to understand what it takes to truly be a friend, both to Superman and his fellow Super-Pets. 

Although DC League of Super-Pets exists outside of the cinematic canon, one almost wishes they’d connect in some way. There’s an infectious joy within the film that manages to bring these characters to life in an entirely new way. 

DC League of Super-Pets is available in theatres on Friday, July 29th, 2022

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Batman, DC League of Super-Pets, Dwayne Johnson, Jameela Jamil, John Krasinski, Kate Mackinnon, Kevin Hart, Marc Maron, Superman

Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Reborn Film Finally Does Justice to the Franchise

September 7, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

You could forgive me if I doubted.

After years of hearing about the mythological ‘Snyder Cut’, there was simply no way that this film could meet expectations. After all, the original film was such a tepid piece of fodder that there was simply no way that a few tweaks or additional scenes could self-correct a franchise that had fallen so far off the rails. Now, with a refreshed budget and a new home on HBOMax and Blu-ray, Zack Snyder’s Justice League has finally arrived. 

And I admit that I was stunned by the results.

The details of the Snyder Cut’s resurgence has been well-documented. Determined not to copy Marvel’s roadmap to success, DC chartered their own path that rushed the process. By the time that The Avengers came around, standalone films had charted a path that allowed audiences to connect with the characters before they attempted to work together. Falling behind in the box office, the release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice gave DC the chance to try and regain some traction in the pop culture world. In their attempt to speed up the process, they threw their characters into films without any proper introductions. Whether they were attempting to ‘catch up’ to Marvel or simply afraid of being accused of ‘copying’ Disney’s juggernaut franchise, the result was a middling mess of confusion that left no time to create something special. 

After Joss Whedon’s cut of the Justice League failed to catch on with audiences, WB may have thought they were free of the franchise with a chance to reboot things once again. However, they underestimated their fans. After an unprecedented fan campaign that lasted three years and a hashtag (#ReleaseTheSnyderCut) that simply wouldn’t die, WB found themselves portrayed as the villains of a fiendish plot to suppress a director’s vision. Even so, they held firm to their comment that any other version for the film simply did not exist.

All that changed with the creation of HBOMax. Even if Snyder had been able to complete the film initially, there’s simply no way that the WB would have allowed a four-hour cut to be released in theatres, especially for a franchise that had been viewed as flailing. Although, with the move to streaming, Snyder suddenly had the opportunity to lean in to his longer take on the film. All of a sudden, he had the time (and freedom) to tell the story his way. Given more space in the world of digital media, Snyder’s League feels less like a theatrical release and more like the first chapter of a mega mini-series event. At a time when binge-watching has taken over the ‘theatrical experience’, Zack Snyder’s Justice League leans into our current obsession with long-form storytelling, complete with ‘chapters’ marking breaks within the film. 

Most importantly though, what about the quality of the film itself? 

The truth is that it’s good. Very, very good. 

Shockingly good, really.

In the new cut, Zack Snyder’s Justice League picks up immediately following the events of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. After Superman’s (Henry Cavill) death, the world is left with a need for heroes. As such, Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) begin building a team of super-humans who will stand together against an ancient evil that is preparing to return and exact revenge on humanity. 

Although I have never considered myself a ‘Snyder-apologist’, one can’t help but recognize the quality of his epic saga. The ‘director’s cut’ is far from a new concept in our culture. Even so, the extent of these re-edits usually amounts to a few additional scenes or some updated special effects. In the case of the new League, Snyder offers an almost entirely different story with new subplots and expanded character beats.

In fact, it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that it improves on the original theatrical cut in virtually every way.

While Whedon’s original film attempted to ‘lighten’ the tone with more quips and less exposition, that vision never truly fit with the world that Snyder had already created. Marked by rushed character arcs that never satisfy and a bland villain, the original film rarely works. Nevertheless, with the move to HBOMax, Snyder’s version has the proper time to explore the stories of new characters without betraying the larger superhero story. Though this saga would obviously have benefited from prior stand-alone films, Snyder’s League does its very best to compensate by giving meaningful backstories to its new additions, especially Ray Fisher’s Cyborg. Once a side character with little relevance, Cyborg has suddenly become the film’s emotional core with an arc that has a significant impact on the outcome of the story.

In addition, the most notable change comes through a more fully realized villain in Steppenwolf. Whereas Whedon trimmed the brute’s story down to almost nothing, Snyder’s new footage offers a meaningful role to the character. Instead of a standard ‘big bad’ who’s forgettable (at best), the new League highlights his motivation and relationship to the larger impending force of nature in Darkseid. As a result, not only does Steppenwolf become more interesting to the viewer but his actions simply make more sense. (What’s more, new special effects give the character a much more menacing look, a factor that was lacking in the original cut.) 

Of course, it’s also important to know that the film ends on an enormous cliff-hanger. Originally conceived to be the first of three films, League operates in grand strokes but never fully concludes. (For the record, Snyder has currently stated he has no intention of returning to the world.)

What’s more, despite its overall quality, this League will not likely win any new converts from those who struggle to connect with Snyder’s vision. Although it goes without saying that this a vastly improved version of the film, all the Snyder-isms that will cause derision remain front and centre. Off-putting to some for his showmanship, there’s little question that his visual polish drives his work. Featuring a litany of stylized effects, slow-motion action and dark, gritty story-telling, League is Snyder is at his free-wheeling best yet he will still likely alienate viewers who are looking for something more along the lines of Marvel’s lighter, more humorous tone.

However, these vast differences are all very intentional. Whereas Marvel has taken a much more scientific or ‘human-centred’ approach to their content, Snyder’s vision for the DC Universe has always included viewing these heroes as modern gods. Though Marvel seems to create heroes on par with mankind, Snyder views characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as super beings who have been sent as examples to inspire humanity to greatness. (One need not look further than the giant monument to Superman to see that this is true.) There’s a deep admiration for his characters within Snyder’s work that hints at the spiritual longings of a culture looking for heroes. As such, his vision for the League meets every superhuman act with a grand crescendo. Bursts of electricity, clangs of metal and a bombastic soundtrack give the film an epic scale that highlights his vision. To Snyder, the DC Universe is an example of our modern mythology and, as such, he is unapologetic in his reverence for the material.

With the release of his ambitious superhero opus, Snyder truly does come out as the winner here. With grandiose storytelling and vastly improved character arcs, Zack Snyder’s Justice League shows what the director can do when given the time (and money) to bring his vision to life. As a result, this reborn League certainly feels like the unexpectedly epic conclusion that this chapter of the DCEU (and Snyder himself) needed.

That is, until #RestoreTheSnyderVerse takes effect.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is available to stream on HBOMax and on Blu-ray. The special feature included is “Road to Justice League” as Snyder reflects on the three DC films he made for Warner Bros.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, HBO Max, Premieres, Reviews, Television, VOD Tagged With: Amy Adams, Ben Affleck, Ciarin Hinds, DC, DCEU, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, J.K. Simmons, Jared Leto, Jason Mamoa, Jesse Eisenberg, Ray Fisher, ReleaseTheSnyderCut, superheroes, Superman, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder, Zack Snyder's Justice League

7.15 Restoring the Universe in ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE

March 28, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

After Joss Whedon’s Justice League failed to catch on with audiences, those committed to seeing Zack Snyder’s original vision brought to completion began the most extensive fan campaign that Hollywood has ever seen. Featuring hashtags, billboards and even renting a plane, #ReleaseTheSnyderCut seemed like a passionate but empty pursuit. However, after four years and an additional $100M, Warner Bros. has finally released the Snyder Cut onto HBOMax. Clocking in at over four hours long, Zack Snyder’s Justice League has new effects, new characters and a more fully-developed script… but does that truly make it any better? This week, Victor Stiff (host of YouTube’s Dope Black Movies) and Dave Voigt (podcaster and founder of InTheSeats.ca) stop by to debate the value of the Snyderverse, the nature of heroism and the differences between Marvel and DC.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

7.15 Zack Snyder’s Justice LeagueDownload

Filed Under: Featured, Film, HBO Max, Podcast Tagged With: Batman, Ben Affleck, DC, DCEU, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Mamoa, Justice League, Ray Fisher, Superman, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder, Zack Snyder's Justice League

5.15 The Power of SHAZAM!

April 28, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

As an orphan, 14-year old Billy Batson struggles to connect with foster families as he bounces from home to home, searching for his mother. When he suddenly receives the limitless power of Shazam, he finds a new calling as a superhero… but can a broken teenager handle this sort of responsibility? What makes him worthy of the challenge? This week, Derek Wong and Mira Ibrahim join us to talk about what sets Billy apart, the dangers of deadly sins and the meaning of power.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

5.15 Shazam!Download

Thanks Derek and Mira for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast, Reviews Tagged With: Aquaman, Avengers Endgame, Batman, Billy Batson, DCEU, Dr. Sivana, Mark Strong, shazam, superhero, Superman, Wonder Woman, Zachary Levi

The Fishing Hole: Aquaman and the Next Superman

December 26, 2018 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news. Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Chris U.: $105 million for Aquaman as of Christmas Day. Momoa stays. Wonder if WB/DC will flip Justice League 2 on its head by making Momoa and Gadot the leads. Frankly, I’d use JL2 to introduce the new Batman and Superman.

Arnaldo R.: Or, scrap JL altogether and continue developing these characters solo and not force it like they have been. (GIF of Hannibal Lecter saying, “All good things come to those who wait.”)

Chris: “But…but…Marvel is pwning us! We have to respond!!!”

Arnaldo: (GIF of a ship sailing away with the caption, “Ship has sailed!”) LOL

Chris: Seriously, I’m all for it. Especially if they can erase BvS. I heard Flashpoint is supposed to handle that.

Arnaldo: I think that’s why it’s important to narrow the focus. These two work, focus on them for a while and slowly build. Plan for Marvel fatigue rather than speeding to catch it.

Chris: I DO need a proper Superman to ditch Routh’s stalkerness and Cavill’s moodiness.

Arnaldo: (thumbs-up)

Chris: Reeve was a friggin Boy Scout. Give us THAT! None of this whiny conflicted hero crap.

Steve N.: (GIF of Russell from “Up” waving) That’s who you want as Superman.

Chris: Supes need to confidently stop a nuke, save kids from a burning bus and save a cat! And SMILE the whole damn time. (GIF of a smile) And THAT will set you up for a proper Bats conflict: The Boy Scout vs The Rich Kid Rebel.

Steve: Bah. So simplistic. Dark Knight Returns (animated) did it great, without the simplicity.

Chris: Supes propensity to keep the law V Bats propensity to bend and break it.

Arnaldo: Supes doesn’t need to smile all the time. Making him more “human” is fine. He just doesn’t need to be “Batman.”

Chris: Simplistic. Bah that!

Steve: Bah.

Chris: All of y’all and your moody *** heroes. Sucking all the fun out of cinema. Which is why they hated on Aquadude. It had the utter audacity to be…FUN!

Steve: LOL. Superheroes reflect the voice of the nation. Supes is a Christ figure but that doesn’t mean grinning all the time.

Arnaldo: Moody isn’t about it for me. I want an in between. I don’t want someone rehashing Christopher Reeves or trying to be like him.

Chris: But you need his charm and charisma.

Steve: I agree with charm, yes. Cavill can do it. But he needs a script.

Arnaldo: Think Chris Evans Cap. Not an exact copy but basically that’s what Supes needs to be in DCEU.

Chris: I just don’t want the BS “I don’t wanna be a hero; the people hate me” crap. 100%, Arnaldo! Heck..CAP’s a dang Boy Scout. Went Rogue for his bestie. Would love to see Supes go rogue for Lois like Superman 2.

Arnaldo: That’s what Supes needs to be. Strong willed, but “clean.”

Chris: And not afraid of who he is. Snyder’s downfall was in Pa Kent shaming Clark for who he was. Suppressing it out of the fear of man’s reaction. Opposite of Glenn Ford. My son’s a natural at the trombone. I spent the entire Fall trying to get the kid to EMBRACE that. He was ashamed.

He eventually embraced it and got promoted to the highest level band in middle school. Supes 4.0 needs Pa Kent embracing his gift. So when it’s time to save the day, he does it with no shame.

Steve: I agree with the Cap analogy. But he’s realistic at heart. Pure at heart but bears the weight of the world. Reeves wasn’t like that. Cavill could go there with a good script.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

Filed Under: Current Events, Fishing Hole, News Tagged With: Aquaman, Superman

4.06 a JUSTICE LEAGUE of our own

November 26, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/4.06-Justice-League.mp3

Grab your batarang and 5-pronged trident, because, in this episode, ScreenFish Radio wraps the lasso of truth around JUSTICE LEAGUE, the culminating film of DC cinematic universe. Back from his vacation, Steve is joined by super friends Arnaldo Reyes and Pastor James Harleman (Cinemagogue) to decide if the film leaps tall buildings in a single bound… or falls face first in the kryptonite.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.06 Justice League

A very special thanks to Arnaldo and James for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Ben Affleck, Cyborg, DC, DC Comics, DCEU, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Justice League, Steppenwolf, Superman, The Flash, Warner Bros., WB, Wonder Woman

Justice League: Finding Hope in the Darkness

November 17, 2017 by Arnaldo Reyes 25 Comments

Justice League is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, but not because you get a DC team-up film. The anticipation comes because most people were wondering, “Will they finally get these characters right?” That, of course, was the big question going in–so much so that Rotten Tomatoes delayed their Tomatometer for the film because they claimed they wanted to debut a new show and get more in-depth. In reality, they received heat from the studios, complaining that they were ruining the box office numbers (umm, bad films do that–not a Tomatometer). The DCEU has only one good film in its four-film roster, and that one came out earlier this year. They hitched their wagon to Zach Snyder to create this universe; the problem has been that Snyder wanted to make it in his own vision and that doesn’t always work with established characters.

So, with all that said, is Justice League a good film? Well, it’s not bad, but it isn’t great. It is a generically okay film that is hurt by its short run time and average plot. Everything felt rushed and incomplete, so it was hard to actually believe that the team came together so flawlessly. Outside of an argument over an unethical (it really was if you think of it) decision, there was no real tension of strangers who are flawed coming together. However, when the film took its time to slow down (I will assume those were the Whedon reshoots), it gave us a glimpse of what a fleshed out story could give us. Action-wise, it’s nothing new we haven’t seen from Snyder. I do have some problems with the CGI and some other things that will be discussed in a future spoiler-filled podcast.

Ben Affleck is probably on his way out of playing Batman, but I will say that he is a good Bruce Wayne and an above average Batman. He moves slow for the Dark Knight, but then again, he’s portraying a much older and seasoned character, so that could be the reason. What he nails a little is the strategist Batman who is a reluctant leader. Even with a team, he thinks about himself as a solo act, all the while pushing team members to discover themselves.

Gal Gadot is the showstopper once again. Her Wonder Woman is most definitely a beacon of light. She’s the first character in the DCEU that was nailed perfectly first time through. In this film we see her grow as a heroine and see how great she really is. There is one complaint I have…but I won’t spoil it here.

Ezra Miller is the bright humor that the DCEU has been lacking. Besides the flaws in CGI (when they slow down, his running looks very abnormal at times) Flash was well done. If you grew up watching Justice League the Animated Series, Miller personifies this version of Flash.

Jason Mamoa as Aquaman was just meh. In an attempt to make Aquaman look cool and badass, he surprisingly came out very flat. I really didn’t think he meshed well and when he was off-screen, I didn’t miss him.

Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg was an interesting character. He and Flash were my two favorites (besides WW, of course), only because they showed the most growth. Even though mostly cybernetic, the human element in him shined and he grew to be the hero of the story.

Ciaran Hinds, as Steppenwolf, was your generic bad guy. Like almost all of Marvel’s villains, he is forgettable. We’ve actually seen him and his story arc before…in Guardians of the Galaxy baddy Ronan the Accuser. They are literally the same character bent on doing the same thing, albeit for different reasons.

As I said above, when Justice League slowed down and gave us meaningful moments, the theme of the film shined: basically, just get over it! It’s a bit harsh to say it like that, but it is a hard truth. We can’t avoid hurt and pain and loss in this world and in our lives. However, we can’t let those things control our present and future. In the midst of all the darkness, we have to search for that glimmer of light, grab it, and let our strength be renewed. Hope isn’t found in a person. It is an ever flowing river that can guide us to be better, do better, and love better. Love and Hope snuffs out darkness, and in the world we live in, Justice League does get that right.

Justice League is definitely better than the 40% rating the Tomatometer shows. I give it a 6/10. It could and should be epic, but it falls short in time, story, and villain but makes up for it in message and some of the characters.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, DC Comics, DCEU, Flash, Justice League, Superman, Wonder Woman

Superman the Movie: The Greatest Superhero Story Ever Told #TBT

October 19, 2017 by Jacob Sahms Leave a Comment

supermanBefore Michael Keaton danced with the devil beneath the pale moonlight, before Tobey Maguire discovered great power, before Hulk smashed the puny god, Christopher Reeve and director Richard Donner paved the way for every superhero film that has come since. Filmed for $55 million dollars, Superman the Movie grossed $300 million, received three Academy Award nominations, and received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Special Effects. But critically or popularly acclaimed, the heart of the film’s success is in its Judeo-Christian tendencies as a father sends his son to Earth, both stranger and savior. Paired perfectly (because they were filmed semi-simultaneously) with its sequel, the films provide an overview of a modern-day Christ figure arriving on Earth.

As the first film opens, Jor-El (Marlon Brando) prepares to send his son, Kal-el (later played by Reeve as an adult) to Earth. Their planet, Krypton, is about to explode into a million shards, a tragedy that Jor-El tried to stop unsuccessfully. In the meantime, the criminal Zod (Terence Stamp, proving that villains really do help define the film) is sent into the Phantom Zone, to “eternal living death” as a result of his crimes against his people. Zod is the anti-Jor-El, and we’ll soon see that Kal-el has the choice to make about whether he will be more like his father or by his fellow Kryptonian.

superman2

In the meantime, Kal-el, who crashes near Smallville as a little baby, is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent (Glenn Ford and Phyllis Baxter), who provide more nurture toward a responsible, empathetic adult. But Clark Kent/Kal-El will lose another father figure, doubling up on Peter Parker’s emotional pain, and find himself exploring the world of the city, Metropolis, without a father figure to turn to for advice.

But Jor-El has transmuted “the Word,” carefully allowing for his son to receive his advice and teaching through mysterious elements that were transported via the shuttle that crashed on Earth. Kal-el learns the nuggets of wisdom that seem to transport Brando’s various speeches into words of timeless wisdom, a la Yoda or Morpheus, only earlier. Some are issued prior to Kal-el’s actual departure from Krypton, but all have echoes of Judeo-Christian mythos, transporting the film from mere action blockbuster to deeper territory. [Thank you, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and you, Richard Donner.]

“Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. But always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you… my only son.”

Luke 3 states, “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.‘” John 1 puts it like this: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Either way, this son, this light, this possibility shows the power of Donner’s use of the father and the son (both sets, actually, as Jonathan Kent teaches Clark about his responsibility) to convey the Judeo-Christian truth.

But there’s a definitively trinitarian view of Jor-El and Kal-el here, given the presence of Jor-El’s wife (Susannah York), when Kal-El’s chubby little face is preparing to take off in the rocket from Krypton:”You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you… even in the face of our death. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I’ve learned, everything I feel… all this, and more, I… I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside you, all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father the son. This is all I… all I can send you, Kal-El.”

superman3In John 14, Jesus explains it to Phillip this way: “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

Clearly, the screenwriters (and there were several of them) worked with Donner to continue the geschichte of the two young Jewish men seeking to depict their Messiah in the early versions of Superman in Action Comics. But the broadening of the vision to include those New Testament understandings of the Trinity.

But the two Superman films are clearly focused on the Christ figure, the one who would willingly sacrifice all for the good of others. And the one who would be tempted immediately following his “baptism” or the journey from Krypton to Earth. But Jesus, as he’s tempted in Luke 4 by the devil in the wilderness, contends with one figure offering him earthly respite, worldly power, and finally, full exploit of his power. Kal-El/Superman receives these temptations from two figures, Zod (recently freed) and Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), Superman’s greatest earthly enemy. Both of them tempt him to join them, to rule, to exploit others by his mighty power. But Superman, the Christian archetype, refuses.

I’ll openly admit that the scenes of Reeve flying aren’t as crisp after watching the latest Avengers or Batman v. Superman or the latest J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi flick (there are just so many of them…) But the story still gives me chills. The power of the words, and the presence of mind by Superman to make the decisions he does. Sure, Zach Snyder’s decision-making in Man of Steel is intriguing, but ultimately against character. Donner’s Superman is still best, brightest, and inspiring. It is that needed message of hope, both for us and for the future of the Kingdom of God.

Superman here isn’t like us because he’s not us. Sure, he lives with us and experiences our choices, but he chooses to live differently. He choose love, non-violence, and pursues peace. He represents everything we say we want but fall short of so often. He is the role model we hope to follow, but he is also the ideal of something greater, wiser, more grace-filled. Donner’s Superman is Christ-like, not some cheap imitation, but close to the real thing in red and blue spandex.

Superman the Movie: Extended Cut and Superman: The Movie Special Edition are newly available from Warner Bros. Archive, and come with some extra tidbits that fans will dig. First off, there’s a commentary by director Richard Donner and the creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz, as well as documentaries on how they developed Superman as a character and shot him in action on film. Restored scenes, additional scenes, and plenty of music also make it onto the disc (Special Edition version). For fans really longing to dive into this high definition transfer, the ability to see the special edition (director’s cut) at two and a half hours, or the television version at three-plus hours is a definite must-have.

Seriously, this is the one movie I’m taking with me on the deserted island that has power!

Filed Under: #tbt, DVD, Editorial, Film Tagged With: Avengers, Christian hero, Gene Hackman, Jor-El, Kal-El, Richard Donner, Superman, Zach Snyder, Zod

Justice League Trailer – Who is Alfred Talking To?

July 24, 2017 by Arnaldo Reyes 2 Comments

On the heels of another Comic-Con come and gone, one of the biggest trailers revealed was the trailer for Justice League. Hoping to keep the momentum of Wonder Woman, the trailer showed a ton of action and, of course, our first look at the villain, Steppenwolf. Still, truth be told, all the action made it look like everything they’ve released before and yet another road down Batman v Superman (with an added humor of the Flash).

The first thing worth noting is thehope that Wonder Woman will continue to be front and center and not cast off to the side among the boys club. With the addition of Joss Whedon to finish the film, hopefully his touch of strong female characters will shines through in this film.

However, as I watched the trailer again, I couldn’t help but start pondering as to who Alfred is talking to at the end. The obvious person is the much anticipated return of Superman. It’s no secret that he plays a pivotal role in the last arc of the film.  But, if that’s the case, why hint in a secretive way? Does Whedon think we haven’t figured out that Superman will be in it, or maybe it is someone else?

Here’s my theory:

The secret character is Green Lantern (which one we won’t find out till then) and the reason to keep him secret is simple, they messed up with him the first time around. The question you may ask is why do I think it is?

  1. Whedon made sure to include the Lanterns in the narration of Steppenwolf. “No Lanterns, no Kryptonian” I don’t believe it is a simple easter egg to promote the Lantern Corps movie they will be working on. This was done with a purpose.
  2. One of the biggest mistakes Snyder did with BvS is that he failed to make Batman the great detective that we know he is. His lack of knowledge on Clark and Krypton (in the comics, Batman would have figured that out on his own) leads us to believe that it doesn’t make sense that Batman would know that Superman would come back. Now he could have done some work, but the fact that the only other dead Kryptonian they had as evidence needed to be resurrected into some monster would leave us to believe that there is nothing in what Lex discovered about Kryptonians (Batman’s source to kryptonite) would have yielded him the information to know that Superman wasn’t dead.
  3. We know that Batman discovered and did is research on the upcoming threat from Darkseid and Apokolips. In that research, it is safe to assume that he came across information about the Lanterns as strong opponents to Darkseid’s forces. In that research, he may have also discovered of a recent dead alien and kept in a government research facility with a lantern symbol. Through this, he could find a way to send a message to Oa and alert the Lanterns of the danger coming to Earth.
  4. Lastly, the early promotions for Justice League was “Unite the Seven” and we only see five in the trailer. We know Superman is for sure number six….so who’s number seven? The obvious choice is a Lantern.

Obviously, this is just a theory, but it is one to make you think. Hopefully, the reveal remains hidden until the actual film comes out.

Here’s the trailer again, give it a look and let us know if you agree, disagree or what theories you may have?

Filed Under: Editorial, Film, News Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, Flash, Green Lantern, Justice League, Superman, Wonder Woman

3.22 Celebrating WONDER WOMAN

June 11, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/3.22-Wonder-Woman.mp3

This week, Steve welcomes actor Amanda Jane Smith and pastor Judith McCartney to enter into the battle with Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman.  While the film has scored with both critics and fans, there seems to be something much more significant about this particular moment.  Is it true that Diana’s story provides a proper role model for young women?  Does the strength of her character really create something unique or is there a veiled sexism at the hands of the male gaze?  In a lively discussion, they dialogue about equality, feminine identity and the nature of evil.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.22 Wonder Woman

A special thanks to Amanda and Judith for joining us on the show!

Filed Under: Current Events, Film, Podcast Tagged With: Batman, Chris Pine, DCEU, empowerment, equality, equity, feminism, Gal Gadot, Patty Jenkins, superhero, superhero film, Superman, women, women's rights, Wonder Woman

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