"Wish I Could Fly Like Superman..."

“Look Up In The Sky!
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s
SUPERMAN!!!!”

OK, that is a corny beginning, but I just saw the new Superman Returns film.

I do not want to give anything away, so rate it in the comments section and I will add my insightful criticisms (aka “bitching”) about it. I can sum it up in a word. “eh…”

I mean it was not horrid, it just was not great.

I figured out why, to be honest.

Superman is a character best regulated to cartoons and animation. The Fleisher Supermans are great cartoons as are the Superman the Animated Series. The movies—nope.

They cannot make films faster than a speeding bullet.

They cannot make men more powerful than a locomotive in the films.

They cannot make men leap over buildings in a single bound in the films.

What they CAN (and oftentimes DO) make are love stories (yawn) and searching for ourselves stories (yawn, sniff, snore). Welcome to part of the film’s problem.

Me, I am among the handful of people who thought the late 1970’s first two Superman movies were a bit dull. I also despise Margot Kidder. She is a really obnoxious, psycho, bitchy Lois Lane. Lois is inquisitive and headstrong, but she uses guile and intelligence. She is among the most powerful female characters in the history of popular culture and should not be reduced to a bitchin’ nutjob (the parallels to Ann Coulter and Margo Kidder’s Lois Lane amazes even me).

Superman I and II are “all right” but not half as good as Batman or Batman Returns. Now Superman III an IV are downright awful (as are Batman III and IV) and both characters picked up speed with the new releases—Superman this year and Batman last year. I argue that the 1978 Superman looks dated today and Superman Returns already looks dated as well.

I liked using cast members from the television series (Lois and Jimmy Olsen) in the film. Very nice. The Adventures of Superman (the TV show from the 1950s) are filled with corny scenes with George Reeve kicking over cardboard walls and bending play-dough guns.

With the new film in mind, I would safely argue that the new Superman the Animated Series Season Three and Four DVD is a much better buy. There is a huge continuity problem with this movie (someone make a comment so I can blather on about this) and I really think the animated series can wrestle with Superman’s villains much better (Gilfred Godfrey as Myztykplk and Brainiac as examples).

Overall I give Superman Returns a C and as a new release, it will do well.

For real fun, read the Superman comics and the Archives series from DC.
Until then, up, up, up and away...

What A Moron!

“Born to be Bad.”

--George Thorogood.

I am all for free speech, but when exercised, idiots ought to beware.

I try not to become too political on this thing, but Lordy, Ann Coulter is a complete idiot. To quote Al Franken—she is a nutjob.

In her new book, Ann Coulter has accused a group of New Jersey women of exploiting and politicizing the deaths of their husbands from the terrorist attack on 9/11. To quote this cold-hearted wench: “that a group of New Jersey widows whose husbands perished in the World Trade Center act "as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them. I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much."

Ouch!

Let’s see, this media whore (with the fake boobs to match) decidedly thinks that because people are liberal they are exploiting death.

Uh-huh. I wonder if she ever heard of Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld when she talks about political gains for exploiting death.

But, I really do not wish to slam the GOP. I only want to point out how mean society has become. Who is this choleric woman to induce such vile feelings to a group of people who mourn loss of their loved ones?

Granted, she could mess up and claim the quote is out of context—but nope—the “nutjob” goes on the Today Show and continues the vomit she calls logic as she spews her hatred live and on the air.

So I decided that Coulter must be one of a few things.

Perhaps she is the Anti-Christ—I mean it is close to 06/06/06. Perhaps the Devil’s messenger is a long-legged, big-nosed, media whore.

Maybe, like the Grinch, her heart is two sizes too small. She should have heart surgery—I mean it looks to me like she should be used to surgery on her chest anyway.

Perhaps she is insane. I mean, whenever I listen to her, I cannot help but think she has an anti-social personality. She might be like Dammers or Manson or one of those criminals.

Perhaps she has a drug problem. She sounds like a heroin fiend or a drunk.

Perhaps she is simply a bitch.

We may never know what her problem is, but my best guess is she is a mean-spirited idiot who no one in society, no matter what political camp they pitch their tent, could support.

Will I buy her book? Nope, and I never would have anyway. Will the GOP fans buy it; well…I think even they have to be wary of this woman. Whoever gave her a platform needs to tear it down now—freedom of speech is a great thing, so I am glad I can spout off against the “nutjob.”

Watching some films

"Caught in the camera eye..."
Geddy Lee of Rush from the LP Moving Pictures

I have been watching quite a few documentaries and independent films as the Dish Network (DROP CABLE NOW—THE CABLE NAZI’S ARE CONTROLLING YOU) has the Independent Film Channel and the Documentary Channel. Both are excellent. Yesterday IFC showed This is Spinal Tap—awesome film.

Pam rented some movies for me to help pass the time and we both enjoy watching films to a great degree. We actually like documentaries a bit more than we thought we would, we being socially conscience people in our own warped ways. This weekend she rented Brokeback Mountain. I thought it was contrived and a bit boring to be honest. The hype did not really match the film. I would argue the same for Crash—a bit dull and fairly predictable and unrealistic. I think I have grown bored with heavy-handed “message films.” I liked Capote better than both of those, but if one were to see In Cold Blood, basically one has the plot of Capote.

With that in mind, here are some overlooked films I highly recommend.

Clay Pigeons—as it was recently on IFC. This is a great film that takes film noir to rural Montana, I believe. The idea of a killing spree-murderer who sets up a friend to dish out “justice” is absolutely bizarre. It features Vince Vaughn in his best role on the screen and Jenny Garafalo as an FBI agent—no really. The soundtrack is great and the film has some extremely intense scenes.

Supersize Me—also seen on IFC. This is a film where a man decides to eat McDonalds for every meal for a month and noticed his body starts to negatively react: humorous and frightening at the same time. You may never eat fast food again.

Starsky and Hutch—Pam rented it for me. Ok, it ran a bit long, and I hate these types of revisions films—but this one is funny. Key to the humor—Ben Stiller. The film revives the classic characters from the 1970s and ridicules the modern times with them. A very fun film on a superficial level.

City of God—This is a frightening movie that really shows a seedy side of life as citizens in Brazil are left to fend for themselves in the “city of God” as terrorism and violence are simply ways of life. Subtitles abound, but this is a harsh film.

Why We Fight—is a documentary about the latest Gulf War. Not as sarcastic as Fahrenheit 911, but it does cause one to think. Bush and Cheney and especially Rumsfeld come off as really manipulative in this movie.

Dogs of War—The McNamara documentary that shows how Viet Nam was basically concocted of manipulation and lies and compares it to the latest Gulf War. This is really a tough film to watch as it pretty much gives every citizen cause to think and question what they have been told by their government in relationship to historical evidence. I saw a lecture about this film and I was more than interested in examining it further.

Here you are, pass the time with a few good movies that give one fuel for thought. I am hoping to catch X-Men III this week. If it is half as good as the second one, should be great. Kelsey Grammar as Beast—perfect casting.