Well, first of all, it’s been nearly two years since I have posted to the blog, here. And the reason that I’ve come back is I saw a movie today that the whole world is crapping on, and while I’m not the one to stand up and defend it completely; I am here to explain why I enjoyed it.
It’s been nearly three years since MAN OF STEEL, the first film in the burgeoning DC Cinematic Universe, appeared and while my review of that movie was fairly positive, in the time since, I have grown to have major issues with the portrayal of Superman in this new form. I still hold it’s not the destruction or even the fact that Superman kills which bothers me. It’s instead the personification of the character. His principles and the choices he’s made growing up – and from that, the principles that his adoptive (human) parents instilled within him. I think it’s a legitimate concern about an alien child falling into the Kansas top-soil, and fear of what our governments, and sects of fanaticism would do with that knowledge. But, the issue comes from how Pa Kent (as played by Kevin Costner) instilled Clark with the perspective that in order to keep his secret, he should be willing to let people die. He shouldn’t try to save everyone. In fact, in Man of Steel, there’s a continued idea of Kal-El being a god. His Kryptonian father says as much, Pa Kent thinks so. And it becomes one of the repeated, basic tenets of BATMAN v. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. Is there actually a god if aliens, and specifically Superman, exists; and if so, is Superman god? It’s a good question, and I feel like it works as a plot-thread throughout Batman v. Superman.
Just a warning, there aren’t any major spoilers in the rest of the review, but I do discuss aspects containing the plot. So, if you want to remain untainted, tread carefully.
John R. Muth
Movies 4 me 