Pickle-El
Superhero
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http://blogs.starwars.com/anakin-vs-luke-2005/51
The Fan of Steel
"...all those powers, and I couldn't even save him."
Clark Kent - Superman: The Movie
"One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER.
I will even learn how to stop people from dying."
Anakin Skywalker - Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
"Does he still stand for truth?
Does he still stand for justice?"
Perry White - Superman Returns
Believe it or not, I try to put some thought into my blogs. I might have an idea but I just can't find the words for it. I'll type a bunch of paragraphs but it either doesn't make sense or it just doesn't capture what I'm feeling. Weeks, and several other blogs, can go by before I finally hit upon the premise I want to put forth in one particular blog. So it is with the subject of this blog: Superman.
Now, before I really begin, let me make the obligatory and obvious Star Wars references first. Not unlike Clark Kent, Anakin Skywalker had powers he wanted to use to help people. Not unlike Clark, Anakin had abilities that seemed more an obstacle than a benefit at first. Only after great struggle - personal, ethical, spiritual - do they each come to the realization that they must do something. No longer can either of them stand idly by as the world around them spins into chaos. Unfortunately for Anakin and the Republic, he believes his powers are better spent enforcing order rather than providing help. Kal-El chooses differently.
Obviously, this is why I am so enthralled by Superman. He is different. He is an alien. He is not from our world, let alone from our side of the galaxy. He holds to no religion we know of. Making things worse, he's lost his parents and blood-line family. Yet, he has found a home here. Better still, he has found a people who are just as lost as he. It is in this that Superman finally finds the link to his adoptive brothers and sisters - the search for a life of purpose and significance.
I really wanted to start by talking about 1978 and my first viewing of Superman: The Movie. However, I couldn't remember anything. Even though I was a year older, I have more memories of Star Wars from a year earlier than I do of Superman. The longer I thought about it, the more mystified I became. I'm a huge fan of the Man of Steel and I'm really looking forward to Superman Returns for reasons I'll get to shortly (you hope, I'm sure). However, I forgot how I became such a huge fan of this character.
Then it hit me...The DaVinci Code. What?
Well, not the DaVinci Code per se, but what I see as the true meaning of The DaVinci Code - our need to re-establish our link to the greater powers and questions in the universe (or outside the universe). The DaVinci Code is exciting and provocative precisely because it asks us to look again - with new eyes - at what we believe about God, about ourselves, and about our universe. What it really speaks to is our ongoing quest for hope and meaning. Our species has grown up, now our beliefs must too. Whether you believe or not, whether Dan Brown's book is factual or not, we cannot deny our need for 'a reason' to be, to do, and to become something more than the work-a-day mild mannered folk we all are. In turn, this made me think about the first time I began to question these things for myself. It made me wonder the where's, the when's, and they why's of how I came to believe in the things that I do. I will not go into the specifics here - sorry - however, I will tell you the answer I came up with: Superman.
I'm sure many people have wished to be virtually invulnerable, to be able to fly, to have heat vision, to listen with super hearing, and arrive in the nick of time to pull off some impossibly heroic feat. I know I have. I've pondered this for awhile before coming to the realization: While I don't have these extraordinary abilities...WE DO.
We can fly, we have super-vision (and lead is no limitation), we can lift impossible amounts of weight, we can breath underwater and in space, as well as arrive in the nick of time at virtually any destination. We do it everyday with our jets, our helicopters, our construction machines, with our police and fire departments, with our military, with our doctors, our negotiators, our teachers, and our friends and neighbors. I might not be Superman, but WE ARE...or, at least, we can be.
Now I'm not saying that our societal issues can be fixed by singular acts of heroism alone. Many issues like religion, philosophy, corporate motives, race relations, national differences, and others can't be resolved by a few simple acts of human kindness - they can't. We have deep seeded questions, while some have seriously entrenched hatreds, that can't be answered by someone simply showing up to save the day. I wish it were that easy, but it's not.
What I'm talking about is the need for hope and inspiration without the baggage to punish, pillage, or proselytize those who need help. I'm talking about showing up to help without waiting to be asked. I'm talking about rescuing those in need whether or not they believe as we do, talk as we do, or look as we do. I'm talking about helping for helping sake. I'm talking about helping simply because you want to, because you can. I'm talking about Superman.
Unfortunately, I think the time for small acts of heroism has passed us by. Each day our world becomes increasingly complex and cynical. Everyone believes that helping someone should garner you a favor, or promote your religion, national, or corporate beliefs. Too few organizations are big enough to affect our world's psyche 'in a positive way' and it seems everyone is afraid of one another. Worse still, our world seems to be plagued with 'Lex Luthor' styled leaders who deftly exploit our weaknesses and fears.
This is why I'm looking forward to seeing Superman Returns...
Yes, the movie could suck. In my mind, Brandon Routh is not the perfect specimen to portray Superman. However, I believe the character is bigger than the actor. I think Superman is returning for more than cinematic profit and a hoped-for attendance increase. I think it's because we need a familiar symbol reborn that exemplifies hope in a world filled with anxiety and confused morality. I'm not saying that our world is about to crumble or this is the worst century ever - I don't believe that. However, I do hear our world's need for a reason to be hopeful again even if it's only on screen through a re-imagined savior, a group of 'x' men, or the return of an old friend adorned with a big 'S'. It doesn't have to be anything new either given our willingness to re-watch heroes like the Skywalkers and Kents - it's a belief that just needs to be seen with fresh, relevant, and modern eyes. Everyday we hear about the potential for violence, one nation's threats to another, the increasing chance for disaster - both natural and manmade. I think we're tired of being afraid. Our species didn't stay in their caves, creep away from fire, or run from wild animals...we are a brave people, a hopeful people, and a heroic people - all of us. We need only rise to the occasion.
Perhaps, it's already begun. I attended a high school graduation over Memorial Day weekend filled with speeches about heroism - real and imagined. I heard more than a few references to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Batman, and others reminding us we can achieve great things if we don't cower from the challenge. We have our friends, our side-kicks, and our mentors to guide us. We even have our archrivals. I was listening to kids nearly 20-years my junior talking about the very things that inspired me in my teenage and college years. Hearing it out of the mouths of today's teenagers was both awkward and strangely inspiring. I can pretty much guarantee that less than 5-minutes after the last speech, all of them forgot what was said regardless of its relevance. It's understandable; they believe they are just beginning their lives. However, whether they know it or not, they are entering a world already in action, still battling age old enemies of doubt, despair, greed, anger, hatred, and fear. I hope they're ready because thier foes are getting a lot of practice these days.
I'll wrap up by recalling a moment in Kill Bill 2 where Bill describes Clark Kent as the costume Superman wore to blend in with us Earthlings. I disagree with this. Superman wasn't hiding from us; WE were hiding from him. We didn't see Clark for who he was because we couldn't handle there was one person out there living up to their potential so we put stupid clothes and glasses on him to make him less intimidating. Only when we were humble or desperate enough to ask for help, did our eyes open to see who Clark really was and who we hope to be. Perhaps with the massive success of Star Wars, The Incredibles, Batman Begins, X-men and the soon to be released Superman Returns, we are witnessing more than a desire to see our old heroes on the big screen again. Maybe we are just hoping to be reminded that Superman still exists, and with him, our own hope to be super once again.
Lt. James Gordon: I never said thank you.
Batman: And you'll never have to.
Batman Begins
The Fan of Steel
"...all those powers, and I couldn't even save him."
Clark Kent - Superman: The Movie
"One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER.
I will even learn how to stop people from dying."
Anakin Skywalker - Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
"Does he still stand for truth?
Does he still stand for justice?"
Perry White - Superman Returns
Believe it or not, I try to put some thought into my blogs. I might have an idea but I just can't find the words for it. I'll type a bunch of paragraphs but it either doesn't make sense or it just doesn't capture what I'm feeling. Weeks, and several other blogs, can go by before I finally hit upon the premise I want to put forth in one particular blog. So it is with the subject of this blog: Superman.
Now, before I really begin, let me make the obligatory and obvious Star Wars references first. Not unlike Clark Kent, Anakin Skywalker had powers he wanted to use to help people. Not unlike Clark, Anakin had abilities that seemed more an obstacle than a benefit at first. Only after great struggle - personal, ethical, spiritual - do they each come to the realization that they must do something. No longer can either of them stand idly by as the world around them spins into chaos. Unfortunately for Anakin and the Republic, he believes his powers are better spent enforcing order rather than providing help. Kal-El chooses differently.
Obviously, this is why I am so enthralled by Superman. He is different. He is an alien. He is not from our world, let alone from our side of the galaxy. He holds to no religion we know of. Making things worse, he's lost his parents and blood-line family. Yet, he has found a home here. Better still, he has found a people who are just as lost as he. It is in this that Superman finally finds the link to his adoptive brothers and sisters - the search for a life of purpose and significance.
I really wanted to start by talking about 1978 and my first viewing of Superman: The Movie. However, I couldn't remember anything. Even though I was a year older, I have more memories of Star Wars from a year earlier than I do of Superman. The longer I thought about it, the more mystified I became. I'm a huge fan of the Man of Steel and I'm really looking forward to Superman Returns for reasons I'll get to shortly (you hope, I'm sure). However, I forgot how I became such a huge fan of this character.
Then it hit me...The DaVinci Code. What?
Well, not the DaVinci Code per se, but what I see as the true meaning of The DaVinci Code - our need to re-establish our link to the greater powers and questions in the universe (or outside the universe). The DaVinci Code is exciting and provocative precisely because it asks us to look again - with new eyes - at what we believe about God, about ourselves, and about our universe. What it really speaks to is our ongoing quest for hope and meaning. Our species has grown up, now our beliefs must too. Whether you believe or not, whether Dan Brown's book is factual or not, we cannot deny our need for 'a reason' to be, to do, and to become something more than the work-a-day mild mannered folk we all are. In turn, this made me think about the first time I began to question these things for myself. It made me wonder the where's, the when's, and they why's of how I came to believe in the things that I do. I will not go into the specifics here - sorry - however, I will tell you the answer I came up with: Superman.
I'm sure many people have wished to be virtually invulnerable, to be able to fly, to have heat vision, to listen with super hearing, and arrive in the nick of time to pull off some impossibly heroic feat. I know I have. I've pondered this for awhile before coming to the realization: While I don't have these extraordinary abilities...WE DO.
We can fly, we have super-vision (and lead is no limitation), we can lift impossible amounts of weight, we can breath underwater and in space, as well as arrive in the nick of time at virtually any destination. We do it everyday with our jets, our helicopters, our construction machines, with our police and fire departments, with our military, with our doctors, our negotiators, our teachers, and our friends and neighbors. I might not be Superman, but WE ARE...or, at least, we can be.
Now I'm not saying that our societal issues can be fixed by singular acts of heroism alone. Many issues like religion, philosophy, corporate motives, race relations, national differences, and others can't be resolved by a few simple acts of human kindness - they can't. We have deep seeded questions, while some have seriously entrenched hatreds, that can't be answered by someone simply showing up to save the day. I wish it were that easy, but it's not.
What I'm talking about is the need for hope and inspiration without the baggage to punish, pillage, or proselytize those who need help. I'm talking about showing up to help without waiting to be asked. I'm talking about rescuing those in need whether or not they believe as we do, talk as we do, or look as we do. I'm talking about helping for helping sake. I'm talking about helping simply because you want to, because you can. I'm talking about Superman.
Unfortunately, I think the time for small acts of heroism has passed us by. Each day our world becomes increasingly complex and cynical. Everyone believes that helping someone should garner you a favor, or promote your religion, national, or corporate beliefs. Too few organizations are big enough to affect our world's psyche 'in a positive way' and it seems everyone is afraid of one another. Worse still, our world seems to be plagued with 'Lex Luthor' styled leaders who deftly exploit our weaknesses and fears.
This is why I'm looking forward to seeing Superman Returns...
Yes, the movie could suck. In my mind, Brandon Routh is not the perfect specimen to portray Superman. However, I believe the character is bigger than the actor. I think Superman is returning for more than cinematic profit and a hoped-for attendance increase. I think it's because we need a familiar symbol reborn that exemplifies hope in a world filled with anxiety and confused morality. I'm not saying that our world is about to crumble or this is the worst century ever - I don't believe that. However, I do hear our world's need for a reason to be hopeful again even if it's only on screen through a re-imagined savior, a group of 'x' men, or the return of an old friend adorned with a big 'S'. It doesn't have to be anything new either given our willingness to re-watch heroes like the Skywalkers and Kents - it's a belief that just needs to be seen with fresh, relevant, and modern eyes. Everyday we hear about the potential for violence, one nation's threats to another, the increasing chance for disaster - both natural and manmade. I think we're tired of being afraid. Our species didn't stay in their caves, creep away from fire, or run from wild animals...we are a brave people, a hopeful people, and a heroic people - all of us. We need only rise to the occasion.
Perhaps, it's already begun. I attended a high school graduation over Memorial Day weekend filled with speeches about heroism - real and imagined. I heard more than a few references to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Batman, and others reminding us we can achieve great things if we don't cower from the challenge. We have our friends, our side-kicks, and our mentors to guide us. We even have our archrivals. I was listening to kids nearly 20-years my junior talking about the very things that inspired me in my teenage and college years. Hearing it out of the mouths of today's teenagers was both awkward and strangely inspiring. I can pretty much guarantee that less than 5-minutes after the last speech, all of them forgot what was said regardless of its relevance. It's understandable; they believe they are just beginning their lives. However, whether they know it or not, they are entering a world already in action, still battling age old enemies of doubt, despair, greed, anger, hatred, and fear. I hope they're ready because thier foes are getting a lot of practice these days.
I'll wrap up by recalling a moment in Kill Bill 2 where Bill describes Clark Kent as the costume Superman wore to blend in with us Earthlings. I disagree with this. Superman wasn't hiding from us; WE were hiding from him. We didn't see Clark for who he was because we couldn't handle there was one person out there living up to their potential so we put stupid clothes and glasses on him to make him less intimidating. Only when we were humble or desperate enough to ask for help, did our eyes open to see who Clark really was and who we hope to be. Perhaps with the massive success of Star Wars, The Incredibles, Batman Begins, X-men and the soon to be released Superman Returns, we are witnessing more than a desire to see our old heroes on the big screen again. Maybe we are just hoping to be reminded that Superman still exists, and with him, our own hope to be super once again.
Lt. James Gordon: I never said thank you.
Batman: And you'll never have to.
Batman Begins
