br>
—
P. Aaron Jones
br>
Huntington Woods, Michigan
/p>
p>
NOT YOUR FATHER’S SUPERMAN
br>
Re: Carol Platt Liebau’s
Swallowing
the Kryptonite
:
/p>
p>As I was checking out your website, thinking of subscribing, I
came upon the article by Carol Liebau on the new Superman film. The
fact that the “American Way” was but a relative small offense. The
fact that Superman, hero to millions, had sex out of wedlock,
produced a bastard child, then left that child and mother with a
live-in boyfriend who thinks the kid is his… Now that is
seriously disturbing! Unfortunately, not to America… Bad enough
that Christopher Reeve noted the color of Lois’s panties in his
first Superman film… What new worlds will our hero explore next
chapter?
br>
—
Ron
/p>
p>
Although I would have liked to seen “truth, justice and the
American way” in the Superman movie, I think Ms. Liebau’s reaction
to its absence is completely overboard. For one, that phrase was
not used with the original Superman, but only appeared during the
Second World War, after which it was dropped for several years.
More importantly, what is surprising about this Hollywood film is
that it goes against modern liberal sensibilities. Superman is
analogous to Jesus Christ; Lois Lane declares that “the world
doesn’t need a savior, and neither do I.” This is exactly what many
intellectuals in Hollywood and elsewhere believe, but Superman
softly retorts her statement, telling her that he hears people’s
cries for help all the time. Those watching the movie hear
Superman’s father, Jor-El tell him that human beings can be and
want to be great, but they .”.only lack the light to show them the
way. For this reason above all — their capacity for good — I have
sent them you, my only son.” This parallels words from the Gospel
of John (8:12, 3:16). Superman also suffers, dies (in a crucifixion
pose) and is resurrected. It is a powerful parable. No, Superman in
this movie is not quintessentially