The Not-so-Superman
Superman isn’t that hard to write. But lots of people will tell you he is. After all, how do you write a story that’ll challenge a superhero who’s essentially a god? Who’s overpowered? Who has no match physically? Who, kryptonite aside, is invulnerable? Years ago, DC Comics created the monstrously monstrous Doomsday to answer that call. He and Superman punched it out, Superman died, rejuvenated, and came back – a narrative choice that makes him even stronger. Now you’re saying he can’t die. But Superman’s strength and powers aren’t the problem. People think they are because they’re asking the wrong question. That much is evident in the recent cinematic stabs at…
A Look Back: Superman Returns
The first two Superman movies are brilliant because director Richard Donner understood the source material, and had a genuine vision to interpret the character to the screen (unlike some, who simply preferred to turn the character into somebody else under the guise of a contemporary update). I don’t think any other interpretation of Superman has been as faithful or accurate. Smallville (2001 – 2011) comes closest, but is the story of Clark Kent (Tom Welling). Superman makes only a fleeting appearance at the end, although actor Tom Welling – like his big screen predecessor Christopher Reeve – certainly emits the wholesomeness, nobility, and purposefulness the character needs. Donner worked on…