I dislike Superman
POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Monday, March 9, 2026 17:54
VIEWED: 22488
PAGE 5 of 7
Hello Chris,
See, I'm not completely evil. ;-)
By the way, any discussion of Watchmen deserves some mention of Kick Ass, because I see the latter film to be the child of the former film. Like all children, it's far from a carbon copy, but it owes some of itself to the parent.
While Kick Ass doesn't make my 'top' list, it was still good. I really liked something it did.
As I see it, there are two universes in Kick Ass. The first universe you could call the 'Real' Universe. What would happen if a regular kid just decided to fight crime? Pain. And lots of it. Accompanied by a healthy helping of marginal/mixed results.
At the same time, we have a firm Superhero Universe. Hit Girl and Big Daddy are classic superheroes from the Punisher mold. Incredibly adept and pretty much untouchable. The film suggests a healthy history of success in their crimefighting based on the amount of money and resources they have accumulated. Hit girl is just now being brought in like Robin to Batman (nice view on how horrible that is, btw) but Big Daddy at least has been going around and doing this for a little while.
In the middle of the film, there is a collision of Universes. When the two Universes collide during the Apartment Fight Scene, each Universe contaminates the other. Kick Ass's real-world vulnerabilities leak onto the True Superheroes, making them mortal. Meanwhile, the True Superheroes' rediculous ability and exploits leak onto Kick Ass. This results in the final scenes where Big Daddy dies, Hit Girl gets hurt, and Kick Ass swoops in to save the day in over-the-top fashion.
It's more than just a youthful retread of Watchmen's superhero deconstruction. It's practically a sci-fi piece about two alternate realities that come crashing together.
I may be digging deeper than the creator intended, but the stark difference between the first and second halves speak strongly to me that it isn't just a U-turn. I think it's intentional that the two groups of characters contaminate each other's worlds. With this viewpoint, Hit Girl's comment that her father is dead because of Kick Ass is particularly poignant. If he hadn't entered their universe, they'd still be invincible vigilantes.
Of course, unspoken by Hit Girl is the dirtier truth. She sought out Kick Ass. On some level, she wanted something outside her crazy Superhero universe. She wanted to reach out to something Real, and Kick Ass' aspirations made him close enough to touch. Sadly, breaking the bubble of her world condemned her own father to death so that she could have a chance at a new life.
It also destroyed the Real Universe forever. While she may try to live a normal life, the two Universes continue to mix in the background. This will doubtless lead to more pain and tragedy for everyone in a future sequel, as the Real World's capacity for Loss is now permanently mixed with the Superhero Universe's amazing antics. Normal people are becoming superheroes and villains as the metaphorical Luis and Clark, pioneers of a new mixed universe, try to rediscover Paradise.
--Anthony
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Thanks dude, that's the review of Kick Ass I've been waiting for- I will definitely see it now!
The laughing Chrisisall
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Superman: The Movie- a near perfect superhero film.
Superman II- deeply flawed due to initial incompletion & director changes, yet a very nearly perfect film exists in the netherworld between the theatrical & Donner Cut, if you can edit in your mind (or DVD player).
Superman III- Nice-looking garbage with a couple of good scenes involving Lana & dark Supes.
Superman IV- Bad-looking garbage with a nice scene at the UN.
Superman Returns- nice-looking garbage with some good dialogue & bullet-hitting-eye scenes.
Superman: Doomsday- near perfect Superman movie in animated format.
Superman: Last Son (graphic novel)- as good as it gets, in any medium (IMO).
The SuperChrisisall
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Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Superman II- deeply flawed due to initial incompletion & director changes, yet a very nearly perfect film exists in the netherworld between the theatrical & Donner Cut, if you can edit in your mind (or DVD player).
Wow! No edits necessary for me, The Lester version blows the Donner cut out of the water. I watched it in the theater twice, and enjoyed it immensely.
I'd take the magic kiss any day over Lois jumping out of a window and Clark using his super breath to cushion her fall. UGH!!!
Superman the Movie-Perfect
Superman 2(Lester version)-Near perfect
Superman 2(Donner cut)-Like one big deleted scene.
I mean I thought this version was going to be the definitive(all Donner's footage included). It wasn't. There are still scenes missing that aired on the ABC broadcast premiere.
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70's TV FOREVER
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Hey AnthonyT
Interesting list.
I like your take on Die Hard. It's a cracking action film!
Indian Jones - well you'll get no arguement from me I adore those films. For pretty much the reasons you mention too.
While I enjoyed both Usual Suspects and Memento I don't think I could say they really stuck with me. Usual suspects had a cracking ending yes, but I must admit the build up seemed plodding and laboured. But it is a great film. Just not a repeat viewing. Memento is the same. Once was enough and while I enjoyed the concept I must say I tired of the structure by mid way and just wanted the end to happen. But both are well made no doubt.
As for the others on the list. Yeah all's fair I must say. I didn't like Watchmen though and I too had read the graphic novel. Just not one of those films that didn't grab me (but I think by them I had just become weary of Superhero films) Patrick Wilson though is brilliant. A great actor.
The strangest mention though is Bicentennial Man. Not that I've seen it it's just one of those films that you rarely hear about. Interesting....
Cool
Cartoons - http://cirqusartsandmusic.blogspot.com
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"it's just one of those films that you rarely hear about."
Hello,
It's got Robin Williams in it, and the Marketing Boys billed it as a comedy.
So the fans of Asimov typically gave it a pass, in disgust.
The Robin Williams fans went to see it, looking for a comedy.
And they left, confused and disappointed, because there were few laughs.
I wasn't lying when I said I'm one of five dudes who liked the thing. I lament it didn't get more attention. The only critique I have of the movie is that it omitted a particularly powerful scene from the book, probably to be more family friendly.
But taken for itself? I really, really like it. It remains the only true-to-form big budget adaptation of Isaac Asimov's writings. I, Robot was, by contrast... well, it may have shared the same Universe as Asimov's stuff, but little of the same story.
--Anthony
Due to the use of Naomi 3.3.2 Beta web filtering, the following people may need to private-message me if they wish to contact me: Auraptor, Kaneman, Piratenews. I apologize for the inconvenience.
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Gotta agree on Bicentennial Man. I'm apparently one of the other four.
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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.
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Quote:Truth to tell, most times I watch the Lester version until about the scene where they get to the Fortress, then switch to the Donner Cut.
Originally posted by OPPYH:
Wow! No edits necessary for me, The Lester version blows the Donner cut out of the water. I watched it in the theater twice, and enjoyed it immensely.
I'd take the magic kiss any day over Lois jumping out of a window and Clark using his super breath to cushion her fall. UGH!!!
Then I add in the Arctic Police from deleted scenes, then switch back to the Lester version to see Superman deliver the flag to the President.
It's actually a LOT easier than it sounds with my 2 DVD players.
The laughing Chrisisall
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Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Superman II- deeply flawed due to initial incompletion & director changes, yet a very nearly perfect film exists in the netherworld between the theatrical & Donner Cut, if you can edit in your mind (or DVD player).
Or just download the Hybrid version online, which nicely combines the best of both cuts.
"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."
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Tried it once- didn't work. Gorram 'puters.
The laughing Chrisisall
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