RonVitale

Superman Returns

I went to go see   Superman Returns tonight and I had a blast.  During parts of the movie, I had a wave of nostalgia wash over me, remembering the first time I saw Christopher Reeve as Superman back in 1978.  Life back then was simpler and had the appearance of being without the twisted complications of today's world in which war, famine, and America's own self-aggrandisement is pulling us down.

While watching Superman Returns, I wished that Superman could save us--could save us all.  Filled to the brim with Christ-like savior themes, the new Superman movie not only revives a classic comic book character on the big screen, but the film has a soul in which we're meant to ask ourselves: Would we want a savior to rescue us?  Or could we ordinary folk get by on our own, saving ourselves?  Seeing Superman on the big screen, saving people, helping out, fighting injustice, made me wish that we as a country could get our heads out of the sand and right our wrongs.  Superman has always stood for truth, justice, and the American way.  How can you not think of America when seeing Superman's costume?  Or of the iconic scene in which Reeve, in Superman II, returns the American flag back to the top of the White House? 

Memories of the first two films back in the late '70s washed over me and I had a moment in which I felt transported back to my youth.  You see, I remember seeing the movie and looking up to Superman, hoping that we all could be a little like him.  Somewhere my mother has a photo of my brother and I standing in front of a Superman poster from back in the late '70s.  Wearing Superman   underoos both my brother and I pose flexing our muscles.  I must have been about 7 years old at the time and my brother about 3 years of age.

And now at 35, I see life a bit more jaded.  I see all the sins and wrongs I have committed and what my country has done, realizing that "doing good" and "spreading freedom" can be twisted into an evil beyond compare.  But I do believe that there is hope not only for me, but for all of us.

There's a point in the movie in which Superman rescues people from a holdup at a local convenient store but then is also seen in Thailand, France, and Egypt.  Superman isn't out to help only America but the world.  And maybe that's a good point for us all to take in: We're Americans but we can't save the world.  We don't have super powers in which we can stop wars and save people.  We don't have that type of power.  Instead, maybe we need to begin coming back down to the table and working with our fellow citizens of the Earth.  Maybe we need to return to our roots and realize that why our ancestors left England was for religious freedom and not to force feed a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint down everyone's throats.  Maybe it's time we look in the mirror and see ourselves, becoming our own Superman.  For as Clark Kent looks at the world around him, seeing and hearing all the world's problems, he cannot be at every place at the same time.  He can only help so much.  Those he can't help need help from others.  Yet the fine line is deciding when to help and when to teach others to help themselves.  Or harder yet, to learn when to leave well enough alone. 

There are no absolutes in life and no easy answers.  But by watching something as inane as a man flying in blue and red tights, a spark of life burned in me.  Fantasy, science fiction, and all other sorts of speculation have always been my salvation in the most difficult of times.  Maybe, too, we can each work at bringing our own fantasies to life to help others and ourselves. 

Go see this movie and keep an open mind.  For me, I see political and personal messages in the film.  Others will see different religious and sexual orientation messages.  But whatever you do, open the door to your heart and believe, if only for a moment, that a man could fly and that he could do super feats to help humanity.  And when you come back down from such flights of fancy, ask yourself this: What can you do to help someone?  Trust me, I've learned the hard way that it's impossible to save anyone.  But to lend a hand or an ear to another in need: Such simple gifts can be priceless.  Be a Superman or Superwoman in your life, even if it means that if only for a day you see the world through a different set of eyes, to help others or even yourself. 

Let's Laugh

Okay, I'm busy and haven't had time to write anything up. But I saw this a few weeks ago and had a good laugh while watching it. Note: I've watched many a Merchant Ivory film--thank you! :)

Episode 19: Coldsnap Previews

Download the show:

Download the show (audio only) (31.8 MB)

Total running time: 33 minutes and 49 seconds.

Show Notes:

--Introduction to episode 19: Coldsnap Previews
--Discussion of the card previews shown today (June 26, 2006) on the official Magic: The Gathering website (Dark Depths and Stalking Yeti).
--Run through of the preview Coldsnap cards shown in issue #135 of Inquest Gamer.
--Feedback from a listner.
--My take: Reprinting Force of Will and the no reprint policy.
--Music by the Lascivious Biddies ("Betty") from the Podsafe Music Network.

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Back

Coming back from vacation has its good and bad points: Vacation is over, it's back to work, and I've a lot to get caught up on (reading, writing, working, etc.), but then there's the things to look forward to: Sleeping in your own bed, having the internet again, and being able to get back into your own skin.  Don't get me wrong, it's great to explore and travel, but there's also something to be said for coming back and relaxing in your own home.

We've about 4 or 5 loads of wash to do, lots of unpacking, clean clothes to put away, and work e-mails to get caught up on.  So I don't want to spend a lot of time writing here.  Just wanted to say that I'm back and plans for the next episode of The Magic Sock are in the works.  Peace.