tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post7881212576900970427..comments2024-02-16T10:27:42.320-08:00Comments on Krell Laboratories: Brittle SteelVulnavia Morbiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-42337928604462497082013-06-29T06:13:48.143-07:002013-06-29T06:13:48.143-07:00Hi, Doc.
My problem with the line of argument th...Hi, Doc. <br /><br />My problem with the line of argument that excuses the end of this movie with the caveat that Zod will never ever stop and what have you is that this has been consciously manipulated by a screenwriter such that there's no way out (or that there's no way out that he can imagine). I also think that the way it unfolds in the film is disingenuous, given that Superman has ignored the destruction and death of thousands of people in Metropolis during his fight with Zod (and, indeed however many people in Smallville earlier in the film), but suddenly he becomes concerned to the point of killing when Zod threatens a picture postcard family? I have some issues with this. This Superman only seems interested in helping people when the plot demands it rather than as a way of life. The battle of Metropolis in Superman II provides an interesting counter point. When one of the Kryptonians picks up a bus to throw it at Superman, Superman's first concern is for the people in that bus. I don't get that same sense of concern and goodness from this film. <br /><br />I don't really think that the makers of this film understand Superman. But then, DC Comics doesn't understand him anymore, either. Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-52970544969277014202013-06-29T05:51:53.575-07:002013-06-29T05:51:53.575-07:00Though you seem to be more of a fan of the film th...Though you seem to be more of a fan of the film than I was, and while I completely agree with your assessment of the long standing tradition of needing to kill every villain by the end credits, I at least felt that they gave it a bit more weight than you give it credit for. After all, we've just seen these two warriors whip the tar out of each other for what felt like hours, neither ever ceding the upper hand. In the subway station, it becomes all too clear that Zod will never, ever stop. Death seems the only answer in this case. And yet, and yet, Cavil emits a tortured cry of agony over the deed. Even in a film where I felt absolute nothing for any of the characters, I understood the emotional cost of literally ending his own race. Again, it didn't make me like the film any more, but that moment seemed logical and emotionally resonant.Dr. AC https://www.blogger.com/profile/00222795645885007090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-78433551719445822222013-06-24T03:41:51.883-07:002013-06-24T03:41:51.883-07:00Excellent review. I was less put off by the ending...Excellent review. I was less put off by the ending of Zod than most other people (granted - I knew the ending before hand, so that helped) but I understand why you (and many other people) found it disconcerting. I also cocked an eyebrow at the unending scenes of buildings falling. <br /><br />As you mentioned, I think this movie owes a lot of its soul to Moore's Miracleman. I have to wonder if you couldn't have called your review <i>British Steel</i> but I guess going for the pun was the point. ;)Jim Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006833955333061262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-52195209404530467712013-06-17T12:54:53.152-07:002013-06-17T12:54:53.152-07:00Those Fleischer Superman cartoons were indeed some...Those Fleischer Superman cartoons were indeed something special. The 1990s animated series knew what it was doing when it went back to those for inspiration (and melded them with Jack Kirby).Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-61254381938224573182013-06-17T09:03:47.132-07:002013-06-17T09:03:47.132-07:00Vulnavia: In life, bad people have a tremendous ad...Vulnavia: In life, bad people have a tremendous advantage over good people - a weapon never available to the decent. Bad souls enjoy hurting or killing people, either emotionally or physically. Good people cannot and feel tremendously diminished if they do. The glory of the modern era Superman is, or was, that he triumphed always despite having only the arsenal of the good. He was always <i>better</i> than his adversaries - so much so that he could never kill them no matter their crime, no matter how bad they were. So sorry to hear that is no longer the case. I wonder when Superman will start showing a scruffy two-day stubble like the new-age thug, Batman? <br /><br />PS: weren't those Fleisher cartoons something special?Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-85990506737610879892013-06-16T17:24:05.592-07:002013-06-16T17:24:05.592-07:00The killer-Superman ending was a disappointment on...The killer-Superman ending was a disappointment on an otherwise fine movie (although Papa Kent gratuitous sacrifice was equally bad). I always mocked the Nolan Batman films because his dark antihero refrained from killing the Joker; now I know why they didn't do it. It's just not cool.Antonio Mendozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972648182593630167noreply@blogger.com