Why the World Needs Superman

Ever since I was a small child, like many children, I have always been fascinated by the entrapping tales of super heroes. It’s not hard to speculate why we are all so intrigued by super heroes and their adventures. After all, they are fabricated after their maker’s own internal wishes along with weaknesses. Probably the most notable person in the field of comics, Stan Lee, has said that he made his characters after his feelings for himself and the world around him. Thus it is simple to see how they have penetrated our hearts and thoughts so easily.

As a young child my personal favorite action heroes were the X-Men. The notion that there were so many and the powers they had seemed limitless always had my attention. I do not know how many action figures of them I had. It was not until several years later that I actually became more interested in Superman. Quite frankly, the X-Men TV shows actually scared me because they were so dark and grim. However upon reflection that is the way that they should be. Superman was more of a friendly show to me. It was never has chilling or sinister as X-Men, and that his powers were easily unrivaled just entranced me.

Still when the X-Men movies came to theaters I saw the first one twice, second one once, and I am ashamed to say that I had not had the opportunity to see the third installment. I was skeptical though. After all, many of the comic book movies have been horribly (mis)adapted. Daredevil made me wince at the thought that this atrocity was some how linked to the Frank Miller comic I loved. The Hulk had such an overemphasis on back story that even the amazing final fight scene could not be its redeemer. The new Punisher just had pop-culture victim emblazoned all over it, I’ll still take the 1989 version any day. And well, the Batman series, just plain disappointing.

So tonight seeing Superman Returns was one of the most refreshing things I have done this summer. It placed slight detail on his past, enough to provide an insight, and not too much to bore or distract you. Its action scenes, particularly when Superman prevents the demise of a Boeing 777, are superbly executed. The storyline is faintly altered to suite such an adaptation but not to any objection I have. The acting is well done for the parts and all of Superman’s worthwhile powers are exercised.

Superheroes play an enormous role in our lives. Whether we would wish to confess to it or not, superheroes provide with us a fantasy to dream about. It can stem from mentors we look up to in everyday life to Superman, but the roots are still strongly present.

I really suggest seeing Superman Returns even if you are not a comic book fan. Such a thing hasn’t prevented other films from grossing millions of dollars world wide. You’ll be amazed and come out thinking that it is not just a popcorn flick.

Jake "Teh Thor" T