American Movie Central

Super Movie, Super Review...

2006-06-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Passion of Superman?

I thought this review was fascinating and it gave me a renewed concept approaching the movie as I walked into the theater. As I watched the movie, the symbolism was evident in more ways that even Mr. Baehr noted, however I would caution believers from getting too excited about the movie and try to insist that it is a movie in the spiritual vein of Narnia, let alone being a "Passion" of Superman. I would say it is more reflective of the creative Lord of the Rings trilogy. Albeit clearly redemptive and laden with a clear symbolic resemblance to the Gospel and Christ's dedication to the world and seeing it's need for a savior, Singer most decidedly was not trying to promote a Christological philosophy, is openly gay and grew up in a Jewish household. Nonetheless, I love this man's work and it is worthy of respect in an age of blah scripts and cookie cutter directing that focuses more on action sequences that solid writing and introspective acting.

The Director, Bryan Singer is best known for his X-Men adaptation of the comic in 2000 as well as the sequel, but is also credited with work on The Usual Suspects and more recently as an executive producer on the TV hit drama, "House".

Read on and enjoy the review, then get off your butt and go see the movie "Superman". It's a treat for the eyes as well as the heart, and the classy ending left everyone with anticipation for a revival of this franchise. Someone get Singer on the phone...

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By Ted Baehr from WorldNetDaily.com

Posted: June 28, 20061:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

"Superman Returns," opening today, is one of the most clearly Christological allegorical movies ever made. It is so clear that it even has a discussion about the world's need for a savior.

When Superman disappears, Lois Lane has written a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper article stating that the world doesn't need Superman. When Superman returns after trying to find the remains of his home planet, he takes Lois above Metropolis to ask her whether the world needs a savior. When she says it doesn't, he asks her why, then, are so many people praying and asking for a savior.

Later in the movie, Superman's arch enemy, Lex Luthor, equates Superman with ancient mythological gods and condemns him for being too selfish to share his power. The movie also contains a passion sequence where Lex Luthor stabs Superman in the side, just as Christ was stabbed by the Roman spear. Thus, the story of "Superman Returns" involves Superman coming back to find a world that needs him, but a world where people have moved on and lost faith in him, as Lois Lane contends.

Lois now lives with her son and Richard White, whom she has not married. Clearly, she loves Superman, but she's angry that he disappeared without telling her. She is reunited with him when the test flight of a new airliner carrying a commercial version of the shuttle goes awry, and Superman has to save her and the other reporters. The reason the flight has gone awry is that Lex Luthor, released from prison, has found Superman's Fortress of Solitude, stolen the Krypton crystals and is experimenting with growing Krypton crystals so he can grow his own continent. When the crystal first starts growing, it shuts down the power grid throughout the eastern United States.

Lex Luthor integrates kryptonite into the structure of his emerging continent. This sets up a final confrontation with Superman that involves his passion and perhaps his resurrection.
"Superman Returns" is a big-budget, entertaining, special-effects movie. Like many such movies, the hero is only as good as the villain, and Kevin Spacey's performance as Lex Luthor is terrific. Spacey adds a touch of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness that makes his character more interesting. No matter how mean-spirited his jokes are, they are funny.

The new Superman is not Christopher Reeve. He seems a little uncomfortable in places, which can be rationalized because Clark Kent is supposed to be uncomfortable. This reviewer's biggest complaint is that he looks a little bit like Groucho Marx when he puts on his glasses, but he is well-built and has a degree of innocence.

People will still want to know if Superman is still true blue, honest, trustworthy, etc. For the most part he is, except for the dark cloud of his relationship with Lois Lane and her son. The filmmaker fails to remind us that Superman gave up his powers in "Superman II" so he could spend the night with Lois, before he realized that the consequences of becoming a mere mortal. When he realizes in "Superman II" that he has put the world and Lois in jeopardy, he causes Lois to forget the night of bliss. Strangely, in "Superman Returns," Superman seems to have forgotten, too.

Even if the major plot device can be explained from a former Superman movie, "Superman Returns" is set in a more contemporary world where Lois Lane is living with a man without the benefit of marriage. Another reviewer said this gives the wrong impression to kids about marriage. Furthermore, Superman gets discouraged and goes to a bar with Jimmy to drink away his pining for Lois.

Also, there are a few lightweight obscenities in the movie and one light profanity. One of Lex Luthor's twin puppies evidently eats the other in an act of cannibalism. One of Luthor's henchmen is referenced as being part of a group of clown child abusers. So, when the henchman starts playing the piano next to Lois Lane's son, there's a sense of jeopardy. Clearly, things are a little bit more muddled than they were in the 1980s when the earlier Superman movies were made.

Even so, Superman is clearly a person who sacrifices himself for others. His father has sent his only begotten son to save this crazy, mixed-up world. With honor, valor, loyalty, and honesty, he does just that.

"Superman Returns," rated PG-13, delivers the kind of jeopardy, danger and excitement required for a big-budget action movie. The premise is clear, and the special effects are beautifully executed. The director sometimes avoids showing the action sequence to concentrate on the dramatic relationships, so some people may miss the action of the first Superman movies. Overall, "Superman Returns" is a good entertainment value that will cause a lot of theological discussions, but MOVIEGUIDE® urges caution for children 12 and under.

MOVIEGUIDE® is dedicated to redeeming the values of Hollywood by informing parents about today's movies and entertainment and by showing media executives and artists that family-friendly and even Christian-friendly movies do best at the box office year in and year out.
Dr. Ted Baehr is the founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®, chairman of the Christian Film &Television Commission, and a well-known movie critic, educator, lecturer and media pundit. He also is the author of several books, including "Faith In God And Generals." For more information, please call 800-899-6684 or go to the MOVIEGUIDE® website.

The Movies in My Vault

2005-12-31T01:32:00.000-08:00

Today, I decided that I was going to inventory my movie collection and establish a site dedicated to discussing the art of film and musical. I have for years been an artist and a appreciative observer. I have always been fascinated by the film industry, and statistics always grab my attention.

I admit I am one of those geeks that watch the Oscars (except for this year, i HAD to shut it off, it was so lame) and analyzes movies, learning who shot the film, who directed, who wrote, etc. Yeah, go ahead and make fun of me. However, as a gift to my own pleasure and past time, I have placed this site live online so I can interact with you, my readers and see what you think about my impressions, and maybe find some common interest, or encourage each other in the direction of some fine cinema that would otherwise go unexperienced.

Following is a list of my DVD library. Soon I will be revisiting this in a more interactive way, and conduct a poll on which is the best Comedy, Drama, Musical, Action, Romantic movie, etc. Also, I would like to discuss the best movies of 2005 and which you think have the best chance at the 2005 Academy.

Meanwhile, gaze below and peruse the titles and leave a comment or two if you find a movie you love or hate.

Always Watching...
-E

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As of April 5th, 2006

Feature Films (367 titles / 393 Discs):

A
A Beautiful Mind
A Christmas Carol
A Civil Action
A Christmas Story
A Few Good Men
A Knight’s Tale
A Man Apart
A Mighty Wind
A Time to Kill
A Walk to Remember
Abandon
About a Boy
Absolute Power
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Air Force One
Airheads
Alex & Emma
Amadeus
American President, The
Anger Management
Animatrix
Antitrust
Antwone Fisher
Arlington Road
Armageddon
As Good As it Gets
Assassins
Avenging Angelo
Aviator

B
Bad Boys
Bad Boys II
Bandits
Barber Shop
Barber Shop 2
Basic
Batman: The Movie (1962)
Batman (1989)
Batman Begins
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Battle of Britain
Behind Enemy Line
Bells of St. Mary’s, The
Benchwarmers, The
Bewitched
Beyond the Sea
Biker Boyz
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Billy Madison
Bishop’s Wife, The
Bless the Child
Blown Away
Bone Collector, The
Bourne Identity
Bourne Supremacy
Braveheart
Bringing Down the House
Broken Arrow
Bruce Almighty
Buddy Holly Story, The
Bull Durham

C
Cable Guy, The
Caddyshack
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Catch Me if You Can
Chain Reaction
Changing Lanes
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Chicken Little
Chicken Run
Christmas Vacation; National Lampoon's
Chronicles of Riddick
Pitch Black (Chronicles of Riddick)
Cinderella
Citizen Kane w/documentary
Class Action
Clear and Present Danger
Clearing, The
Client, The
Clueless
Coach Carter
Coal Miner's Daughter
Cobra
Collateral
Con Air
Confidence
Conspiracy Theory
Corpse Bride
Count of Monte Cristo, The
Courage Under Fine
Cowboy Way
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Crocodile Dundee

D
DC: 9/11
Daredevil
Day Reagan Was Shot, The
Deep Impact
Desperado
Die Hard
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Die Hard With a Vengeance
Dirty Dancing
Doc Hollywood
Domestic Disturbance
Double Jeopardy
Down With Love
Dream Team, The
Drumline
Dumb & Dumber

E
Edward Scisorhands
Eight Men Out
8 Mile
El Mariachi
Elizabethtown
Emma
Emperor’s New Groove, The
Enemy at the Gates
Envy
Ever After
Eye for an Eye

F
Family Man, The
Fan, The
Fast and the Furious
2 Fast, 2 Furious
Father of the Bride
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahren(hype) 9/11
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Fever Pitch
50 First Dates
Finding Neverland
Firm, The
Finding Forrester
Finding Nemo
First Strike
Footloose
For Love of the Game
Forgotten, The
Four Feathers, The
Four Weddings & a Funeral
Freshman, The
Friday Night Lights
Fugitive, The
Fun With Dick and Jane

G
Gangs of New York
Garden State
Get Shorty
Gettysburg
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters 2
Girl, Interrupted
Gladiator
Golden Child, The
Goldmember – Austin Powers
Gone in 60 Seconds
Good Morning, Vietnam
Good Night and Good Luck
Good Will Hunting
Goonies, The
Gospel, The
Great Balls of Fire
Great Escape, The
Grind
Groundhog Day
Grumpy Old Men
Grumpier Old Men
Guarding Tess
Guess Who

H
Happy Gilmore
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Hero
Hitch
Home Alone
Home Alone 2
Hoosiers
Hostage
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

I
Identity
Importance of Being Earnest, The
In Good Company
Incredibles, The
Independence Day
Interpreter, The
Intolerable Cruelty
It’s a Wonderful Life
Italian Job, The
I.Q.

J
Jonah: A Veggietales Movie
John Q
Just Married
Just Friends

K
Kicking and Screaming
Kid, The
Kid Stays in the Picture, The
Kingdom of Heaven

L
La Bamba
Lady and the Tramp
Last Castle, The
Last Samurai, The
Laws of Attraction
Lean on Me
Legends of the Fall
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 3
Lethal Weapon 4
Liar Liar
Life of David Gale, The
Lion Kind, The
Lone Star State of Mind
Long Walk Home, The
Longest Yard, The (2005)
Longest Yard, The (1974)
Lord of the Rings, The – Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings, The – Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition)
Lord of the Rings, The – Two Towers, The
Lord of the Rings, The – Two Towers, The (Extended Edition)
Lord of the Rings, The – Return of the King
Lord of the Rings, The – Return of the King (Extended Edition)
Lords of Dogtown
Love Story
Luther

M
Mad City
Maid in Manhattan
Majestic, The
Major League
Malcolm X
Man in the Iron Mask
Man of the House
Man on Fire
Man Who Knew Too Little, The
Manchurian Candidate, The
Mask
Master and Commander
Matchstick Men
Matrix
Matrix: Reloaded
Matrix: Revolutions
Mean Girls
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Parents
Men in Black
Mercury Rising
Michael
Million Dollar Baby
Miracle
Miss Congeniality
Miss Congeniality 2
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr. Mom
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible 2
Monster in Law
Mulan
Music of the Heart
Must Love Dogs
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Fellow Americans
Mystic River

N
Napoleon Dynamite
Narnia, The Chronicles of
National Security
National Treasure
Natural, The
Negotiator, The
Net, The
Nine Months
Notebook, The

O
O, Brother Where Art Thou?
Ocean’s Eleven
Office Space
Oliver & Company
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Open Range
Others, The
Out to Sea

P
Pacifier, The
Passenger 57
Passion of the Christ
Patrio Games
Pay it Forward
Payback
Pearl Harbor
Pelican Brief, The
Philadelphia
Phone Booth
Pink Panther, The
Pirates of the Caribbean
Police Academy 2: The First Assignment
Pretty Woman
Pride and Prejudice (discs 1, 2)
Primary Colors
Princess Bride
Producers, The
Punisher, The
Pushing Tin

R
Raising Helen
Rain Man
Radio
Rambo: First Blood
Rambo II
Rambo III
Ransom
Rat Race
Ray
Red Eye
Remember the Titans
Return to Me
River, The
Road to Perdition
Robin Hood
Rocky
Rocky II
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Rookie, The
Rookie of the Year
Rounders
Rudy
Rules of Engagement
Rumble in the Bronx
Runaway Jury
Rundown, The
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2

S
Sandlot, The
Santa Clause, The
School of Rock
School Ties
Score, The
Shall We Dance
Shanghai Knights
Shrek
Shrek 2
Signs
Sister Act
61*
Small Time Crooks
Sneakers
Something’s Gotta Give
Space Cowboys
Speed
Spiderman
Spiderman 2
Spies Like Us
Spy Game
Star Wars: Episode III
Star Wars: Episode IV
Star Wars: Episode V
Star Wars: Episode VI
Stealth
Steel Magnolias
Stepford Wives, The
Strange Brew
Sum of All Fears, The
Superman
Superman II
S.W.A.T.
Sweet Home Alabama

T
Trapped
Tango & Cash
Tears of the Sun
Terminal, The
Three Amigos
Three Men and a Baby
Tommy Boy
Top Gun
Troy
Truman Show, The
Twelve Angry Men
Twister
Two Weeks Notice

U
U.S. Marshals
UHF
Uncle Buck
Undercover Brother
Untouchables, The
Upside of Anger, The
Usual Suspects, The

V
Volcano

W
Walk the Line
Wayne’s World
War of the Worlds
Waterboy
Waterworld
We Were Soldiers
Wedding Planner, The
Wedding Singer, The
What a Girl Wants
What about Bob?
What Women Want
What's the Worst That Could Happen?
Where the Heart Is
While You Were Sleeping
White Christmas
White Oleander
Whole Nine Yards, The
Whole Ten Yards, The
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton
Without a Paddle

X
XXX
XXX – State of the Union
X-Men
X2

Y
Young Guns
Young Guns II
Yours, Mine & Ours

Z
Zoolander
Zorro, The Legend of

Musicals (6):

Experience, The
Experience Christmas
Phantom of the Opera
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Les Miserables
Rent
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

Special DVD’s (36):

America’s Favorite Funnyman: Bob Hope
Andy Griffith Show
Andy Griffith Show
Bill Cosby, Himself
Bonanza
Bonanza
Cosby Show, The
Cosby Show, The
Cosby Show, The
Cosby Show, The
Curly Classics – Three Stooges
Groucho Marx – You Bet Your Life
Jeff Foxworthy Show, The (Full Season One)
Lucy Show, The
Lucy Show, The
It’s War – A Day of Infamy
Pearl Harbor: A Day of Infamy
Popeye and Friends
Ronald Reagan
SNL Collection: Chris Farley
SNL Collection: Christopher Walken
SNL Collection: Will Farrell
SNL Collection: Will Farrell – Vol. 2
Tonight Show Memories: Johnny Carson
Michael W. Smith: Worship
With Open Hearts: Community of Worship
Momentum: Toby Mac
Bon Jovi: Wild in the Streets
Bon Jovi: This Left Feels Right
Billy Joel: Essential Video Collection, The
Billy Joel: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Jeremy Camp: Live and Unplugged in Franklin, TN
America: A Tribute to Heroes
Derek Webb: How to Kill and be Killed
Newlyweds: Season 1
Newlyweds: Season 2
Newlyweds: Season 3