THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER’S SUPERMAN
“Superman Returns,” a movie by Brian Singer, brings the comic book icon, Superman, back to the big screen after being gone nearly 25 years. For those who don’t know, Superman is the sole survivor of the planet Krypton, which was destroyed after its red sun exploded. Superman was sent to Earth to be raised by the Kent’s, his adoptive parents.
I grew up knowing Superman. I watched “Super Friends” on TV. I read the comic books. I watched reruns of the old Superman series starring George Reeves. I watched Christopher Reeve as Superman through four movies. I watched Dean Cain play Superman in the silly “Adventures of Lois and Clark.” I sometimes watch “Smallville,” too.
I’ve seen many versions of Superman and I have to say this latest one leaves a little to be desired. But, even as I write, I know that the reasons I watched Superman as a kid, some of those qualities kids look for, they were not in this movie. This Superman is for today’s generation of kids and it scares me. This movie was more violent, more cruel. The scene where a powerless Superman is beaten by Luthor’s thugs and then stabbed by a kryptonite dagger was almost too much for me to watch, and I’m 33.
Earlier in the day, I had asked my wife what she thought of my taking our 2-year-old son to see the movie. She didn’t like the idea. After watching the movie, I have to agree with her.
Where is the innocence that was in all the comics I grew up reading? They are gone. I’m appalled by the violence in today’s movies, television shows, and even cartoons. Subtly, over the years, even I have been desensitized to violence. And that bothers me, but not as much as knowing my son will be growing up in a world I do not recognize anymore.
I just pledged to my wife that I was done with comic book stuff. She reminded me that “Spiderman 3” will be out next year sometime. I had forgotten about that so I amended my pledge to just not bringing any comic book stuff into our home.
I suppose I just need something to bring closure so that I can walk away. After “Star Wars: Episode 3,” I swore off anything Star Wars because of the violent themes in episodes 2 and 3. I swore off X-Men after “X2: X-Men United” because of the anti-religious undertones that run throughout the movie. Now I have cut Superman loose as well. He’s no longer my hero. It saddens me but I want to delay my son knowing what I know to be true, the world has become a dark place. It’s no longer innocent.
For now, my son’s world is innocent. He loves the Wiggles and loves to paint. As long as possible, I want his world to stay innocent. To help maintain his world, the dark place that is the real world must stay outside our home. It must stay off our television and off our computer. Unfortunately, I know I am only delaying the encounter between my son and the world, but that delay is all I have.