James Gunn to do SUPERMAN: LEGACY? …I’ll allow it.

But only because of this: “It was previously revealed that the film’s story focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. It’s explained that “he is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.””

Superman does not work as a concept unless you are ready to accept that ‘the American way’ is something fundamentally decent, and worth celebrating. If you ‘yes, but’… you will not produce a good Superman story. I’m mildly sorry to tell you that, but enough is enough: people kept right on trying to do otherwise, and people kept right on failing. There are plenty of stories that someone can tell if they don’t believe in America as it is. They should simply accept their limitations, and accept that stories about Superman are not any of them.

So don’t screw this up, Gunn.

8 thoughts on “James Gunn to do SUPERMAN: LEGACY? …I’ll allow it.”

  1. I am willing to accept “believing in America as it would be if it believed in itself the way you do”. Where you ate just so nice that nobody is a bigot in your presence. Where you just ask the DMV worker to please fix the problem, and they just do it despite not having quite the right mail. Where you tell the mob to go home and they do. Where you pass a hat for the earthquake victims, and everyone puts something in. Where a rousing speech gets the town to turn up and build a house for homeless Joe (and somebody finds him a job, and he is so motivated he actually shows up). America is great when we stop hating each other because of politics.

  2. I don’t know.
    Confusing kind with good isn’t at the center of our societal problems, but it’s close.

    1. “Kind” *is* a meaningful part of “good”. The issues come in things like confusing it with “nice”, and in thinking that you can force it and have it still count.

      1. Kind *can* be a meaningful part of good, but it depends entirely upon when and to whom the kindness is directed.

        Turning over the tables of the money-changers and chasing them with a whip was good, but not kind.

        It was good to defeat the Nazis, but there was little (if any) kindness in it.

        1. It is certainly the case that there are actions that are good but unkind. I ask, though – can you point to an example that would be kind, but evil?

          Also, I would disagree on the matter of the nazis. Their defeat *was* a kindness… to those who suffered under their rule.

          1. Enabling an alcoholic. Making excuses for a pedophile. Allowing evil to occur because opposing it would just be too dang uncomfortable.

  3. Another reason to cherish at least some small hope:

    “It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago – I initially said no because I didn’t have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved.”

    I mean, the idea that Superman deserves dignity feels like it’s a good sign all by itself, you know?

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