I saw the new Superman movie last night. I watched it with someone I really care about. It was a shared experience that meant something to me. Like when she was there at all my grandparents’ funerals. The movie itself held a special place because one of my grand Mamie apes always loved the character of Superman in the first films. She had a picture of Christopher Reeve in costume adoring the inside of her armoire door.
The person I sat next to used that armoire when she first moved out of her parental home. The synchronicities between us seem endless. The film felt like a genuine attempt to elevate the cinematic Superman to a new narrative height.
I particularly loved the role that animals played. First off and most obviously Krypto the dog had me in tears as I thought about all the four legged friends I’ve had over the years and how they have been so faithful and loyal and helped keep me alive when my only purpose seemed to be keeping them fed. They were the light in my darkest moments. I miss them so much.
Since my last furry friend Max died I haven’t had a dog and it’s been the first time in my life that my clothes aren’t covered in shedded hair. That I don’t have the joyful energy of a canine companion running around. My house is cleaner but emptier. My soul and heart feel the same. Krypto reminded me of how important those companions were.
Other cameo characters of the animal kind also served to show how superman cares about every single life. And how every single life matters. I really appreciated that the city was evacuated before it was destroyed. Films of before had no problem destroying entire cities while racking up theoretical body counts that went into the millions. But this movie made it clear that saving lives means everything.
That’s what super heroes do to begin with. Fighting monsters, taking down super villains is all done in the service of that simple goal: saving lives. At a time of darkness in my life and really the world at large this movie stands as a bit of a beacon. Shining light across the screen and into our hearts.
Those of a cold and cynical disposition may not agree but I challenge them to save a life, their own, without having to compromise anyone else’s. This world has quite a few Lex Luthors. And we could use a few more supermen. Not people with mythical powers, but regular folks who stand up to oppression and forces that force others into subjugation, starvation and death. It’s not an easy task but unfortunately we don’t have a real Superman to save us. We have to save ourselves.
It’s a movie with a gut load of heart but it seems to be aware enough to know its place as a piece of entertainment media. It says through subtext what ought to be said, while saying through the action of fun what movies ought to be. It was a good film. I cried quite a bit seeing my non-human friends put in a light of love and seeing Superman save a squirrel really warmed my heart. The director James Gunn and the other filmmakers did a good job. Well done.
