Thursday, December 14, 2006

Jesus Christ: Superman?

Spoiler Alert: if you intend on seeing "Superman Returns,"
read no further.

So Cathy & I saw "Superman Returns." The movie was 2.5 hours long, yet we did not notice the passing of the time. We really enjoyed it, and I felt like there are numerous Christological references in the movie. Some were subtle, some were apparent, and I am convinced that the writer/producer intended for this effect.

I am sure I am not the first to make these observations, and there may be more, but here's a quick list of things that occurred to me:
  • Superman falls into his mother's arms like Michelangelo's Pietà
  • Superman has a deceased earthly father
  • Superman has a wilderness experience
  • Superman was sent as an only son (see below)
  • Superman refers to himself as a savior
  • Superman is beaten and stabbed in the side
  • Superman saves the world and falls with his arms and legs in the shape of a cross
Superman the only son: Superman recalls his father saying, "They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. It is for this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you—my only son."

Superman the savior: Superman is flying with Lois over the city, and he asks her, "What do you hear?" Lois replies, "Nothing. It's quiet." Superman says, "I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior. But everyday I hear people crying out for one."

Superman's cross: Superman saves the world and falls with his arms and legs in the shape of a cross as he is falls back to Earth from the exosphere.

A quick Google search turned up this article entitled "The Spiritual Side of Superman Returns." It looks like the impression was quite deliberate. Interesting...

Side note: I prefer DC comics over Marvel. My favorite comic book characters are Spiderman, Batman, and Superman, usually in that order.

3 comments:

  1. We just watched this movie a couple nights ago. I enjoyed what I saw of it but since we started it later in the evening, my bedtime came before the end of the movie did and I fell asleep. :)

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  2. hi,i like your blog here, i just stumbled onto it going through articles at lifehacker. any chance we can get some correspondence started, i'm also into comics, and god, and family, and things like that. You seem interesting. i especially like your testimony about your wife, God is being good to you and that is cool.

    -thomas

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  3. @thomas
    Ah, yes, I heart Lifehacker. Sure, drop me a line some time (there's a contact me link on the blog) or I'll just reply to your comments.

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