Just found the teaser trailer for the new Superman movie via a post on Digg. It looks very slick and solidly mythic in scale and imagery. Lots of high contrast close ups with extreme low angles and raking light. There no dialog, just a stirring horn fanfare and a booming god-like voice (which sounds to me like Anthony Hopkins). Here’s where it gets super weird. This is what the voice says:
Even though you’ve been raised as a human being you are not one of them. They can be a great people Ka-El. They wish to be, they only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son.
Wha? In the Superman story I remember, Ka-El is sent away from a planet that’s in the process of being destroyed and kind of randomly flung towards earth as a potentially hospitable new home, not sent down to Earth by his Father, the Redeemer, to cleanse the sins of mankind, to show them “the light” and “the way”. Is this a new superman for the new Evangelist red state America? Superman as Jesus? Ick!
I think the old (70’s) Superman had a similar speech made by Jor El (voiced by Brando) in the ice palace sequence. Dont know if this was in the original comic book.
I also feel like that are amping that aspect up for the trailer. Well, I hope so anyway…
I believe Mort is correct about the speech made by Brando in the original. The super-hero as Christ-like redeemer element was always there in Superman, but it will be interesting to see if the movie plays it up as much as the trailer does.
It’s also weird that they don’t play up *who* is playing Superman.
It kinda seemed like they didn’t show the actor playing superman so that the image we all have in our minds of Christopher Reeves could stick around a little longer. Pretty much no matter who they cast, he’s gonna be that guy who’s not quite Christopher Reeves, so why not leave that little bit of disappointment until a couple million people have already bought tickets?
Actually, the speech is not new, nor is it by Anthony Hopkins. It is the actual dialogue from the 1978 Superman film where Marlon Brando as Jor-El speaks to Christopher Reeve’s Kal-El (actually Lance Guest as the young Clark Kent) explaining who he is. No one remembers this?
Actually the speech is from the first Superman movie with Marlon… oh oops, I forgot to read the comments. Guess it’s already been mentioned and confirmed three times now.
I guess you guys are right. According to the imdb entry for Superman Returns they’re using “archival footage” of Marlon Brando.
It’s cool, Greg. I wish people read the comments before posting their comments.
I like your blog.
check out this site regarding the parrallels involved.
http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/superman.htm
don’t over-react.
this is a “comparative-mythology” analagy between superman and jesus. it is like this with many comic heroes ( ie: green lantern= apollo /the flash = mercury )
for that matter you could say that jesus “borrows” from osiris ( a much older myth)-just google it…
in the original film richard donner and tom mankiewics wanted to give the character a huge amount of depth so they played up the symbolisim. george lucas did the same thing by adding ” the force” to star wars.
it has NOTHING to do with “red states”
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPUBLICAN to appreciate these things and enjoy the movie. the movie won’t be ” church”
Not at all, if you watch the newest DVD ‘Director Cut’ Jor-el specificly sends Kal El (superman) to Earth. Jor-El is aware of Earth and of its struggles. He knows that earth is in its infancy of technology. And that Kal-El would be able learn his powers there, the capsule is filled with Jor-Els mind, and in the capsule teaches superman about right and wrong in the hopes that he will ‘Help’ human society.
No in the comic at all, only in the movie from 78.
The dialog sounded biblical on purpose. He wanted Krypton to seem anicent, wise, refined, etc.
It’s pretty obvious that Superman is a Jesus figure. His kryptonian name is Kal-el, which in Hebrew means “voice of God”. His father’s name is Jor-el, which in Hebrew means “fear/awe of God”.
Thus, we have the classic Christian paradigm of the supposed Wrathful God of the “Old” Testament sending the human-word to earth, with, of course,
powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.
The paralells are much deeper, in fact, than most of the other observers have noticed.
Rabbi Shevack — Thanks for the great comment. I never knew about those etymological derrivations, fascinating to see that stuff built in, even to the earlier story where the narrative follows the Christ story so much more loosely.
You might be interested to note that this post, and your comment, got picked up by MSNBC as “Some view new Superman as Christ figure: Both are heroes sent to earth by fathers to serve mankind”.
Everyone is aware that the creators of Superman were both Jewish right? It is supposed to parallel Jesus. And if you really look into the Jesus/Osirus parallel they aren’t even as similar as Superman/Jesus. Either Discovery or the History Channel did a really good special about Jewish and Christian parallels to other Religions.
Just saw the new Superman and totally see a parallel to Jesus (and did in the last one too…) Yes it would make sense that the original writers made it parallel. I saw things beyond the father/son savior parallel. glad to see I’m not the only one … like what about Parker Posey’s character (Kitty?), the “hooker”? She is like Mary Magdalene, changed by and ending up true to Superman. I won’t give it away…) Superman is always weakened and made to suffer (put on the cross so to speak…) He just about comes back from the dead in every movie…Then there’s the discourse in the new one:”Why the world doesn’t need Superman/Why the world does need Superman”!! Wow. Deep! ; )
I would like to correct some misinterpretations of the Superman mythology and the films ideals. Superman was sent to earth by Jor-El. it is clear that he was a passionate conservationist that had realised (as so many cultures do) that a line has been crossed and a tragedy is impending. He save the best part of himself and sent it along with his son to act as a subtle warning to a planet that he could see going the same way. the ship, the crystals even Jor-El speech in the fortress clearly shows that Earth and Human kind was well known to the kryptonians for many years. lets face it if Kal-El was educated by picking up radio and media signals he wouldnt have been much of a saviour now would he. He isnt a christ figure except to those that beleive in Christ. religion was not mentioned on Krypton and Superman is for a united beleif in ourselves not a specific beleive in a deity that even he cant prove or disprove. faith is a wonderful thing and the object of that faith is a very personal feeling. parralels in religion can befound in many forms of litrature and media. But often superficial similarities are no more than coincidental occurences lumped together in a familiar formatte. the story goes child arrives in an unfamiliar setting grows up and learns from peers, has an feeling inside that he is different and is destined to do something, learns about himself via relationships and adventures and ultimatly leanrs to accept who he is and do what he must to make things right. i have just described
Jesus, Superman, frankensteins monster, mowgli, tarzan, prot by Gene Barry (good book please read) and lets face countless other individuals. live life try not to anylize it too much 🙂
i know this is an old blog but for someone who might find it like I did. i think if you look more into it or if you are a comic buff and know the plot. Not the one in the movies. Superman is actually more of a Moses. Sent in a small vessel by his parents to sve him. raised in his new land as if he was from there. Discovers late in life he is different. There are more points but the search is what makes it fun. Do a search.
Well, glad we have things clear. The connections and parallels between J.C. and Supes have been there right from the start, whether deliberately or not.
Remember, he was created to give hope to Depression era America (and Cleveland, specifically), and directly following that, to provide propaganda against the Nazi’s, to some degree.
Brian Singer did think about getting Hopkins, ironically mentioned above, to play Jor-El, and he would have been ideal out of actors still living, but did eventually decide to go with archival footage of Brando, whose voice resembles Hopkins when feining anglo speech patterns.
But I think to get upset with these parallels is as ridiculous as to get upset by the parellels between Dracula, King Kong, and other stories of fear by white men of ethnic men taking their women.
It’s just a freakin’ story, people!! No one is praying to Superman and no one thinks that the latin phrases in Harry Potter work as spells, and anyone who does (pray to Superman or practice latin spells) belongs in an institution.
Oh, and it’s sort of hard to be separating out Old Testament references from New Testament ones, since the writers of the New Testament were VERY VERY familiar with the Old Testament stories, and parallels were deliberatey drawn, references made constantly.
Hi,
Check out this trailer on Jesus Christ Returns.
Regards
Will
The Rebbi along with several others did good in explaining the historic start of Superman. The writer and artist were both Jewish, thus the influence was from Hebrew Torah, Psalms and Proverbs. The Jews have been waiting for the Return of Messiah(or Hebrew Moshiach = Greek Christos) – or “Annointed” Ruler since before Yeshua-Christ, or Jesus Christ.
For those curious enough to find out more about Hebrew influences and words, check out links:
For Kal-El or Voice of G_d…
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6963&t=KJV
For Jor-El – Yare-El or Fear/Awe of God.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3372&t=KJV
In these two names exist two undeniable truths taught by the Old Testament, that first, the fear/awe of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom and that by his Word/Voice you shall live.
Psalm 33 is an interesting reading for Jor-El, verse 8.
Genesis 3 Shama Kal-El Yehovah Elohiym, verse 8. which I’m sure is interesting to Rabbi about Adam and Eve, marriage and life in this world.
But there is one other bit of information that all missed. The name Clark or Clarke is a derivation of Clerk, from Greek Klericos, or clercs, clergy, assistants and/or priest which is tied back to Levites. Klericos – meaning inheritance, legacy or possibly a share of, or portion in Hebrew – Khalek.
See Genesis 31:14 for reference at above links.