Monthly Archives: April 2013
Hopefully, He’s The Hero We’ve Been Waiting For…
In less than two months, the world will discover whether or not Kal-El/Clark Kent will, naming wise, transition to “Superman.” The now premiered third “Man of Steel” trailer from Warner Bros. indicates the super-human who is “faster than a speeding bullet” may not be known to the people of Earth by his traditional moniker. Why is this important? This quandary begs the question of what his superhero name will be, which carries substantial significance about the newest adaptation of this admired character in popular culture.
Immediately following a daring rescue, what will Lois Lane call the escaped Kryptonian?
Reflecting on the pre-release campaign of 2012s “The Dark Knight Rises”, the multiple previews seems to be the work of producer Christopher Nolan. With this model, we should expect at least one more teaser before the June 14th release.
Admittedly a fan of much more secrecy in trailers, the few that have been debuted to the public so far have, surprisingly, not exposed all that much that would constitute giving any vital plot twists away. Many of the sequences are now familiar and have been repeated in the aforementioned previews. The marketing team continues to plant into the minds of the anxious fans precisely what they want them to know and wonder about when walking into their local cinema this June.
The stage is nearly set.
With just under sixty days until the world again lives under the protection of the man we all know to be super, his arrival in 2013 will be welcome in more ways than one.
The trailer featured below ends with Kal-El/Clark Kent/? (Henry Cavill) casually speaking in an interrogation room with Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams). The chemistry in this encounter is reminiscent of the romantically charged cat-and-mouse relationship between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder from Richard Donner’s 1978 classic, “Superman.” A very good sign.
What does the “S” stand for? Click to find out…
One thing’s for certain: It’s hard to imagine any other solitary letter that means more to so many.
This is Why Men Should Plant Daffodils
“Hope springs eternal…”
—Alexander Pope
“April Showers” dominate the four-day and extended seven-day forecasts. The glimmers of sunlight are brief and treasured. After those precious moments are predictably overwhelmed by gray clouds from the gods of overcast, the remaining hours are spent planning for a rain-soaked afternoon. Joyful activities are limited, which conjures up thoughts on the necessity of this seasonal downpour.
Why?
Brainstorming beyond the obvious ecological benefits, this specific month does play a central role in our seasons. Oddly enough, this thirty day stretch of continuous waterworks is beginning to grow on me with a petite quantité de charme (A “Frasier” rerun may have been on last night…).
Living in a city that vividly experiences the four seasons, Spring’s arrival thus far has been drenched. It happens every year. No surprise. But, at least there have been days, literally one here and another there, of warmth and sunshine reminiscent of the subsequent month. And yet, this forthcoming month of inspiring weather remains hidden, as if beneath the soil.
Or so I thought.
Singing in the rain is a wonderfully fun thing to do, especially when swinging around a beautifully decorated lamp post and landing in a giant puddle after a jubilant twirl. Even more though, warmer weather with clear skies brings everybody out from under the blankets and away from the televisions to experience the outdoor scene again on city streets and in suburban parks.
Sans the experience of singing in the rain, fun and liveliness fill the air with “Pleasantville”-like temperatures once Spring is in full swing. The spirit of the communities and its people skyrocket with many things, including imagination…even an imagination that lives beyond the perceived realms of reality.
Last Fall, my Dad and I planted hundreds of Daffodils in my parent’s backyard, including the gully. After months of quiet growth, they bloomed from the ground seemingly overnight to premiere a magnificent glow.
The row of golden splendor has provided reassurance that Spring in its traditional sense, however wet now, is just around the corner. It took a lot of digging, placing and covering, but the silver lining has shone through April’s heavy rain. The very sight of these fluorescent flowers would bring an optimistic smile to anyone’s face.
There are days filled with stormy forecasts that make you feel exhausted, worn down and stuck in the same holding pattern. And then, one random morning, you see this golden array of Daffodils.
Sometimes it takes several months, other times it can happen overnight…literally.
Here’s to a Spring filled with amour!
“Did You See That Message in Kryptonian?”
Two billboards were recently updated in Los Angeles, with one featuring cryptic Kryptonian symbols and the other revealing a distinguishable Superman “S” in the forefront of a static-like background. What does this mean?
(Supermanhomepage.com)
Most presume social media will remain in our psyche for the foreseeable future, yet the specifics to how this global phenomenon will continually evolve remain ambiguous. The recent billboards that promote the surefire summer blockbuster “Man of Steel” have proven a few things. First, the term “viral” is still relevant in our lexicon and carries with it tremendous power. The newest Superman movie has superseded being just a film, but has instead transcended into an experience. Second, scripts that are driven by great writing and clever plot twists are rewarded by fans of all levels (Some remakes have proven to qualify for this category). Third, portrayals by A-List actors and actresses of cherished characters create a nearly palpable buzz with an intrigued population that spans multiple generations.
People like to feel connected with movies in more than a casual fashion. This brand of fan, with Superman as a prime example, opens a space for filmmakers to create a journey that extends beyond two-two and a half hours in a movie theater.
The build-up for the release of “Man of Steel” is becoming quite grand in nature. The marketing that has accelerated for this massive and quintessential summer adventure is geared to spread like wildfire among interested fans through various communication lanes within the social media realm as well as traditional outlets. Warner Bros. wants people to know that “Man of Steel” is not your average remake.
They want General Zod’s pursuit of Kal-El (Clark Kent, Superman) to seem real, as if this good versus evil clash on Earth could happen.
We are part of the movie now, listening to the dire warning from Krypton’s General Zod, as well as trying to solve the billboard’s cryptic message. It’s been determined that June 14th signifies much more than a premiere date. We are now connected to this story. In fact, this is what screenplay writer David S. Goyer imagined along with producer Christopher Nolan in developing the script. Goyer commented on remaking the most epic superhero story when he was at the Rome Fiction Fest for his Starz project “Da Vinci’s Demons” several months ago.
The excerpt was part of the Screenrant online article by Andrew Dyce, “David S. Goyer Says ‘Man of Steel’ Will Be ‘Realistic’ Like Nolan’s ‘Batman.’
“…but in working on this reboot we are thinking about what would happen if a story like this really happened. How would people react to this? What impact would the presence of Superman in the real world have?”
On April 5th, fans reacted very positively to “Jurassic Park” in 3-D. It appears as if “Man of Steel,” with its engaging promotions, is also providing another dimension for fans to get themselves closer to the movie.
You could call it Super-Dimensional.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 