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Reality Check
The influx of Emmy nominations for shows featured on Netflix was no anomaly. Fellow dramas on cable networks that were nominated for Emmy’s were also no fluke. Even PBS has a stellar hour-long journey that takes us back to the sensationally proper early 20th century England. Shows like, “House of Cards,” “Mad Men,” “Game of Thrones,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Homeland” and the remarkably addictive “Downton Abbey” have projected themselves as thoroughly entertaining with great settings, engaging storytelling and, above all, superb acting and originality.
The shows listed above, along with some shows on the major networks (“The Big Bang Theory,” “Person of Interest” and “How I Met Your Mother” as a few examples) have gone to painstaking lengths to present a story and set of characters that an audience will enjoy and care about. Relationships have been formed and they are long-term.
The specific revelation about Netflix’s evolution as a leading entertainment provider of new content is indicative of the ever-changing face of the modern television viewer and his/her expectations and preferences.
Contemplate this: Five years ago, Paul Giamatti became John Adams for the HBO series, “John Adams,” Steven Spielberg co-executive produced, “The Pacific” on HBO with Tom Hanks in 2010, Kevin Spacey stars in “House of Cards,” Maggie Smith dominates, “Downton Abbey,” Michael Shannon and Steve Buscemi light up “Boardwalk Empire” and January Jones realistically portrays the wife/divorcee of an advertising giant in the 1960s on, “Mad Men.”
If only I recognized just one of those names?
Within the last decade, the word “epic” has been a common adjective to describe some major motion pictures. Writers and directors made a cogent decision to create entire worlds filled with exciting action, seductive drama, story lines the size of the Empire State Building and plot twists that, figuratively speaking, “blow our minds.” And don’t forget about those omnipresent soundtracks that alone gives us goosebumps, swing our emotions and get our hearts racing in just a matter of seconds. While the movies of recent memory are not the first to project an “epic” story on the silver screen, they have nonetheless set the standard for movies, television and all relative media alike today.
Interestingly, many people will refrain from watching the newest episodes of the aforementioned shows listed above and instead sit down and watch an entire season during the weekend. Thus, it feels more like a movie with multiple sequels than it does a routine television show. “24” sure was great…
And there are many things said about the reality television shows that dominate the major networks (sans “The Amazing Race”), but superb acting, rich characters and original storytelling are not among them.
Among the convoluted world of modern television that is overcrowded with reality shows about anything and everything (literally), one certainty is shining a hopeful bright light through this overcast cloud of reality noise: more and more fans are investing their time and imaginations in shows that portray grand stories with compelling characters woven together with clever writing. For Heaven’s sake, The History Channel produced a blockbuster hit with, “The Bible” (sadly, I think NBC only saw dollar signs and not the great story when it bought the rights to the series sequel). National Geographic struck presidential gold with, “Killing Lincoln” (narrated by Tom Hanks).
The dynamic of watching television is continuing to change on a seemingly monthly basis.
In fact, it’s quite epic.
That’s the reality.
The Epic Renaissance of the “Man of Steel”
“One day, you’re gonna have to make a choice. You have decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. … Whoever that man is, good character or bad, is gonna change the world.”
–Mr. Kent
“You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They’ll race behind you, they will stumble. They will fall. … But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.”
–Jor-El
manofsteel.warnerbros.com
It’s a bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Super-I mean, It’s the Man of Steel!
The day has arrived when the superhero of all superheroes will again appear as a heroic savior from the skies. As the description the late Jay Morton coined reads, he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” The, “man of steel” will attempt to protect the people of Earth from General Zod and his army while wearing a modernized (by Kryptonian standards) blue suit with a red cape, donning the most famously symbolic “S” ever known.
How will fans react to Henry Cavill’s adaptation? Was he up to this enormous challenge?
Music is a vitally important partner to any television show or movie featuring Superman. The opening few seconds of John Williams’ score for the 1978 motion picture is definitively beautiful as it sets the stage for a grand journey. Hans Zimmer, a composing mastermind and movie soundtrack maestro, put his orchestral talents to work to create the right sound that had to be, quite literally, super!
In the short video below, Zimmer describes a new listening technology he helped develop when he composed the, “Man of Steel” soundtrack.
Innovative- Brilliant-Wow!
Did Zimmer write a new, modern anthem or score that will overtake the iconic, “Superman” soundtrack by John Williams? No, because that task is essentially impossible. However, as the music from the multiple trailers and his past movie scores have indicated, the new soundtrack will undoubtedly be epic. That’s an investment you can take to the bank.
Will, “Man of Steel” be as epic as the soundtrack? Will Kal-El fly off the screen without the assistance of 3D glasses?
June 14, 2013: The time has come to buy the tickets and watch the greatest superhero of all-time grow up in confusing wonderment on a strange planet, somehow meet Lois Lane and then battle the powerfully evil General Zod and his destructive army.
As Jimmy’s Daily Planet’s current headline indicates, the expectations for this Super-I mean, “Man of Steel,” are epic.
Will we join him in the sun…?
1978, Meet 2013
“Man of Steel” is released this Friday, June 14th. The next few days will revolve around Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent. Superman is the greatest superhero in history and the late Christopher Reeve was responsible for inspiring entire generations through his brilliant portrayal of the, “Last Son of Krypton.” Richard Donner’s timeless classic, 1978s “Superman,” with his sensational cast, gave the world hope in a figure and man that men, women and children continue to admire thirty-five years later.
A video was made synching footage and dialogue from the, “Superman” movies with Christopher Reeve to the music and footage of the third trailer released for, “Man of Steel.”
The video below is a fun way to re-brand the, “Superman” classics for a new generation of fans accustomed to superhero movies being, “epic,” “emotionally raw” and “grand” in scale regarding scope and special effects.
Ladies and gentleman, enjoy this fan-made trailer!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 