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And Action!
Superman is the greatest superhero in history.
This entry will focus on the latter portion of this statement because as the 2013 cinematic version of the, “man of steel” is only days away from re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and psyche, understanding where this inspirational icon has come from is critical to appreciating where he is today.
About 63 years ago, George Reeves entertained television audiences with his clean-cut image of Superman. Then, the world in 1978 saw Christopher Reeve prove to be definitively everything Clark Kent/Superman to movie audiences of all ages. A couple more actors since have added their personalities to this character and this Friday British actor Henry Cavill will be debuting his take to the public.
Below is a collection of clips from a Superman documentary, tracking the television and movie actors up to Christopher Reeve look-alike Brandon Routh in 2006s, “Superman Returns.” It’s remarkable to see how one character from a comic book published 75 years ago has changed and sustained decade after decade after decade to bring rejuvenated hope to the people of Earth.
With, “Man of Steel” about to premiere to the worldwide audiences, watch the short video and reminisce on all things Superman. All the while, ask yourself if you think this superhero is trending in the right direction.
And also watch a trailer for, “Man of Steel” again and compare and contrast what George Reeves and his television show did in the 1950s to what Warner Bros. is doing today in 2013.
Super indeed!
Happy Monday!
Last Friday evening, I strolled through the annual Columbus Arts Festival, which featured artists of all variations from all over the country (plus a couple international artists). Each artist’s booth was set-up like its own pop-up gallery, giving people a few seconds to glance in and either dedicate their time or simply walk by onto the neighboring collections.
I’m happy to say I struck gold with a painter from Chicago! She imaginatively brought bottles of red and white wine and its accompanying foods to life.
The Columbus Arts Festival is a great tradition in Columbus, just like the occasional visit to a museum. The opportunity to calmly observe, reflect, ponder and even show off some knowledge is a wonderful exercise of the mind.
Common protocol with most art is the notion that there is no one “right” answer. Although, with some art, as Hemingway might put it today, “if you have a good insight it’s because it is an honest insight.”
In Gil’s case, he knew the honest truth and therefore was absolutely right in his interpretation in the rarely seen, “art burn.”
Have a Great Week & Visit a Museum!
Nolan…Christopher Nolan
Each actor who has portrayed the legendarily iconic James Bond (007) has done so with his own degree of vigor and personality that are exclusive to the most powerful, and ironically, most famous secret agent in the world.
2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Bond Franchise in movies, starring the character written into the world by Ian Fleming. The 23rd and most recent cinematic adventure was expertly titled, “Skyfall.” It earned more than $1 billion worldwide and was a sensational return to the top of the movie surface from the financial abyss the franchise found itself in a few years ago.
James Bond is back and not just in Hollywood.
The prospect of epic movie director (and Brit) Christopher Nolan directing the next 007 movie, sans any potential scheduling conflicts, has intrigued Bond fans because of his treatment to Bruce Wayne in the Batman trilogy and his producing role in the upcoming, “Man of Steel.” Not to mention his visually stunning and overwhelming mind-bender known as, “Inception.” The door in the theater showing the premiere of the 24th 007 movie is slightly cracked with a sliver of light and noise emanating from it with presumed hints of the most epic adventure in James Bond history.
Fans are already “air-violining” and orchestrating their own Hans Zimmer treatment in their imaginations. James Bond would very likely be thrown onto the biggest stage of his life.
However, reports are swirling that the once not interested “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes is in negotiations to direct two more Bond films. Full disclosure: Mendes did a fantastic job with “Skyfall.” It was a great movie with a great villain! And yet, the prospect of Nolan sitting in the director’s chair for the legendary franchise still intrigues with a feeling that James Bond would be taken to another level…
For one thing, Nolan would have the right 007, “reporting for duty.”
Daniel Craig is the strongest and most emotionally raw and conflicted James Bond the character has ever known. In modern film, our heroes are no longer assumed to be the strongest or to act with near perfection. Audiences want to see and feel strength, heartbreak, love, speed, struggles, intelligence, wit, flirting and, above all, humanizing qualities. For better or worse, this is the reality. Fans want to be shown that the adventures on screen could happen in the chaotic world we populate today by someone who lives in the same world we inhabit. They want to see familiar streets, recognizable landmarks and buildings, crowds of people, cars, markets, etc., all while following one of the most luxurious lifestyles of any spy in history.
We want to believe that 007 could, at some point, dash past us in an Aston Martin or sprint through a crowded sporting event in the street to catch the bad guy. The likelihood needs to exist where he can be broken down at moments, both physically, mentally and emotionally. In some cases, these bruises, in whatever form, carry-over for a period of time and, at some point, have to be confronted and dealt with in some way. Three movies in, Daniel Craig has achieved this rare feat.
With the ingredients of throwing in a flawed hero, destined for greatness, who has had to overcome a lifetime of loneliness, heartbreak and confusion, using the real world as his stage, creating an enemy with a sinister yet mesmerizing intellect, big explosions, luxurious surroundings, beautiful women, conflicting relationships, Michael Cain, and a richly complex and original story, the top-shelf lists of chefs have to include and feature master chef Christopher Nolan.
And, Nolan has stated publicly how he is a big fan of James Bond. The reason for mentioning this is that 007 would not be a résumé builder for him, but instead a passion and honor.
The hypothesizing/wishful thinking of contemplating the story, characters and their developments, casting, settings, soundtrack, enemies, etc. of a Nolan-directed Bond film will come in a future post. The very prospect sure does conjure up an “epic” aura…
For now, we can only dream…and then dream again…
The Power of a Horse
Aliens. Great White Sharks. A whip-happy, gun-slinging professor of archaeology. Dinosaurs. A horse?
(Rolling Stone)
Steven Spielberg, one of the greatest movie directors of all-time, has introduced the public to a wide-range of characters, most of which grab our attention from the title’s alone. “Jaws,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Jurassic Park” are just a few examples. But what about, “War Horse”? First reactions do not stir up emotions of great excitement. It’s a story about a horse that was involved in World War I.
Okay…?
And yet, it is still Steven Spielberg after all. It is his impressive filmography that we can instinctively conclude that a great story is waiting to be told and that he is the perfect person for this job. Somehow, someway, we the audience will come to relate to a horse from a war. In some fashion, we will sympathize with a horse and be intrigued by its journey in a way similar to that of E.T.
Still though, this undertaking seems about as difficult as plowing a field scattered with rocks.
“War Horse,” to my surprise, is a beautifully tragic, yet inspirational story of unfaltering friendship. Throughout Joey’s life (the horse), he is connected to life all around him. As peculiar as it may read, Joey’s many relationships throughout his joyful and perilous journey resembled something remarkably close to kinship. Surprisingly, the love and admiration the various characters felt for Joey in their various situations was felt through the screen. We start to understand that a horse, in this instance, represents much more than a mere animal. Joey, to those who took the time, was profoundly more than power and dashing speed.
Watching this movie in the evening of Memorial Day was special. The themes of military service and, well, horses, sparked a flashback dating back generations. My Great-Grandfather, Albert C. Ziemann, served in World War I in the U.S. Cavalry at the independent age of 26. He registered for the draft out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was stationed in France.
The following are family recollections:
He was once in a weather observation balloon when it crashed into a French apple orchard. Like in the battle scene near the end of, “War Horse,” he too was gassed. Fascinatingly, General “Black Jack” Pershing (formally John J. Pershing) had, at one point, wanted a rare hawk of his to be stuffed. While asking up and down the ranks for an individual to assist him with this unique task, Ziemann, who enjoyed taxidermy as a hobby, volunteered his services to the General. For Ziemann, this was likely seen as a genuine win-win scenario because he would be doing taxidermy for the prestigious General and this job got him off the front lines.
Stuffing the hawk was expected to be a two-day assignment, but it stretched out to two weeks. One of the most incredible stories of Ziemann was that he helped General Pershing take care of his horses! It’s assumed this coincided with the two-week hawk-stuffing project. Regardless, what a tremendous honor and experience.
Members of my family have recalled that Ziemann enjoyed riding horses. One day in 1963, he had been riding horses. Devastatingly, later that day, he died of a heart attack. Despite the sadness of this memory, it is important because it portrays how his love of horses was not a two-week and/or temporary crush, but likely a lifelong love affair. The connection between a person and a horse is special and can endure in times of war and peace.
During this Memorial Day, in 2013, I found myself reflecting back to almost one hundred years into the past to my Great-Grandfather, Albert C. Ziemann, all the while relating his experiences to those told in the magnificent story of, “War Horse.”
From all of this, two things are certain:
I am very proud and amazed of my Great-Grandfather’s service during World War I.
And that Steven Spielberg is one hell of a storyteller.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 