Superheroes!

[Patine]

What if the Big Bad is one of the Fascist Power Girls? That would only work if The Tailor isn't the one who created the 38 Power Girls in the first place*, but is trying to help her reintegrate by giving her all the different costumes.


* Maybe the 38 Power Girls weren't created deliberately: Red Kryptonite?

But were they REALLY Fascists when their comics were released, or are they just viewed that way in retrospect.

 

[Sommerswerd]

* Maybe the 38 Power Girls weren't created deliberately: Red Kryptonite?

I'm always losing track of the canon on this... what is the current effect of red kryptonite? I thought it was to neutralize Kryptonians' superpowers by "harnessing/radiating the rays/energies of the red sun of Krypton" or something along those lines. When I was a very young kid, I seem to remember that it was different in the comics versus the movies. In the comics, it was gold kryptonite that took away Superman's powers, and red kryptonite had unpredictable, bizarre effects, like making Superman turn bad, shrink, grow to gigantic size, become dumb (like Bizzaro), and so on, while green kryptonite was simply fatal.

Whereas in the Christopher Reeve movies, it was polluted/impure green kryptonite had the strange effects, depending on the impurity, specifically turning Superman bad (and inexplicably making his cape maroon instead of bright red , also inadvertently foreshadowing his Superman Returns costume) while red kryptonite (or at least red Kryptonian "sun rays" or whatever) stripped Superman's powers, which could then incidentally, be restored by using the deus ex- mother crystal...

Then it seemed like they changed it to make gold kryptonite able to wound Superman instead of take his powers, while red kryptonite became the power stripper and green kryptonite made him "sick". Then it seemed like they changed the rules again and made green kryptonite a catch-all that could wound Superman, weaken him, neutralize his powers and kill him.

I've lost track of what kryptonite does outside of the usual/obvious "whatever the plot requires".

 

[EgonSpengler]

The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2023 - "‘Superman: Legacy’ Finds Leads with David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan"

 

[Sommerswerd]

The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2023 - "‘Superman: Legacy’ Finds Leads with David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan"

Wow, they've certainly got the classic look nailed (assuming they are supposed to be Supes and Lois).

 

[Laurana Kanan]

(assuming they are supposed to be Supes and Lois).

Article's subheading - The duo will star as Clark Kent and Lois Lane in James Gunn's film.

 

[Gori the Grey]

Who are they getting to play Superman, then?

 

[RobAnybody]

Seriously. David there looks like he could maybe pull off playing Superboy. He needs to hit the gym yesterday.

 

[Gori the Grey]

CGI

 

[Sommerswerd]

Who are they getting to play Superman, then?

Lou Ferrigno

Seriously though... the same guy... without glasses... rendered in CGI of course... as usual.

 

[Arakhor]

I've lost track of what kryptonite does outside of the usual/obvious "whatever the plot requires".

And if you have, I'm sure everyone else has too, so the writers can just do whatever they like!

 

[EgonSpengler]

I'm always losing track of the canon on this... what is the current effect of red kryptonite?

No idea.

I've lost track of what kryptonite does outside of the usual/obvious "whatever the plot requires".

Yup, that's my take, too.

Wow, they've certainly got the classic look nailed (assuming they are supposed to be Supes and Lois).

I agree. I've never seen (or heard of) Corenswet before, but just looking at pictures on Google I'd say he definitely looks the part. I really like Brosnahan and I think she has a perfect 'energy' or 'vibe' or something for Lois Lane.

For reference, Corenswet is 29 yrs old and 6' 4". Brosnahan is 32 and 5' 3". I'm reminded of Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer, back in the day, when on long shots you could see that she was a full foot shorter than he was, but in head-shots she was magically only 3-4 inches shorter. otoh, after Corenswet hits the aforementioned gym, he'll be able to pick her up with one arm for real, they won't need any CGI for that. In terms of the ages, I like that Tyler Hoechlin is younger than Elizabeth Tulloch irl, and Hoechlin has a bit of a baby-face, when he clean-shaven. I think it makes sense that Clark would age very slowly, and by the time he's 45 he still looks like he's 30. The film otoh is going to focus on the characters when they're much younger, and in this duo, Brosnahan is the one with the baby-face. I think both of these actors can play their character in their mid-late-20s.

Seriously. David there looks like he could maybe pull off playing Superboy. He needs to hit the gym yesterday.

I hope they don't go too ripped with Superman. I'm also trusting that James Gunn really emphasized Clark Kent in the auditions (and in the movie) and picked Corenswet at least as much for that role as for Superman.

CGI

I can't find it now, but I saw a bts pic of Sasha Calle in full costume, well-lit, and I swear to God her costume looked better irl than it did in the trailers and stills that I saw (I haven't seen the movie).

 

[Laurana Kanan]

I can't find it now, but I saw a bts pic of Sasha Calle in full costume, well-lit, and I swear to God her costume looked better irl than it did in the trailers and stills that I saw (I haven't seen the movie).

It looked fine in the movie. We didn't have any issues with it.

 

[Sommerswerd]

The film otoh is going to focus on the characters when they're much younger, and in this duo, Brosnahan is the one with the baby-face. I think both of these actors can play their character in their mid-late-20s.

Aren't Lois and Clark supposed to meet later in life, like in their 30s?

 

[EgonSpengler]

Aren't Lois and Clark supposed to meet later in life, like in their 30s?

My feeling is that when they meet, Clark should be a nobody and Lois should be ahead of him in her career, at least somewhat accomplished. I don't think their exact ages are important, except that Lois can't be too young. In Man of Steel we saw that Clark sort of went on walkabout and worked a bunch of different jobs as a young man, so he could have been in his late 20s when he started as a journalist. Christopher Reeve gave me the impression that he was fairly new to the job; he was ~25 when they filmed the movie and Kidder was ~29. I didn't watch Smallville much, but I always wondered if they introduced Lois kinda early.

I don't know when this new movie is supposed to start filming, but Corenswet and Brosnahan will be at least 30 and 33. And that's assuming SAG-AFTRA doesn't strike and push everything back again - a bunch of studios have already canceled appearances at San Diego ComicCon in anticipation, because promoting a project is considered part of an actor's job. You may well get your 30-something Clark & Lois, whether that was the original intention or not.

EDIT: Thinking more about the cast of Superman & Lois, Emmanuelle Chriqui is 47 irl, and I think Lana and Clark should be within a year of the same age. Tyler Hoechlin is 35 and Elizabeth Tulloch is 42. I don't think the characters' ages are ever specified, but I think Lois & Clark's sons and Lana's daughter are supposed to be 16 in the first season. If the 3 adults are mid-40s, then we can figure that, in that show, Clark probably met Lois when they were in their mid-20s.

 

[EgonSpengler]

But were they REALLY Fascists when their comics were released, or are they just viewed that way in retrospect.

I mean, look at the costumes. They weren't being subtle about it.

Anti-Defamation League: SS Bolts

ALTERNATE NAMES: Cracker Bolts, SS Lightning Bolts, Lightning Bolts

The SS Bolts are a common white supremacist/neo-Nazi symbol derived from Schutzstaffel (SS) of Nazi Germany.

"Cracker Bolts"? That's a riot. I've never heard that one before.

 

[Patine]

I mean, look at the costumes. They weren't being subtle about it.

Anti-Defamation League: SS Bolts

"Cracker Bolts"? That's a riot. I've never heard that one before.

I thought, "Cracker Bolts" were a lightning-like motif that resembled Oswald Mosley's Union of British Fascists' lightning flash symbol on a George Wallace campaign poster in Alabama in the '60's.

 

[EgonSpengler]

Secret Invasion ep.2: Well, it was better. Still some problems, but I'm not bailing yet.

I probably said it before, but I'll say it again: If you'd told me only that there was a paranoid, espionage thriller with some sci-fi elements starring Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Olivia Colman, Ben Mendelson, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Emilia Clarke, I would be over the Moon. I'm not over the Moon. I can't remember how many eps of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan I watched before I defenestrated them. Couldn't have been more than 3, I don't think. If I'm consistent, Secret Invasion has one more shot to hook me. So far I think I'm enjoying this more than I enjoyed those. I should remind myself that Andor started off slowly too, although my reservations about the early eps of Andor are different from my reservations about this show.

Spoilers:

Spoiler :

This show doesn't feel "tight." There are some continuity errors, and the plotting just feels a little... sloppy? Andor really felt like everybody knew what they were doing, even in those slow early episodes.

Two continuity errors from this episode in just one scene: When Falsworth walks into the meat locker, it seemed clear that she was barging in on these Russian gangsters in the middle of their interrogating someone. But when the prisoner lifts his head up, I was struck by how unhurt he looked. He barely had a mark on his face. So then I thought, "okay, the Russian gangsters work for Falsworth - that's kind of interesting, in itself - and were waiting for her." But then the guy says, "we tried everything to make him talk." Um, wut? Then we clearly see Falsworth bar the door from the inside, but when Gravik arrives one of his men blows the lock with an explosive and the door falls outward. Nobody on that set was paying attention to the very scene they were filming.

Overall, I can't help feeling like everybody on this production is just collecting a paycheck and trying not to do such a poor job that they can't put it on their CV later. I mean, we've all had jobs like that. But if that's the case, do I really have to keep watching? I've got stuff to do (or, at least, other shows to watch ).

The scene between Cheadle and Jackson was fun to watch, even though it raised some questions that I'm not expecting to be answered. I was reminded a little of the scene in Heat with Pacino and De Niro, but I like Cheadle and Jackson more than I like Pacino and DeNiro.

Kingsley Ben-Adir is doing some good stuff. I liked his performance in the scene with the Skrull council.

Olivia Colman is having some fun. She's always fun, even when she's punching you in the throat, like in Broadchurch (if you ever wonder why I like Colman, watch Broadchurch). Did anyone see The Lobster? Her scene in The Lobster is a riot. I bet she's fun, irl.

The scene with the Skrull council was a straight rip of Blade. I mean, I know Blade didn't invent the concept of the fiery young revolutionary bringing a new level of violence to a conservative group of supposed rebels comfortable with the status quo. Blade is just what I thought of. Kinglsey Ben-Adir is playing the character with a much more laid-back demeanor, which I really like. In the scene in the car with Emilia Clarke, there was even something in Ben-Adir's slouch that I liked. Like he's so relaxed it makes you nervous. Stephen Dorff played Deacon Frost as more outwardly hostile, like he had to restrain himself from just killing everyone in the room. Which I also liked. Both versions work well.

I wanted last night, and continue to hope, that Gravik is an honorable man in his own way, and wouldn't actually have the one woman who didn't relent killed as soon as she walked out the door. I think I would find it more interesting if he was a man of some integrity, even as he's a violent terrorist bent on global chaos, but also because I just thought having her killed after he told her she could "go in peace" was too obvious. I was getting worried about the writers mailing it in and doing the obvious thing.

One problem I have with this show is that Gravik's plan to get the US and Russia into a war with each other is just so boring. I'm hoping like Hell that this whole plot is just a misdirect - by Gravik and by the show's writers - to keep the world's intelligence agencies busy while he enacts his real plan.

Something I didn't catch immediately: The list of creatures being used to create the Super-Skrull is an effort by the writers to mimic/recreate the powers of the Super-Skrull in comic, but without the Fantastic Four. (For those unfamiliar with the comics, the Super-Skrull had the combined powers of the FF. He could stretch, turn invisible, generate fire, and had super-strength.)

Oh, one thing I liked in this episode was actually seeing Fury promise the Skrull refugees that he'll help them find a place to stay permanently, all those years ago. It didn't tell us anything we didn't already know, but before now we'd only been told about the arrangement. It was a nice illustration of the old "show, don't tell" maxim in writing. In this case, we'd been told already, and we could see how much stronger it was in contrast to be shown. I feel like I have a better grasp on Gravik and his motivation, having seen that with my own eyes.

 

[Synobun]

I finally got around to watching Wakanda Forever. It exceeded my expectations.

 

[EgonSpengler]

We now live in a world where this is real:

 

[Patine]

We now live in a world where this is real:

"When everything feels like the movies, yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive,"

The Goo-Goo Dolls, "Irene (I Just Want You to Know who I am),"