Monday, June 12, 2006

Man of Steel versus Mild-Mannered Reporter

Would you believe there is a brouhaha brewing over whether the new Superman movie, Superman Returns, portrays the caped crusader (is that the right superhero slogan? They're all interchangable to me) as "too gay".
The first point I make is, Superman can never be too gay. But according to news.com.au, Director Brian Singer (who IS gay) has had to defend his incarnation after prominent gay media in the US labelled Brandon Routh's Superman a "gay icon".
(Though I can understand and applaud the casting... Routh looks great both in blue lycra AND as a mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent).





Apparently there is an outcry because Routh's Superman isn't tough enough and his Clark Kent is a bit wet and foppish. The article said young boys needed their super heroes to be tougher than that portrayed. They reckoned young men - the target demographic - would turn away from the film.
Earlier this month they announced the new Batwoman would be an openly lesbian character an no-one batted an eyelid. But then, I guess that's unlikely to turn young men away.
Apparently Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane is a bit of a ball-buster - even if she does tend to need a bit of rescuing occassionally - and she doesnt get all gooey over Superman, who has been away for long enough for her to get knocked-up and spawn.
The thing I'm most looking forward to is seeing Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther. The man is the best damned actor in Hollywood. That hasn't stopped the criticism from the purists though... probably the same twits who are upset Daniel Craig has been cast as James Bond. I'm sorry darlings, Christopher Reeve wasn't available to do the film... you're going to have to live with this.....

.....what a shame.
Anyway, it all seems like a bit of a publicity stunt to me. Since Brokeback Mountain creamed it in at the box office Hollywood has discovered gay is the new black.

1 comment:

nash said...

Next thing you know Hollywood will create a superhero called Gayman. What do you think his special powers could be?