Wednesday, March 30, 2016

LOOK UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD ... IT'S A PLANE ... IT"S KING ARTHUR???

Alright ... I finally broke down and saw "Batman V Superman." I have to admit I had my doubts. So much so ... that I didn't drag Yoko to it. I'm still not sure if she would of compared this to "Steamboy." I, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised. I didn't mind the length, but I did think it would of been better if tightened up just a bit. Also, I do agree with some of the criticism that, given the whole controversy of  the devil/savior thing going on, that the timeline is entirely too short to be have monuments of Superman in place. And I have to say the whole plug for The DC Avengers ... er ... I mean Justice League movie was just clumsily shoe horned in. I just hate what is suppose to be candid surveillance footage is obvious set up shots. There has also been mixed reviews concerning Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor. I don't know if it's the script or the actor (though given the quips between Lois and Lex about him being psychotic, I have to lean towards the writing.) Remember Luthor is Machiavellian not manic.

But I do like the red hair. 



For those who don't know Lex Luthor, first appeared in Action Comics #23, April 1940. The odd thing is that he had red hair ... but his assistant had the classic Luthor look. There was even some bit as that the future adversaries were boyhood chums and that an accident
caused the rift and the loss of Luthor's hair. So I like the tip of the tresses. I also dig the Perry White line about it not being 1938 (The year Superman first appears in comic books.) I have to wonder if the more modern take on super heroes and political implications may work better here than it will in Marvel's "Civil War." I also like the Frank Miller/Dark Knight lifts. Finally the pendulum story structure got my respect. 

Kudos Fan Boys!!!   

Now let's get to the meat of what made my day watching this movie. I am now obligated to say:



SPOILER ALERTS!!!

So my ego is not big enough to think that I alone in the audience picked up on this. But for me, this made the movie for me. I checked with my cousin, Benjamin Alexander and the son of my best friend from Jr. High School, Kevin Wilson, both who are well versed in everything geekdom and what is on it's forefront. Neither had heard anything. Nothing popped up in a cursory google of applied search words that was even close, except for a post on Den of Geek.  So if there are others that have mention this ... I tip my cowl and give you a knowing wink.

Here goes ...

So I learned a long time ago about easter eggs. I contend director D.W. Griffith, besides being credited with creating much of the cinematic language, invented this geek indulgence when in 1916, in his film "Intolerance" he posted on a wall in the background of a shot, the phrase, "Today the same as yesterday." Pretty random ... just a bit of background ... blink and you miss it. But it's also the theme of the movie. Well, because of that, I ALWAYS look at movie marquees that appear in movie sets. Zack Snyder gives us two if not three shots of a marquee with "Excalibur Coming Soon," bold as brass. You could say it's to set the time line when Bruce Wayne is orphaned. (1981) Den of Geek proposed that it is a reference to the JLA as the Knights of the Round Table. Or that this film is like the film Excalibur, because it also feels like a very long movie. lol! 

John Boorman's "Excalibur" is the stylized tale of King Arthur and Merlin played wonderfully by Nicol Williamson. The climax comes when Arthur kills Mordred who in turn kills Arthur.



Now in Sir Thomas Malory's  "Morte D'Arthur" (the first written version of the legend) Arthur kills Mordred with a spear and he is killed with Mordred's sword. This as you can see, is flipped in Boorman's film ... but then if you are calling your movie Excalibur, structurally it makes sense and you can forgive the artistic liberty.



Consider this then , Mordred is the offspring of magic and forbidden incestuous  procreation. He is brought forth into this world for one reason only. He is to be Arthur's bane ... his ...dare I say it ... his Doomsday. Luthor's creature is a product of alien science and forbidden creation with a tad of Lex's DNA thrown in for good measure. (Also an unnatural act???) Arthur/Mordred and Superman/Doomsday are each the shining light and devil that their respective culture produces. Arthur, upon death, goes to a magical land where holds the promise that when the need arises, that the "Once and Future King" will come again. Superman is sent to the magical land of ... Kansas??? Is that why there are so many Wizard of Oz references? 

When it comes down to it Snyder tells you up front, in the first three minutes, foreshadowing how it's going down. He references and then corrects Boorman's vision with Superman bearing the Kryptonite spear and Doomsday, a crystal blade replacing his hand, thus turning this film into epic proportions.  The Son of Krypton and it's bastard child.

Homeric.

Therefore, it is as plain as the "S" on your chest ... Superman is Arthur.

All Hail the King!!!! All Hail the Once and Future Superman!!!