Oh, I was hoping for comments already....I LOVE the comment section!! I love THE PEOPLE!!!
I will have to check back!! Thank you, Julian for a wonderful article!! I can't wait to see this movie! I truly hope this does what you say!! From what YOU say...I'll bet it does!! So much about this place in time that we're standing seems to be supernatural......We'll see....We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!
I loved this essay! As the Age of Artificial Intelligence approaches, our stories of the human condition must be told. Otherwise, we will lose remembrance of the best in our human past. Humans -- we are nuanced and complex beings. We don't always make sense. Motives oftentimes are mixed. That's what humanity is all about. Looking forward to seeing the film.
I completely disagree with this take on Lex Luthor in the movie. "Deep love of humanity"? How do you reconcile that with Luthor's treatment of Malik Ali? (Link with spoilers: https://dcuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Malik_Ali )
To me, Luthor in the movie was pure evil. He wanted to destroy Superman out of pure envy, and was trying to do long before conveniently finding some potential "dirt" on Superman.
I think Luthor sees himself as a champion of humanity, and justifies even his most heinous actions as being for the greater good. Ultimately he is selfish, inhumane, and wrong—but I think Julian’s point is that this is Luthor’s own self-perception.
Also, Mark: I'm completely open to being wrong (when I was writing this article I searched for an online copy of the script to check, but couldn't find one), but in his speech to Superman at the end (or maybe in his speech to his henchmen in Superman's arctic hideout) I think he calls Superman a threat to humanity.
Yes, Luthor calls Superman a threat to humanity. I view this as internal cope on his part; Luthor of course does not view himself as evil (no one does). But to me it is clear that he is motivated by envy, not fear or care. Again, no one trying to save humanity would treat Malik Ali as Luthor does, or unleash the deadly threat of the Kaiju on Metropolis.
No one views themselves as evil, and because of this people can and will justify pretty much any means they take to achieve their ends. Luthor also knows he's motivated by envy, but he sees that as a good thing because it motivates him to do what's necessary. Malik is a necessary sacrifice in his eyes. The kaiju is a necessary distraction. Everything he is doing is in service of his own ends. But ultimately he is just the world's biggest hater.
I wish I had one. Should be easy but unfortunately it is not. Look at mainstream media- they sell lies, propaganda for power and control. Not easy times, that’s for sure.
I hear you. And I agree with you and with Angel: I don't think we should just roll over and be a doormat for evil. We need to fight.
But how do we fight? I've been talking to and reading a lot of folks recently who work with violent extremists, and one thing they stress is that a lot of extremists *want* to change. They want to get out.
I think helping them get out is how we beat evil. So how do we do it?
The truth is that we all crave a feeling of belonging, significance, and security. We want to feel loved, cared for, seen, and safe. Extremist groups offer some of that, which is why so many extremists stay in these groups. But the folks who work in counterterrorism who I know say that when you can offer people an alternative (and better) source of belonging, significance, and security, a lot of times they're drawn towards that and out of their extremist groups.
Theologian and counterterrorism expert Jamie Winship talks about doing this with some Hamas leaders in the early 2000s. When he helped them to find a better source of belonging, significance, and security, they left Hamas and disbanded their cells.
I think if we want to beat evil, that's a really key part of it. Like Superman, I think we have to stand up and fight people who want to do evil, and stop them from doing evil. But I think another huge piece of the puzzle is to help people escape extremist groups, which in turn deprives those groups of the manpower to commit evil acts.
I think there’s a difference between empathy and compassion, and the latter is preferable because it is about wishing for better—both in the world and in other people.
It’s also about recognizing that there, but for the grace of circumstance, go we.
You should watch the film. It’s ultimately about the value of kindness and doing the right thing, being idealistic even when people think it’s corny and lame, and being bigger and better than the people you oppose
When you justify giving up on others, you’re also justifying others giving up on you. That leaves us nowhere good.
Superman fights Luthor. He refuses to accept Luthor’s behavior. But he also hopes for and encourages Luthor to change. That’s the beauty of the character. It’s not naive or suicidal. It’s how we should be.
I haven’t watched the film…yet. Not sure if I will, but based on your piece it is very dangerous to have empathy towards the evil. Like professor Gaad Saad with his concept “suicidal empathy” mentions the dangers of compassion with no limits, empathy regardless if they are evil.
Oh, I was hoping for comments already....I LOVE the comment section!! I love THE PEOPLE!!!
I will have to check back!! Thank you, Julian for a wonderful article!! I can't wait to see this movie! I truly hope this does what you say!! From what YOU say...I'll bet it does!! So much about this place in time that we're standing seems to be supernatural......We'll see....We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!
Well said <3
"A new Superman film dares to treat its audience like adults." Please re-read that sentence. Then think about it.
Done and done. I'm sorry, though, I'm still not seeing your point. Can you please clarify?
Great review, but who is LOUIS Lane? I thought maybe the movie had transed her...
Haha oh God. I'm new to the Superman fandom, have 0 friends named Lois, and completely forgot how to spell her name when I was writing the piece :p
😉
I loved this essay! As the Age of Artificial Intelligence approaches, our stories of the human condition must be told. Otherwise, we will lose remembrance of the best in our human past. Humans -- we are nuanced and complex beings. We don't always make sense. Motives oftentimes are mixed. That's what humanity is all about. Looking forward to seeing the film.
Well said <3
Nice work, Julian! Great piece—and I totally agree.
Thank!
I completely disagree with this take on Lex Luthor in the movie. "Deep love of humanity"? How do you reconcile that with Luthor's treatment of Malik Ali? (Link with spoilers: https://dcuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Malik_Ali )
To me, Luthor in the movie was pure evil. He wanted to destroy Superman out of pure envy, and was trying to do long before conveniently finding some potential "dirt" on Superman.
I think Luthor sees himself as a champion of humanity, and justifies even his most heinous actions as being for the greater good. Ultimately he is selfish, inhumane, and wrong—but I think Julian’s point is that this is Luthor’s own self-perception.
Yes, I agree with Angel.
Also, Mark: I'm completely open to being wrong (when I was writing this article I searched for an online copy of the script to check, but couldn't find one), but in his speech to Superman at the end (or maybe in his speech to his henchmen in Superman's arctic hideout) I think he calls Superman a threat to humanity.
Yes, Luthor calls Superman a threat to humanity. I view this as internal cope on his part; Luthor of course does not view himself as evil (no one does). But to me it is clear that he is motivated by envy, not fear or care. Again, no one trying to save humanity would treat Malik Ali as Luthor does, or unleash the deadly threat of the Kaiju on Metropolis.
No one views themselves as evil, and because of this people can and will justify pretty much any means they take to achieve their ends. Luthor also knows he's motivated by envy, but he sees that as a good thing because it motivates him to do what's necessary. Malik is a necessary sacrifice in his eyes. The kaiju is a necessary distraction. Everything he is doing is in service of his own ends. But ultimately he is just the world's biggest hater.
I wish I had one. Should be easy but unfortunately it is not. Look at mainstream media- they sell lies, propaganda for power and control. Not easy times, that’s for sure.
I hear you. And I agree with you and with Angel: I don't think we should just roll over and be a doormat for evil. We need to fight.
But how do we fight? I've been talking to and reading a lot of folks recently who work with violent extremists, and one thing they stress is that a lot of extremists *want* to change. They want to get out.
I think helping them get out is how we beat evil. So how do we do it?
The truth is that we all crave a feeling of belonging, significance, and security. We want to feel loved, cared for, seen, and safe. Extremist groups offer some of that, which is why so many extremists stay in these groups. But the folks who work in counterterrorism who I know say that when you can offer people an alternative (and better) source of belonging, significance, and security, a lot of times they're drawn towards that and out of their extremist groups.
Theologian and counterterrorism expert Jamie Winship talks about doing this with some Hamas leaders in the early 2000s. When he helped them to find a better source of belonging, significance, and security, they left Hamas and disbanded their cells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ZRbpS2vhI
I think if we want to beat evil, that's a really key part of it. Like Superman, I think we have to stand up and fight people who want to do evil, and stop them from doing evil. But I think another huge piece of the puzzle is to help people escape extremist groups, which in turn deprives those groups of the manpower to commit evil acts.
What do you think?
I think there’s a difference between empathy and compassion, and the latter is preferable because it is about wishing for better—both in the world and in other people.
It’s also about recognizing that there, but for the grace of circumstance, go we.
You should watch the film. It’s ultimately about the value of kindness and doing the right thing, being idealistic even when people think it’s corny and lame, and being bigger and better than the people you oppose
When you justify giving up on others, you’re also justifying others giving up on you. That leaves us nowhere good.
Superman fights Luthor. He refuses to accept Luthor’s behavior. But he also hopes for and encourages Luthor to change. That’s the beauty of the character. It’s not naive or suicidal. It’s how we should be.
I’ll listen to YouTube link. Thanks
Here is another YouTube you might find interesting
https://youtu.be/gc7k1lLfAjY
It is a great interview “Inside the enemy’s mind” by Dr Anat Berko-expert criminologist who works in prisons interviewing terrorists. Highly recommend
I haven’t watched the film…yet. Not sure if I will, but based on your piece it is very dangerous to have empathy towards the evil. Like professor Gaad Saad with his concept “suicidal empathy” mentions the dangers of compassion with no limits, empathy regardless if they are evil.
I see your point.
So what's your solution for beating evil?