Faith in Film, Week 1

Tonight we'll begin with introductions then look at "Superman Returns," (2006)

Discussion Questions:
1. Did this movie work for you, why or why not?

2. What is your view of a savior?

3. If you’ve seen it, what struck you most in the depiction of Superman in “Superman Returns?”

4. As a society, why are we so attracted to the idea of super heroes?

My Thoughts:

I am so excited to begin this 10-week journey together. I hope that after our time you'll have a new appreciation for film, and begin to look at the messages, ideas, and values that filmmakers share through their art. The author Donald Miller, who talks extensively about story, said, “Narrative has an unbelievable ability to adjust your moral compass.” Films, like other art forms, are a reflection of the experiences, passions, and beliefs of their creators. They tell stories, yes, but they also, often, point to something larger. In this class we’ll look at a variety of Hollywood movies, made by a variety of filmmakers, and analyze the worldview presented in the film while comparing it to the truth of Scripture.

Tonight, we'll begin our journey by looking at Bryan Singer's 2006 film, "Superman Returns." It was the fifth big-screen Superman made, but it's meant to be a direct sequel to "Superman II." In fact, Singer uses archival audio from Richard Donner's original work with Marlon Brando as part of this revival. It wasn't a Box Office smash, but I liked the film a lot. I was also fascinated with how Singer heightened the tendency to make Superman into a Secular Messiah. In fact, that was his intent all along.

That has been true of Superman all along, too. We'll see a couple of clips from the documentary, "Up Up and Away, the Amazing Story of Superman," just how much the Scriptures have influenced the creation and evolution of Superman. That was true from the beginning, when Superman was created by two Jewish artists, Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster, living in Cleveland, Ohio during the height of the Great Depression in 1932, making his debut in 1938.

"Superman Returns" takes that to the next level, incorporating the major plot points of Jesus' narrative in the film. We'll take a look at some of those clips tonight, and also look at the way the film slightly changes the emphasis to create a more secular messiah for the modern masses.

The fact all of this takes place in a comic book film aimed at teens and young adults makes it even more important to be shrewd stewards of media content.

I look forward to exploring this and more with all of you tonight!