1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: James Gunn's New Superman is flying into cinemas, but given 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: the director's political comments, will it be a bird, a plane, 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: or a bomb at the box office. Film critic Christian 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Toto joins me on this edition of The Arroyo Grande Show. 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: Come on, I'm rave an Arroyo. Welcome to the Arroyo 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: Grande Show. Go subscribe now and turn those notifications on. 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: I want you to know what's coming up and if 8 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: you'd like to like the show, I'd enjoy that. Did 9 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: you see where James Gunn's New Superman is coming to theaters. 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: Let me tell you why this matters. Superman is in 11 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: some way an avatar for America and the American dream. 12 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 2: The question is, is. 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: James Gunn Superman true to the spirit and the ideals 14 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: of the character. DC Studio and Gunn have a lot 15 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: riding on this between filming and marketing. It's estimated that 16 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: Warner Brothers spent nearly four hundred million dollars on this movie. 17 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: James Gunn has made some controversial and political comments in 18 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: recent days that may scare off some filmgoers. We'll get 19 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: to those comments in a second, But the origins of 20 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: Superman are fascinating. The character was created by Jerry Siegel 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: and Joe Schuster, two Jewish boys in Cleveland, in nineteen 22 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: thirty three. Now, initially he was going to be a 23 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: villain Superman, but the boys found inspiration in Samson and 24 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: Moses and changed Superman into a hero, a savior who 25 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: stood for truth, justice, and the American way. More on 26 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: that later too. Siegel's wife says Schuster used her husband 27 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: as a model while he was drawing Superman, and his 28 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: alter ego, Clark Kent, was based on silent legend Harold Lloyd. 29 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: He wore the glasses you'll remember. 30 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: The first comic book was a huge hit, which spawned 31 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: a host of superheroes Batman and Wonder Woman, on and on. 32 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: But Superman is different. 33 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: He was a hero from another world who comes to 34 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 1: America and embraces its values as his own. He becomes 35 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: the American ideal. Of course, On the screen, George Reeves 36 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: played Superman in the forties and fifties. The gold standard 37 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: was director Richard Donner Superman in nineteen seventy eight, starring 38 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 1: Christopher Reeve, who, by the way, it was Donner who 39 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: coached Reeves to play Clark Kent. Like Carry Grant in 40 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: Bringing up Baby, and guess who Carry Grant was imitating 41 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: in that movie, Harold Lloyd. We'll talk in a moment 42 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: about why that film is hard to beat. Then there 43 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: was Superman Returns in two thousand and six with Brandon Ruth. 44 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: Of course, Henry Cavill led Zack Schneider's Man of Steel 45 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: in twenty thirteen. That film was well received and restored 46 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: Superman as the savior figure, which brings us to the 47 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: James Gunn Superman movie, who is not quite a savior 48 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: and may also not quite be your granddad Superman. 49 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: My Superman is not indestructible. We see him bleed immediately. 50 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: At times, I've thought he's too strong. You don't want 51 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: him to be able to be able to punch a 52 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 3: planet in half, or, for that matter, go around a 53 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 3: planet a billion times and make time go backwards. You know, 54 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 3: I wanted a Superman who was a little bit more 55 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 3: down to earth. 56 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: I've got to bring a professional in on this before 57 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: I tell you what I think of this reboot. Joining 58 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: me now, Christian Toto, film critic and host of Hollywood 59 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: In Toto. 60 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: Christian, thank you for being here. 61 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: We're going to get to guns, really political comments in 62 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: a moment, But what do you make of that creative 63 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: choice that the hero is kind of a JV Superman. 64 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: He can be beat up, he can bleed, and apparently 65 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: does so regularly. 66 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, it seems like it's antithical to what Superman Man is. Listen, 67 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 4: he is a complicated figure. And I think that's why 68 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 4: that nineteen seventy eight version was and remain so magical, 69 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 4: because they seem to get almost everything right. A little 70 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 4: bit of humor, some romance, the boy scout nature of Superman, 71 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 4: and yet at the same time he seemed real and 72 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 4: one of us, And it's just it's a miracle of filmmaking. 73 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 4: I watched there recently and I was just stunned at 74 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 4: how well it has aged. Of course, Christopher Reeve is 75 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 4: absolutely the gold standard. Yeah, impossible to kind of recreate 76 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 4: what he brought to the character. But listen, you know, 77 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 4: different directors, different writers interpret characters in different ways, but 78 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 4: you always hope that there's the essence of that figure remaining. 79 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 4: We'll have to wait and see until it opens this week, 80 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 4: but it's certainly certainly room to question where what kind 81 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 4: of Superman will be seeing. 82 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, this doesn't seem to be Dick Donner's vision. You 83 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: know at play, did Mario Puzo write that script or I. 84 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 4: Believe so, I think he had had any Yeah, I 85 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 4: he didn't directly write it. I think he co wrote it. 86 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 4: Or yeah, he definitely was involved in that creative process. 87 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it had heft. 88 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: I mean that Superman I like you, I watched it 89 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: recently and you forget so much what we saw to children, 90 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: and so when you go back to it, you're like, wow, 91 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: I mean it not only has heft and gravitas, but 92 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: you're right, it has a you know, there's a slapstick 93 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: quality to some of the play there. 94 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: Christopher Reeves is incredible in the Rule. 95 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: But Variety has this headline about the new James Gunn Superman. 96 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: It says James Gunn says Superman is about an immigrant 97 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: that came from other places and how we've lost the 98 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: value of human kindness. 99 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: Yes, it's about politics. 100 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: Here's the quote, Christian Superman is the story of America 101 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: in the sense that it follows an immigrant that came 102 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: from other places and populated the country. But for me, 103 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness 104 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: is of value. And is something we've lost. And obviously 105 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: there will be jerks out there who are just not 106 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: kind and will take it as offensive just because it's 107 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: about kindness. 108 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 2: But screw them. End quote. 109 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 5: You said, it's an immigrant story, it's a political movie. 110 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 2: Maga today is going nuts. 111 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 6: What do you have to say to Maga? 112 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 5: I have anything. 113 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 6: I think the movie's for everybody. I don't have anything 114 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 6: to say to anybody, like I'm not here to judge people, 115 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 6: you know, you know. I think this is a movie 116 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 6: about kindness, and I think that's something everyone can relate to. 117 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: Let's start with, is it really about kindness, Christian or 118 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: is that kind of a veil for the political opinions 119 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: that Gun holds. 120 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 4: I read those quotes and I just my job was 121 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 4: a gape. Here we are days before this movie opens. 122 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 4: There is so much writing on this, not just for 123 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 4: the summer, not just for Hollywood, for the whole DC 124 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 4: Comics universe, a for Gun himself, who's been put in 125 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 4: charge of this. And then to make these clumsiest sides 126 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 4: to what's going on in the country right now, and 127 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 4: assuming that if you're anti illegal immigration, you're not kind. 128 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 4: It's just such a leap and such an unnecessary thing 129 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 4: for him to say. You know, I'm always amazed that 130 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 4: at the actors and the directors when they they talk 131 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 4: to the press, there's one mission. It is to sell 132 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 4: your product. To sell, you're not trying to do anything else. 133 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 4: You're not trying to be creative. It's you're talking to 134 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 4: Variety or some other publication because you want to get 135 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 4: fannies in the seats and to bring up a divisive issue, 136 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 4: to speak in a way that is unkind and clumsy. 137 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 4: I'm just I'm amazed he did it. 138 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 7: Amazed he did it so soon. 139 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 4: But I'm starting to get a theory, and some other 140 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 4: people have said this that maybe the finished product isn't 141 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 4: very good and he's. 142 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 7: Been me doing pre damage control. 143 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: I don't know. 144 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 7: It's just shocking. 145 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, Well it's hard to preach kindness while you're 146 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: telling people to screw off. 147 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: I mean, that's it. That's a tough balance. 148 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: You know, you don't do that to an audience. But 149 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: tell me, what's the danger of framing this the entire 150 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: movie and there's hundreds of millions of dollars riding this 151 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: movie for Warner Brothers and DC Studios. What's the danger 152 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: of framing this as a commentary on immigration at this moment. 153 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: I mean, why politicize this movie at all? 154 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 4: On the serface, I just don't know. You know, it 155 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 4: doesn't make any sense. 156 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 7: Listen. 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 4: You could go into the movie and bring your own 158 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 4: thoughts and feelings into it and kind of say, you know, 159 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 4: the way this. 160 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 7: Character works and the way he's a stranger. 161 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 4: I could see into that, and that's you know, you 162 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,239 Speaker 4: give the audience that room while you're telling a great 163 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 4: story and while you're entertaining them, and then they can 164 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 4: bring any sort of biases or any sort of feelings 165 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 4: into it. Or maybe they think this way and they 166 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 4: watch the film and they emerge with a different perspective. 167 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 4: That's great and healthy. It's why movies are so magical. 168 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 4: But to get into this argument, to get into this 169 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 4: debate at this point in the culture, at a time 170 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 4: where audiences are exhausted by lectures and celebrities who just 171 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 4: can't stop wagging their fingers at us, it makes absolutely 172 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 4: no sense. 173 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 2: Listen. 174 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 4: If this was an any film and he's trying to 175 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 4: appeal to a base, god less, a wonderful way to 176 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 4: kind of stoke some interest and some passion into your movie. 177 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 4: But we're looking at a culture that is exhausted by woke, 178 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 4: that is exhausted by politics, that just chose a president 179 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 4: who did kind of basically it was a finger into 180 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 4: the eye of Hollywood in general. And to say this now, 181 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 4: I just it's the dumbest thing, because we have so 182 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 4: many ways to entertain ourselves and I could stay home, 183 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 4: I could watch the original Superman. I don't have to 184 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,319 Speaker 4: go to the theater. Yeah, maybe many will do just that. 185 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: Christian. 186 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: You know, I was thinking the last lead wearing red, 187 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: white and blue, that may lose as much money as 188 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: this is snow White. 189 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 2: I mean, this is not this is good. 190 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: You think after Snow White and Indiana Jones, which only 191 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: had a you know, it had kind of a feminist undercurrent, 192 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: but it was very subtle, but the audience punished them 193 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 1: for that. So it's clear the audience doesn't want politics, 194 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: at least not partisan politics, to lead in any of 195 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: these beloved franchises. And yet James Gunn has decided he's 196 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: going down that path with Superman, or at least that's 197 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: how it sounds. 198 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I agree. 199 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 4: You know, the Rachel Zegler situation I really thought was 200 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 4: going to be the final wake up call. Yeah, don't 201 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 4: insult the ip. Don't insult your audience. Stay away from that. 202 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 2: Listen. 203 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 4: These are major movies with massive budgets. You talked about. 204 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 4: The marketing alone is just impressive, and the scope and 205 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 4: you take that money and you have to get your 206 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 4: return on investment. 207 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 7: Listen. 208 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 4: We just saw two movies that were very good and 209 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 4: very popular, the New Mission Impossible and also f One 210 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 4: that are doing great at the box office, but their 211 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 4: budgets are so big they probably won't be profitable. And 212 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 4: now a long come Superman, which needs to get all 213 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 4: that money to get it, you know, to get back 214 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 4: in the black, and then he does this. I mean, 215 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 4: I listen, I've been covering this industry for decades and 216 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 4: I'm just stunned. 217 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 218 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: Well, these budgets are gargante one and it seems that's 219 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: the only thing studios want to put any money in. 220 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: And we have to admit. 221 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: Look, propaganda was in the DNA of Superman Christian from 222 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: the start. He was pro American propaganda. He literally fights 223 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,719 Speaker 1: World War two in the early comic books. I mean, 224 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: every film has a theme, but why state it, why 225 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: give voice to it? Why not let people enjoy the ride, 226 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: and if the story is artful enough, they'll get your message. 227 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 4: Yeah, I agree. I mean great art is that. 228 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 5: You know. 229 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 4: I remember when Dead Men Walking came out probably twenty 230 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 4: years ago, and it was so well crafted. No matter 231 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 4: where you stood on the death penalty, you could get 232 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 4: nourishment from that movie. You can kind of point to 233 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 4: it and say that's why I believe X. And great 234 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 4: art does that, and you don't need these kind of lectures. 235 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 4: And again that you know, James Gunn is a comic 236 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 4: book geek and God, God bless him for that, Like 237 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 4: he loves this genre and that's a good thing. And 238 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 4: the fact that he doesn't realize that these comments are 239 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 4: gonna ricochet around social media and YouTube in the days 240 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:47,599 Speaker 4: and weeks. 241 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 7: Following his movie. 242 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 4: He must know that. He must realize, so, which again 243 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 4: brings me to the what else is he thinking? 244 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 7: And I don't know the answer to that. 245 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 4: I'd have to chat with him over a beer. Yeah, 246 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 4: but I almost think there's something else in play. The 247 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 4: role out to this movie has been very positive, very uplifting, 248 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 4: very apolitical, and then now bang, you get this. 249 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: In the eleventh hour, they come in and kind of 250 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 1: you know, spoil all of that great marketing. Actually, Superman, 251 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,839 Speaker 1: by the way, just for the record, Christian Superman is 252 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: a refugee, not an immigrant. But let's get to what 253 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: actor David Cornswitt, he is the new Superman. This is 254 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 1: what he had to say about his alter ego, who originally, 255 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: as I mentioned earlier, stood for truth, justice in the 256 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: American way. 257 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 5: When he doesn't have to be Superman, when he doesn't 258 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 5: have to be this calm, reassuring presence to the public, 259 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 5: when he doesn't have to symbolize safety and security and 260 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 5: truth and justice and all those good things, he still 261 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 5: feels those values. 262 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 4: Just can't say it, christian't say it? 263 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: Why the abandonment of the core of this character the 264 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: American way? What's so dirty about that? 265 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? 266 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 4: I don't know, And you know, I don't think that 267 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 4: saying it is going to chase anyone away, But going 268 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 4: out of your way not to say it definitely leaves 269 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 4: a bad taste in your mouth. I think it just does. 270 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 4: And can't we have an American Hero? It's okay, you know, 271 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 4: if you live in Italy, if you live in Spain, 272 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 4: other countries, you could appreciate an American hero. Who fights 273 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 4: for justice. That's why is that repulsive? 274 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 2: It's not. 275 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 4: They could say, Okay, this is an American character who 276 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 4: happens to be very entertaining who I've followed for years, 277 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 4: and that's okay. If there was a Spain based hero 278 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 4: who was very loyalistic to his country and we loved 279 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 4: him for years, and I wouldn't be upset about that 280 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 4: and go see that movie. 281 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: Well, you saw some of those maneuvering and narrative building 282 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: during the last Captain America relaunch, remember, and Gun's kind 283 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: of saying the same thing. He says Superman is quote 284 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: a hero for the world, and he's got the marketing 285 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: to back it up. 286 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 2: And my question is, why is he wearing red, white, 287 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 2: and blue? Why aren't you wear Nato Perrywinkle blue? Is 288 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: your costume the blue helmet? 289 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: Yeah? 290 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:02,719 Speaker 7: No, it's a great it's a. 291 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 4: Great point, and it's so fascinating. But you know, this 292 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 4: is the culture of Hollywood where that's what you're taught 293 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 4: to think, that's what you're told to say, that's what 294 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 4: you hear NonStop. I mean, I don't think James Gunn 295 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 4: has probably heard a powerful oppositional point of view on 296 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 4: illegal immigration, He has no idea. 297 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 7: He thinks it's just mean. Instead of saying, well. 298 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 4: Maybe it's kind to the people who are here, or 299 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 4: maybe it avoids sex trafficking and child trafficking on the border, 300 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 4: or maybe it avoids the debts of illegal immigrants who 301 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 4: are killing people. That's kindness too, But he says, screw them, 302 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 4: just blunting. 303 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, if anybody's been down to the border 304 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: as I have, and you see these young girls who 305 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: have been trafficked, and that's it. They pay to be trafficked, essentially, 306 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: and then when they get here they are used. 307 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 2: In the most horrible ways. 308 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: I mean, there's nothing kind about that, nothing kind about that. 309 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: And we as a govern we as a people, should 310 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: should do all we can to stop that illegal trafficking 311 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: and find a way that's orderly for people who want 312 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: to come here. But we must have an orderly path, 313 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: and you can't just crash in or pay your way 314 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: into the country. It ends badly, and I think everybody's 315 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: just got to look at the facts and say, this 316 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: is a terrible situation. But whatever it is, it ain't kind. 317 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: And while we're on this, I also read where there's 318 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: some foreign countries fictional foreign countries in the Superman movie, 319 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: and a smaller country wants to blow up another that 320 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: apparently is not well armed, which some say in some 321 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: of the articles I've read and some people I've spoken to, 322 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: they say it's a doppelganger for Israel. Now, Gun tried 323 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: to swap that idea away. But how ironic is it 324 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: Christian that the creators of Superman were two Jewish boys 325 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: who often had him confronting Hitler himself in the early comics. 326 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: And now you might have a commentary on Israel in 327 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: the middle of this movie. 328 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, Gun has denied it, but then many 329 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 4: people will read its exactly that. Yeah, listen, I've been 330 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 4: covering Hollywood for the last two plus years after the 331 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 4: attacks of October seventh. Then to say that the industry 332 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 4: in general has been disappointing, cold, dismissive, ignoring the hostages. 333 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 4: I could go on and on about how this industry 334 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 4: has not risen the occasion, with very few exceptions like 335 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 4: John Andrassic and Patricia Heaton, Deborah Messing. It's been shocking 336 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 4: and just to see this to have a storyline that 337 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 4: even comes close to echoing those real world situations. And 338 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 4: then think how it could be interpreted. 339 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 7: Just listen, we just. 340 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 4: Saw a Top Gun Maverick and that kept the bad 341 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 4: guys so to speak, so generic, yeah, and so vague 342 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 4: that anyone could buy into the story. But this seems 343 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 4: much more specific. 344 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 7: And again he can deny it. 345 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 4: Who knows what he was thinking, and maybe he wants 346 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 4: us to believe his denial. 347 00:16:58,360 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 2: M h. Yeah. 348 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: There's some back forth between Lois Line and Superman about 349 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: whether he should intervene or he got involved, and whether 350 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: he should get more involved. 351 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 2: There's this long debate in the middle of the movie. 352 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: I just I do wonder and we'll get to some 353 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: of the early reviews in a moment. 354 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 2: But tell me what's working. 355 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: You know, you cover these movies day in and day 356 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: out as they're released. Why did F one work? Why 357 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: is that striking a chord? And again, as you mentioned, 358 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,120 Speaker 1: they haven't they still haven't reached profitability yet. 359 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 360 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 4: Well, I mean it works because it's a very engaging, 361 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 4: fun movie. It actually is from the director of Top 362 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 4: Gun Maverick, and it has a little bit of that 363 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 4: DNA in the movie, an older person trying to recapture 364 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 4: his glory. Just the filmmaking between the slick visuals and 365 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 4: the heart stamping action. It just has that same sense 366 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 4: of exhilaration of an old school blockbuster, the kind that's 367 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 4: not divisive that you're rooting for the hero. There's a 368 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 4: generational divide. Brad pitt character is competing against a much 369 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 4: younger driver, much like in Havegun Maverick, the Miles Teller 370 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 4: character is competing with our hero. So there's lots of 371 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 4: similarities there. But it's just a good time at the movies. 372 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 4: It is not as good as Top Gun Maverick. It 373 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 4: doesn't have the complexity, but it's engaging. And Brad Pitt 374 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 4: is playing a movie star. Yeah, he's a handsome guy. 375 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 4: He's leaning into his charisma and those things matter too. 376 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 4: Some directors just lean into that. You know, Quentin Tarantino 377 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 4: when he made Once Upon a Time in Hollywood made 378 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 4: Brad Pitt look like Brad Pitt. I know that sounds easier, 379 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,239 Speaker 4: said that sounds like an easy thing to do. But 380 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 4: you know, if you just kind of say, hey, these 381 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 4: are beautiful people, we're gonna enjoy them on screen, this 382 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 4: is escapism and that's what that's all about. 383 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 7: So it's making a lot of money. 384 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 4: But again, the budget's so big, it's going to be 385 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 4: complicated whether it can make a profit. 386 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: It's amazing. 387 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: I mean, when you're dealing with four hundred million dollar budgets, well, 388 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: how do you make this money back? I mean, it's 389 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: in this marketplace where people just aren't going to the theaters 390 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: as they once were, which I frankly I mourn the 391 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: movie going experience. 392 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: We went to see F one. Theater was half empty. Christian. 393 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: You know, this is a week weeks ago when the 394 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: movie opened, and I was just kind of it takes 395 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: away from the enjoyment. 396 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 2: Because you're not sharing it with as many people. 397 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 4: I agree, it's one of the great things about seeing 398 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 4: it in a theater if it's a comedy, if it's 399 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 4: a horror movie, the chills around you, that laughs around you, 400 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 4: the sense of excitement. 401 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 7: You just can't do that at home. You get the 402 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 7: big screen. 403 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:26,880 Speaker 4: I know it's comfortable. 404 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 7: I have my own big. 405 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 4: Screen, but it's not like the theater that communal experience 406 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 4: is amazing. 407 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: Well, I think it's too comfortable. You know, they've tried 408 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: to turn it into your home basement, you know, with 409 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 1: the recliner chairs and the lazy boy. I don't like 410 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: all that sit up straight. You don't have to eat 411 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: a gallon of coke and popcorn. Just sit and watch 412 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: the movie and sit up straight and enjoy yourselves and 413 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: act like human beings. 414 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 2: I've not seen. 415 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: This movie yet, Christian but the Superman Movie, but I've 416 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: read some of the early reviews. The Daily Beast broke 417 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: the embargo and released their review, then they took it down. 418 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: It reads this way, the terrible New Superman Movie is 419 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: the final nail in the grave of the superhero genre. 420 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: It claims that guns film is quote a Saturday Morning cartoon, 421 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: overstuffed and Helter Skelter come to life, and it's jammed 422 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: with new characters Mister Terrific and Supergirl and Maxwell Lord, 423 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 1: on and on. Basically, they're introducing its drive bys of 424 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: the entire New DC universe. 425 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 2: Your thoughts, Yeah, you know. 426 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 4: I haven't been able to screen the movie. Actually, I'm 427 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 4: based in Denver, Colorado. They're not screening for critics here, 428 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 4: which is very weird. We get access to almost no 429 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 4: no answer, but we get access to almost every new movie. 430 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 4: But the trailers suggest that the clips the lack of 431 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 4: gravitas the Quippi humor. Listen, I think you introduced the 432 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 4: super Dog crypto maybe in the third or fourth sequel, 433 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 4: not out of the gate, and it looks like a 434 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 4: cgi dog to boot, which is like not cool. So listen, 435 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 4: I don't want to pre judge the movie, but the 436 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 4: snippets don't inspire me. Even the back and forth between 437 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 4: Lois Lane here again. You and I just saw the 438 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 4: original that those scenes were just poetic. They had to 439 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 4: strength to them. There was chemistry between the leads. 440 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 7: It was sweet. 441 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 4: It had so much to it in these scenes. The 442 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 4: snippets we've seen so far, it just seemed like a 443 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 4: snippet from a TV show. It just seems as simple 444 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 4: and as basic as that, and Superman shouldn't be basic. 445 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 4: I'm sorry, He's He's something different. 446 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: No, the original Superman is. You're right, it's so complex. 447 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: You've got the great. 448 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 2: Hagman playing Alex Luthor. 449 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: You've got Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeves who really do 450 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: at moments evoke those old slapstick romantic comedies from the 451 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: twenties and thirties. I mean, there's a lot happening in 452 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: that movie, and Donnerd does such a good job of 453 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 1: balancing it all the fantastical with Marlon Brando on the 454 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: other Planet, and I mean, it's an incredible movie. And 455 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: so with all of that to live up to, you 456 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: do wonder why he decided to go down this path. 457 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: And it looks like I will tell you. I spoke 458 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: to an executive at Warner Brothers who said it's silly 459 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: and there are way too many characters. That was his 460 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: review of the movie. Now again, I haven't seen it, 461 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: That's what he said. I have to say. And I 462 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: know people love dogs. You mentioned this a moment ago. 463 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 1: I know people love dogs, but why does Superman's new dog, 464 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: Crypto so annoy me? 465 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 2: Crypto? 466 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 5: What the hey, dude, I thought you destroyed the whole 467 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 5: Superman Robots. 468 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 2: I thought I told you to keep an eye on him. 469 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 7: We feed the K ninety, but he is unruly. 470 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 2: Superman Robots. 471 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: But maybe it's Superman's dialogue and not the dog that 472 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: annoys me. Dude, it just doesn't feel right. 473 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 7: Chrishnan, Yeah, it's funny. 474 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 4: When I first saw the trailer for the film, I thought, 475 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 4: but Superman has the same as hairstyle as my teenage son. 476 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 4: I'm like, you know, I mean, why do you want 477 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 4: to kind of evoke this very moment. Superman is bigger 478 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 4: than that. You can watch the original movie and I 479 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 4: know it's in the nineteen seventies and you'll see the 480 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 4: dated references, but it doesn't feel like a period piece. 481 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 7: It just feels like Superman. And I don't know. 482 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 4: Again, these are little things and we nitpicked that. And 483 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 4: at the end of the day, if I sit in 484 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 4: my seat and I'm wildly entertained, I'm rooting for that. 485 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 4: I ultimately want that to happen for us all to 486 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 4: be surprised. But it's also hard not to read the 487 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 4: tea leaves. 488 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, Christian, this is like adding bat Might, you know, 489 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: as a sidekick to Batman. Batmight was kind of this 490 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,479 Speaker 1: little alien fan of Batman. We don't know quite what 491 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: it was, but it showed up in some of the 492 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: animated iterations of Batman in the comic books. But it's 493 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: a side character. You don't want to see that front 494 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 1: and center when you're doing a reboot. 495 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 7: Yeah, I'm a dog person. 496 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 4: I'm your charget audience, and I'm like, wait, stop, no, 497 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 4: don't need it. 498 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 2: That's not okay. I'm glad I'm not alone. 499 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: Thank you for sympathizing would be on this. I know 500 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: my wife will hate me for saying them. Not about 501 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: it though, but it is annoying. What's your final gut 502 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: on this, Christian? I mean, James Gunn Superman. There's a 503 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: lot riding on this. How do you think it's going 504 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: to impact the DC Universe reboot overall? 505 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 4: I think it's almost too big to fail. I think 506 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 4: they have to push forward to a degree. I think 507 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 4: there's such curiosity about the film that it'll do at 508 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 4: least well in the generic terms. I just don't think 509 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 4: it'll be huge unless it has that really solid word 510 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 4: of mouth. Remember the mouth is still the magic. Obviously, 511 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 4: just go on social media, spread it. 512 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 7: Far and wide. 513 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 4: But you know, we've seen movies like Tapka, Maverick, and 514 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 4: even Sinners, which is a very well constructed movie, and 515 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,239 Speaker 4: people told their friends this is terrific, this is an 516 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 4: A plus vampire movie, and they came. So I think 517 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 4: if people are curious, they'll check it out, and then 518 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 4: if they really enjoy it, then it may build into 519 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 4: the movie of the summer. But as it is, I 520 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 4: just see it as a kind of a blockbuster without 521 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 4: a capital B. 522 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,479 Speaker 1: What about the casting? What about this act? I mean, 523 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: he seems a very nice guy, but he's somehow diminished. 524 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 1: He's he looks like tiny in the roll. 525 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 4: To my eye, I'm optimistic about him. I saw him 526 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 4: in a brief role in Twisters, the movie from a 527 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 4: couple of years ago, yes, a year or so ago, 528 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 4: and I thought, wow, he's got a little some screen presence. 529 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 4: So the early buzz is that he does pull it 530 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,120 Speaker 4: off well. But like you said, some of this dialogue 531 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 4: is not helping her. It's just not what's super Listen, 532 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 4: you don't want to say Superman has to be exactly 533 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 4: Christopher Reeve. 534 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 7: Every time. 535 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 4: You do have to have some wiggle room, some creative license. 536 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 7: A new Superman for a new era. 537 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 4: But again, there are certain things that need to be similar, 538 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 4: and I don't see that yet. So I thought that 539 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: Henry Cavill did a fine job, didn't I agree. I 540 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 4: don't think he reinvented the character. I think he kept 541 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 4: it straight in in a way. But also that the 542 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 4: movies didn't even know what to do with him. He 543 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 4: was to write a soup a boy scout hero in 544 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 4: twenty twenty five or whatever. That whenever those movies are 545 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 4: hard is complicated. Hollywood is very cynical it's very edgy, 546 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 4: it's very dark, so even Superman's suit was more of 547 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 4: a darker hue. I just think they were just kind 548 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 4: of flummoxed by him. 549 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: But Zack Schneider at least knew to hip a hat 550 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: to the savior part of the persona. And Henry Cavill 551 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: was so perfect looking that he did look like some 552 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: alien from another at least we hoped he was an alien. 553 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: We hope that out more of those guys running around. 554 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 1: But he was so perfect, you know that there was 555 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: something alien about him every time he walked onto the screen. 556 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: And though he was a bit, he had more reserve 557 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 1: I think than Christopher Reeve, who had much more personality. 558 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 4: Yeah, but even the Heartland scenes in Man of Steel 559 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 4: really registered. I have to say, I am not the 560 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 4: person who cries at movies. 561 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 7: I wish I was that person. 562 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 4: I kind of I'm mad at myself. But when Kevin 563 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 4: Costner said something I can to like, I am your father. 564 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 4: Oh you know, he was kind of looking I got 565 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 4: a loup in my throat. That was a beautiful little scene, 566 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 4: a moment that I really struck to. 567 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 2: The care mention it. 568 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, great moment. No, I think it's a fine movie. 569 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: I don't know why you had to reinvent it again 570 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: to tell you the truth. And you know, if I 571 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: were at DC, I would have kept Cavil for a 572 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 1: few more years. 573 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 2: Until the aged out of the world. 574 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: But Hollywood loves to reboot and remake, so we'll see 575 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,719 Speaker 1: what happens with it. Christian Toto, thank you as always 576 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: for being here, and you can find all of Christian's 577 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: reviews and you should check them out at hollywoodintoto dot com. 578 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 2: Christian will check in back with you soon, looking forward 579 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 2: to it. Thank you, my friend. Okay, here's the hole. 580 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 2: I said this about snow White earlier in the year. 581 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 1: Why revive a character or story that you don't really like, 582 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: or worse, one that you aren't going to really be 583 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: true to nor meet the audience expectations for. I mean, 584 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: if you can't get behind truth justice in the American way, 585 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: then find another superhero. 586 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:57,159 Speaker 2: It'll blow up on the big screen. Here's the truth. 587 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 1: Every director has a message there trying to convey. That's 588 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: hardly a newsflash. It's usually a message that guides their vision. 589 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,400 Speaker 1: There's nothing wrong with that, but I question why James 590 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 1: Gunn feels the need to browbeat the audience with his 591 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 1: personal politics and advertise that this is what the movie 592 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: is for and screw off if you don't like it. 593 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: We'll see if audiences respond in kind. My guess is 594 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: this will be one of the biggest films of the summer, 595 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:28,920 Speaker 1: but it could have been even bigger had they left 596 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: politics out of it. And a note to DC Studios, 597 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: if you're going to use the line look up as 598 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: your pitch for your new Superman film, it's probably a 599 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: good idea not to tear the beloved character or the 600 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: audience down. Superman wouldn't like that. I hope you'll come 601 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: back to a Royo Grande soon. Why live a dry, 602 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: constricted life when if you fill it with good things, 603 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: it can flow into a broad, thriving a Royo Grande. 604 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 2: I'm raimingt Arroyo. 605 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: Make sure you subscribe and like this episode. Thanks for 606 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: diving in. We'll see you next. Arroyo Grande is produced 607 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: in partnership with iHeart Podcasts and is available on the 608 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.