"The Death Of Superman" Review (Spoilers)
Apr. 10th, 2019 05:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of DC Super Hero Girls, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, Big Chibi 6: The Shorts, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and American Dad!.
The Death Of Superman
Wow, that was amazing.
I was skeptical about this movie because I thought it was a bit unfair this story got a second bite at the apple after Superman Doomsday blew it so much, but I'm glad they did it anyways. It was an amazingly moving movie because it was set in a continuity we had been in, and knew the characters from, which was Superman Doomsday's entire problem. People can talk smack about the New 52 inspired movie continuity all they want. The truth is, even though it has made its share of bad movies (including the deplorable Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay) it has actual stakes because if a character is killed off, they aren't just going to ignore it in the next movie as if everything is a total reboot. And it kills me it took this long for the DC movies to start their own continuity. Frankly, the continuity itself could be better. I would have rather a continuity set in the world of Crisis On Two Earths, Justice League Doom, or Public Enemies. And yet, for better or worse, it helps the subtext of each movie to be a continuing story. Especially if the movie is good.
That fight was tense and scary and emotional all at the same time. I don't recall a better boarded fight in any of the previous movies, but that's not why I liked it. It had resonance for me. Lois's resignation that the man she loved was dead so she had nothing to live for. Luthor actually being legitimately upset when Superman saves his life. Batman almost losing control upon realizing after the battle what the world has lost. And I think the moment that touched me most was not only Superman saving the little kid on the bridge, but being amazing enough to save the videogame the kid risked his life for. And he gets a hug out of it. I don't know, man. That like GOT to me and spoke to me on a level most of these movies do not. And Bibbo. I always thought the character was a bit of a dumb joke, but I got his selling point here for the first time ever. You feel for the dumb joke characters once you realize things have stopped being funny.
I love that Superman is having a hard time navigating his relationship to Lois, and asks Flash about how he handles his secret ID with Iris. It's the fact that Superman doesn't actually know that marriage and romance is a partnership yet, is why truly makes him seem alien to me, not his secrets.
Speaking of his secrets. My heart broke that the Kents were told to move along at the police line at the end. How messed up is that? Superman's own parents aren't allowed to mourn him at his funeral because of the Secret Identity. It's just unfair on every level, and adding insult to injury to the poor Kents, especially when they are forced to cook up a lame reason on the spot as to why they are so devastated. And I love that the movie did that. A lot about death is unfair, and I imagine the death of a superhero is especially unfair to his loved ones who are forced to keep the secret after the fact.
I love the callback to the "You've got me? Who's got you?" thing from the movie. I love it when DC projects reference other DC projects, especially the classic stuff.
This was my favorite of the In Continuity movies. Even if Reign Of The Supermen winds up sucking, I will always love the first part, regardless. That really spoke to me and moved me. 5 stars. *****.
DC Super Hero Girls "Meet The Cheetah"
Say what you will about Babs, but just the fact that she got that much with that little at the beginning means she's a competent detective.
Cheetah is super cool. I loved the timing of the moment of her and Diana meeting in the air above the camera, and Diana landing perfectly as she falls in a slump. What a well-boarded moment.
All of the praise for this episode aside, though there was one moment I loved above all others.
Back in the day in Static Shock, when Static (high-schooler Virgil Hawkins) was fighting an amoeba monster at his high school, he had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to clear the school. It was a genius, simple solution that I think should be put in all kids' heads when there is an emergency when everyone needs to leave the building. It doesn't always just have to be for fires, or even school shootings. And I remembered that moment so clearly, and was sure I'd see it again at some point with another teenage hero, but it took until 2019 and this show until I did. And I love the fact that it's not something only a superhero can do to save lives. It's something ANYONE can do if there is danger. It's an empowering moment to me that Supergirl saves the rest of the kids in the school not with her superpowers, but with her common sense instead. And I freaking loved that moment. Unlike Static Shock they lingered on it a bit. I liked the fact that Static's show didn't call him unusually cunning for it, or draw any further attention to it. But there's something to be said for pointing out the fire alarm isn't just for fires. I liked both scenarios equally, but I like this one because it wasn't like that one.
Four stars just for that. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "The Getaway"
That was fun. There were some bad things, but when you are enjoying something, you forgive the bad things. That's how it works.
I liked the first half of the episode better than the second.
I love that Rory's simply wants to save Robert Redford and independent film. Do you know what that makes Rory? A hero.
I especially like that the truth bug gets restless when he tells Ray he thinks he's an idiot and when he tells him he doesn't care what he thinks.
Love the stuff with Nora and Gary. Gary continues to be the best supporting player on the show. His actor needs to be made a series regular ASAP.
Bad things? Per usual, the Mona stuff was all kinds of cringe. Plus, I didn't like this version of Nixon. I feel like on an Arrowverse show, they should have gotten someone who looks and sounds like him like they did on Doctor Who. Sort of take the idea a bit seriously. Instead they got a cartoon impressionist, who was about as ridiculous as when Dana Carvey did George Bush on SNL. Yeah, he was funny. But he also wasn't the slightest bit credible, which is a definite fault in the episode.
Gratuitous Coca-Cola product placement is gratuitous.
I can't wait for what they are going to do with Nate and Nora. That hints at some great upcoming conflict. And unlike last week's Ava and Sara stuff, I did not find that misunderstanding forced at all. Similarly, Nate's stuff with Hank felt real and credible as well. Having conflict between two characters is not as hard as last week was making it look. It's even possible to do it if both characters aren't bad. It just takes decent writing and dialogue, which this episode mostly had. I think the Nora and Sara stuff was a low point, but everything else felt organic to me.
That was a very enjoyable episode. ****.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Rapunzaltopia"
Rapunzel should have known the world was fake just by the fact that Eugene and Cass were being nice to each other.
I loved the redo of the proposal in the first episode. Rapunzel's seems to be reacting angrily to two different people as Eugene and the crowd gets restless until she surprisingly accepts. It was a very well done scene.
I love the idea that Rapunzel has always wanted to hit Mother Gothel over the head with a frying pan.
The ending with Cass coming out of that mystery door really worried me. And I'm not sure why.
That was a good episode. Can we move on now? ****.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Lost And Found"
Oh, that's why. I think bad things are about to happen with Cass. I hope I (and Vigor) are wrong.
I loved Eugene saying "No. Denied," to Vigor's mon-key pun.
I like Lord Demanitus' voice. Timothy Dalton was great.
One of the things I love is that Rapunzel and Eugene talk about Eugene not having a birthday as if they are discussing the weather. A different, lesser show would be revealing this fact to Rapunzel at the same time it is the audience. And yet, they've known each awhile. It would have come up before. Instead the show has them discuss it as though Rapunzel has known this for a long time. I love whenever fiction treats the character's dialogue realistically, whether it's information the audience actually knows or not. We learned the fact about Eugene anyways without us thinking Rapunzel doesn't know Eugene at all for supposedly learning it this far in the game.
I loved the designs of the eyeball spiders. They were truly freaky and frightening. Why haven't I seen that design before?
That was pretty good but I'm more worried about Cassandra than ever. ***1/2.
Big Chibi 6: The Shorts "Road Trip"
Great dreams for all of the characters.
Gogo's shows her aggressiveness, and that she scares the rest of the team. I love that Hiro dreams he's tall, and Honey Lemon dreams of her friends puking chicks and bunnies. ("So cute!" Really?) But the most interesting dream for me was Fred's about the reality loop. It fits because Fred is the most meta and self-aware character.
This was a really cool short. ****1/2.
The Simpsons "I'm Just A Girl Who Can't Say D'Oh."
John Lithgow likes to act. Great cameo.
I'm glad Llewellyn Sinclair is starting to become more of a fixture on the show. What else is Jon Lovitz doing?
For the record, age has softened much of the distinctiveness of Lovitz's voice. It's not as bad as Jackie Mason, but at times it's hard to tell it's him.
I think Marge swore entirely too much in this episode.
I really love the idea that both Lisa and Marge are fonts of contradictory quotes from F. Scott Fitgerald. I am one of those people who believes smart people are funnier than dumb people, so I like that Lisa and Marge are both well-read enough for that back-and-forth.
This was a good week. ***1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Long Time Listener, First Time Bob"
Louise was great. This was not a Louise-centric episode and she was merely a supporting character. But Louise is at her best when she is encouraging the adults to misbehave and egging on their meltdowns. And she was having a LOT of fun doing that tonight.
Ron Funches was great as Patrick too.
The thing that amuses me so much about the awful pies is that Linda and Teddy still cannot stop eating them. That is so them.
That was funny. It was close but Bob's Burgers won the night. ****.
American Dad! "The Future Is Borax"
This show has gotten so warped. It's not even TRYING to pretend it's gotten anything less than bananas.
The Barry stuff at the beginning was so freaking crazy. When Stan jumped on the table, I actually jumped. The movement was so suddenly and loud. Not much actually scares me in animation but I got spooked there.
I love the idea that they are rescued by the Travelocity insurance company immediately, which Craig Robinson works at for no reason. That was genius.
I loved Francine telling Stan "You just bickered at me!" Seriously. This show is nuts.
Billy's in Steve's class now!
The show has stopped trying for any semblance of reality of credibility. And it's all the funnier for it. ****.
The Death Of Superman
Wow, that was amazing.
I was skeptical about this movie because I thought it was a bit unfair this story got a second bite at the apple after Superman Doomsday blew it so much, but I'm glad they did it anyways. It was an amazingly moving movie because it was set in a continuity we had been in, and knew the characters from, which was Superman Doomsday's entire problem. People can talk smack about the New 52 inspired movie continuity all they want. The truth is, even though it has made its share of bad movies (including the deplorable Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay) it has actual stakes because if a character is killed off, they aren't just going to ignore it in the next movie as if everything is a total reboot. And it kills me it took this long for the DC movies to start their own continuity. Frankly, the continuity itself could be better. I would have rather a continuity set in the world of Crisis On Two Earths, Justice League Doom, or Public Enemies. And yet, for better or worse, it helps the subtext of each movie to be a continuing story. Especially if the movie is good.
That fight was tense and scary and emotional all at the same time. I don't recall a better boarded fight in any of the previous movies, but that's not why I liked it. It had resonance for me. Lois's resignation that the man she loved was dead so she had nothing to live for. Luthor actually being legitimately upset when Superman saves his life. Batman almost losing control upon realizing after the battle what the world has lost. And I think the moment that touched me most was not only Superman saving the little kid on the bridge, but being amazing enough to save the videogame the kid risked his life for. And he gets a hug out of it. I don't know, man. That like GOT to me and spoke to me on a level most of these movies do not. And Bibbo. I always thought the character was a bit of a dumb joke, but I got his selling point here for the first time ever. You feel for the dumb joke characters once you realize things have stopped being funny.
I love that Superman is having a hard time navigating his relationship to Lois, and asks Flash about how he handles his secret ID with Iris. It's the fact that Superman doesn't actually know that marriage and romance is a partnership yet, is why truly makes him seem alien to me, not his secrets.
Speaking of his secrets. My heart broke that the Kents were told to move along at the police line at the end. How messed up is that? Superman's own parents aren't allowed to mourn him at his funeral because of the Secret Identity. It's just unfair on every level, and adding insult to injury to the poor Kents, especially when they are forced to cook up a lame reason on the spot as to why they are so devastated. And I love that the movie did that. A lot about death is unfair, and I imagine the death of a superhero is especially unfair to his loved ones who are forced to keep the secret after the fact.
I love the callback to the "You've got me? Who's got you?" thing from the movie. I love it when DC projects reference other DC projects, especially the classic stuff.
This was my favorite of the In Continuity movies. Even if Reign Of The Supermen winds up sucking, I will always love the first part, regardless. That really spoke to me and moved me. 5 stars. *****.
DC Super Hero Girls "Meet The Cheetah"
Say what you will about Babs, but just the fact that she got that much with that little at the beginning means she's a competent detective.
Cheetah is super cool. I loved the timing of the moment of her and Diana meeting in the air above the camera, and Diana landing perfectly as she falls in a slump. What a well-boarded moment.
All of the praise for this episode aside, though there was one moment I loved above all others.
Back in the day in Static Shock, when Static (high-schooler Virgil Hawkins) was fighting an amoeba monster at his high school, he had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to clear the school. It was a genius, simple solution that I think should be put in all kids' heads when there is an emergency when everyone needs to leave the building. It doesn't always just have to be for fires, or even school shootings. And I remembered that moment so clearly, and was sure I'd see it again at some point with another teenage hero, but it took until 2019 and this show until I did. And I love the fact that it's not something only a superhero can do to save lives. It's something ANYONE can do if there is danger. It's an empowering moment to me that Supergirl saves the rest of the kids in the school not with her superpowers, but with her common sense instead. And I freaking loved that moment. Unlike Static Shock they lingered on it a bit. I liked the fact that Static's show didn't call him unusually cunning for it, or draw any further attention to it. But there's something to be said for pointing out the fire alarm isn't just for fires. I liked both scenarios equally, but I like this one because it wasn't like that one.
Four stars just for that. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "The Getaway"
That was fun. There were some bad things, but when you are enjoying something, you forgive the bad things. That's how it works.
I liked the first half of the episode better than the second.
I love that Rory's simply wants to save Robert Redford and independent film. Do you know what that makes Rory? A hero.
I especially like that the truth bug gets restless when he tells Ray he thinks he's an idiot and when he tells him he doesn't care what he thinks.
Love the stuff with Nora and Gary. Gary continues to be the best supporting player on the show. His actor needs to be made a series regular ASAP.
Bad things? Per usual, the Mona stuff was all kinds of cringe. Plus, I didn't like this version of Nixon. I feel like on an Arrowverse show, they should have gotten someone who looks and sounds like him like they did on Doctor Who. Sort of take the idea a bit seriously. Instead they got a cartoon impressionist, who was about as ridiculous as when Dana Carvey did George Bush on SNL. Yeah, he was funny. But he also wasn't the slightest bit credible, which is a definite fault in the episode.
Gratuitous Coca-Cola product placement is gratuitous.
I can't wait for what they are going to do with Nate and Nora. That hints at some great upcoming conflict. And unlike last week's Ava and Sara stuff, I did not find that misunderstanding forced at all. Similarly, Nate's stuff with Hank felt real and credible as well. Having conflict between two characters is not as hard as last week was making it look. It's even possible to do it if both characters aren't bad. It just takes decent writing and dialogue, which this episode mostly had. I think the Nora and Sara stuff was a low point, but everything else felt organic to me.
That was a very enjoyable episode. ****.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Rapunzaltopia"
Rapunzel should have known the world was fake just by the fact that Eugene and Cass were being nice to each other.
I loved the redo of the proposal in the first episode. Rapunzel's seems to be reacting angrily to two different people as Eugene and the crowd gets restless until she surprisingly accepts. It was a very well done scene.
I love the idea that Rapunzel has always wanted to hit Mother Gothel over the head with a frying pan.
The ending with Cass coming out of that mystery door really worried me. And I'm not sure why.
That was a good episode. Can we move on now? ****.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Lost And Found"
Oh, that's why. I think bad things are about to happen with Cass. I hope I (and Vigor) are wrong.
I loved Eugene saying "No. Denied," to Vigor's mon-key pun.
I like Lord Demanitus' voice. Timothy Dalton was great.
One of the things I love is that Rapunzel and Eugene talk about Eugene not having a birthday as if they are discussing the weather. A different, lesser show would be revealing this fact to Rapunzel at the same time it is the audience. And yet, they've known each awhile. It would have come up before. Instead the show has them discuss it as though Rapunzel has known this for a long time. I love whenever fiction treats the character's dialogue realistically, whether it's information the audience actually knows or not. We learned the fact about Eugene anyways without us thinking Rapunzel doesn't know Eugene at all for supposedly learning it this far in the game.
I loved the designs of the eyeball spiders. They were truly freaky and frightening. Why haven't I seen that design before?
That was pretty good but I'm more worried about Cassandra than ever. ***1/2.
Big Chibi 6: The Shorts "Road Trip"
Great dreams for all of the characters.
Gogo's shows her aggressiveness, and that she scares the rest of the team. I love that Hiro dreams he's tall, and Honey Lemon dreams of her friends puking chicks and bunnies. ("So cute!" Really?) But the most interesting dream for me was Fred's about the reality loop. It fits because Fred is the most meta and self-aware character.
This was a really cool short. ****1/2.
The Simpsons "I'm Just A Girl Who Can't Say D'Oh."
John Lithgow likes to act. Great cameo.
I'm glad Llewellyn Sinclair is starting to become more of a fixture on the show. What else is Jon Lovitz doing?
For the record, age has softened much of the distinctiveness of Lovitz's voice. It's not as bad as Jackie Mason, but at times it's hard to tell it's him.
I think Marge swore entirely too much in this episode.
I really love the idea that both Lisa and Marge are fonts of contradictory quotes from F. Scott Fitgerald. I am one of those people who believes smart people are funnier than dumb people, so I like that Lisa and Marge are both well-read enough for that back-and-forth.
This was a good week. ***1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Long Time Listener, First Time Bob"
Louise was great. This was not a Louise-centric episode and she was merely a supporting character. But Louise is at her best when she is encouraging the adults to misbehave and egging on their meltdowns. And she was having a LOT of fun doing that tonight.
Ron Funches was great as Patrick too.
The thing that amuses me so much about the awful pies is that Linda and Teddy still cannot stop eating them. That is so them.
That was funny. It was close but Bob's Burgers won the night. ****.
American Dad! "The Future Is Borax"
This show has gotten so warped. It's not even TRYING to pretend it's gotten anything less than bananas.
The Barry stuff at the beginning was so freaking crazy. When Stan jumped on the table, I actually jumped. The movement was so suddenly and loud. Not much actually scares me in animation but I got spooked there.
I love the idea that they are rescued by the Travelocity insurance company immediately, which Craig Robinson works at for no reason. That was genius.
I loved Francine telling Stan "You just bickered at me!" Seriously. This show is nuts.
Billy's in Steve's class now!
The show has stopped trying for any semblance of reality of credibility. And it's all the funnier for it. ****.
