September 29, 2005
Superman II Redux
The 5th season premiere of Smallville airs tonight.
I am sure that people who read this blog have wide ranging opinions about this show. It does tend to gravitate toward some less than stellar elements at times (WB-ish teen sex soap opera, attempts at Buffy-ish pop culture wit minus the wit, the worst characterization of Lana Lang in Superman history).
But when the show taps into its roots, into the Superman mythology and into the look and style of the 1978 Richard Donner film, the show soars into heights I have rarely seen on televison. There really are moments of pure TV gold.
For instance, Clark's leap of a tall building in Season 2's "Insurgence" is actually a more satistying moment than Tobey Macquire's leap in Spiderman. Clark's dive into a raging twister to save Lana, the introduction of Christopher Reeve and the John William's theme music, an epic fight sequence between Clark (under the influence of Kryptonite) and his father Jonathon, the slow turn to the dark side by Lex Luthor that rivals anything in Star Wars, well written encounters between Clark and future DC characters like Perry White and the Flash, an amazing first flight sequence. These things make Smallville well worth watching for any Superman fan. When they get things right, they get them really right.
And tonight promises to be one of the most epic turning points in the history of the show for those who are interested. Clark will discover the Fortress of Solitude. Clark will lose his powers (like in Superman II). Clark will share his secret with Chloe (my favorite character by the way, the "proto-Lois.")Kryptonian criminals crash land to earth escaping the "Phantom Zone" (like Superman II.) This Kryptonian ship also unveils.....Braniac (played by James Marsters, "Spike" on Buffy). Lex starts taking giant leaps to the dark side.
This show has so much mythology and forward movement in the plot that I feel like I would pay money to see it (well, maybe thats pushing it.) But I hope to find somebody on campus who gets the WB. Not a whole lot of cable or even basic television around Cono. Any fans out there, let me know what you think if you see it.
Posted by todd at September 29, 2005 12:00 PM