Saw “Superman” last weekend, and to be honest, I am conflicted about how to write about it.
About an hour into it, I was pretty much done. When it was over, I was glad to be out of the theater. I pretty much hated it.
That said, I’m aware that “Superman” is a big hit. Not that this is an indicator of quality. But clearly someone likes it.
I’ve thought about it. The thing is, there actually are some very nice moments in the movie. David Corenswet is convincing as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman. Rachel Brosnahan is very good as Lois Lane. And I loved Krypto, the Super-Dog, created using CGI.
I’m pretty sure that I didn’t respond to the movie because it is so much like a comic book – characters largely are drawn rather than portrayed, and the narrative seems designed for people with short attention spans and a yen for playing video games.
None of which is bad. Or wrong. Just not for me.
I do find myself wondering if I’m incapable of getting outside of myself when it comes to these kinds of movies. Should I be able to enjoy something for what it is, rather than what I want it to be? Do I have the right to demand of a filmmaker – or a novelist, or even a store designer for that matter – that they need to build things according to my taste? That they need to live up to my expectations in their work?
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having expectations. And certainly taste is a subjective thing. My sainted father-in-law used to say, “Where taste is concerned, there is no dispute.”
I certainly have the right to choose the films I see, the books I read, or the stores I patronize. But do I need to be more open-minded about my choices and preferences?
I will continue to cogitate on this.
That’s it for now.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you next week.
Sláinte!!
The post OffBeat: “De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum” appeared first on MNB.
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