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A fantastic documentary of the history of Superman from it's beginning in the comics, to a radio program, to a TV series and finally to the movies.
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I thought this show was awesome! I've been a fan of Superman for about 25 years, and this featured every Superman since the very beginning. Comic books, early serial series Superman Kirk Alyn, George Reeves,(Adventures of Superman, in the 50's,) Christopher Reeve, who starred in the Superman movies made from 1978 to 1987 was mentioned. (Despite what you may think, there is no relation between the two). Dean Cain, who played Superman in one of my most favorite TV shows ever - Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Not to mention Tom Welling, (in my current favorite TV show), and Brandon Routh. And for the fans of Lois Lane, she was featured as well, from Noel Neill to Martgot Kidder, to Kate Bosworth. If you can't afford the DVD, it's airing on A&E, which is where I saw it. Definitely worth viewing, for the supreme Superman fan!! You will not be disappointed!
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I love Superman and I really re3commend Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman ~ Kevin Burns (III)
Well done, professional, entertaining! The whole concept of good overcoming evil is my forte! I am a Super Superman fan from way back!
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This documentary is a great overview of the history of the Superman legacy over the years. My only nitpick is that they disparage the movie serials of Kirk Alyn. Come on, he was the first person to play Superman in live action! While the serials "Superman" and "Atom-man vs. Superman" may be corny to some modern eyes, they both added to the legend of Superman. They are a special part of the body of work that is Superman. Other than this mis-step I was satisfied with the production.
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This is an excellent documentary about Superman with some very interesting commentary from KISS' Gene Simmons.
In a 2002 issue of 'Mojo' Magazine, Gene Simmons was asked to name his greatest hero. He replied, simply: "Superman". Later that same year, Gene told TV Guide: "TV was the biggest influence on my life. As a kid I was fascinated with Superman, starring George Reeves. Superman was an immigrant like me, but he didn't just come from another land. He came from another planet. And I saw myself as Superman." Gene Simmons, as a Jewish immigrant to America, was always drawn to the 'otherness' of Superheroes (Simmons once mentioned that superheroes inspired him to believe that anyone can do anything, even if one is from another country or another planet. Magic can happen and dreams can become real - even if one is the ultimate outsider).
But perhaps more than any other superhero - Superman is the figure with whom Simmons identified with most strongly; and the reasoning seems obvious: Superman, like Gene, is not only the ultimate immigrant.....but is arguably the ultimate JEWISH immigrant.
*Superman was created by two nice Jewish boys Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster in 1930s post-depression middle America. The comic book industry was dominated by Jews.
*Superman's arrival and subsequent success is the story of Jewish immigration and achievements into the US. He is taken in by a kind couple in a strange land and given a chance to make good.
*His story is also the Moses story. Moses is rescued from the waters in a basket. Superman is rescued from a field in a basket-like spacecraft.
*He never forgets who he is: he is being a stranger and being at home simultaneously. This is the heart of Jewish tradition, where every Jew is a boundary crosser and Jews remember the stranger and themselves as strangers.
*The Jewish answer to Nietzsche's superman who was above moral issues; Superman in contrast is immersed in moral issues.
*Jewish spiritual and mystic dimensions to Superman's superpowers, such as the Golem, the creature formed out of clay who would throw himself off buildings and similar feats to protect the Jews of Prague; and the rabbis who were granted supernatural powers by virtue of their holiness.
*His being in the diaspora, his need for an alter ego and to fit in and be useful without being noticed is an allegory of Jewish assimilation (especially in the 1930s when anti-semitism in the US was rife.)
*Kal-El is Superman's original, Hebrew-like name which was changed to Anglo-sounding Clark Kent as soon as he arrived in the US.
*Superman visits the bottled city of Kandor (the only remaining city of his home planet Krypton, shrunk and inside a bottle) just like diaspora Jews visit Israel.
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