Superman Returns!

One cool spring evening in 1979, my mom, my dad, my brother and I loaded up into my dad's little blue Ford pick-up and went to the Howard Auto Theater, the drive-in movie theater outside of Nashville, AR.

There was a long line of cars backed up the highway waiting to get in, and we waited for what seemed like an eternity for our turn. We finally got in, and my dad got a spot about four rows back, a good view of the screen and close to the bathrooms and concession stand. He backed the truck into the spot, and once we got our hot dogs and popcorn, we all got in the back of the truck, wrapped up in quilts, and waited for the movie to start.

I still remember like it was yesterday that big S-shield flying across the screen followed by the name "Superman" and the first strains of John Williams' magnificent score. For the next two hours, I was as excited as a six-year-old boy can be. Superman was officially one of my heroes.

Well, last night I relived the moment as LaRissa and I took our four kids to see Superman Returns. I had pretty high expectations and was not disappointed. The kids had the same reaction I did as a kid. They thought it was one of the best movies they had ever seen. It was awesome for me to live out the experience with them ("The son becomes the father and the father becomes the son.")

Much has already been said about how Superman is a Christ-figure in the current Superman installment as well as in Richard Donner's Superman: The Motion Picture and Superman II (I highly recommend Stephen Skelton's The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero), so I won't give a detailed analysis. However, there is one moment in the film that is especially worthwhile in this regard. Superman has left earth to try to find the remains of his home planet, Krypton, and has returned to earth after a five year absence. The world has moved on without him, and Lois Lane has written an editorial entitled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Lois tells Superman, "The world doesn't need a savior." Superman responds, "You said the world doesn't need a savior. But I hear people crying out for one every day." Isn't that really what being a Christian in the world is all about? Responding to a world that is crying out for a savior everyday.

I, for one, am so glad Superman has returned!