“Truth. Justice. Anything.”
The tagline on the poster for this summer’s Supergirl film underscores Hollywood’s apparent disdain for traditional American values.
There’s still an ongoing conversation about how the industry has grappled with the “girl” in the title, but it’s clear that the classic Superman motto, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” hasn’t been in vogue for a while. Brandon Routh’s 2006 reboot notably omitted the final part, and the same goes for James Gunn’s recent take.
As for this version of Supergirl, I think the tagline intentionally lacks weight. But honestly, the execution here seems somewhat better, possibly because this Supergirl has an attitude that feels rebellious and free-spirited.
Those who might feel upset by ditching “the American way” could be even more frustrated after watching the trailer. It appears as dark as the current Superman reboot but lacks the same depth and excitement.
At this rate, I predict superhero fatigue could lead to some serious industry changes by 2026…
Jay Zuzuzu
People who are lazy often don’t advance in life. They just hang out in their parents’ basement.
But that’s not quite the case with Jay and Silent Bob. Kevin Smith’s beloved characters don’t seem ready to retire. They’ve already starred in two feature films and have popped up in various Smith projects, such as the “Clerks” and “Mallrats” series.
Recently, Smith hinted that a third Jay and Silent Bob movie, entitled “Jay and Silent Bob: Store Wars,” is in the works. But, honestly, will anyone even care to watch?
The last film, “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,” made under $5 million in 2019. Furthermore, Smith’s recent effort, “The 4:30 Movie,” didn’t even generate enough revenue for BoxOfficeMojo to track.
While Smith might hold a special place in ‘90s cinema with hits like “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy,” his dedicated fanbase has dwindled significantly.
At 55, Smith, along with 51-year-old Jason Mewes, might seem too old for their typical stoner jokes, yet credit is due for finding ways to keep the franchise alive.
Pulp Rub
Quentin Tarantino clearly struggles with holding back his criticisms.
Initially, he intended for The Movie Critic to be his tenth and final film but seems to have had a change of heart and gone back to the drawing board. He’s still taking aim at many facets of Hollywood, including prominent actors.
This tendency puts him at odds with polite celebrity culture, where such criticisms are typically frowned upon.
The director recently criticized actor Paul Dano, describing him as “weak sauce” during a well-publicized podcast. He didn’t stop there, also making unflattering remarks about Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard.
So far, Wilson hasn’t publicly responded, but Lillard did during Galaxycon, a recent Comic-Con style event in Columbus, Ohio. His message? “Well, whatever. Who’s really going to care?” He went on to express how hurtful such comments can be and mentioned, “You wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise.”
Interestingly, the dynamic here is a bit reminiscent of a reality check that’s often present in Hollywood, where not naming certain stars can still convey a lot.
“Jingle” Jerk
The battle over “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” seems to have concluded, with those opposed to it apparently coming out on top. This song continues to be a staple during the holiday season, despite attempts to cancel it. A controversial remake featuring John Legend and Kelly Clarkson didn’t resonate and was quickly forgotten.
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid has now trained her sights on “Jingle Bells,” claiming it has racist undertones, although her reasoning seems rather thin.
She argues that the song’s writer, James Lord Pierpont, had motives linked to racism, citing his background. But, honestly, the song’s lyrics still sound just as innocent as they did back then.
Maybe she could collaborate with Legend and Clarkson to craft a new version herself, who knows; it might end up where the old 8-tracks and pagers lie, in obscurity.
