I think there’s tons of social context to almost all comics on certain levels…just not the extent we need to “mine” every comic book flick for slights and grievances
This describes me. After 10 years of IMO mostly mediocre original movies, Pixar doesn't have the pull it once did for me. Coupled with trailers that didn't look appealing, I didn't have much interest in Elio. I only saw it because of the positive word-of-mouth (and the kids wanted to lol). But it's still just one positive after a string of meh so we'll see what happens next year.
But conflating the purpose and intent of Kal-El being sent to Earth with the modern commentary around immigrants/immigration is dishonest. “Superman is an immigrant.” Great, so we’re Nikola Tesla, Sacco and Vanzetti, Bob Hope, and the 9/11 hijackers. Asserting it so broadly renders it meaningless, and then trying to shoehorn it into the contemporary immigration debate also feels silly (and foolish, as @AdventureHasAName points out). It’s probably the most charged contemporary political / social issue now, and very divisive, and has swayed elections.
Taking away for a second that I have seen the film, I think the message here has been co-oped by certain parties (not here) to spread a bunch of misinformation about the character. Gunn's comments for whatever they are worth is not inaccurate no matter the context of the story being told in this particular film. Again the motivations for Jor-El sending Kal-El to Earth in this movie are irrelevant to the main point, which is that Superman is and will forever be an immigrant. Also as the saying goes, the sins of the father are not the sins of the son, which actually IS relevant to this movie. But him being an immigrant has been part of the core of the character since the beginning, and has been used in many Superman stories lines before this movie. Heck Lex's main gripe for as long as I can remember about Superman is that he is not "of this planet", if that is not an allegory about immigration I don't know what is. And the fact that some want to make that a politically charged situation within the context of today's politics says more about them than the origins of the character, this movie, or even Gunn's comments.
I’m definitely over movies (and the watchers) attempting to mine the present for past grievances…
One doesn't have to actually participate in such activities if one doesn't want to. One can actually shut their brain off when going to the movies and actually just enjoy it without trying to find something to be mad at. Shocking I know, but it is possible. Did I go to see Avatar to have a discussion after about the finer points of environmentalism and anti-imperialism, no I went to go see blue aliens. So the fact that it has those themes and messages in the movie doesn't mean I have to even acknowledge it.
I disagree…. I think Gunn’s comments was deliberate and smart…. Touch on a hot button issue….get butts in the door… and if people enjoy it…. Word of mouth will do the rest.,,How many times have we heard people had no idea a film was released… well everyone knows Superman arrives this weekend… I believe the film will earn more Because of Gunn’s comments
But that’s not what happens, or is implicitly happening here thanks to (Sean) Gunn’s effort to be invited to more parties for some reason other than his proximity to his brother. “Oh you like Superman? You know he’s an immigrant too - so why do you continue to support (politician of choice)?”
Might want to get that looked at....
There is exactly zero evidence that touching a hot button issue "gets butts in the door" and there is a ton of evidence that suggests it can tank a film.
Sean's comments came later after all the hoopla has already started, and were in defense of his brother (for good or bad) when asked about the hoopla surrounding James' comments. So it was always going to be a thing, no matter if Sean had commented or not. But that does not mean one has to participate in it and can just go see the movie without having to think about such discourse.
Who coined the term there is no such thing as bad publicity? Oh yeah, PT Barnum, who got butts in the door by stoking the flames of negativity about him in the press.
Okay ... name the film in the last decade that made money because it touched a hot button issue.
Hmm, someone just brought up the "Force is Female" meme, so I'll go with ST.
