Spiritual Review of "Superman Returns" by Ramesh C. Reddy

Plot Synopsis:
In ‘Superman Returns’, Superman/Clark Kent (played by Brandon Roth) returns from the destroyed planet of Kryptonite. Lex Luthor (played by Kevin Spacey) escapes and finds Superman’s crystal home of solitude. In the process, Luthor discovers secrets from the planet Krypton and decides to use those secrets to take over the world. But, Superman stands in his way. A battle ensures between Luthor and Superman and Superman finally wins as Lois Lane helps him.

Content Review:
The movie is rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements. It addresses issues such as grace, salvation, self-sufficiency, good v.s. evil, life, death, faith, and sexuality. It is a movie that drags but exhibits excellent spiritual implications. There is no humor in the movie compared to the late Christopher Reeve’s ‘Superman’ movies. However, because of the potent spiritual implications this movie is worth watching.

Spiritual CONNECTIONS - SPOILER ALERTS:

SPOILER ALERT I:
When Clark Kent returns after a 5-year absence, he sees an editorial written by Lois Lane called “Why the world doesn’t need Superman” which won the Pulitzer Prize. Kent is baffled by the editorial.

In the same way, many people make the sad case, “Why the world does not need Jesus Christ”

Lane let her hurt about feeling abandoned by Superman to make her write that column. She did not seem to care what was going around her. She felt Superman was not needed anymore and the world can still function without him. Yet, we see in the movie, the number of times Superman had to come to the rescue of people about to perish. On their own, they would have perished. But, when they took Superman’s help, they got renewed life.

Sadly, many people think they can go on in life without needing Jesus Christ. They do not realize that they will perish without Jesus Christ! It is because the enemy is like a roaring lion waiting to kill, steal, and destroy those who are not protected by Jesus Christ and covered by His precious cleansing blood over their sins. Just as Superman came to the rescue of people needing help, Jesus came to the rescue of people perishing in this world. Jesus came from Heaven to redeem humanity. Those that accept Jesus’ free gift of grace and mercy receive Eternal Life and are rescued from eternal death. This happens as people who are perishing cry out for help.

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (John 1:12, NIV)

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4, NIV)

“Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.” (Psalm 102:1, NIV)

Spoiler Alert II:
Superman in learning that Lois Lane does not love him but has given her allegiance to someone else is deeply hurt and leaves the place he was watching her from. He is reminded of what his father told him as he keeps flying over humanity.

While Jesus walked the earth and helped people, He still was not loved by the people of the world. This hurt Jesus! He also left places where the people did not want him there.

"Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith." (Mark 6:4-6, NIV)

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:10-11, NIV)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' (Luke 13:34-35, NIV)

“At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” (John 8:59, NIV)

Spoiler Alert III:
His [Superman’s] father’s words that resonated in him were something like “human beings, to be good need to be shown the way and their path guided.” After that comes to his mind, Superman decides to go back to the people of the world including being there for Lois Lane because his father wanted him to be on earth to show the right path to the people of the world.

I am reminded of how we need Jesus to be good in our lives. We need Jesus to show us the Way and the Truth to have guidance in our Life. Jesus wants to provide this guidance for us. Even when we go our own way, He is so merciful and there for us without abandoning us. It is Father God's love for us that Jesus came into this world to become its Savior to all who cry for help.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV)

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17, NIV)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8, NIV)

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, NIV)

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, NIV)

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” (Matthew 12:35, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT IV:
Superman returns to Lois Lane and ask her to come with him but does not force her to come with him. She does and he takes her to the sky. From there, he asks her if she can hear anything. She replies, ‘No’. He tells her that he can constantly hear all of their cries for a Savior. He then tells Lois Lane that ‘the world does need a Savior” Lois Lane cannot hear the cries of all the people because she is not attuned to all of them. But, Superman with super hearing can hear those cries.

In the same way, our Lord Jesus Christ hears the cries of the people for a Savior. He becomes the Savior knowing that the world does need a Savior. However, he will not force himself upon anyone to be their Savior. Jesus Christ wants to be the Savior of the world. The people of the world should accept the free gift of grace Jesus gives. Jesus will not abandon the world but be there to rescue people.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Psalm 19:10, NIV)

“They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42, NIV)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT V:
Lois Lane decides to smoke anytime she is so stressed. Superman however blows the fire out so she cannot have her cigarette lit. When Lois Lane sees Superman, she forgets about her problems and cravings because her focus becomes on Superman.

This is very interesting and has wonderful implications spiritually. When we are going through problems and are stressed, it can be easy to turn to negative things like smoking, drinking, etc to relieve the stress but we will also drown ourselves in our problems. Jesus does not want that for us. When we are stressed and have problems, He wants us to turn to Him especially at those times. Jesus wants us to focus on Him so we do not focus on the problems but have faith that our Lord and Savior will fix it.

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15, NIV)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:4, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT VI:
When Superman goes to rescue humanity from the destruction it is headed towards, Lex Luthor beats him badly and just as nails are pounded from a hammer, Luthor pounds Kryptonite into Superman after torturing him physically. Even though Superman knew that to protect the people of the earth, he would have to face his greatest threat, that of Kryptonite and death, he decided to sacrifice himself for humanity.

This reminded me of what Jesus Christ went through for us. Jesus was beaten badly and nails were pounded into his hands and feet as His precious cleansing blood flowed for us from One who did no wrong but endured the cross so we would not be gone. Jesus came to rescue humanity. Jesus knew He alone was sent into the world to rescue humanity but for the rescue mission to happen, He would have to become the sacrificial Lamb of God. So, Jesus took it upon Himself to go to the Cross and shed His blood. For His blood alone could redeem humanity.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, NIV)

“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, NIV)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.” (Ephesians 1:7, NIV)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13, NIV)

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-21, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT VII:
When Superman dies in the process of rescuing humanity, we see him fall from the sky with arms stretched wide open. Later, they take him to the hospital and the headlines read, “Superman is dead”. There are thousands of people that come when they hear what happened to Superman. The door is guarded by guards so no one can go in. Lois Lane gets permission to go see what happened to Superman. When the nurses’ comes back to the room, only cloth is left. He later appears to Lois Lane! Lois Lane asks him if she will ever see him again and he replies, “I will be around” and flies away going straight up with hands stretched.

This reminds me of Jesus dying on the cross with arms stretched wide to save us from the clutches of Satan. When Jesus dies, he is taken to a tomb and guarded by guards. When women go to attend his body, he is not there to be found but only a white cloth is left. He later appears to one of the woman. He then tells his followers that He will always be with them and ascends into Heaven with arms raised. Jesus’ death and resurrection drew so much crowds because of His sacrifice for humanity. Thank you Jesus!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15, NIV)

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24, NIV)

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.” (John 12:32-34, NIV)

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20, NIV)

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)

Questions to Ponder:

What other spiritual connections have you seen in the movie?
What character do you mostly relate with and why?
What is the role of Satan in the movie and how do you overcome Satan's attacks?
What would your response be to someone who says, “Why the world does not need a Savior?”
Why does the world need a Savior?

Ramesh C. Reddy can be reached at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com

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