What happened to Oliver? So many questions....

I'll agree with your call on Mark Hamill doing the voice of the Joker. I loved him, I will never get enough of him, but he retired and we have to just accept that someone else will have to take up the reigns. Let's give the next guy some support and accept that he will be a little different from Hamill.

Your second point is technically correct...but Superman isn't working for "The Man" he is working for the interests of the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Your third point is flat out wrong. The Government is simply representative of its population. Its not the "Government" that wants the supers gone...its the groups of concerned mothers that Clark talks about, its the men on the street that, when interviewed, demand that Batman stop using violence to curb violence and its Robin's parents who would rather sit in front of their TV, smoke pot, and complain about how criminals only exist because of our fascist government.

While I'll admit that the comic book is better as saying this than this cartoon, all the pieces are there to put together if you watch closely enough. The average people rejected the supers because of jealousy, collateral damage and rampant liberalism (idealized by Robin's parents and the Joker's psychiatrist). This is said clearly throughout the film, little bits at a time, by most of the major characters.

Once the public reject the supers and elected politicians that supported that viewpoint, Superman accepted that judgement and assisted the people's desire for the rest of the supers unwilling to do so, to retire. The supers who didn't retire were "persuaded" more forcefully (like cutting off Oliver's arm).

So while you are technically right with your post, you've completely missed the point Miller is making...the Government isn't evil and neither is Superman. The American people have just turned into weak, apathetic duchebags who "Don't want to be reminded that giants walk the earth". Superman is following the law, just as he always has, and Batman is breaking it, just as he always has and, for the first time it has brought the two of them into direct conflict. The real difference between the two is that Batman is a symbol for taking charge of your life and doing something about it (that is in his origin story) while Superman sees his roll as a kind of police officer who is willing to work invisibly if that is the will of the people (the American Way).

BTW...you guys do realize that Superman wins in the end of this right???

Clark wanted Batman to stop being so "loud" with his heroics and, at the end, Bruce fakes his death and begins teaching others how to make small but important differences. Batman does kick the crap out of Superman...but Clark's wink, smile and, most importantly, not telling every that Bruce is alive says it all. As long as Batman stays retired and Bruce inspires in secret...everything is just fine.






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There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who get binary and those who don't.