|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:29 pm
a quote I really like from actor Michael Caine and wanted to hear opinoins/comments about it
"Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America."
question
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:31 pm
Interesting. And very true, too, as far as I can make out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:22 am
i had never thought of it that way but when i saw it i was like thats just it
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:29 am
cheechoo_chick_14 i had never thought of it that way but when i saw it i was like thats just it Yup. 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:06 pm
While I don't find it to be a great comparison, I think I understand where it's going.
The idea that America views itself as perfect, bright, powerful, and just a force of good in general while in actuality it is powerful and does have good intentions, but it is far shadier than it's willing to admit.
I think it's meant to show that America isn't as one-sided as we might have others believe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:03 pm
frozen_water While I don't find it to be a great comparison, I think I understand where it's going. The idea that America views itself as perfect, bright, powerful, and just a force of good in general while in actuality it is powerful and does have good intentions, but it is far shadier than it's willing to admit. I think it's meant to show that America isn't as one-sided as we might have others believe. Indeed. smile
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:01 pm
cheechoo_chick_14 a quote I really like from actor Michael Caine and wanted to hear opinoins/comments about it "Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America." question I agree with this - as in, being from Australia I know that the rest of the world sees the USA differently to how they see themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:05 am
Melnoli cheechoo_chick_14 a quote I really like from actor Michael Caine and wanted to hear opinoins/comments about it "Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America." question I agree with this - as in, being from Australia I know that the rest of the world sees the USA differently to how they see themselves. And somehow we Americans are pretty much clueless about it, sigh... "Huh? Wha? You mean the rest of the world doesn't view us as the perfect shining example of democracy we'd like to think we are? Why, the very idea! They must all be evil Communists. Oops, I mean, er, evil Arab terrorists since we're supposed to be scared of the Middle East now." stare So, yeah. Anyway, I should probably get off my soapbox. [/end of short pointless rant]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:37 pm
Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong.
That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:27 pm
Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:44 pm
r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop I'm sure the government knows they follow an "ends justify the means" policy, but of course they'll never admit to it. George Bush is not America. The people are America.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:20 pm
r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop I think the 'end justifies the means' thing can relate well to Ra's Al-gul in batman Begins (where America sees itself as Batman but everyone else doesn't) and Batman in The Dark Knight' - if that made any sense?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:54 pm
Melnoli r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop I think the 'end justifies the means' thing can relate well to Ra's Al-gul in batman Begins (where America sees itself as Batman but everyone else doesn't) and Batman in The Dark Knight' - if that made any sense? Ahh, well put. This is actually kinda what I was trying to say. sweatdrop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:16 pm
Mekanikal_Pankake r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop I'm sure the government knows they follow an "ends justify the means" policy, but of course they'll never admit to it. George Bush is not America. The people are America. My point was more how Michael Caine might have made the sort of connection he did than anything else, but I guess that got kinda lost. Oh well. sweatdrop Well, regardless of who or what America really is, George W. Bush still represents the U.S. and I really think he, and the rest of the government, view themselves more as "Superman" and less as "Batman" in the end-- this is of course just my view and I could be wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:42 pm
r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake r_s_boston Mekanikal_Pankake Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong. That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop I'm sure the government knows they follow an "ends justify the means" policy, but of course they'll never admit to it. George Bush is not America. The people are America. My point was more how Michael Caine might have made the sort of connection he did than anything else, but I guess that got kinda lost. Oh well. sweatdrop Well, regardless of who or what America really is, George W. Bush still represents the U.S. and I really think he, and the rest of the government, view themselves more as "Superman" and less as "Batman" in the end-- this is of course just my view and I could be wrong. Agreed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
