Up, up and a new way

Our heroes and superheroes are finally embracing gentleness and vulnerability. Is it a bird; is it a plane? It’s about time

- { DEEPANJANA PAL

No one is watching James Gunn's Superman for its romantic subplot, which is why few viewers likely clocked the 11 seconds snipped from Clark Kent (David Corenswet) and Lois Lane’s (Rachel Brosnahan) first kiss. There is a similar cut in the second kiss, before Superman and Lois levitate.

While all the bits with dialogue have been left in, there is still damage being done with these deletions, because these scenes are part of Gunn’s effort to spotlight the “man” rather than the “super”. Yes, his Superman can shoot laser beams from his eyes, but he also fights to save puppies and yearns for time with the woman he loves.

Now, in mainstream Indian cinema, the hero with a softer side is a staple. Our blockbuster star may win every fistfight, but he first loses his heart, sings a song and perhaps even sheds a few tears for his beloved.