Mark the date: 11.11.11

With Bryan Singer's critically maligned (but much adored by me) Superman Returns behind us and the Henry Cavill starring "Man of Steel" directed by Zack Snyder in 2013, here's something to tide superhero fans over for the time being - and it's for a good cause to boot. South African entertainment personality Daniella Pellegrini helped bring the Kryptonian to life by producing the new film, Superman: Requiem. 

The film is labeled a "fan film", and I am often excited to see what those individuals operating outside the studio system have to add to an existing character and its universe. (Remember the Lord of the Rings prequel film some time ago?) You will be able to watch the film for free on the website www.themanofsteelisback.com from the 11th of November.  

From the press release: 

‘Superman: Requiem’, a new feature-length high production value Superman fan-film, will stage its World Premiere in support of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on November 7th at London’s Odeon, Covent Garden. The film continues from events seen in previous films, and Superman has firmly established himself as the unquestionable saviour of mankind, but when Lex’s son Alex Luthor discovers a way to remove most of Superman’s powers, the Man of Steel must find a way to prove to the world that he is still a Super Man. 

Almost 300 individuals will be attending the red-carpet event, including all of the main cast and crew, as well as other VIP’s and special celebrity guests and many of the world’s press, and fans are being encouraged to join the cast and crew and meet them as they walk the red carpet into the event.

The premiere, in addition to celebrating the completion and release of the film which has taken 18 months to produce, will be raising funds for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation which increases awareness and funds research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders.

‘Superman: Requiem’ on the web: www.themanofsteelisback.com

‘Superman: Requiem’ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SupermanRequiem

‘Superman: Requiem’ on the Twitter: @SupermanRequiem

From the quiet

Having not had much opportunity for moviegoing recently, here are some quick thoughts on a few titles.

"Tangled" is a cute, well animated Disney feature that's more "Emperor's New Groove" than "The Little Mermaid". Inspired by the tale of Rapunzel, she of the epic hair, it's quick and funny, with a scene-stealing horse and good voice work (Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi) but it's pretty weightless, especially compared to the superlative "Rango". This Gore Verbinski-directed animated Western features a Johnny Depp-voiced chameleon who accidentally ends up in a remnant town from the Old West, complete with a sheriff, outlaws and a love interest. It's self-aware without being self-indulgent, and surely contains the best "Apocalypse Now" reference I've seen.

Finally, the French "A Town Called Panic" is a force unto itself, a stop motion animated film put together from found objects (toys) and much cleverness. The film stars a rather heroic horse, Horse, who shares a house with a room-sharing Cowboy and Indian in a French farming village. As Horse's birthday draws near, his friends decide on a perfect gift. Let's just say that things go wrong, and chaos ensues. It's unpredictable and eminently rewatchable.

On a somewhat related note, those who have not entered the advertising world of the 1960s are missing out on some of the best written television available. "Mad Men" season 4 somehow manages to equal the third season's sophistication and surprises, and I cannot believe that Jon Hamm remains Emmy-less.