Quentin Tarantino’s Famous Superman Critique Is Completely Wrong

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In the closing scenes of “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino delivers a well-known critique on Superman. As portrayed by the villain Bill, Superman’s true identity is believed to be Clark Kent, whom he describes as “the disguise” that allows the alien to appear as someone who is “weak, indecisive, and cowardly.” Tarantino posits that “Clark Kent represents Superman’s criticism of humanity as a whole,” but this interpretation is misguided. James Gunn’s “Superman” (drawing editorial inspiration from Tarantino) reinforces this idea powerfully by underscoring the fact that the Kryptonian character’s genuine strength lies in his adopted human nature.

In simple terms, Tarantino’s interpretation of Superman and his hidden identity gained popularity among comic enthusiasts and movie lovers. It’s logical that Superman could transform to resemble anyone, and he chose to appear as a clumsy, inept journalist to the world. This clumsiness ensures no one suspects he is an otherworldly superbeing, but assuming human weaknesses seems like a critique, one his parents might concur with (for more on Gunn’s portrayal of Superman’s parents, check here).

In James Gunn’s film “Superman”, it becomes evident that Clark Kent’s apparent imperfections are merely reflections of the internal battles faced by the Steel Man. Towards the movie’s conclusion, David Corenswet as Superman delivers a lecture to Lex Luthor (who could reappear sooner than anticipated) on the significance of embracing one’s humanity. He expresses, “I feel love, I am fearful, but that is what it means to be human,” emphasizing, “and it is my greatest source of power.

The quote provides an enjoyable, crowd-satisfying instance. It’s fitting that Superman delivers an uplifting speech amidst a devastating city catastrophe, as it aligns with his character. Hopefully, we’ll see more of such scenes in the forthcoming DCU sequel.

Peer beneath the surface, and you’ll find this statement serves as a striking contrast to Tarantino’s well-known criticism of Superman. This is due to its portrayal of Kal-El dealing with fear, which in turn enriches our comprehension of his Clark Kent persona for fans.

In his analysis, Tarantino emphasized that the character of Clark Kent serves to portray aspects of weakness, uncertainty, and cowardice in Superman, which are not inherent to the superhero himself. For instance, while Superman is strong, Kent appears weak; Superman is confident, but Kent is hesitant; and although Superman is known for his bravery, Kent is often depicted as fearful.

Instead, these apparent traits in Superman are reflections of his genuine weaknesses, such as his fear of failure. If the Man of Steel didn’t harbor such concerns about disappointing humanity, he wouldn’t excel at showing Clark’s everyday apprehensions so well. These fears distinguish him from villains and even other heroes like Batman, who will soon be part of the DCU.

Additionally, even though it’s not explicitly shown in the film, Clark Kent stumbling as Superman provides a valuable means for him to comprehend human fear and their responses to danger.

An essential aspect of Superman’s charm lies in his role as a “reverse power fantasy” character, where one who possesses divine powers would never succumb to corruption and consistently employ their abilities for the greater good. However, given that Superman is not entirely familiar with humanity, how can he effectively aid us in our complex, often confusing ways?

Under his ordinary Clark Kent guise, he finds a way to reveal his hidden vulnerabilities and gain insights into those he vows to safeguard, simply by donning spectacles and stepping outside.

In no way does this detract from the classic status of “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” or diminish Quentin Tarantino’s exceptional directing skills. Nevertheless, his views on Superman have significantly influenced the widespread cultural discussion about Superman for more than two decades.

Now that James Gunn’s more compassionate portrayal of Superman is winning hearts, let’s put Quentin Tarantino’s harsh character alteration behind us and move forward.

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2025-07-23 19:34