Superman Movie Minute #9 – This Fortress of Solitude

SUPERMAN MOVIE MINUTE #9 – This Fortress of Solitude

Fire and Water Network All-Stars Chris Franklin and Rob Kelly bring you SUPERMAN MOVIE MINUTE, where they analyze, scrutinize, and you’ll-believe-a-man-can-fly-ize the classic 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, and Marlon Brando, five minutes at a time!

In minutes 41:00 – 46:00, the Fortress of Solitude is built, and Jor-El (re)introduces himself to his son. Special Guest: Bob Fisher!

Join the conversation and find more great content:

This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK:

Thanks for listening! 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

27 responses to “Superman Movie Minute #9 – This Fortress of Solitude”

  1. Hey guys! Great episode, I really enjoyed Bob Fisher being a part of this episode. His first viewing is going to top most anyone’s.

    On Brando’s pronunciation: We already see that Kryptonians have multiple accents. Who is to say that Jor-El’s accent isn’t Kandorian or the Kryptonian version of the Bostonian accent?

    And in regards to the Jor-El simulation: I always felt that Kryptonian technology was so advanced that in those last moments as Jor-El says ” even in the face of our death. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I’ve learned, everything I feel… all this, and more, I… I bequeath you, my son.”, he was downloading his own essence as well as Lara’s into the crystal. Maybe even creating a link to the spiritual essence, if you will.

    By the way, this show is the perfect idea for a podcast. You should be proud. I look forward to it every week. I may collect all of them on my ipod for my family’s next road trip.

    You keep recording, I’ll keep listening.
    Thanks,
    Brian Hughes
    3rd Degree Byrne

    Reply

    3. I agree with the comment re: Brando having an accent. Indeed, I really don’t understand why you guys have spent so much time on his so-called “mispronunciation” of Krypton and other words. His pronunciations are well in-line with the variation caused by people’s accents.

      Reply

  2. Another great episode. I didn’t get to see any Washington premiere, but I do remember the 8pm showing selling out and spending a couple chilling hours in lin waiting to get tickets to the 10pm showing. I think it was the first day.

    So, the Kryptonians never went off world, but they have the collected wisdom of the 28 known galaxies? Did Lar Gand (aka Mon-El) of Daxam stop byKrypton and sell a 28-volume set of the Encyclopedia Galactica to Jor-El?

    “Excellent purchase, Mr. El. Now would you like that in print or digital format?”
    “Can you do it in icicle format?”

    Reply

  3. Great episode fellas. Wow! To be at the Superman premiere must have been a heady experience. Not many people can say they watched a movie with the Prez! I looked to see if there was any footage of the premiere on Youtube but only found this segment from the UK (the Queen and Prince Andrew were there):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDEux4R2eKE

    When all is said and done I hope you guys do an episode featuring all of that deleted footage from the TV version.

    Reply

  4. Great episode! Great stories stories from Bob about his past with the movie.

    A few thoughts.

    1. I always thought Jor-El was super sophisticated AI. I mean, we are telling Siri and Alexa stuff now. I figure there are enough key words to ave it figure out what Clark wants.

    2. I can’t believe that Clark was in the Fortress only for 12 years. He’d need to get a degree in journalism to get that job at the Planet, unless he lied on his resume. So maybe he went to college by day and Fortress by nigh?

    3. Chris came sooooo close to mentioning The Safety Zone, dimension like the Phantom Zone that Supergirl’s parents escaped into in the Silver Age!

    4. I believe it was in Byrnes universe that Kryptonian were somehow tied to the planet so they couldn’t leave. Maybe after the Black Dawn event?

    As always, solid stuff!

    Reply

    1. 1. Possibly. I still have to go with that scene in Donner’s Superman II where Jor-El actually “appears” and touches Clark to recharge his powers, and the consequences of it “ending” his life. That was the original intent for where the character went in these films. Could still be a REALLY sophisticated AI though, I suppose. “Alexa, tell me about the 28 known galaxies.”

      2. It’s a little known fact that the Fortress is a Community College campus for Metropolis University!

      3. The Safety Zone! Yes! How did I forget that? And why do I now hear Men Without Hats in my head?

      4. I did remember that! Kinda….

      Reply

    2. The first mention of Kryptonians being stuck on the planet that i recall was Action Comics Annual #2, written by the post-Byrne collective, It was during his post-Invasion! exile, and it has the albino gorilla alien priest that gives Superman the Eradicator, and reveals the Jor-El must have manipulated Kal’s biology to let him survive off Krypton.

      Definitely still following the inspiration of Byrne, but AFAIK, John didn’t come up with the idea.

      Reply

  5. A timely episode given the homage to this very scene that popped up in last night’s episode of Supergirl.

    I enjoyed the discussion, especially about the nature of virtual Jor-El. I assume that it’s an advanced AI that was imprinted with Jor-El’s memories and personality. Advanced enough that it is likely self-aware, and may be capable of genuine feelings of concern for Kal-El’s well-being. At which point, you might consider it to be Jor-El in a new virtual “body.” Basically, I think of it as a more advanced version of Cliff Steele’s brain being transferred to the Robotman body.

    Finally, Bob’s story about the DC premier was priceless.

    Reply

  6. 9 episodes in and no one’s mentioned Christopher Reeve’s nickname for the green crystal from Krypton. I’m beginning to think I imagined it, but I’m pretty sure he called it “The Tube of Prell”.

    For anyone who doesn’t remember Prell, here ya go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prell

    Also, the Supergirl TV series seems to borrow lots of elements from this movie. Supergirl’s spoken to her “dead parents” and I think it was mentioned that they’re sophisticated AI’s that access recordings of the parents’ memories. It’s a real cyberpunk concept but done with crystals instead of SCSI and Firewire connections. Maybe it’s the Kryptonian equivalent of the headmasters’ paintings from the Harry Potter books and films.

    Reply

    3. I think I remember reading it in his interview in People magazine. I remember it sticking out because it seemed so irreverent for a movie I really enjoyed.

      Reply

  8. I’ll believe a man can fly. I’ll believe a man can build a craft that traverses space. I’ll believe a man might abandon his mother. I will not believe a man narrated twelve years worth of instructions into some crystal sticks.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *