The Case for Vigilantism

They say when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. But sometimes, the lemons life throws are difficult to catch.
And sometimes the results aren’t quite what you expected. The lemonade isn’t sweet enough, and the people you least wanted to buy it, enjoy it the most. And you know you have no recourse.
It’s not a great analogy, but basically it comes down to this: sometimes the systems of the world don’t quite work for bringing justice.
We’ve seen it here in Australia with the exposure of the failures of the parole system. It seems to be a constant feature of the news: a serial rapist/murderer/paedophile gets free and offends again. The case of Adrian Bayley is a notorious and current example.
It is little wonder that citizens are losing faith in the the ability of the justice system to do what it is intended to do, and bring justice to pass.
Phrases such as “tighten parole” and “no second chances” are thrown around. But a solution that pleases everyone seems difficult to find. In this situation, it seems we have but one option:
Vigilantism.
Yes, you read that correctly. You’ve seen it in the movies, now imagine if it took hold in real life.
Take Batman for example.
The sight of the bat signal is enough to scare criminals into a crime-free life. His reputation for catching the scummiest of scum precedes him, and rumours of his presence strikes fear into the hearts of Gotham City’s underworld. He takes on crime, and cleans up the streets of his city, helping residents to feel safe once more.
The thing about the justice system – the courts, the police, the laws- is that people know the loopholes. The corrupt police and judges to bribe, the gaps in the law, etc etc. but a vigilante figure Is more elusive. They are a symbol that wrongs can be righted, easily and without the red tape of the bureaucracy. Simultaneously a sign of the failure of the current system, and the birth of a Phoenix from its ashes, the symbol becomes more than the figure wearing the cape and takes on a life as an embodiment of hope, strength and the apparent will of society.
If this is the will of society, and vigilantism does indeed rise, should it be countered and beaten down, or allowed to run its course? And who would do the beating? The justice system perhaps. But the vigilante is an emblem of the failure of the system to meet the needs and wishes of society, a response to its shortcomings – so would not the system lack the power or support to take on its creation?
And if vigilantism does run its course, what then? If the need for a vigilante disappears, will society return to a structured governing legal system? I believe so. Vigilantism is a helping hand to a cry for help, thus if no help is needed, nor is the vigilante. Until once again, our judges, our police, our courts and our laws provide no satisfactory recourse for the wounded or wronged, and then once more the cape will be borne aloft on the night’s wing.

please note: this piece is not intended to encourage, endorse or embrace vigilantism. It is written entirely as a tongue in cheek, sarcastic and humorous piece, inspired by comments made in social circles. Furthermore, this piece does not reflect the actual opinions of the author.

Man of Steel Review

With Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan, the names behind some of the most widely acclaimed superhero films in recent years, on board, Man of Steel was always going to have a lot of hype to live up to. As it turns out, it hasn’t done too badly.
Reboots of superhero franchises are in vogue, with Batman and Spider-Man leading the pack, and now Superman returns to the screens in the body of English actor Henry Cavill. He is supported by an all-star cast, including Russell Crowe, Diane Lane and Amy Adams.
As a reboot, this film goes right back to the start, presenting the origin of the superhero from his birth on Krypton to his first step as Superman. With planet Krypton imploding, scientist Jor-El (Crowe) attempts to persuade the planet’s leaders to seek a new planet and begin life anew and for the better. But a military coup, led by General Zod (Michael Shannon), cuts short Jor’s plea. Determined to save the future of his people, Jor and wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) send their newborn son to planet Earth- and thus begins the traditional tale of conflicting identities, so familiar to Superman fans.
But don’t expect to see Lex Luther in this one- there is another villain town, one with an intimate knowledge of our hero and his powers. With such an astute and powerful enemy as Zod, the scene is set for some strong action scenes. With each solid pound of gristle on muscle, we wince at the power on display here. If there is one thing director Snyder can do, it is combat scenes.
Yet even with the well coordinated action sequences, the pace itself is patchy. At times, Snyder seems unsure of where he wants to be, or where he wants to go. The camerawork is jumpy, and the battle scenes seem stretched as though trying to fill the holes in a thin story- a thin story that Snyder spends a lot of time just setting up.
In spite of this, the film has it’s good points. The actors are well cast. Chiselled and muscular with slicked back hair, Cavill is every inch Superman. His portrayal of Clark Kent is suitably clumsy and confused, evolving over the course of the film as the character begins to find himself. Amy Adams is feisty and smart as Lois Lane, with just enough of that damsel in distress quality to make her rescue scenes believable. And then there is Michael Shannon. His bulk, his sneer and his powerful delivery allow him to completely take over scenes as Zod. Special mention goes to Crowe for portraying the dignified and zealous scientist of a dying race without over-playing it. The rest of the supporting cast – Lane, Kevin Costner as Clark Kent’s earth father, Christopher Meloni as an army general determined to rid the planet of aliens- do a solid and memorable job.
As far as superhero movies go, this does not quite reach the heights of predecessors like The Dark Knight or The Avengers. But what Man of Steel does do, is deliver a highly enjoyable, action packed hero epic, setting the scene for a fun new franchise that will keep old fans going and inspire a new generation to put on red capes and fly around their backyards with Clark Kent.