This weekend is packed with events you don't want to miss. Raise a glass — or several — at the 2016 San Antonio Cocktail Conference or explore the city during DreamWeek. For a full list of happenings, visit our events calendar.
Thursday, January 12
DreamWeek San Antonio DreamWeek returns for another year of celebrating diversity and exchanging ideas. The nearly two-week, citywide summit features panel discussions, art exhibits, mixers, and much more. Purchase your tickets to one or several events now. DreamWeek runs through January 21.
2017 San Antonio Cocktail Conference Cocktail enthusiasts and top bartenders come together to talk all things booze at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference. Attendees can enjoy a variety of events taking place at venues around the city through January 15. Lavish cocktail parties, exclusive tastings, and educational seminars fill the itinerary to ensure this is the most spirited conference you've ever attended.
Broadway in San Antonio presents The Illusionists Magic takes center stage at the Majestic Theatre this weekend. The Illusionists stop in San Antonio for a can't-miss show of fantastic proportions. Revel in the talents of The Escapologist, a weapons master, and more. Performances run through January 15.
Bale Folclorico de Bahia presents Sacred Heritage The culture of Brazil will come to life at the Lila Cockrell Theatre. This family-friendly experience is an incredible display of samba, Brazilian martial arts, and other dances from the 38 performers of the acclaimed Bale Folclorico de Bahia troupe.
Friday, January 13
Lukas Graham in concert Soul pop band Lukas Graham is swinging by The Aztec Theatre for one night only. Hear hit songs from the band's most recent album, Lukas Graham (Blue Album).
Enjoy exclusive tastings, lavish parties, and more boozy events during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference.
San Antonio Cocktail Conference/Facebook
Enjoy exclusive tastings, lavish parties, and more boozy events during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference.
When the character of Superman was invented in 1938, it was perhaps easier to see the world in good and bad terms. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and the idea of an all-powerful superhero who stood up for people in need was a welcome one. In the nearly 90 years since, though, the world and the character have undergone multiple evolutions, and the thought of someone who is purely good is often met with cynicism or worse.
The new Superman, written and directed by James Gunn, puts the superhero (or metahuman, as the film calls him and similar creatures) squarely in the midst of the modern world, with geopolitical conflicts, mega-corporations, and social media all combining to make the altruism of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) questionable. That skepticism even extends to his coworker/girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), whose knowledge of his exploits puts her in a tricky position personally and professionally.
Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to dominate the world and take down Superman, with his eponymous corporation and vast group of underlings dedicated to doing both. Superman is generally a one-man fighting crew, but he’s occasionally aided by a group calling themselves the Justice Gang, comprised of heroes many have never heard of like Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), a version of Green Lantern; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a flying metahuman; and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who knows all kinds of technology.
One of the best things about this new version of Superman is that it mostly dispenses with introductions, putting the audience in a world where Superman is already a well-known quantity who’s adored by many and hated by some. Gunn has used his new position as co-CEO of DC Studios to honor the past of the hero and take him into the future. With the 1978 John Williams theme song echoing throughout and Corenswet giving off Christopher Reeve vibes, it’s clear Gunn wants audiences to feel nostalgia while still getting something new.
He also appears to want viewers to fight against the negativity that the modern world can bring. The plot involves manipulation of the public, usually at the hands of Luthor, through bombastic talk shows, political theater, and social media, the latter of which - in a great joke - comes to involve hundreds of typing monkeys. The film could be read as a rebuttal of many real-world ills as, despite Luthor’s machinations, many choose to continue to believe in the goodness of Superman.
There is a lot going on in the film, but somehow it never comes off as overly complicated. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane and Luthor’s attempts at taking him down are given the most prominence, with everything else supporting those two main things. The Justice Gang is a fun addition, with Mr. Terrific becoming the breakout hero of the group. The addition of the (CGI) dog Krypto provides levity, poignant moments, and unexpectedly great action scenes. The only part that gets somewhat short shrift is the crew of The Daily Planet, with everyone besides Lois and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) getting little more than face time.
Being the new Superman is a lot to live up to, but Corenswet is completely up to the job. He, like Reeve, plays the character as someone who is earnest but not naive, a quality that comes through even when he’s in the middle of fight scenes. Brosnahan is also fantastic, providing a nice balance to the relationship while also proving the character’s own worth. Hoult makes for a great new version of Luthor, and Gathegi nearly makes the case that Mr. Terrific should get a starring film of his own.
Just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn has shown that success can be found through making characters people want to see. Not everyone in this Superman will be familiar to viewers, but in the end a group of people working together toward a goal that serves the common good is one worth watching and cheering for.