E.L. James’ novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” began as fan fiction derived from the “Twilight” saga, but based on the movie out today, it appears James had another story in the back of her mind: “Fifty Shades of Grey” is pretty much an R-rated version of “Superman: The Movie.” Consider:
The guy is an orphan who became mega-powerful
His parents dead, Christian Grey came from nowhere and, in his adoptive family, became a self-made man who attained the superpower of colossal wealth. Kal-El’s parents died in the fall of Krypton, but things turned out OK for him with his adoptive family, too.
The girl is a journalist
In “Grey,” naive college student Anastasia Steele encounters zillionaire Christian Grey while interviewing him for the school paper. In “Superman: The Movie,” journalist Lois Lane interviews Superman in a rooftop penthouse that is a totally accurate and realistic depiction of how New York City newspaper writers live. Both interviews are filled with double-entendres that make the audience chuckle. It’s in “Superman,” however, that the flirtatious journo manages to sneak in a really sexy question: “What color underwear am I wearing?”
The helicopter on the roof scene
In “Grey,” Christian flies Ana back from her Oregon campus to his home in Seattle in a helicopter he keeps parked on the roof. In “Superman,” Lois first meets the Man of Steel when she is riding in a helicopter that takes off from the roof of the Daily Planet building, but gets caught in a cable and tumbles off the roof, only to be saved by the hero.
Flying as foreplay
In both movies, the two lovers take a romantic flight over the city together as dreamy music plays. Again, “Grey” comes out the loser: Christian actually needs an aircraft. (Two of them, actually: He takes her for a ride in a helicopter, then a glider.)
The guy has a secret identity and a forbidden palace
Christian Grey has a split personality: The normal-seeming exec in a suit and the guy who keeps riding crops, handcuffs, blindfolds and whips on loving display in what he calls his “Playroom,” a locked secret chamber in his apartment. Superman has his Fortress of Solitude, too, and in both cases the guy’s secret spot turns out to be an ideal place for — what else? — nooky.