THE AMERICAN WAY

Michael Wilmington’s review of “Superman IV” (“A Simple, and Skimpy, ‘Superman,’ ” July 27) was, sadly, all too predictable. From the beginning, those particular movies seem to have been doomed by the incompetence of their makers. That’s a shame on the movie industry, because I believe that the Superman and Supergirl movies were effectively guaranteed to be as good and as popular as the “Star Wars” movies if only they had been made by knowledgeable people who understood and cared about their subject.

As it is, Superman, no longer a viable champion of “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” is now emblematic of Hollywood’s role as America’s cultural alimentary canal, which goes blithely about its business of turning good wholesome ideas into you-know-what. And yet we wonder why our country seems to be suffering the effects of a deep spiritual malnutrition.

DENNIS ANTHONY

Los Angeles