the message was that Super people should be able to do whatever they want.

This is where my disconnect happens. I didn't get that as the message at all. I took it to be Supers should be able to use their powers, just as anyone else should be able to perform to their ability at whatever it is they choose to do, be it physically or mentally based. Syndrome could have gone in a number of directions with his genius. He chose to go evil. The Supers were quashed in what they were able to do because of their inherent powers, which, in thinking about it at length, screams to me as discrimination. Just as Syndrome should have been able to do what he was able with his genius for invention, Supers should be able to use their powers as well. For good. They use them for evil, they should be punished like anyone else.

I'm not saying I thought it was a junk movie at all, just that it will be hard to rewatch.

Gotcha. Matt Rossi discussed some of your point in an article on Superman in the High Hat: [link]

I'm too stupid and distracted by work to really talk through things right now, though.

I'm too stupid

::boggles at the thought of Corwood applying these words to himself::

Finally, here's what I really didn't like: the message was that Super people should be able to do whatever they want. And who doesn't think they are super? Do you see yourself as the protagonist or an extra? Do you see yourself as special? Then go ahead, do whatever you want! After all, only you are qualified to decide what's right to do! Helen advises Violet to fight to win, and win everything, but that's not the liberal Democrat stance.

I started to respond point-by-point but honestly, the connection between "super people can do what they want" representing a rightward propaganda against "liberals believe you should accept less so that others may have more" is far too tenuous to be credited. Because from that pretty much every narrative of "individual vs. group" becomes rightward propaganda if the individual asserts his rights against the greater good and succeeds.

I thought it was made quite clear that Syndrome was excluded from the Super Club because he wasn't born with powers.

I've only seen the movie once, but I thought Pre-Syndrome was excluded from being Mr. Incredible's partner simply because Mr. I "worked alone" and possibly found the annoying boy, well, annoying.

Going after Syndrome later on I thought was because he was evil in his actions, not because he had created his powers.

Thanks, Sean, but any suggestion of intelligence on my part is all smoke & mirrors.

Whoa...your smoke and mirrors kick ass, then. Is it that good Colombian stuff, or what?

Raq, what makes The Incredibles more Scientological than your average superhero outing?

Oooh, just saw the trailer for Good Night, and Good Luck as well as a bunch of other fall films over at comingsoon.net. That looks like a definite must-see film, as well as The History of Violence and possibly Jarhead.

Is it that good Colombian stuff, or what?

I use only the finest Colombian mirrors.