Reviews

Superman Returns

Does the world really need another Superman movie? I asked myself that same question from day one since the early stages of this film dating back to the late 90’s. After seeing this current resurrection of sorts I have give a resounding “yes we do!” and “can we have some more?”

I am still riding high from this movie, hours after it is over. From the beginning of the film I felt like a kid again. The credits are the first item to pay homage to the original “Superman”. They swoop and fly in just as they did in 1978 when we were asked to believe a man can fly. Another item we were privy to was seeing a much better version of the destruction of Krypton. While the ’78 version was at the high point of technology, you can’t beat new and improved C.G.I.’s, which brings me to an additional compliment, the effects are amazing. Actually pretty much everything about this film is amazing. The flight is far more real in today’s standards than before, but I sort of expected that. There were a few parts of the film that was teetering dangerously on the edge of sappy, but we were thankfully pulled to safety.

I gushed a bit about the effects so let me gush about the acting. First off this film will most definitely put newcomer Brandon Routh on the map. I liked his downplayed portrayal of Clark Kent as opposed to just doing a copy of Christopher Reeves earlier performance. I also enjoyed his elegant performance of Superman. While the similarity of appearance is definitely noticeable, the performance is most certainly his own. As a matter of fact that can be said of everyone in the film. Kevin Spacey is the biggest standout as his Lex Luthor is far closer to the comics and much darker than Gene Hackman’s adequate, yet ultimately hokey depiction. Kate Bosworth turns in an equal, possibly better than Margot Kidder, performance of Lois Lane. Well at least she is more attractive. Frank Langella is far less of a hard-ass Perry White than Jackie Cooper, but Sam Huntington has all the same “gee wiz” that Marc McClure had. Well enough comparisons.

Bryan Singer does a phenomenal job of breathing new life into a dead franchise. It is very certain that the “X-Men” films were nothing more than practice for the dance. Singer asks some interesting questions in the film that are easy to decipher such, “Does the world really need a Superman?” as well as bringing up issues of being an outcast, loneliness, and even some underlying identity issues. Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris put together a tight and intelligent script that was virtually ripped from the comics.

Of everything that I loved about this film, the one thing that stands out the most to me is how instead of Singer trying to make his own identity within the franchise and try to make “Supes” either darker or more modern, he leaves him alone and gives the same amount of love and care that Richard Donner did before him and made him timeless and innocent, like our childhood. The action is fun and exciting, even for casual fans of the character. Even when the film takes a darker tone I would still say it is safe for younger children, not to say you should drag your four year old to this. (The brighter folks will get my drift) The only point I liked in the first film as opposed to this one is there is no sense of failure in the new film. In “Superman” Lois Lane dies, but in a fit of passion Superman is able to stop the world and reverse the flow of events. OK, that was a stretch of the imagination, but the theme worked. In this film though we are treated to different qualities of determination, even if it means death, and vulnerability. It definitely shows us who would save Superman if he ever needs it. There are so many little elements of this film that make it so utterly enjoyable and give it some wonderful depth. This is a film I would most definitely place in the same esteem that the first two films enjoy and I am ready for much more!

Rating: 9.5
George

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