Movie Review:

Superman Returns

by Lynn B

That tall, dark and handsome super-dude in the red and blue suit is back and he’ll blow you away!

In Superman Returns, the man of steel (Brandon Routh) has been gone from Earth for five years. He’s been off trying to find, in the ruins of his home planet Krypton, some connection to his birthplace, to his origin. He comes back to us and finds a changed Earth where he’s all but forgotten and the love of his life reporter Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on. She’s even written a Pulitzer prize-winning article called “Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman”. She has a son and is engaged to Daily Planet Editor Perry White’s cute nephew Richard (James Marsden). Lois is still bitter about her super-lover’s departure so it’s not looking good for romance.

Meanwhile, “Supe’s” arch enemy Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has gotten out of jail because the superhero wasn’t around to testify against him at his trial! Lex married an elderly rich woman who has died and now, he’s inherited the cash that will fund his ultimate evil plan to use Superman’s own Fortress of Solitude crystals to “build” more real estate and off Superman forever. Can Superman win the trust of the world, get Lois back and save her, himself and the planet from Lex’s diabolical plans? Hey… he’s Superman! What do you think?

I love this movie!! Even if you didn’t see the Richard Donner Superman films starring Christopher Reeve in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, you can enjoy this heartfelt, emotional, yet action-packed adventure film that picks up where those films left off. If you have seen those early films, you’ll realize that Superman Returns director Bryan Singer is just picking up where Donner left off.. yes, with a new cast but with the same heart, wit and advanced knock-out filmmaking that made the Donner Superman films so popular. “Returns” does for the superman franchise what Batman Begins did for that series of films.. breathe new, exciting, emotional life into a fading hero!

If you have rented the early Chris Reeve films and are watching Superman Returns, you’ll recognize John Williams’ dynamic, heroic opening film score and Singer has even duplicated the “flying” blue credits! The “tone” of the film is people first, action and eye-popping effects, (a bullet actually bounces off Superman’s beautiful blue eyeball in close up!) second. The combo works magically. It’s hard not to root for Lois and Superman to reunite and certainly for Lex Luthor’s plot to fail.

Acting is right on key in both humorous and dramatic scenes. Brandon Routh not only looks like Chris Reeve but, under Singer’s intentional direction, reproduces some of Reeve’s shy moves as Clark Kent. The newcomer makes a hunky and sympathetic superhero. Kate Bosworth’s performance as Lois is strong. She portrays bitter, broken-hearted Lois as well as softer, yearning Lois. Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor is all sly, hair-trigger temper and wacko genius. James Marsden (of X-Men) is very likable, honorable boyfriend material for Lois so we can understand if she might have trouble ditching him should she choose her fave superhero. Parker Posey is a perfect, semi-clueless, gold-digging gal-pal for Lex.

My only complaints about the film are that it’s a bit too long and could use a few additional cuts (Singer cut a whole giant return to Krypton sequence that will be on the DVD) and I questioned a sequence in which Superman can still move an entire island although it is riddled with Kryptonite crystals which are supposed to weaken him significantly but these “flaws” don’t doom the film.

The movie produces some surprises (well, we kinda knew but whatever) that will effect future Superman films and promise some very interesting challenges. The long-loved superhero that started it all is back…. In good hands. Enjoy!

 

This movie is rated PG-13

Official Movie Web Site - Superman Returns

Pictures courtesy of and copyright Warner Brothers, 2006