Obi-Wan Pinobi
<font color=red>Jedi moderator who likes to live o
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2001
- Messages
- 9,424
SPOILER ALERT!!
Let me say right off the bat that I will do everything I can to keep from spoiling the movie, but I can't promise that this review will be spoiler-free.
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I just got back from seeing Superman Returns this afternoon.
I was 11 when the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve came out. Two years earlier I had progressed from reading Gold Key, Harvey, and western comics to superheroes, specifically Superman, Batman, and most of the DC line. I didn't care about who Gene Hackman was or about Marlon Brando's then-record salary for 10 minutes of screen time, I was anxious to see Superman on the big screen and to, as the ads said, "believe a man can fly." I remember my mother taking me to see it and the sense of wonder at seeing some of my favorite characters on the big screen.
This afternoon, I had that same sense of wonder.
From the opening strains of John Williams' classic theme from the 1978 movie to the closing credits, Superman Returns hits on all the right marks. Bryan Singer worked the same magic with Superman as he did with the X-Men. The way it's directed you get a sense of Superman's power, particularly the scene where he stops the plane from crashing or when he's getting rid of Luthor's latest scheme. Singer also remembers what has come before, as this movie picks up 5 years after Superman II (while ignoring III and IV, which is thankfully easy enough), with the Kryptonian crystals, the use of archival Brando footage, the history of the characters, and the dedication to Christopher and Dana Reeve right before the end credits.
I've heard some people complained about Lois having a child in this movie, but it works, and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here as future sequels are made.
Brandon Routh had the hardest job -- portraying an iconic character and taking over the role from a beloved actor. Anyone who tries to compare BR and CR is doing BR a disservice as he deserves to be judged on his own. That said, he does a wonderful job as the mild and bumbling "he can't possibly be Superman" Clark and as the strong and confident Man of Steel. We even see a brief glimpse at a third side -- Smallville Clark, when he's at Ma Kent's farm and can relax. This is a side that, if Lois knew, she would fall in love with.
Speaking of Lois, Kate Bosworth is also well-cast. When a hero has a damsel in distress, it's best if the damsel is worth saving and willing to help herself instead of just standing there screaming "EEEEEK help me hellllllllppppp!!!!". Leia from the original Star Wars trilogy, Marion from Raiders of The Lost Ark ... they are worth saving. So is Lois when played right, and Kate Bosworth played her right. When she was willing to help someone on a plummeting airplane or convince her fiance to turn around and fly back to help Superman and dive into the ocean to pull him up, she had me convinced.
Now for the other person in Superman's life with the initials LL -- Lex Luthor. Kevin Spacey's portrayal was definitely less campy than Gene Hackman's and stands on its own. It's darker as Luthor is out for revenge once he learns Superman is back as well as trying to complete his plan for power.
The quibbles are minor -- the jury is still out for me for Frank Langella, who played Perry White, but his screen time was fairly small; Jimmy Olson seemed a bit nerdy to me and he needs to lose the bowtie in future movies; and I would have liked to have seen more of Ma Kent.
Aside from that, great movie, highly enjoyable, go see it, and keep an eye out for Noel Neill and Jack Larson, Lois and Jimmy from the 1950s Superman show in cameos.
Oh, and RobinRS -- they showed a trailer for Spider-Man 3.
Let me say right off the bat that I will do everything I can to keep from spoiling the movie, but I can't promise that this review will be spoiler-free.
*
*
*
*
I just got back from seeing Superman Returns this afternoon.
I was 11 when the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve came out. Two years earlier I had progressed from reading Gold Key, Harvey, and western comics to superheroes, specifically Superman, Batman, and most of the DC line. I didn't care about who Gene Hackman was or about Marlon Brando's then-record salary for 10 minutes of screen time, I was anxious to see Superman on the big screen and to, as the ads said, "believe a man can fly." I remember my mother taking me to see it and the sense of wonder at seeing some of my favorite characters on the big screen.
This afternoon, I had that same sense of wonder.
From the opening strains of John Williams' classic theme from the 1978 movie to the closing credits, Superman Returns hits on all the right marks. Bryan Singer worked the same magic with Superman as he did with the X-Men. The way it's directed you get a sense of Superman's power, particularly the scene where he stops the plane from crashing or when he's getting rid of Luthor's latest scheme. Singer also remembers what has come before, as this movie picks up 5 years after Superman II (while ignoring III and IV, which is thankfully easy enough), with the Kryptonian crystals, the use of archival Brando footage, the history of the characters, and the dedication to Christopher and Dana Reeve right before the end credits.
I've heard some people complained about Lois having a child in this movie, but it works, and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here as future sequels are made.
Brandon Routh had the hardest job -- portraying an iconic character and taking over the role from a beloved actor. Anyone who tries to compare BR and CR is doing BR a disservice as he deserves to be judged on his own. That said, he does a wonderful job as the mild and bumbling "he can't possibly be Superman" Clark and as the strong and confident Man of Steel. We even see a brief glimpse at a third side -- Smallville Clark, when he's at Ma Kent's farm and can relax. This is a side that, if Lois knew, she would fall in love with.
Speaking of Lois, Kate Bosworth is also well-cast. When a hero has a damsel in distress, it's best if the damsel is worth saving and willing to help herself instead of just standing there screaming "EEEEEK help me hellllllllppppp!!!!". Leia from the original Star Wars trilogy, Marion from Raiders of The Lost Ark ... they are worth saving. So is Lois when played right, and Kate Bosworth played her right. When she was willing to help someone on a plummeting airplane or convince her fiance to turn around and fly back to help Superman and dive into the ocean to pull him up, she had me convinced.
Now for the other person in Superman's life with the initials LL -- Lex Luthor. Kevin Spacey's portrayal was definitely less campy than Gene Hackman's and stands on its own. It's darker as Luthor is out for revenge once he learns Superman is back as well as trying to complete his plan for power.
The quibbles are minor -- the jury is still out for me for Frank Langella, who played Perry White, but his screen time was fairly small; Jimmy Olson seemed a bit nerdy to me and he needs to lose the bowtie in future movies; and I would have liked to have seen more of Ma Kent.
Aside from that, great movie, highly enjoyable, go see it, and keep an eye out for Noel Neill and Jack Larson, Lois and Jimmy from the 1950s Superman show in cameos.
Oh, and RobinRS -- they showed a trailer for Spider-Man 3.
DH & I are seeing it in a couple hours. Let it be known that I am not a Superman fan at all so I haven't been really hyped about seeing this. The things we do for our loved ones. 
After reading your review, maybe I'll get through it after all. 
Superman with Chris Reeves was the 1st date for my husband and I. I left that film totally in love with Chris Reeves and pretty much in love with my date as well. I don't think I want to spoil that memory or the magic. I'm still a hopeless romantic. There will never BE another Superman for me.
