Movie Review: Superman Returns

Yep, he's back, but should we care? After a grandiose opening, the Superman series of movie just kept losing steam, each one getting gradually worse. The Superman movie series also has the distinction of being one of the few movie series where the special effects get progressively worse.

First off, Superman/Clark Kent himself. Brandon Routh does a serviceable job but never really looks comfortable in the costume, and overplays Clark's geekiness. He just doesn't look comfortable when he's flying, especially when he takes off and lands, and doesn't look natural like Christopher Reeve did. Now he really made me believe a man could fly.

We needed more of Clark's mom and Jor-El. Such integral characters in the life of Superman, but nearly forgotten in this movie. The way they promoted it, it was as if Marlon Brando was going to be such an integral part of the movie. While it is amazing how they added him into the movie, it left me underwhelmed.

Too much homage to Superman. As in Smallville, this movie pays homage to the Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve's original interpretation of Superman to a fault. There are so many echoes of the first film that they tried to play as homage, but to me played as repetitious. Like when Superman heralds the safety of flying ("Statistically speaking..."), Lois's spelling inquiry ("How many Fs in catastrophe?") and when Clark throws the baseball several miles, Clark dropping his glasses and wanting to tell Lois his secret. And while I love the opening theme and title credits of the first movie, this movie copies it almost exactly and it just felt "been there, done that, 28 years ago".

The music in this movie evokes my general feeling about this film "very good, but not great." Many of the themes by John Williams from the original are back "re-imagined" (somebody please kill this word) by new composer John Ottman, in addition to some new themes. Most of it was very well done, but just doesn't match up to the original. That being said, John Williams score for Superman The Movie is just about as perfect as you can get, and it is my favorite film score of all-time, so I'm biased.

On to the things I liked about this movie: The Clark-Lois story was so well done that I hated when it would cut to Lex's story. My favorite scene: when Clark uses his see-through vision to watch Lois as she leaves on the elevator.

Kate Bosworth is really great in this movie. Her Lois is very different than what we've seen in previous incarnations, but still evokes the general feeling of who Lois should be in relation to Superman. She really pulls off the intelligent, go-getting reporter type, and it's easy to see why Clark would be in love with her. She has some of the more emotional scenes in this movie and really helps give some emotional impact to a movie that lacks it.

Many have complained about the age of the leads, but it didn't matter to me, yes they are young, but I think with younger leads, it would connect better with today's younger audience. That being said, all the controversy does make you think, and one of the thoughts in my mind was 5 years previous, would Clark Kent even look like he's been through puberty yet?

I saw the movie in IMAX 3D, which is definitely the way to go if you don't mind paying a little extra and it's available near you. However, only 20 minutes of the movie are in 3D, usually the most exciting. Many may be put off thinking it's accomplished using the crappy red-blue glasses, but it's not. It's done using new special technology and slightly tinted glasses. It is extremely well done and way better than the headache inducing red-blue glasses method. I only wish that the entire film was done in 3D, but I understand that it couldn't be done and still be released day and date with the normal theatrical feature.

There's a lot a nitpicking by me, but that's because I love the original Superman so much. Christopher Reeve was literally born to play Superman, and to see someone else in the role is almost wrong. Christopher Reeve will always be Superman in my eyes. This film is really really good! In fact, those not familiar with the previous Superman movies will be able to enter this movie with a blank slate and enjoy the hell out of it. On my superhero movie scale, it doesn't quite crack my top five, but its close and is easily better than Superman 3 and 4, and way better than most of the other superhero dreck (I'm looking at you X3 and Fantastic Four). I really shouldn't complain too much since it really is a competently made Superman film. It really could've been worse, we could've had Superman fighting giant spiders, polar bears and gay robots for all we know. Here's to Superman Forever and Superman & Robin (that's a joke about how the Superman movies have stolen the Batman movie names - Batman should steal Superman's naming...imagine the marquee: BATMAN BEGINS 4: THE QUEST FOR PEACE).