My Superman Returns Review

[irishjayhawk]

So I took a shift last night and was working projection when the Superman prints arrived. Each print consisted of 3 cannisters to hold the massive 9 reels. I quickly alerted the build-up people - it seemed like the equivalent to alerting the Super Friends. Anyway, at about 10:40PM, the movie finally went up.

Now, I must preface this with my view on Superman. I find him plain. I don’t find him nearly as exciting as say Spiderman, any of the X-Men and Batman. Perhaps it’s because he only has one weakness and therefore doesn’t carry enough of the human characteristics I like in the other ’superheros’. Moreover, I just can’t help but laugh when people can’t see Clark is Superman. I mean the glasses don’t add that much! Thus, I wasn’t really watching this movie for Superman, as much as I was for Bryan Singer’s direction and John Ottman’s score. I also haven’t read any of the comic books, so I wasn’t expecting to pick out errors or constantly having to correct things that did or didn’t happen.

The movie opens with a neat CGI outer space recreation accompanied by a seemingly reversed Star Wars text intro, with its own spin. Combined with the music, it was actually really entertaining and easy to watch, despite it’s considerable length for the opening credits.

After the intro, the story switches between Lex Luther’s start to his master plan and Superman actually returning on an asteroid. It focuses on the farm and then on Clark’s memories about discovering his powers. It was a bit slow for my liking - though bearable - but in retrospect, it was a nice touch. The movie quickly picks up as Clark returns to the Daily Planet and meets Jimmy Olsen and the editor. Enough plot as I hate when the plot is given out.

First, let me say that Brandon Routh looks and acts the part. Kevin Spacey is the best Lex Luther either the movies or television series ever had. He’s energetic just looks the part all around. Both offer a great side to the movie and counter each other perfectly. Kate Bosworth isn’t exactly what I pictured Lois Lane to look like, though my mind could be fixated on the Teri Hatcher Lois Lane of the television series. Regardless, she did do a pretty good job with her part. Struggling between her married man and her love of Superman, she showed the torn nature of her character. James Marsden, who had worked with Singer on X-Men and X2, plays the part of Lois’ husband. Though his red sunglasses seen in X-Men definitely highlight him, he does a really nice job with such a small part (and no super powers). All in all, the acting is very good and everyone looks nice on screen.

The movie does have a somewhat slow beginning and end, but it is more than made up for for the good two hours of seemingly non-stop action. Accented by Ottman’s score (plus John Williams’ Main Title), the movie really takes on a life of it’s own. I have purchased the Superman score and can say, without a doubt, it’s a fantastic score and one I will listen to for a long time. It also goes hand in hand with the movie.

Singer has accomplished what I wanted accomplished from X3. See, Singer balanced character development with action. It was the exact same kind of balance found in both X1 and X2, though more in X2. It was what upset me about X3. Singer’s employ of odd camera angles, well done CGI and effects, as well as the direction of Kevin Spacey, in particular, was marvelous. Also, in what was another difference between X3 and ‘Superman’ was the fact that Singer was involved in the story. It seems he likes to alter the script or story to help suit his vision, thus earning himself a writing credit. In any case, like X2, this was probably what catapulted ‘Superman’ from just above mediocre to extraordinary. In the same way, it is what doomed X3. In my opinion, Singer the new age Stephen Spielberg.

There’s one major complaint I have about ‘Superman’, it’s the fact that Singer couldn’t do ‘Superman’ and X3.

Bottom-line: Must see! By the way, the IMAX version has some 3D parts. (20 minutes of 3D or 4-5 scenes lasting 4-5 minutes.)
DVD Bottom-line: Must own. Period. Same goes for the soundtrack.
Rating: 3.5 out of 4.


Just for what it's worth.

P.S. I didn't know if this should be posted in the lounge or MCE subforum. Please move, if necessary.

[HC_Chief]

Awesome! Thanks for the review

[chagrin]

Could you repeat that please?

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by chagrin

Could you repeat that please?

that.

[Hammock Parties]

It opens down here tonight at 10...gonna go and soak in the nerd culture.

[Deberg_1990]

Ill be goig to see it tommorow sometime. I cant wait. Im a huge fan of Superman 1 & 2. I realize they are waay dated now days though. Great decision by Singer to use Williams original score and the original titles as well. Reeves performance will be hard to top. IMO the best performance ever of a superhero character.

[Hammock Parties]

They're only using Williams theme. The rest is composed by John Ottoman.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

They're only using Williams theme. The rest is composed by John Ottoman.

Yes, but Ottoman has confessed he borrowed heavily from Williams entire score. I guess i will know for sure tommorow.

[keg in kc]

Just got home from watching it.

Awesome.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

They're only using Williams theme. The rest is composed by John Ottoman.

Now that's BS watch the movie.

In the theater it was so oldschool with the beginning credits that it was badass it was just like you were watching the original in theaters

Routh disspells rumors of a shitty performance, and did a damn good job. Spacey kicked major ass as Lex Luthor as a dark vengeful nemesis.

The introduction of Superman to the world again ruled.


Kate bosworth as Louis Lane was very mediocre though. Margot Kidder trumped in this area

[keg in kc]

I actually preferred Kate Bosworth to Margot Kidder, but I have never been a fan of Kidder.

And they used Williams themes and cues freely, but 99% of the scoring in the film was original. At least to my ear. Not like I was trained in this kind of stuff though (cough).

I'm going to watch it again tomorrow or thursday on IMAX. Just like I did with Batman Begins last year.

The two best superhero movies of all time, in my opinion. DC has taken what Marvel established with the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises and just taken it to a whole new level. While Superman Returns was vastly different from Batman Begins, I thought it was just as strong a film, and may be even stronger on repeat viewing. Some of the visuals in the movie (and I don't mean action sets, I mean simple scenes, like supes in space, or when he breaks above the clouds towards the end) were just, literally, staggering. Awe-inspiring.

And, God, they finally got it right...they made him powerful.

[greg63]

Originally Posted by chagrin

Could you repeat that please?

I wonder if it could be re-typed a bit slower as I don't read very fast.

[mcan]

I went and saw it tonight and LOVED IT. It's been forever since I've seen the originals, but I have fond memories of them.

I was astonished at how well Roush was able to capture Reeves' Clark Kent... The sideturned grin, the "sorry"s, the goofiness. It's spot on, and it was almost like watching Reeves all over again. Very cool.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

And they used Williams themes and cues freely, but 99% of the scoring in the film was original. At least to my ear. Not like I was trained in this kind of stuff though (cough).

The Puff Daddy type of origina,l yes their were nuances but not totally noticably. I loved how Ottman strategically placed The Superman March hook at the heavy action scenes.

[tk13]

Two thumbs up here. There are so many ways they could've butchered this thing after all these years, and I was worried they would. But they didn't. We are so lucky Bryan Singer did this thing and not Tim Burton.

They definitely stayed true to the original movies. Like that opening credits sequence, and other areas. I personally liked that. Especially with something as big as this. If you know your Superman, the woman who played Lois and the guy who played Jimmy Olsen in the 50's TV series both have bit parts in the movie.

I haven't read many "professional" reviews of the movie, but I'm going to guess Routh/Bosworth are probably going to get slagged for not being Reeve/Kidder. They aren't. Bosworth especially. They didn't quite have the charm, but they played up the dramatic aspect of the movie pretty well, maybe better even. Frank Langella was a perfect choice for Perry White too, he wasn't a main character obviously, but I just thought he was perfect for that role.

I was a big fan of Gene Hackman as Luthor, but Spacey carried it out pretty well. Less wit, but more anger and "evil" for sure, diabolical is probably the best term for it. I thought his character really picked up steam 2nd half of the movie. Maybe the last 2/3rds, I lost track of time.

The CGI was amazing, I bet the IMAX version is awesome. Maybe it's just that I'm usually just a DVD guy and haven't been to a theater in a while, but I thought the CGI was just incredible on the big screen. Plus, it allows for action sequences you'd never been able to do with the first two movies in the 70's. It is 2 and a half hours long, but it didn't feel like that, at least to me. I'm not sure if it's the the best of the bunch, but it's a worthy addition to the Superman legacy, way better than III or IV. That's all I wanted. It definitely does a good job of balancing drama, humor, and action.