Superman Returns DVD Review

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"Superman Returns" reviews

DVD

Superman Returns

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-12-01 16:00:45

Provider

DVD Review

There was a time when Superman was the only credible comic book adaptation on the silver screen. However, the ultimate all American superhero has been usurped by all manner of Spandex wearing semi-CGI creations in recent years so it was about time he made a comeback.

Who better to breath new life into the franchise than Bryan Singer the director who was universally praised for bringing semi-decent character depth to the first two X-Men movies.

Our hero has been missing for four years visiting the remains of his home planet Krypton. When he returns, coincidentally at the same time as Clark Kent comes back from his hols, Supes finds Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has a new fella and worst, a kid! Meanwhile dastardly Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is back on the scene thanks to our caped hero missing his court appeal. Lex has found Superman's Fortress Of Solitude and intends to steal his precious crystals and their magical secrets bestowed to him by his daddy (Marlon Brando making a posthumous appearance). Not only does Luthor intend to build his own country from these powerful gems, killing billions of people in the process, he's discovered the secret to making Kryptonite, the only thing that can kill Superman.

It's not the most thrilling superhero flick (or even Superman flick), and the hero is at times seen as an unsettlingly human character as he tries to win back Lois and even slips into a coma! However, this is a visually stunning movie. The few set pieces, particularly Superman's rescue of a Boeing 747 hurtling towards a baseball pitch are as beautifully animated as any CGI scene you're likely to see. And John Williams' original theme music is certainly great to hear again.

The double disc set also offers some insightful special features including a number of featurettes such as, Crystallizing Superman, Designing Superman, Shooting Superman and Superman in the City. Also, not forgetting the movie's hilariously unscrupulous villain, there's The Joy of Lex: Menacing Superman and the interesting Resurrecting Jor-El featurette which peers behind the scenes at the 3D rendering of Marlon Brando's face for the Fortress of Solitude sequence.