Superman Returns Review

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"Superman Returns" reviews

Movie

Superman Returns

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2009-06-02 20:37:57

Rating

3/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Is Superman still able to soar on the big screen? With some elegant direction from Bryan Singer, state-of-the-art special effects and a winning performance from the latest Man of Steel, Brandon Routh, the answer is a resounding yes. But little doses of kryptonite weaken the powerhouse film as well.

Story

The original Superman films were the first superhero franchise to take its lead character's emotional story as seriously as his amazing adventures--a tack the best of the comic book films have followed. Superman Returns wisely builds its two-tiered story around the hero a) journeying back to Metropolis after a five-year absence to try to find his place in a world that may have moved beyond the need for a super-powered savior and b) hoping to find a place in the heart of his former paramour Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), who now has entanglements--namely a child and a fiancé--that even his mighty abilities may not be able to overcome. It's a potent set-up. Of course, lurking around the corner, as always, is his ever-nefhavarious and even nastier nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey), who plots to use a little piece of Superman's birthplace Krypton to wreak havoc here on Earth. The film falters in this aspect, and there are almost too many references to the original Superman. Still, like its title character, the film's powerful combo of spectacle and heart win the day in the end.

Acting

Sure, Brandon Routh won't make you forget Christopher Reeve. Indeed, the casting of the look-a-like newcomer is clearly intended to evoke the iconic actor. His Superman is not as majestic and commanding as Reeve's, nor is his Clark Kent as absurdly awkward--but these are good things. Both of Kal-El's personas move closer to the center, and the end result makes for a more human and vulnerable hero. Bosworth is more effective as the conflicted Lois than expected, but her extreme youth and slight frame still make it difficult to buy her as a seasoned, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Nevertheless, she and Routh share a palpable, if not combustible, chemistry. As anticipated, Spacey unleashes unctuous charm and chilling menace in equal parts--but that's not always a good thing. The threadbare Luthor plot consumes far more screen time than it merits, and too often Spacey resorts valiantly to filling up the screen with his personal pyrotechnics in the absence of strong scenes. Frank Langella provides punchy panache as Perry White and Eva Marie Saint is a soulful Ma Kent. Props in particular go out to James Marsden in the thankless role of Lois' new love for providing a believably acceptable romantic alternative to the Man of Steel. But the usual sparkplug Parker Posey disappoints, going through the uninspired motions as Luthor's moll Kitty, while Sam Huntington's Jimmy Olsen grates rather than acts as supposed comic relief.

Direction

Nearly two decades after star Christopher Reeve and director Richard Donner made audience believe a man could fly, director Bryan Singer, as he did with the first two X-Men films, brings an elegant, emotion-tinged touch to the super-heroic proceedings. Things get off to a rocky start in the first half hour, which feels bloated, choppy and a touch directionless, as Singer and the screenwriters reveal surprisingly tin ears when it comes to what (barely) passes as comedy in the film. But then, with Superman in action and Lois wrestling with her feelings for him, there is strong stuff indeed, with the third act full of ripe, intriguing emotional beats that fortunately overpower the director's distracting, over-reliant reverence for the Reeve-Donner films. While many of the nods to the original films work marvelously--the use of Marlon Brando footage, the Kryptonian production design and the original John Williams score among them--others feel like rote, even slavish attempts to recapture the original magic. The whole is less of a fully formed film, but Superman Returns is a great kick start to a potentially knockout new franchise, which ultimately leaves the audience, like the people of Metropolis when its greatest hero returns to the skies, brimming with hope.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.

Movie

Superman Returns

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-07-12 00:00:00

Provider

MyMovies

Review

The Man Of Steel returns after an almost twenty year absence from our screens in this hugely enjoyable blockbuster from director Bryan Singer. Set after he'd vanquished Nod, Zod and Ursa in "Superman 2", this adventure sees Superman (newcomer Brandon Routh) returning to Earth after going AWOL for five years - and how things have changed since he's been away. Crime is up, the planet is in chaos and, worse still, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) is playing happy families, complete with fiance and young son. But one man you can always count on staying the same is ultra-villain Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey), who has devised an evil plan which will kill millions while lining his pockets.

One of the most nostalgic movies we've seen in a long time, its obvious right from the start that director Bryan Singer ("X-Men") has poured his heart into "Superman Returns". Anyone who saw the original "Superman" in the cinema will get goose bumps as John Williams's timeless score hits and the opening credits fly towards you from the screen - and that's just the first five minutes. The remaining two and half hours then flash by as we're swept up in an action-packed ride involving out of control planes, devastating earthquakes and sinking ships.

In Routh, Singer has more than found someone worthy of wearing the cape - he perfectly blends the innocence of Clark Kent with Superman's huge responsibility, while exploring a previously uncharted sense of loneliness. Spacey meanwhile is hilarious as Luthor, hamming it up gloriously. The only minor gripe is that Kate Bosworth perhaps seems a bit lightweight as Lois Lane; for a character who's meant to be a hardened investigative reporter she just seems a bit too…nice. However she and Routh work well together as they try to make sense of Superman's five year absence.

Arguably the best blockbuster of the summer, Superman is back - and what a return it is.

Movie

Superman Returns

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-07-18 15:51:02

Provider

Review

There was a time when Superman was the only credible comic book adaptation on the silver screen. However, old Supey's 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. Sadly, Superman Returns doesn't quite know whether it's trying to be a remake or an all new adventure altogether.

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 'miscast' 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.

On the plus side this is a visually stunning movie. The few set pieces, particularly Superman's rescue of a Boeing 747 hurtling towards a baseball pitch is as beautifully animated as any CGI scene you're likely to see. And John Williams' original theme music is certainly great to hear again.

On the down side this plodding epic is slower than Gone With Wind and comes armed with ridiculous plot embellishments that'll have Christopher Reeve spinning in his grave, despite it paying homage to the original film's star.

Beware, here comes the spoiler folks. Superman may or may not be the father of Lois Lane's asthmatic kid! Supey himself (Brandon Routh) is pretty charmless and probably doesn't deserve the two and a half hours worth of character dissection Singer dedicates to him. In fact he's even a bit creepy especially as he tries to weasel back into Lane's life when she has a perfectly decent fiancee in the shape of James Marsden.

There's also far too much old ground covered for this to be a totally fresh adventure. You only have to rent out Richard Donner's superior 1978 original if we want to see young Clark learning about his powers again or Lex Luthor's dizzy woman taking pity on old Supey as he suffers from yet another bout of Kryptonite. And as for the ER style ending, Superman in a coma? Please, this is a guy who can reverse time!

Is it a bird... Yes actually kind of a turkey.