Superman Returns: The Best Film of the Summer for Many Reasons! Must See!
Written: Jul 02 '06
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: superb casting; awe-inspiring special effects and action sequences; powerful, tight plot; expansive story-telling
Cons: Some minor animated sequences not up to quality of the rest of the film
The Bottom Line: Must See for Superman Fans, Comic Book Fans, and Action Movies
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| swopedesign's Full Review: Superman Returns |
Truth, justice, and the American Way. A trite phrase today that the makers of Superman Returns acknowledges and destroys at the same time, then powerfully renews it on a larger scale by the end of the film like no other Superman film, TV series, cartoon or comic book has ever done. My favorite super hero flick of all time has been Spider-Man 2. No longer. Superman Returns is worth seeing again and again.
Special Effects: Everyone's bound to cheer the special effects in this powerful film. Several of the scenes are so breathtaking that all discussion of them is deserved. The mid-air plane/shuttle disaster, the bullets bouncing off Superman's chest (and even his eye!), and hundreds such spectacular scenes will truly make the world believe again that a man can fly! Probably even more deeply and with more conviction than the legendary 1977 film starring Christopher Reeves.
In fact, it is the superb special-effects extravaganza throughout the film that makes Superman Returns such a welcome surprise. The film does not bluff or dance around with these sequences. They are incredibly realistic in both appearance and impact on the characters (and audience, too, since I and others in the theater audibly reacted and grimaced during these sequences, empathizing with the characters). Lois Lane bounces around the doomed plane's cabin, looking down from the ceiling and beckoning for help to the man buckled into his seat looking up at her. A very powerful scene! There are dozens of others that make the audience feel as if they are really there, in the scene, and if they were any closer, they themselves would be in danger.
That said, however, the special effects are not perfect. At times, it is clearly evident that animation is being used, particularly when Superman hovers in the air. His body is "puffy" and lacks minor features, such as rippling of his ribs. If one can ignore these animated sequences, the film in all its diamonds and warts will undoubtedly thrill theater-goers.
Other Opportunities Taken: I was an avid comic book reader all through my teen years, and still have my collection. I saw the Christopher Reeves films as a boy, too, and liked the first in particular very much. But Spidey was my favorite comic book character. I never bought a Superman comic. They lacked the real-world humanity of the Spider-man titles, as Peter Parker wrestled with not only super-villains, but also his friends, lovers, exposure of his secret identity, and his own deep-rooted emotions about power and responsibility, how they should be used, where his responsibility ends.
Superman Returns explores very similar emotional issues as well for its hero, and does so admirably and surprisingly. No longer is Superman invincible, indestructible, the proverbial Man of Steel. He is now more "one of us" after his 5-year absence than ever before. This is a welcome change, creating more depth of character than the franchise has ever known. Many theater-goers will identify with the personal issues that Clark Kent/Superman must face throughout the film. It is his handling of these powerful personal issues and responsibilities, not his powers, that make him a hero. No longer is Superman a wooden character, with just a touch of love for Lois Lane. He is now a man who must make decisions that impact his life and the lives of every major and minor character in the film at once! Powerful, moving material!
Superman Returns also takes risks and grabs opportunity with the character of Lex Luthor, who IMHO has never been much of a threat to Superman or the world. Even in the Reeves' films, Lex Luthor is a putz, surrounding himself with mindless, brainless, bumbling, uneducated idiots to do his bidding. While just a touch of this remains with this modern Lex Luthor, that is all that remains. Lex Luthor is a very dangerous man, and his character is played to the hilt by Kevin Spacey. Spacey's Lex Luthor is explosive, and does not distance himself from his crimes. He is as likely to kill you himself horribly as to have one of his few henchmen do it for him. In fact, Spacey's Luthor takes on Superman hand-to-hand, personally, viciously, callously, and takes great pleasure in doing so. His beef with Superman is personal. Superman Returns makes that crystal clear (pun intended!).
Dualities Make Up the Fabric of the Film: Duality has long been a feature of the most powerful tales of world literature, including the Bible. The most powerful tales use mirrors, smoke, and paired characters to generate and fuel their plots. Superman Returns employs dualities from start to finish. Here are only a few:
1) Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor have both returned after a 5 year absence.
2) Superman's father speaks to Superman in the Fortress of Solitude in the 1977 film; his father also speaks to Lex Luthor with exactly the same phrases, as the mindless crystalline machine does not know that Lex Luthor has activated it and not Kal-El. In effect, both Kal-El and Lex Luthor are Jor-L's sons, literally for Kal-El and symbolically for Luthor.
3) Perry White edits the Daily Planet; his son is now also an editor, and sometimes smooths things over with his father concerning his fiance Lois Lane's headstrong pursuits of a story.
4) Lois Lane now has a 4-year-old son. He may be Richard White's son, or he may be Kal-El's son. Who is the father?
5) After the plane disaster early in the film, Brandon Routh tells passengers that he hopes the incident doesn't put them off of flying, echoing word-for-word the phrase in the original Superman. "Statistically speaking, flying is still the safest way to travel."
5) Superman Returns also reclaims some of the original Superman score from the 1977 film. This, like so much in this film, is a welcome addition.
6) Brandon Routh looks very much like Christopher Reeve, though he has a more youthful appearance than Reeve.
7) Superman Returns breaks the timeline of the first four Superman films in half. It takes place after Superman 2. It is as though the two worst films of the Superman franchise were never made (and probably no one misses them).
8) Both Superman and Richard White lay claim to Lois Lane's affections. Both men have jet black hair. Both men fly (Richard's a pilot). Both have strong male figures. Both "go back" in the film because they feel it is their duty and responsibility to do so, irregardless of the risks. Both men, therefore, are heroes.
9) The first Lex Luthor steals a meteorite for his little piece of Kryptonite with which to kill Superman. Stacey's Lex Luthor does the same.
These dualities and many others not mentioned make Superman Returns a feast for the mind and those old enough to remember the first Reeve-driven Superman film. It is both new and nostalgic at the same time. In fact, Superman Returns borders of spatial fiction, a feature of some noteworthy literature, including James Joyce's Ulysses. Though much has passed, past and future echo throughout the work like ripples in a pool of water.
No Longer Just an American Hero: To be honest, Superman has entertained audiences around the world in the comics and newspapers for many years. He hasn't been just an American hero for a very long time. However, Superman Returns truly makes Superman global, as his exploits are broadcast all over the world, all day, every day. As he explains to Lois Lane, who may not believe the world needs Superman, that he hears everything, and he knows that he is needed. In fact, when the filmmakers removed "American way" from Perry White's speech early in the film, it is clear that the filmmakers understand that nations, like Superman, may be "outcasts" (as is America these days), but they are not alone. They are part of a larger community. For theater-goers, Superman Returns is a product of a global consciousness.
Superman Returns is a wonderfully powerful feast of a film. It stirs not only our passions and personal sense of family and responsibility but also our hearts and minds after nearly 30 years. If you liked the original Superman as played by Christopher Reeve, you'll love Superman Returns with Brandon Routh as Superman and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. Once more you'll believe a man can fly, and you'll cheer for truth and justice on a global scale.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Epinions.com ID:
swopedesign
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Member: Mike Swope
Location: Wichita, KS
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Graphic/web designer. Grew brother's retail tire business. Now managing a similar long-established business.
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