Movie - Superman Returns

[Kevin Trotter]

WOW! Just got back from seeing this(IMAX!!!) and while I know there will be some who will despise it, I am going out on a limb to say it is an instant classic, one of the best Superhero films of all time. Bryan Singer GETS IT, when it comes to this genre. He knows how to entice the fanboys

and hook casual fans by following the mythology of Superman, and discarding it when it adds to the story.

I was a little skeptical about Brandon Routh but came away a fan. He handled Clark/Kal-El in a beleivable fashion and really for the first time I got the sense of what it would be like to be the last(?) Son of Krypton. Kate Bosworth did an admirable job as LL and introduced more heart into a character choosing between a lost love and a current one. Her chemistry with James Marsden was particularly strong.

The rest of the cast is top rate Kevin Spacey IS Lex Luthor, Frank Langella made Perry White a human being not some parody as newspaper editors have often been played in this genre. Spacey's scene with Lois on his yacht is a classic. He brings a level of malice and menace rarely seen in Superhero flicks.

The special effects are very , very well done and were astonishing on the IMAX screen. You really see the full scale of Superman's powers and tied in with a brilliant musical score, Superman Returns is the most Epic film of the genre.

There will be some who will rail about the so called "slow" scenes, but i scoff at them. These scenes establish the essence of the chracter and really show how difficult it is to be Superman.

I will sse this again with my daughter this weekend and I await a sequel asap.

9.75/10

[ 07-04-2006, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Supreme Cmdr ]

[Guest]

WOW, OK, you got me convinced....

I will see it when the opportunity arises, I was going to pass on this one.

[Supreme Cmdr]

They took 20 yrs to come up with a little over sub-par movie of one of the greatest superheroes of all time.

As Superman, Brandon Routh is instantly the best thing about the movie. He is Superman.

After Spiderman and Batman Returns, I had very high expectations for Superman but I was seriously let down.

It doesn't even have the appeal that makes you want to go back and see it again. Like Spiderman and Batman, I saw them three times before they finished their theatrical run. The next time I see Superman, it will be on DVD.

It wasn't all bad though, but to me it was just as sub-par as Fantastic Four and The Hulk.

The special effects were well done and ALL the characters played their parts VERY WELL. But I felt that the film was lacking something. I can't quite put my finger on what it is lacking, but it just didn't feel right.

Lets not even go into the plot holes you could drive a train through. e.g. Clark and Superman disappear at the same time and returned at the same time. Yet, nobody seemed to notice, nor make the connection. Plus, I never got that whole thing about Clark and Superman looking exactly alike, yet, nobody connects the dots. Who knew that a pair of goofy glasses could totally hide someone's facial features? Oh yeah, he has a child. Thats so preposterous its not even funny. How is it even remotely possible for him to even conceive? What about genetics? This is the guy who can't feel bullets fer crissakes. This is a guy who - for all intent and purposes - is an alien. Its like mating a dog and a horse.

In fact, I'm only giving it a 7 because Brandon Routh convinced me that he was in fact fit to play the part of Superman.

7/10

[ 06-29-2006, 08:07 AM: Message edited by: Supreme Cmdr ]

[LostInSpace]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

Lets not even go into the plot holes you could drive a train through. e.g. Clark and Superman disappear at the

same

time and returned at the

same

time. Yet, nobody seemed to notice, nor make the connection. Plus, I never got that whole thing about Clark and Superman looking

exactly

alike, yet, nobody connects the dots. Who knew that a pair of goofy glasses could totally hide someone's facial features? Oh yeah, he has a child. Thats so preposterous its not even funny. How is it even remotely possible for him to even conceive? What about genetics? This is the guy who can't

feel

bullets fer crissakes. This is a guy who - for all intent and purposes - is an

alien

. Its like mating a dog and a horse.

In fact, I'm only giving it a 7 because Brandon Routh convinced me that he was in fact fit to play the part of Superman.

7/10

---

Ugh, why do they always have to mess up on the plot. I mean come on guys this is not rocket science. They need to hire superhero teen fans to write these stories. I'll tell you, these teens know the characters inside and out. Anyway, that aside, you could also pick on the fact it is also quite preposterous for an alien species to be even remotely be human. Maybe it will turn out that we are an early colonized planet by very early kryptonians but where as the home world evolved and moved on the kryptonians that colonized earth regressed and remained stagnant and is now only slowly going back on the right track. That could explain a lot in the entire relationship with earth and krypton.

Anyway, you didn't mention anything about Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. Any word about it?

[Supreme Cmdr]

I did say that ALL the characters played their part very well. That of course includes Spacey. He was perfect for the part.

[LostInSpace]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

I did say that ALL the characters played their part very well. That of course includes Spacey. He was perfect for the part.

---

The only reaason I was asking is because I've seen bits and pieces that he plays a darker lex luther this time around. I just wanted to get a feel on how dark he does play him. Is he really nasty in this one? I hope so.

[Kevin Trotter]

The plot holes everyone refers to are no worse than any I've seen in any other Superhero movie. To compare this to the Hulk or FF is is just plain wrong. Certain films have a built in handicap,unlike Batman who is a all technology and rage, with Supes, you must suspend disbelif because the premise of an Alien superpowered savior is wayy out side the norm.

Even Spidey and the X-Men are just humans who have had extraordinary things happen to them. This movie worked for me in a big way and I am not an Easy sell.

As far as comparing it to other movies...apples and oranges. Batman Begins is a great reboot, but the first Batman Michael Keaton was a great film as well. For me this film is in the upper rank of the genre along with X2 slightly under Spiderman

and clearly ahead of all the second tier films. Just my opinion

[Captain McMahon]

I just saw it last night and I loved it.

Although it's not as good as Spider-Man, it has great moments. I was actually hoping for a bit more characterization of who Superman is and why he does what he does. Not a origin, but a internal look at the character.

I loved the sequences and Jimmy is just funny. However I agree with the SC, there just seemed to be something missing at the end. I never really thought afriad for Superman and just think it could have been done better.

I mean he just goes into anyone's house or spies on them like a stalker, it felt a bit unnerving.

But because of the proformances and everything I give it a 6.5/10 just because I don't think it earns a 7 or a 6.

[Scrivener]

I got the impression that the movie was supposed to be an intimate personal drama about Superman coming back to a world that forgot him - BUT - some Hollywood executive retooled the script to include a bunch of craptacular, nonsensical, over-the-top, noncharictaristic extraordinary Hollywood CG rubbish without any explanation or justification whatsoever. The entire 3rd act is complete and utter crap. I felt like I was suddenly watching an entirely different movie. Also, the whole kid thing should have been left ambiguous and unanswered, although I am moderately grateful that it didn't end up doing a Van Helsing. I would have stormed out of the movie theatre immediately. As it stands, it was a very mediocre and deeply flawed movie that is worth one watch and one watch only.

5/10

[Kevin Trotter]

Saw this again on the normal screen and must admit it lacked the presence it had on IMAX. Some of the overall ambience of the Imax version may have dulled my senses to some of the points you guys have raised. However I still think the FF4 references are wayyy off base. I would suggest to anyone who hasnt seen it to see the IMX version.

Non IMAX version rating 8/10

[Cruis.In]

I agree with scriv on the third act. felt like an entirely different movie, before the third act began i wondered what they would do for the last hour and 15 minutes.

btw sc, in superman 2 when superman gives up his powers and becomes human through whatever technology his parents used on him, he did have that one night stand (as a man) with Lois before going back and getting back his powers.