Movie Reviews
Superman Returns 
Rated R, 2:37 (2006)
Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Kevin Spacey
Direction: Bryan Singer
Production: Bryan Singer
Screenplay: Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, based on characters originated by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
by Vincent St. James
The Lowdown:
Good, but not quite...Super.
He's baaaaaaaaaaaack
Ah yes, another comic book movie, only this one involves the greatest of them all....Superman. And that alone is cause for joy and celebration.
It's been five years since anyone has seen Superman (or, coincidentally, Clark Kent for that matter). Our superhero has indeed returned, however, only to find that almost everything has changed for the worse. Clark, played well by newcomer Brandon Routh, learns that long-time love Lois Lane, played very well by Kate Bosworth, is not only involved with someone else (James Marsden as Richard), but has a kid to boot. Not only that, but his archenemy Lex Luthor is out of jail and once again wreaking havoc, looking to take over the world with superior technology taken from Superman's very own crystals. Can Superman, who's been gone for so long that publications titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman" are winning Pulitzer's, rework himself into the heart's of the people, take on evil and try once more to get the girl of his dreams?
Well, they don't call him Superman for nothing. Director Bryan Singer wastes no time in getting the "man of steel" (isn't that phrase played out?) into the thick of the action with visually and emotionally breathtaking action sequences. These are every bit as good if not better than those from the Spiderman movies, or any comic book movie for that matter. The scenes in which Superman is doing his thing, saving the day and all, make us feel like our home team has come back to kick some ass...and did I mention they are visually stunning?
Singer also pays major homage to the first two Superman movies, and its done in taste. A lot has been made about the romance in this one, and for good reason. There is some real chemistry between leads Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh, and both make up an excellent Lois-Superman pair. Routh holds his own, and thankfully so since how he goes, Superman goes. The two young leads provide everything one could hope for from the onscreen couple.
Now, onto the not so strong points. I like Kevin Spacey, and he does make me believe Lex is a dangerous maniac, however, there is something missing from his performance. Jack Nicholson's Joker in Batman was the joking, humorous menace- he was just plain evil, and what every comic book villain should aspire to be (either him or Sir Ian Mckellan's Magneto, but I'm sure Spacey wasn't trying to go down that road with Lex). Lex however... I just can't seem to take him seriously as world-dominator at times, but Spacey and the character are good enough for the part...mostly because the screenwriters thankfully avoided making the film revolve around Lex (as was the case with Batman's Joker) than Superman.
Now I will talk about the ending (not revealing anything major, but just warning those who are like me and want to know nothing about anything before viewing the film...skip to the last paragraph if that's the case). It's great...only not for a Superman movie. This is one of the most awaited comic book movies of all time (the most awaited?) and what do we get for a grand finale of the man who can fly, bend steel, is faster than a speeding bullet and yada yada.....fizzle. The movie fizzles and almost limps to the finish line, and I've got to say, it left me wanting more, and not in the good way. As I said, it provides good character development and social interaction between the male and female leads, but c'mon this is Superman. For a 2 1/2 hour running length I was expecting a grand finale, but the producers and director refrain from flexing those steel (paper?) muscles. It's why I rank this movie below Batman Begins and the first two Spider-man films (but better than X-Men: The Last Stand).
The film hits many of the right points that other comic book movies can only hope to hit as well, but misses in one or two rather important ways, which is why I say see this one, but don't get carried away with the hype.
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