There's a scene in this movie where Superman lies on a hospital bed in critical condition. The Daily Planet has two papers ready to roll depending on what happens to him. One says "Superman Lives" and the other says "Superman is Dead". That's the ping pong game of opinions I had while watching this movie. Back and forth from one to the other.
I really, really wanted to love this movie. You'll read comment after comment from people who grew up with the original Superman movies. I'm no different. So when this movie started and I heard the familiar theme music and saw those dated but wonderful opening credits I got goosebumps. But guys, there's just no way around it... Superman Returns is not a bad movie, it's just not great.
Before I break it down let me tell you the biggest problem I had with the film. The mother of all problems as far as I'm concerned... it's no fun. That's it. That's 90% of what I didn't like about it. Remember how witty the original was while still taking itself seriously? Remember how awe-inspiring it was to watch Superman use his powers? Do you know how many moments in that film STILL make me smile ear to ear? "You've got me? Who's got you?!" "Doesn't it give you kind of a... shudder... of electricity through you to be in the same room with me?" "Fly. Just fly. We got... something. I ain't saying what it is. Just... trust me." Why is it that modern superhero movies have to overload on the angst? With someone like Batman I get it. That's a darker character. But for a better example look at the Spider-Man movies. They're emotional without being depressing. Superman Returns is a bit of a downer. It simply isn't a lot of fun. And for a director who was trying to copy Donner's world verbatim, that's a pretty important piece of the puzzle to forget. Those first two Supermans are movie escapism at its best.
Let's talk about Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent. There's no doubt the guy has the look (though he doesn't strike me as the Christopher Reeve doppleganger most people see). He's a pretty suitable successor to the role. But no one will ever embody this character the way Reeve did. There will never be a more lovable Clark or a more idolized Superman. Routh has the physicality for the role, but his charisma pales in comparison to Reeve.
I found the rest of the cast to be similarly acceptable (if not underwhelming) with the exception of Kate Bosworth as Lois. It just didn't work for me. I believe Margot Kidder casts as large a shadow over that role as Reeve does as Superman. She's not the spunky, sassy, and opinionated woman she was before. She's not even a woman. She looks like an intern lost in the abyss of the Daily Planet, not someone who commands it. Singer has a habit of casting his comic book movies a tad too young. This is no exception.
I did like Sam Huntington as Jimmy and James Marsden as Richard. Those were probably the two biggest stands outs for me. Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey are predictably good in roles that don't require them to do much we haven't seen before.
There are some pretty big problems with the story (the poor foundation on which this unstable film was constructed on). For starters, no one finds it a little strange that Superman and Clark both disappeared at the same time and both came back at the same time? If Superman can fly at almost the speed of light, why did it take him five years to look for Krypton? Does Lex realize that his big scheme will kill all of the people he's counting on to buy land from him? If this follows Superman I & II, didn't Superman wipe Lois' memory at the end of Part II? How does she remember sleeping with Superman? And if she remembers that, why doesn't she remember that Clark is Superman? In almost every interview conducted with Bryan Singer before this movie was released he said this movie was about Superman returning to a world that didn't need him anymore. Really? Because I didn't get that at all. We see one article that Lois wrote and no evidence that anyone anywhere on the planet feels that way. In fact, the second Superman reappears at the baseball stadium everyone is giving him a standing ovation and celebrating this return. For a world that doesn't need him, they sure are glad to have him back.
A lot of people say that beat for beat this movie is almost identical to the first one. That's not true. It starts a lot faster and the ending is a bit sloppier. There's something really unsatisfying about Luthor's last scene. I was waiting for something else to come next. But it never did. I was also a little disappointed that Superman and Lex have one, count it ONE, scene together.
This sounds overwhelmingly negative but I didn't dislike the movie. I just wanted it to be so much more than it is. The fact is it's not a lot of fun to spend two and a half hours with characters who mope around and don't seem to like themselves very much.
What's fascinating about posting a review to a movie like this is that anyone that disagrees with me immediately clicks that this review wasn't helpful. Maybe they're hoping it gets buried so that some other visitor to the site doesn't stumble upon it and agree with me (God forbid!). If you genuinely think my review sucks then click away. But if it's because you hate my opinion and not the way I expressed it, why not try sending me a message and trying to explain to me your point of view?
I really, really wanted to love this movie. You'll read comment after comment from people who grew up with the original Superman movies. I'm no different. So when this movie started and I heard the familiar theme music and saw those dated but wonderful opening credits I got goosebumps. But guys, there's just no way around it... Superman Returns is not a bad movie, it's just not great.
Before I break it down let me tell you the biggest problem I had with the film. The mother of all problems as far as I'm concerned... it's no fun. That's it. That's 90% of what I didn't like about it. Remember how witty the original was while still taking itself seriously? Remember how awe-inspiring it was to watch Superman use his powers? Do you know how many moments in that film STILL make me smile ear to ear? "You've got me? Who's got you?!" "Doesn't it give you kind of a... shudder... of electricity through you to be in the same room with me?" "Fly. Just fly. We got... something. I ain't saying what it is. Just... trust me." Why is it that modern superhero movies have to overload on the angst? With someone like Batman I get it. That's a darker character. But for a better example look at the Spider-Man movies. They're emotional without being depressing. Superman Returns is a bit of a downer. It simply isn't a lot of fun. And for a director who was trying to copy Donner's world verbatim, that's a pretty important piece of the puzzle to forget. Those first two Supermans are movie escapism at its best.
Let's talk about Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent. There's no doubt the guy has the look (though he doesn't strike me as the Christopher Reeve doppleganger most people see). He's a pretty suitable successor to the role. But no one will ever embody this character the way Reeve did. There will never be a more lovable Clark or a more idolized Superman. Routh has the physicality for the role, but his charisma pales in comparison to Reeve.
I found the rest of the cast to be similarly acceptable (if not underwhelming) with the exception of Kate Bosworth as Lois. It just didn't work for me. I believe Margot Kidder casts as large a shadow over that role as Reeve does as Superman. She's not the spunky, sassy, and opinionated woman she was before. She's not even a woman. She looks like an intern lost in the abyss of the Daily Planet, not someone who commands it. Singer has a habit of casting his comic book movies a tad too young. This is no exception.
I did like Sam Huntington as Jimmy and James Marsden as Richard. Those were probably the two biggest stands outs for me. Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey are predictably good in roles that don't require them to do much we haven't seen before.
There are some pretty big problems with the story (the poor foundation on which this unstable film was constructed on). For starters, no one finds it a little strange that Superman and Clark both disappeared at the same time and both came back at the same time? If Superman can fly at almost the speed of light, why did it take him five years to look for Krypton? Does Lex realize that his big scheme will kill all of the people he's counting on to buy land from him? If this follows Superman I & II, didn't Superman wipe Lois' memory at the end of Part II? How does she remember sleeping with Superman? And if she remembers that, why doesn't she remember that Clark is Superman? In almost every interview conducted with Bryan Singer before this movie was released he said this movie was about Superman returning to a world that didn't need him anymore. Really? Because I didn't get that at all. We see one article that Lois wrote and no evidence that anyone anywhere on the planet feels that way. In fact, the second Superman reappears at the baseball stadium everyone is giving him a standing ovation and celebrating this return. For a world that doesn't need him, they sure are glad to have him back.
A lot of people say that beat for beat this movie is almost identical to the first one. That's not true. It starts a lot faster and the ending is a bit sloppier. There's something really unsatisfying about Luthor's last scene. I was waiting for something else to come next. But it never did. I was also a little disappointed that Superman and Lex have one, count it ONE, scene together.
This sounds overwhelmingly negative but I didn't dislike the movie. I just wanted it to be so much more than it is. The fact is it's not a lot of fun to spend two and a half hours with characters who mope around and don't seem to like themselves very much.
What's fascinating about posting a review to a movie like this is that anyone that disagrees with me immediately clicks that this review wasn't helpful. Maybe they're hoping it gets buried so that some other visitor to the site doesn't stumble upon it and agree with me (God forbid!). If you genuinely think my review sucks then click away. But if it's because you hate my opinion and not the way I expressed it, why not try sending me a message and trying to explain to me your point of view?