Superman Returns

Starring: Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and James Mardsen

Written by: Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and Bryan Singer

Directed by: Bryan Singer

The return of Superman. It was an attempt to return to the glory days as Superman: The Movie is still considered the real beginning of the golden age of superhero films even if Superman IV nearly killed the genre. And it was a fine fine attempt. Did it succeed? Well it was certainly much better than the trash that was III and IV. It didn’t quite match the heights of the original…or even the Donner cut of II, but it was well worth watching and a nice beginning of a possible franchise.

The main problem with the film is that it doesn’t really know what it wants to be? It tries to be a reboot, a continuation of the Christopher Reeve films, and then it goes so far to pay homage to the first it’s almost a remake at times.

The producers were smart to totally ignore III and IV as if they didn’t happen. You wouldn’t truly be able to tell it from the film but it supposedly is five years after the events in II. It would have helped if they had been able to reference II in some fashion.

Another problem with the films is the performances. Truly only Kevin Spacey and Marlon Brando succeed in their roles and Brando was digitially restored footage from the first film and unused cuts from the Donner cut of II. I think it’s a good time to interject that watching the saga using the Donner cut of II makes this film a bit more satisfying certainly.

But the rest of the roles? James Marsden. Well I haven’t reviewed X-Men yet..but I’m not a fan. He plays everything exactly the same and has very limited range.

Kate Bosworth was simply boring. Not bad for the eyes, but Margot Kidder was far far superior as the feisty reporter.

Brandon Routh? Cast I believe for his likeness in both appearance and voice to Christopher Reeve, he lacks Reeves’ charisma. It just doesn’t work.

As I said, I do appreciate Spacey. I loved Hackman’s performance but it definitely worked more in the timeframe of the film. Returns tries a little less camp and so Spacey’s version works incredibly well.

The story? Well it’s not horrible, but the pacing is. It slows down at all the wrong times and spends a bit too much time on the love triangle between Richard, Clark, and Lois. And there is just too much allusion to the original. There are a few too many direct quotations of the film, Lex’s plan involves real estate, Clark and Lois share a romantic flying around the city. It’s just a bit much.

Then there’s Superbaby. I still don’t know how I feel about it. On someways it works and makes for an interesting angle, but part of me just says get him out of there. I’m quite torn.

One last thing I want to mention is the score. John Ottman’s score is mediocre at best, but he does use John Williams’ themes QUITE well. The beginning sequence of the film is chill-enducing invoking the original film’s beginning.

Overall it was well worth a watch even if there were some issues with it. Next time I watch the Superman saga, I think I’ll watch I, II (Donner Cut), Returns.

B-