Superman Returns – Review

credit: www.impawards.com

Director:

Bryan Singer

Cast:

Brandon Routh……….Clark Kent/Superman
Kate Bosworth……….Lois Lane
Kevin Spacey……….Lex Luthor
James Marsden……….Richard White
Parker Posey……….Kitty Kowalski
Frank Langella……….Perry White
Sam Huntington……….Jimmy Olsen
Eva Marie Saint……….Martha Kent
Tristan Lake Leabu……….Jason White
Marlon Brando……….Jor-El (archive footage)

In this, the latest & greatest Superman film, the last son of Krypton has been away from Earth for five years. There were rumors that a part of Krypton might still exist and he had to see for himself. Now he’s returned and things have changed a little. His old flame Lois Lane had a kid, Jason (although she’s not married to the dad, Richard). Then there are some things that haven’t changed. Lex Luthor has found The Fortress Of Solitude and stolen Superman’s crystals and the knowledge they contain.

You can pretty much figure out the plot from there: Lex has an evil scheme, Lois gets in trouble, Superman saves the day and everyone lives happily ever after… well almost. It’s pretty formulaic, true to the Superman form, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Within the formula Bryan Singer has put many fantastic moments and a few surprises that may or may not please everyone.

Superman saves the day again!

Superman’s return to the populace is as sensational as you can imagine. A plane is plummeting to the ground and Lois Lane is aboard. Superman stops the plane from crashing just in time, landing it in the middle of a baseball field during a game ending with huge applause from both the audience in the movie and the audience in the theater. This is the reason you watch a Superman movie. That and watching a bullet hit his eye, then fall to the ground is pretty cool too!

As well as having some great action sequences there is some good character development in here too. Seeing Lois with another man and a son really gives him something to think about. As well as having a kid, Lois won a Pulitzer for an article she wrote called “Why the Earth doesn’t need Superman,” but with Superman’s return she must reconsider everything she’s gotten used to. You really feel for Richard. He knows Lois had (has) feelings for Superman. How do you compete with him?

Kevin Spacey IS Lex Luther.

The acting for the most part is top notch. Let’s do a roll call: Brandon Routh soars (yes I know it’s a cheesy word to use) as the new Superman. While there are moments where he seems to be channeling Christopher Reeve he really brings something new to the man in blue tights. Kate Bosworth surprises as Lois. She has all the spunk and spit necessary for this reporter. Kevin Spacey steals the show as the best Lex Luthor ever! Gene Hackman was great but there was a certain goofiness about him that took away any credibility. Spacey’s Lex is evil through and through. Parker Posey is perfect as Lex’s sidekick, Kitty. She is the comic relief here and delivers every step of the way. Even young Tristan Lake Leabu is great as Jason. James Marsden proves that Cyclopes isn’t the only character in a superhero movie that he can play stiffly and without emotion.

There is a big flaw in the film that very may well link right back to flaws in the comic. Superman is gone five years, fine, but that means Clark Kent has also been gone five years. Doesn’t anyone find it odd that they both return at the same time? There is a moment when Lois and Richard are discussing Superman and they look over at Clark. “Do you think?” Richard questions, then they both laugh it off. But then again it’s never made sense that those glasses would fool anyone. The other big problem with the film is the age of Superman and Lois Lane. In the world of this movie Superman has been around a while before leaving for five years, so why is it Superman and Lois are so young? Especially since Lois is a mother now.

Clark Kent and Superman the same person? NO!

This movie is everything you want it to be. It’s action packed, well acted, very funny, and well-made on every level. It has you on the edge of your seat one minute and laughing out loud the next. Bryan Singer once again gives comic book dorks everywhere a reason to cheer!