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Amazon.co.uk Review
It's fair to say that Superman Returns probably wasn't quite the blockbuster many were expecting. It concentrates its action on a handful of dazzling, audacious sequences, it spends time working with its characters, and it deliberately pays homage to the heritage of the source material. Knitted together by Bryan Singer, the man behind the camera for the first two X-Men features, it's some distance away from the last time the Man of Steel appeared on the big screen.
But that's very much a good thing. Whilst it doesn't quite, and nor did it need to, perform the major surgery that Batman Begins had to undertake on the Dark Knight's adventures, Singer nonetheless leaves distance between his film and some of its predecessors (although there are respectful tips of the hat to the first two films, not least the nostalgia-inducing credits sequence).
The plot finds Superman returning to Earth after several years away, to discover that the world has moved on in his absence. It's not as safe, Lex Luthor is out of prison, and Lois Lane now has a family. Which is the cue for a lot of soul searching, slower, tender moments and character development that divided some sections of the cinema audience.
Yet, thanks to a stirring cast, led by newcomer Brandon Routh, the end product gels extremely well. Routh's performance is a fitting tribute to the late Christopher Reeve, while Kevin Spacey chews up anything he's allowed to as key villain Lex Luthor. Further, credible, support comes in the form of Parker Posey, James Marsden and Kate Bosworth.
It'd be remiss to call Superman Returns a flawless film. After all, the running time could use fifteen minutes taking off, there's not enough Kevin Spacey and there are occasional moments when the pacing feels a little off. But it is a superb return to form for the classic superhero, with the modern day blockbuster ingredients of some meat to go with the action firmly in place. Further instalments, Mr Singer, will be more than welcome. --Simon Brew
Product Description
For five years, Superman (Brandon Routh) has been away from Earth, coaxed into space by a belief that Krypton may still exist. Finding nothing, he comes back to a changed world--not only has terrorism become rampant, but Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has married, started a family, and won the Pulitzer for her piece 'Why the World Doesn't Need Superman'. After a stop in Smallville to see his adopted mother (Eva Marie Saint), Superman is back in Metropolis, and Clark Kent has his old job back at the Daily Planet, with everyone still incredibly oblivious to his alter ego. But where there's Superman, there's Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey), and he is likely to be planning something dastardly--in this case, using a piece of pilfered kryptonite to grow an entirely new continent that he will control. Bryan Singer (X-MEN 1 and 2), armed with a script by Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty, approaches the red cape with reverence for the lore of the character, and respect for Richard Donner's SUPERMAN (1980) and Richard Lester's 1980 sequel, films that ushered in the era of the modern superhero film. Singer's SUPERMAN is filled with melancholy, and not so subtly suggests the notion of Superman as a Christ figure, sacrificing himself to save mankind. But there are still laughs, mostly courtesy of Spacey (clearly having a blast) and Parker Posey as his moll, Kitty Kowalski, as well as plenty of gasp-inducing set pieces, including a spectacular and terrifying near plane crash and a sinking boat. While modern visual effects have allowed Superman to reach entirely new realms, Singer keeps them from becoming the film's raison d'etre, thus keeping the Man of Steel's gigantic heart intact--heavy though it may be.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An ode to the first film,
By
This review is from: Superman Returns - Single Disc [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
Not being a terribly big fan of Superman I was not expecting much form this film and although the film is beautifully made it is just not up to the par set by other superhero films of the likes of Batman Begins and the Spider-Man films. The film starts off five years after the second Superman film when the last son of Krypton returns to Earth to find the world has moved on without him. This film owes one hell of a lot to the 1978 Superman film, even going so far as to lift entire sections of dialog from its predecessor. Although this is one of the strengths of the film, it could also be seen as a slight weakness at the same time, giving the impression that the film is unoriginal and that we have seen it all before. The main stars give adequate performances with Brandon Routh giving a good performance as Superman, although I would say his Clack Kent needs some work. For me the, the outright star of the film has to be Kevin Spacey giving a brilliantly entertaining performance as Lex Luthor. Overall Superman Returns is a good homage to Richard Donner's Superman film but feels sadly average as a film in its own right, only saved from three stars by some great images and a barnstorming performance by Spacey.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A respectful performance,
This review is from: Superman Returns - Single Disc [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
Being a big fan of 3 out the 4 first Superman movies, i didn't know what to expect from this new installment... Christopher Reeve is Superman in my view. I have to say that this movie so very respectful to the original movie, with Brandon Routh putting in a great performance. Though Kevin Spacey's Lex Luther doesnt get enough screen time and the final 20 minutes are a little slow i will definately be adding this next to my superman dvd movie set.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed but enjoyable attempt to make a cerebral blockbuster,
By russell clarke "stipesdoppleganger" (halifax, west yorks) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: Superman Returns - Single Disc [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
Superman is a bit boring isn't he? Essentially you have a superhero that is not only virtually indestructible, with only two weaknesses -Kryptonite and his permanent case of the hots for Lois Lane- but is also an alien. Listen I like my superheroes super but when they are like mega-super and can reverse time when it suits them then that's taking it too far. Spiderman, X Men, etc may have wondrous powers but they are human or partly human and have flaws and silly weaknesses like the rest of us. We can empathise with them. My favourite Batman, isn't really a super hero, just a very motivated pissed off guy with lots of terrific gadgets. Hell if I was a bit more get up and go and had endless pots of cash I could be him There is no way I could be Superman . My Clarke is with an e and is on the wrong end.... and I look stupid in spandex.
That said I enjoyed Superman Returns , even though it's a predictable as a Juventus home fixture last season. It even uses the same music and title sequence style from the original film. Superman( Brandon Routh) has spent five years away from Earth seeking out the truth behind the destruction of his home planet. While he was absent Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has become engaged to her boss's nephew Richard White (James Marsden) and they have a young son Jason (Tristan Lake Lebeau).Clark Kent has supposedly been travelling but has managed in one of those happy plot conveniences to convince Daily Planet editor Perry White (Frank Langella) to give him his old job back. Superman wants to rekindle his romance with Lane but while he's been off sifting cosmic dust she has written a Pulitzer prize winning article entitled "Why The World Doesn't Need Superman " so it's clear she took his disappearance well. He, reluctant to invade her happiness resorts to a spot of super stalking but already its clear she has much to thank him for as in the films opening action sequence he saves a plane she was travelling on from crashing. Her resolve pretty soon starts to crumble. Her new beau in the scripts little in-jokes is a pilot so now she has had two boyfriends who can fly. She still has a remarkable ability to get herself into trouble .If Lois Lane were a cat her nine life's would have been extinguished long ago. If I were Superman I would go for a less troublesome chick that doesn't make me behave like an angst ridden teenager. Meanwhile super villain Lex Luther (Kevin Spacey) after being freed from prison has nicked some crystals from Superman's Artic hideaway and is planning a plot of typical fiendishness involving Kryptonite, real estate and the deaths of billions of people. Here is one pf the problems inherent in Superman mythology. Not only is he mono-vunerable he is also only ever faced by one nemesis. Luther has the requisite megalomania but he is never ever going to defeat Superman. Most damningly no matter how close he gets , and in Superman Returns he gets pretty close ( then messes it up with typical super villain complacency instead of ensuring Fly boy gets ground into Superman granules) you never ever feel that Superman is really threatened because ....well because he's Superman .Superman as a character is his own biggest problem. Director Bryan Singer clearly wanted to make a cerebral blockbuster for which he is to be congratulated but in truth he has overdone it a little. Though the film does deliver plenty of thrills and wham bang set pieces, quite brilliantly too , it is over long with too many somnambulant scenes of Superman /Clark/Lois soul searching. That said some of these scenes are elegantly touching and acted with surprising depth and there is enough sly humour in the script to keep the film from becoming stilted and arid. Singer and co-writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have thrown a juicy little titbit into the screenplay that will ensure the new franchise takes an unexpected detour. However there is a problem with the screenplay that seems to have been over looked. How come no misses Clark Kent in the films final third and how come no one notices he turns up at almost exactly the same time as Superman does return? There is one moment of devious humour when Lois and Richard compare Clark's height and build to Superman's but they take one look at geeky Clark and quickly dismiss it. For the next Superman film I want them to really test him as they did in the original Superman series when he was faced with three criminals from his own planet with the same powers as him. That was genuinely thrilling. And let's see him move on from Lois ...if only for awhile. Let's see Superman really stretched .The world does need Superman, but he could do with being a bit more fascinating and exigent and dare I say it .....human.
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