Watching Superman and Superman II on the weekend, the first time in quite some time, I could finally see how the special effects were accomplished. Superman flew against blue screen to make it look like he was flying over the water and through the air and so on. Fire coming towards him was nothing more than an optical illusion and so on. But in 1978, these were ground breaking effects and people marveled at the wizardry displayed in the film. But the special effects never seemed to take away from the story. Superman II is a better film in my opinion because there was more action, more human relationships and a lot more actual physical confrontations/fights. That's not to say that Superman the movie isn't a great film, it is. But the second showed us every side to Superman. His angry side, his vengeful side, his soft side and his human side. The whole film was simply kick-ass. And part of that equation was the casting and the interpretation of the characters. If there is on complaint that is omnipotent in this film, it's that the characters do not resemble the characters we remember. Ironically, the actor that had the most heat on him before the film began, has the best performance in the film. Brandon Routh embodies the spirit of Superman but needs a better script to showcase his talents. It's the rest of the cast that seems to sleepwalk their way through the film.
This is a lackluster beginning to what will probably be a franchise that produces more sequels. The film is is all but guaranteed to make its production budget back WW and with video (350 mill reportedly) so there will be sequels. This debut is average at best. And the problems begin with casting, and perhaps the direction by Singer. I remember Lois Lane as a manic personality and a go getter and someone who resembled a woman on Ecstacy. She was enthusiastic, and energetic but feminine all rolled into one. Kate Bosworth plays her like a woman scorned. She is a bitter, angry and acerbic woman that in all of 5 years has gone from someone who was rescued by Superman countless times and someone who revered him to someone who literally sneers his name when speaking it. And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Superman erase her memory at the end of the second one? How would she even remember her feelings for him? Because these feelings are clearly more than the crush that she felt before she got to hang with him. This is a deep seeded love that someone remembers. It just doesn't fit.
Then there is the problem with the story. So let's see if we can get this straight. Superman disappears for five years and then Lex goes to jail for five years but gets out long enough to meet and marry and pleasure a dying old woman to then steal her fortune so that he can then go back to Superman's fortress and steal the secrets he needs to take over the world. RIGHT! And another thing that just doesn't make any sense, and I'm not trying to nitpick here, but seriously folks, how can people not put this together? Is it really that hard to figure out that Clark and Superman returned at the same time? I mean, isn't that a little coincidental. They even make jokes about it in the movie, like they are aware of the joke but stay the course anyway. And you're talking about reporters here. People who uncover the truth for a living. And they can't piece together the physical similarities of their look and their physique and the auspicious timing of both of their returns? I know this is a movie, but please! When watching the film, it occurs to you that there was so much that could have been done differently. The reason for his disappearance is lame. The plot by Lex to take over the world is terrible and Superman getting debilitated by Kryptonite is just lazy. He knows he has one weakness...one and yet he chooses to ignore the fact that with Lex returning, so should the possibility of Kryptonite. Once we see Superman down on his back getting the Super-crap beat out of him, it just becomes too much. The movie is lazy, and that is what brings it down. There was also a terribly elementary attempt to introduce his super-son. Once we find out that he can throw a piano, is it really too much to ask to have him break the door down?
The film is supposed to be a bridge between the second and the present. But there are too many plot holes to accomplish that simple task. And that takes away the credibility of the movie. And if you just don't believe what you are being fed, then there isn't much point to the film.
Not all is bad. I have to admit that at the beginning when John Williams iconic theme blasts over the speakers, I got chills. And the airplane rescue scene is actually breathtaking, especially when it lands on a baseball diamond. Also fun is one brief line when you hear that Superman has been spotted all over the world, including Gotham City. This is a great prelude to possible encounters with Batman later on.
I didn't hate Superman Returns. I just didn't like it all that much. I did laugh and want to cheer in some parts, but more times than not, I wanted it to end. And with some closure too. This film just goes on and on and on like Return of the King did before it finally just ends.
Superman tells Lois, "I'm always around." And that may be true, but if they don't fix the second one, he may not be around for much longer.
6/10 So much more could have been done with the film.
This is a lackluster beginning to what will probably be a franchise that produces more sequels. The film is is all but guaranteed to make its production budget back WW and with video (350 mill reportedly) so there will be sequels. This debut is average at best. And the problems begin with casting, and perhaps the direction by Singer. I remember Lois Lane as a manic personality and a go getter and someone who resembled a woman on Ecstacy. She was enthusiastic, and energetic but feminine all rolled into one. Kate Bosworth plays her like a woman scorned. She is a bitter, angry and acerbic woman that in all of 5 years has gone from someone who was rescued by Superman countless times and someone who revered him to someone who literally sneers his name when speaking it. And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Superman erase her memory at the end of the second one? How would she even remember her feelings for him? Because these feelings are clearly more than the crush that she felt before she got to hang with him. This is a deep seeded love that someone remembers. It just doesn't fit.
Then there is the problem with the story. So let's see if we can get this straight. Superman disappears for five years and then Lex goes to jail for five years but gets out long enough to meet and marry and pleasure a dying old woman to then steal her fortune so that he can then go back to Superman's fortress and steal the secrets he needs to take over the world. RIGHT! And another thing that just doesn't make any sense, and I'm not trying to nitpick here, but seriously folks, how can people not put this together? Is it really that hard to figure out that Clark and Superman returned at the same time? I mean, isn't that a little coincidental. They even make jokes about it in the movie, like they are aware of the joke but stay the course anyway. And you're talking about reporters here. People who uncover the truth for a living. And they can't piece together the physical similarities of their look and their physique and the auspicious timing of both of their returns? I know this is a movie, but please! When watching the film, it occurs to you that there was so much that could have been done differently. The reason for his disappearance is lame. The plot by Lex to take over the world is terrible and Superman getting debilitated by Kryptonite is just lazy. He knows he has one weakness...one and yet he chooses to ignore the fact that with Lex returning, so should the possibility of Kryptonite. Once we see Superman down on his back getting the Super-crap beat out of him, it just becomes too much. The movie is lazy, and that is what brings it down. There was also a terribly elementary attempt to introduce his super-son. Once we find out that he can throw a piano, is it really too much to ask to have him break the door down?
The film is supposed to be a bridge between the second and the present. But there are too many plot holes to accomplish that simple task. And that takes away the credibility of the movie. And if you just don't believe what you are being fed, then there isn't much point to the film.
Not all is bad. I have to admit that at the beginning when John Williams iconic theme blasts over the speakers, I got chills. And the airplane rescue scene is actually breathtaking, especially when it lands on a baseball diamond. Also fun is one brief line when you hear that Superman has been spotted all over the world, including Gotham City. This is a great prelude to possible encounters with Batman later on.
I didn't hate Superman Returns. I just didn't like it all that much. I did laugh and want to cheer in some parts, but more times than not, I wanted it to end. And with some closure too. This film just goes on and on and on like Return of the King did before it finally just ends.
Superman tells Lois, "I'm always around." And that may be true, but if they don't fix the second one, he may not be around for much longer.
6/10 So much more could have been done with the film.