| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
B |
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| Acting: |
A- |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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Superman Returns
by Bob J (movies profile)
Apr 14, 2007
109
of
181 people found this review helpful
What a masterful creation and direction by director Bryan Singer. Nevermind the 2 out of 4 stars Roger Ebert gave "Superman Returns". Might I add his review seemed more based off of nostalgia formed from movies growing older than a majority judgement based on the merits of this new film alone.
(He spent much of the time comparing this movie with Richard Donner's 1978 version.)
"Superman Returns" is well written and entertaining for today's world. The story continues after Donner's Superman II. Forget the disapointments from III and IV. We get this impression from hearing Singer talk about his new work.
For "Super Returns", Singer is put in the driver seat on a road less traveled. Twenty-five years have passed since the creation of Superman II, and yet, the story continues after Superman has been away for 5 years in the movie. To mesh a continuing story with the backdrop of cultural, technological, and social changes of 25 years is a task unto itself. With that it mind, Singer navigates around all the pot-holes.
The fact is today people are more saavy and more desirous concerning what they value as 'non-hokey' entertainment. Continuing in the style from Donner's 1978 version would be too defunct to work.
The special effects during a scene where the man of steel flies through clouds at breakneck speeds avoiding broken plane wings and debris is an impressive sight. We see early on Singer establishing a connection again between Superman and Lois Lane as she sees him with disbelief and impassioned eyes through a window of a crashing plane.
There are many scenes where Superman and Lois Lane appear "tongue tied". Awkward moments are often warranted for a believable scene between two ex-lovers genuinely unsure of what to say. It helps to create an atmosphere of mystery concerning whether intensifying emotions will be resolved happily or unhappily for the viewing audience.
Kevin Spacey plays the humorous and simultaneously diabolical Lex Luthor. Again, Luthor seeks to gain land as he did in the original. We are reminded that it is not so much the type of evil plan created, but rather, it is the scope of the evil plan that is involved in every comic book influenced movie. And the scope of this particular plan involves the death of several billion people.
We know the formula for such movies. Great evil will be done. Good arises to take on the challenge. Since it is a movie about a superhero, naturally, evil will be stopped in its tracks.
And for this movie, the journey from 'A' to 'B' to 'C' is a memorable one.
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