What a tremendous film. For sheer feel good factor (which I assume that this was trying to achieve) Superman Returns is spot on. Brandon Routh takes the role brilliantly I feel. He even sounds like Christopher Reeve in some parts, especially as Clark Kent. A fitting tribute, I think.
So the action is lacking, but the Shuttle / Plane sequence captures the excitement of a vehicle plummeting to Earth much better than the ship crashing in Revenge of the Sith. And when the Man of Steel steps out of the plane to rapturous applause you certainly know that Kal-El is back. I even got a lump in my throat at that point.
This really does feel like a Superman film. Lex is, well Lex although the main plot with the crystals is a bit weak. However, it’s no more advanced than firing rockets into the San Andreas fault to cause big earthquakes. This is comic book stuff.
The whole Lois, Clark, Superman, and Lois’ son bit is a nice twist, and certainly adds to the possibilities again. So there was no huge Superman vs. villian with powers battle. I think we’re still waiting for the enormous Superman fight. Simon Bisley said that if he’s done the artwork for the Death of Superman story arc he’d have had Doomsday punching Superman through the Moon. Fighting on a gigantic scale.
But this is about Lois and Clark. It’s about a god and a mortal, it’s about human frailties. It’s about aspiration, it’s about the day job and your life outside of what you do for ‘work’. And yes it’s about love. But isn’t that what all comic about about. They’re not about super heroes, they’re about real world issues presented to us through the eyes of gods. So I throroughly enjoyed this film, it’s a welcome re-introduction. Kate Bosworth, although lovely, seems a bit young looking to play Lois but if you took someone of Margot Kidder’s age when they last did a Superman film and added five years I’m not sure she would be so appealing.
“The World Doesn’t Need Superman”? Rubbish, ofcourse we do. It makes for great entertainment.
Great Scott… and he even did the smiley bit at the end.