Superman Returns

SCRIBE'S KEEP THE WIG REVIEW:

Although the title of this film says it all, there is an even better one the producers could have used: “The Real Superman III.”

Fifteen years after the second and only other great Superman film of Christopher Reeves’ run as the Man of Steel, something truly wonderful had happened. The horrible and bitter taste of the uneven third film and abysmal fourth one have been rinsed out with a taste of something we haven’t seen since the original: A comic book movie elevated to fine art.

Exhibiting utmost respect for the original films, former X-Men director Bryan Singer has turned his considerable talents on the super-hero prototype with eye-popping results. It’s almost as if original director Richard Donner, later of Lethal Weapon fame, has been reborn while still alive. And what poetic justice that would be.

Although it’s common nowadays, shooting a film and its sequel back-to-back was practically unheard of in the late Seventies. But producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind were so convinced of the impending success of Superman: The Movie that they had Donner start shooting part II of Mario Puzo’s gigantic script which would become Superman II. For years, the Salkinds denied that Donner had shot more than a few scenes of the sequel before throwing a hissy fit and stalking off the set in disgust. It was then, they claimed, that they sought out British director Richard Lester who directed the horrid Help! For the Beatles to take over the helm and who directed the third one.

But the Salkinds were full of shit. It has been revealed that at least 60% of the film was shot by Donner before they canned him for a cheaper director who would move into a more campy direction. Fortunately for us true fans, Donner’s imprint is so firmly established in Superman II that even the goofy small town scenes and the re-shot Eiffel Tower and Niagara Falls sequences don’t detract from a movie almost equal to its predecessor. How this was achieved with a shitty cover band version of the incredible John Williams score and the absence of a protesting Gene Hackman whose scenes were thankfully shot before Donner’s departure is a testament to the magic of movies.

For those who don’t know, remember or care, Superman gave up his powers in part II to get to “know” Lois Lane in the Biblical sense. Unfortunately, he did this right as three formerly imprisoned criminals from his home-world of Krypton arrived to take over our planet. He had no choice but to beg for his powers back, but at least he got laid first.

Singer’s sequel is the next chapter in Superman’s life following the events of that film. Some time after losing Lois in favor of regaining his powers, scientists claimed they’d discovered the location of Krypton in space. Naturally, old Kal-el needed to go see his roots. Five years later, he returns to a world that had learned to live without him. Or has it?

Building on that premise, Singer beautifully renders stunning imagery and weaves it into an actual storyline involving accessible characters we care about.

Yes, Superman has returned, but so has Lex Luthor, this time portrayed by Kevin Spacey, who somehow resembles Hackman without looking anything like him. Spacey’s Luthor is less fun-loving and more evil than the Lex we met in the original films. Sure Hackman’s version had no trouble killing millions of people for real estate, but he never delighted in it like this one does. This Lex has spent five years in prison thanks to Superman, and his desire for revenge can only be sated by world domination and massive destruction, which will come thanks to technology from Krypton.

Meanwhile, Supes is conflicted on every level. He’s returned to a world that doesn’t seem to miss him, where his love interest has given birth to a child who may or may not have some super qualities, and where Lois finally won that Pulitzer for an article on why the world no longer needs Superman.

Newcomer Brandon Routh turns out to be a brilliant choice for the role of the man in tights. Instead of trying to put his own spin on the role the way Reeve did, he gratefully plays it in a similar fashion, at times sounding so much like his predecessor that it is frightening.

Although the scenes of heroism are incredible, it’s the less action-packed imagery that really makes this a work of art. The scene where Superman literally hovers over the entire world, nearly god-like, and listens to all of us until he zeroes in on someone who is in trouble is breathtaking. So is the scene where he takes Lois flying as in the original film, only this time she has no idea she’s doing it until she’s standing over the city. And lest I forget, the respectful nod to Marlon Brando’s defining portrayal of Superman’s father Jor-El as audio drops are sprinkled throughout the film as a way of linking the three movies together.

Also, instead of hammering the fact that this is a direct sequel to the second movie over our heads, Singer adds little touches of subtlety to the dialogue. For instance, when Luthor’s girlfriend comments that he acts like he’s been to the Fortress of Solitude before, the look on his face tells us he has without a single word. Also, when Lois is forced to write a new Superman article, she says, “I’ve already done Superman!” before realizing what she’s saying.

Routh’s portrayal of Clark Kent is a bit different from Reeve’s. For one thing, the nerdy Clark of the pre-80’s is gone both in comic books and on TV, so now we get a slightly clumsy Clark who looks more socially uncomfortable than like a klutz.

As a fan of Superman in all formats, I have been waiting for a film that could make me feel the way the original did. This one surpassed by fondest wishes in every way imaginable.

****½ OUT OF *****

GREEN’S “YOU‘RE NOT SEEING THE BIG PICTURE, MS. LANE” REVIEW:

After disappearing for five years trying to reconnect with his origins, Superman/Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) comes back to Metropolis, The Daily Planet and Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth). Except this time Lois has a fiancee’, a son and has moved on with her life, winning a Pulitzer Prize in the process. She tries to tell herself that she’s over her infatuation for Superman, but it’s obvious she’s lying to herself. Oh, by the way, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is out of prison and stirring up trouble again.

When this movie came out in 2006 I stayed away from it purposefully because I’m a traditionalist. I prefer the Christopher Reeve version of Superman from 1979-1982 and I didn’t think that this film could live up to the first two installments. (I only bought it recently because I found the widescreen single disc version in the irresistible $5 DVD bin at Wal-Mart.)

Turns out that’s where I was wrong.

Director Bryan Singer’s vision for this version of Superman takes the story in a new direction while respectably paying homage to its predecessors, Superman I and II (pretending that III an IV do not exist, generally a wise idea.) Superman Returns links itself to the original 1979 film right out of the box, with the same superb original score by John Williams, the cool opening credits and with the use of archival voice tracks of Marlon Brando as Jor-El strategically added at key spots in the film. There are even situations and lines in this film that tie in to the original but they are not obvious if you aren‘t familiar with the earlier movies.

Brandon Routh, who I had never heard of before this, ably fills Superman’s costume and even pays tribute to Christopher Reeve’s Superman/Clark Kent, wearing his hair the same way and emulating his voice and mannerisms, instead of doing it his way. Kevin Spacey pulls off a decent take as Lex Luthor; not quite as good as Gene Hackman was in the role, though. Like the original Superman films, I thought the actress chosen for Lois Lane was the weakest link. I wasn’t thrilled with Margot Kidder, who I thought was too whiney and not nearly attractive enough, and I’m not entirely sold on Kate Bosworth, either. Though she offers way more eye candy than did Kidder. Like it or not, it’s her role now as long as she wants to do it. Frank Langella is strong in the role of Perry White, taking over for Jackie Cooper.

The one part I didn’t like about this movie concerned Lois Lane’s son. I thought it was a questionable add in and really doesn’t seem to fit in with the timeline established in the original films, especially since Superman Returns tries so hard to tie in with the Reeve films in most other respects. Yes, I realize that Superman and Lois had sex in Superman II. However, it seems to me that later, when Lois’ memory of Clark as Superman is erased with the kiss (therefore erasing any memory of being intimate with him or becoming pregnant with his child), and having the no nonsense personality that a star reporter needs, wouldn’t be able to come to grips with a mysterious, out-of-nowhere pregnancy. Plus, we are not told how long it is between the end of Superman II and when the scientists announce that they think they've found Krypton. All we know is that it's five years after that announcement that this film begins.

The end credits do add a nice touch; dedicating the film to Christopher and Dana Reeve. The tragedy here is that Christopher Reeve didn’t live long enough to give his opinion on, or input to, this version of Superman. Certainly they would have asked him. Somehow though, I think Reeve would have heartily approved of the results.

No shame here. Overall this film is a worthy successor in the Superman franchise of films.

**** out of *****

Just for fun, I asked my nephew to add his thoughts on the movie, since this was his first exposure to Superman on film.

RUSTY NAIL'S "I WOULD TRADE 300,000 COCONUTS AND EVERY OUNCE OF YOUR BLOOD FOR A QUART OF GASOLINE" GUEST REVIEW:

Superman (Brandon Routh) has not set foot on Earth once in the past five years. But now he's back! He left to check on his native planet only to find ruins. In the five years of his absence alot has changed. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) is married and now has a son. She has written articles for the Daily Planet on why the world doesn't need Superman. But now that he's returned, it appears that the world does need Superman. Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has a plan to create his own continent, that would wipe out the eastern half of the United States. Can Superman save the day once again? Or will Lex Luthor have a continent under his rule? To find out you must watch the fifth installment in a widely acclaimed series.

First off, I've never even heard of Brandon Routh before. However, I think he played the part of Superman fairly well. He certainly looked the part. Its not easy to look cool flying with your arms outstretched like Superman. Not to mention the size of the shoes he had to fill. I have always been a Kevin Spacey fan. I wouldn't say he was the ultimate bad guy or anything in this role, but I was pleased with his performance. Not much to say about Lois Lane except that she could have been slightly more attractive.

Superb special effects. Now, I, having not seen any of the previous Superman films cannot speak for the first four. But I'm pretty sure these are the best in the series. All in all this was a pretty entertaining movie. A little long, but I hardly noticed. Unfortunately my surround sound was down for this film, so I can't really comment on the sound. Will they make a Superman Six?

***½ out of *****