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Superman Returns (Bryan Singer)
"It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's....One Great Movie"
Superman leaves earth to see if there are any remains of his home planet, Krypton. Five years later, Superman returns...but now things are different. Lux Luthor is out of prison, Louis Lane has found a new love and has a child. Is there really a need for Superman anymore?
Bryan Singer is no stranger to comic book films, after all he's directed two of them himself. Singer left the X-men series to try and tackle something bigger, something that would prove to be a challenge for him. In terms of superheros, you can't get any bigger then the Man of Steel himself, Superman.
Many people will say to this day that Christopher Reeves is the one and only Superman. While he was good for the role, Brandon Routh does an exceptional job at resurrecting that character and breathing new life into him. At first some may be hesitant of the newcomer, but he does not disappoint. Not only does he do a great job with Superman, but also excels with Clark Kent. Looking almost identical as Reeves, Routh pulls off both identities of Superman. I guess you can say that the torch has been passed on now. Even though Routh is excellent as Superman, he is not the stand out performance in this film. Before you even see the film, you know who is going to "own" the film and he does. Kevin Spacey is Lex Luthor and he does it so incredibly well. You can't help but smile whenever his shinny bald head, which is a good look for Spacey, comes upon the screen. He plays Luthor with a little bit more evil then Hackman did, with a small humours side. Kate Bosworth plays the role as it is written, and nothing more. Margot Kidder is still the one and only Louis Lane. Bosworth was out of place and they could have found another actress to play her....Rachel McAdams anyone?
The supporting cast, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, James Marsden (I was waiting for him to shoot laser beams out of his eyes) all do very well in bringing back the vibe of the Daily Planet. Sam Huntington is the comic relief of the film, playing the dopey Jimmy Olsen, the only other comedy, comes from Spacey. Parker Posey was annoying in the film, she really doesn't serve a purpose other then crying on cue. Kal Penn is another character who doesn't do much but stand around.
The special effects are great. With a man like Superman who has superhuman powers, you can have so much fun with it and they clearly do. Being able to see through walls was a neat addition to the film and the super hearing of people in other rooms. Of course, the plane sequence was a feat for the eyes and the final climatic scene. The film makes good use of the technique in which you convert the actor to CGI. Unlike Blade II and The MAtrix Reloaded, in which you can clearly tell the difference, here it's a little less noticeable. Granted it's not perfect, but you do have that "Look how fake that was" look on your face through the film.
The story is very much like something that you can pull right out of the comics. Luthor trying to raise his own continent while the Kryptonite. Throughout the whole film though, the "how am I going to get out of this situation" seems to lack a bit, cause you know that at the last second Superman will come and all he has to do is fly here, stop that, or pull this. There's a little bit of tension with the characters, but you know at the end of the day that they are all going to live, because it IS Superman.
I did get chills with the opening credits, hearing Brando's voice, then the old school Superman theme. It sends chills down the spine, in a good way. Then the names fly across the scene, much like the original. The theme is all over the movie and the score has that "comic book epic" tone to it. Although, after the climax of the film it does go on for awhile, so near the end of the film it does drag a bit. The whole Superman in hospital scene was "what the hell" moment.
Overall this is a great film, with only one or two missteps. Singer does an excellent job at reinventing the Superman franchise, much like Nolan did with Batman. Superman is the best superhero film this year and one of the best all time. It is leaps and bounds over X-Men: The Last Stand. Returns is the summer event of the year and it's action and energy leaps over tall buildings. Pirates will be huge as well and great indeed, but Superman Returns is a film that people have been waiting for for years and it does not disappoint.
8/10
"It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's....One Great Movie"
Superman leaves earth to see if there are any remains of his home planet, Krypton. Five years later, Superman returns...but now things are different. Lux Luthor is out of prison, Louis Lane has found a new love and has a child. Is there really a need for Superman anymore?
Bryan Singer is no stranger to comic book films, after all he's directed two of them himself. Singer left the X-men series to try and tackle something bigger, something that would prove to be a challenge for him. In terms of superheros, you can't get any bigger then the Man of Steel himself, Superman.
Many people will say to this day that Christopher Reeves is the one and only Superman. While he was good for the role, Brandon Routh does an exceptional job at resurrecting that character and breathing new life into him. At first some may be hesitant of the newcomer, but he does not disappoint. Not only does he do a great job with Superman, but also excels with Clark Kent. Looking almost identical as Reeves, Routh pulls off both identities of Superman. I guess you can say that the torch has been passed on now. Even though Routh is excellent as Superman, he is not the stand out performance in this film. Before you even see the film, you know who is going to "own" the film and he does. Kevin Spacey is Lex Luthor and he does it so incredibly well. You can't help but smile whenever his shinny bald head, which is a good look for Spacey, comes upon the screen. He plays Luthor with a little bit more evil then Hackman did, with a small humours side. Kate Bosworth plays the role as it is written, and nothing more. Margot Kidder is still the one and only Louis Lane. Bosworth was out of place and they could have found another actress to play her....Rachel McAdams anyone?
The supporting cast, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, James Marsden (I was waiting for him to shoot laser beams out of his eyes) all do very well in bringing back the vibe of the Daily Planet. Sam Huntington is the comic relief of the film, playing the dopey Jimmy Olsen, the only other comedy, comes from Spacey. Parker Posey was annoying in the film, she really doesn't serve a purpose other then crying on cue. Kal Penn is another character who doesn't do much but stand around.
The special effects are great. With a man like Superman who has superhuman powers, you can have so much fun with it and they clearly do. Being able to see through walls was a neat addition to the film and the super hearing of people in other rooms. Of course, the plane sequence was a feat for the eyes and the final climatic scene. The film makes good use of the technique in which you convert the actor to CGI. Unlike Blade II and The MAtrix Reloaded, in which you can clearly tell the difference, here it's a little less noticeable. Granted it's not perfect, but you do have that "Look how fake that was" look on your face through the film.
The story is very much like something that you can pull right out of the comics. Luthor trying to raise his own continent while the Kryptonite. Throughout the whole film though, the "how am I going to get out of this situation" seems to lack a bit, cause you know that at the last second Superman will come and all he has to do is fly here, stop that, or pull this. There's a little bit of tension with the characters, but you know at the end of the day that they are all going to live, because it IS Superman.
I did get chills with the opening credits, hearing Brando's voice, then the old school Superman theme. It sends chills down the spine, in a good way. Then the names fly across the scene, much like the original. The theme is all over the movie and the score has that "comic book epic" tone to it. Although, after the climax of the film it does go on for awhile, so near the end of the film it does drag a bit. The whole Superman in hospital scene was "what the hell" moment.
Overall this is a great film, with only one or two missteps. Singer does an excellent job at reinventing the Superman franchise, much like Nolan did with Batman. Superman is the best superhero film this year and one of the best all time. It is leaps and bounds over X-Men: The Last Stand. Returns is the summer event of the year and it's action and energy leaps over tall buildings. Pirates will be huge as well and great indeed, but Superman Returns is a film that people have been waiting for for years and it does not disappoint.
8/10