My Superman Returns review, all with the spoilers and such... by chrisisall

OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

My Superman Returns review, all with the spoilers and such...

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Monday, July 17, 2006 08:35
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 3662
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Friday, July 7, 2006 11:41 AM

Seen it just an hour ago, and here it goes:

Okay, let me start by saying that when it comes out, I’m buying the DVD.

Now here it comes; seeing this movie makes me sure: Brian Singer is not a great director.
He’s good, and at times (X-Men) inspired, but not great. Not like Donner or Raimi.
I’m gonna focus on what I didn’t like, after I get some subjective stuff out of the way.

1) They changed the costume.
Not too radical, I just liked the old one better; it had a simple elegance to it. But this is subjective, some may like it fine, and either way, it has no effect on content.

2) Kate Bosworth.
Too young? I didn’t see it. She was fine, just different from Kidder or Hatcher…All right, she WAS too young, so what? Suspend your disbelief already!

Now, the objective negatives…

It was poorly paced.
It was too long.
It was under-written from a character point of view (Less is apparently more in the eyes of someone trying not to get it wrong).
The ‘Big Bad’ was weak, just another (albeit big) Kryptonite ploy.
The reason for Supes being away was more ambiguous than the ending to 2001.
Having Lois in a relationship with someone else was a waste of time; we KNOW she loves Superman.
Sending Supes to the hospital was a bad red-herring, we KNOW he won’t die.
Brandon Routh was not allowed to show what comedic range he seems to possess from the little we saw…

That said, I actually liked it.

The production was grand.
Art direction was excellent.
Kevin Spacey made a great Luthor.
FX were up to par.
Routh was genuinely likeable.

Back to subjective…

The film had a somber tone, one that was reflected in the music. The main theme aside, it was a curiously fanfare-free and somewhat joyless score. As epic and serious as Superman 2 got, it was filled with fun, and had many, many laughs. This is about dark as a Superman flick can get.

My beef with Singer is that he copies parts from other movies to make his films (The ‘Firestarter’ scene in X2 is the clearest example), but in this case, I liked it. It brought me back, however, movie-goers not familiar with Superman 1 and 2 might get a little lost, what with the ‘twist’ near to the end (And I even liked that).

Fans MUST see it. Fans of my caliber will have to own it.
After all, it IS better than Superman 3...

Any other takes on it?

Kal-Elisall

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Friday, July 7, 2006 12:04 PM

BSCPANTHERFAN

I was also disappointed with the hospital scene. They KNOW that Superman derives his power from the Sun, so why didn't they have him in a big tanning bed-looking thing, or something to show that they were aware of that part of his physiology?

They covered a lot of background in a four-part prequel comic series, but if you didn't read them, it kind of dumped you in the middle of it. I read them after, so they wouldn't taint my viewing of the movie the first time.

Did anyone else totally hate the bimbo character that was LL's sidekick? Whatever happened to Mercy from the animated series? At least she was a believable character. This "Kitty" person belonged in a 1940's gangster movie!

So who is he?
He's my husband.
Well who in the damn galaxy ain't!

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Friday, July 7, 2006 12:25 PM

MONKSDAD

My quick review:
good movie, to long, i would of liked some more character development, more talking to be quite honest. Movie would of worked better if it was smaller, movie just seemed to big and it didnt need to be. really threw me with the whole ending family situation and you know what i mean but i liked it.

I really liked the movie, i am glad it was more of a continuation than just scrapping all that was before. and Brandon Routh is the perfect superman, they could not of cast superman better

What is up with cyclops, every movie his woman is on the verge of going with the greater superhero.

"And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic lowlife community."

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Friday, July 7, 2006 1:09 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by monksdad:
My quick review:
good movie, to long, i would of liked some more character development, more talking to be quite honest.

Joss does have me hooked on that aspect of the medium.
Except for Spacey, it was almost a silent movie, dialogue-wise.

Buster Chrisisall

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Friday, July 7, 2006 1:32 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by BSCPantherfan:
I was also disappointed with the hospital scene. They KNOW that Superman derives his power from the Sun, so why didn't they have him in a big tanning bed-looking thing, or something to show that they were aware of that part of his physiology?

To get brutally analytical, if the Supe-son was concieved when Supe was normal, why does he have powers at all? Why would Supe leave Earth with Lois pregnant, and/or how could he not know?

Best not to go there, I guess...

Otis Chrisisall

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Friday, July 7, 2006 1:56 PM

AERIN

I don't know when Lois got preganant, but the more I think about it, the more it twists my mind. If the kid was conceived when Supes turned human, maybe there was something in the genes that got passed on even though the powers were repressed so Supes could be just Clark. But Lois has no memory of that time (she doesn't remember that she already figured out Clark=Superman). Imagine the shock if they only had sex while he was human. She seemed genuinely surprised, but not shocked, horrified, or pissed off, so they must have had sex at some other time and she remembers it. Hard to believe she still couldn't figure out he's Clark.

I agree about the hospital part. All I could think was OPEN THE BLINDS ALREADY!!! Even if the doctors didn't figure it out Lois should have. I thought the son would do it. That would have been a nice plot device.

Yeah, it was definitely long. I didn't mind the lack of dialog. I felt the acting said all that was needed, and the absence of conversation spoke to Superman's feelings of alienation and added to the overall serious tone of the movie. I'll buy the DVD and definitely worth another viewing! I'm hoping to go to the IMAX to see it in 3D.

Loved the "Kal-elisall"!

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Friday, July 7, 2006 2:36 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Aerin:
Imagine the shock if they only had sex while he was human. She seemed genuinely surprised, but not shocked, horrified, or pissed off, so they must have had sex at some other time and she remembers it.

Biggest hole in the new plot.
I can only imagine that he 'left' right after he replaced the White House dome...
And bringing him down to human still wouldn't change the genes he could pass on, just his everyday functional genetics...
Boy, I'm fanning this one....

2.5 years each way...he must have brought a lot of DVD's with him.

He was just a boy Chrisisall

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Friday, July 7, 2006 4:12 PM

OPPYH

Chrisisall,
I'm glad to see your review. When it comes to Supes I figure you would know all the angles. What works, what didn't, and I can seriously agree with most everything you pointed out. While I loved it, It seems you liked it fine, but the negatives may have brought you down a bit.

Here are some of my thoughts on your review:

Bryan Singer-He is definately not my favorite director, but he has my most sincere admiration for trying to retain the original storyline, score,(the vector graphic words at the beginning w/ original score had me happy) and characters. I am still counting my lucky stars we never got the Tim Burton Superman w/Nic Cage as the man of steel, and Chris Rock as jimmy Olson...yikes.

Kate Bosworth-Damn, your so right on this it's not even funny. I liked her ok, but I can think of at least 10 other actresses that would have been much better.

Brandon Routh-Very little dialouge to be sure, but I thought he was as perfect a Superman as there can be. Did you notice some of Reeves mannerisms in him? I did, and it wasn't creepy, it was cool.

The Big Bad-I thought it was a cool idea, but It was kind of a muddled half brain idea on Lex's side.

Overly long- I agree.

This movie is a trcky sort. Critcs mostly hated it, and I can't understand that. I thought it was much better than Batman begins(which critics loved to death). As far as the tone, yes it's dark but I think it needed that to show us a more somber, where did I go wrong Superman. At the end he pretty much gets back the human aspect of his character, and I seen much love in him, in fact he was practically glowing.

This movie seemed less Hollywood, and more comic book story arc, than most superhero movies. A huge positive.

Here's a question:
What's more difficult, Spinning around the world so fast you break the time barrier, or lifting 80 million tons of rock laced with Kryptonite? You make the call.

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Saturday, July 8, 2006 3:59 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

Here's a question:
What's more difficult, Spinning around the world so fast you break the time barrier, or lifting 80 million tons of rock laced with Kryptonite? You make the call.

Very good points OPPYH. You are obviously a serious fan, heh heh.

I'd say breaking the time barrier; it was done at a moment of high emotion, and probably couldn't even be done again.
The heavy lifting was done while not even at full-strength to begin with- that actually made it seem more impressive. At full strength, he could have tossed it quite easily.

Caped Chrisisall

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Saturday, July 8, 2006 5:25 AM

CHRISISALL

OOoooo, PLUS:
The new DVD collection due out the end of the year will include a new cut of Superman 2 that will add back in the excised Donner footage! SHINY!
(I'll 'lose' the DVD with Superman 4 on it though...)

Never overcook a soufle Chrisisall

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Saturday, July 8, 2006 6:10 AM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
OOoooo, PLUS:
The new DVD collection due out the end of the year will include a new cut of Superman 2 that will add back in the excised Donner footage! SHINY!
(I'll 'lose' the DVD with Superman 4 on it though...)

Never overcook a soufle Chrisisall

The new cut of Superman 2 on dvd will give us lots to chat about. It is rumored there will be a director's cut of Superman Returns Apparently the studio wanted him to keep it under 3 hours so he had to exclude scenes. One of the scenes is actually in the Superman Returns trailer. You can see Supermans ship cruising through the valleys of a desolate Krypton.

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Sunday, July 9, 2006 5:20 AM

CHRISISALL

Very cool.

Atomized Chrisisall

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Monday, July 10, 2006 10:37 AM

JAHZARA

Okay. Just saw the movie on Saturday, and I'm still seething.

It wasn't a horrible movie. But us Browncoats, when it comes to character developement and moments, we got to have it.

Several things that struck me as incredibly...infuriating was:

Lois was probably DESTROYED when Superman disapeared. I mean, DEVASTATED. And I don't buy her having a one night stand with Richard White. And it would have to be right after he left, right? The main reason I find it ridiculous because RW seems to honorable to take advantage of a young girl EVERYBODY knew had it bad for Superman. He's human Clark Kent, right?

I can buy her lying to herself for five years that it was his child, okay, 'cause I know women like that. Especially not remembering she and Superman were together. But after realizing the child WASN'T HIS, it seems like she's not going to tell him. I mean, the kid even knows. It doesn't even begin to scope where this may lead. I know, sequels, but that's ridiculous.

Not that RW doesn't need to stop lying to himself about Lois. She ain't married you, after five years? Y'all have a kid? Take a clue, please. I can't help it. I feel bad for the guy. Even though he got on my nerves.

And I'm supposed to like these characters.

Including Superman who just LEFT without even telling his mother. I just think Superman's too honorable to not do the right thing. I mean, it makes him arguably one of the less dynamic superheros, but that's why we love him. Because he's not always tortured, and blah, blah, that's Batman.

Because Superman is an ideal.

Two, I was SO excited when they cast Kate Bosworth. Not that big a name, and so pretty, but when I saw those first pictures from the set, and her TERRIBLE hair, I knew there was trouble.

Three, That dumbass, throwaway line about her spelling. Unless you know Superman, and for a whole generation, they don't, it makes Lois seem stupid. My sister was like, what? She asked how many F's were in WHAT?!

Good things:

Martha Kent standing outside the hospital, not able to go in. That was some sad stuff, man. I hadn't really ever considered how lucidcrous keeping SM in a hospital would be though. Damn. Thanks y'all.

Several moments that we've know about in the previews for months. The it's a bird, it's a ....

When he takes her off the roof. She's all like, Richard takes me flying...WHAT?! Made me smile.

The opening credits. My favorite part. And that's a damn shame.

If my thoughts are a little scattered, well that's what this movie did to me.

I'm still mad.

I've got a deadbeat dad. Could he be Superman?

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Monday, July 10, 2006 4:44 PM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by Jahzara:
Three, That dumbass, throwaway line about her spelling. Unless you know Superman, and for a whole generation, they don't, it makes Lois seem stupid. My sister was like, what? She asked how many F's were in WHAT?!

Well, to be fair, Lois is more about the investigation. Clark is the one with the gift of language (at least in the comics, where he moonlights as an award-winning novelist).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:55 AM

HAZE

Double post, sorry.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:56 AM

HAZE

I will most likely see this movie this week so I will pass judgment on it then but I have to be honest, I can't stand Superman, I always have.

Superman is essentially (like Wonder Woman who I also hate)a God lacking any real moral physical or mental weaknesses. I just can't care about a character who is THAT perfect.

--------------------------------------------------
Who do you suppose is in there?

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 7:13 AM

CHRISISALL

Okay, to be brutally honest, if not for Superman 1 & 2, I would have foud this movie to be dull and boring. It's only strengths comes from the nostalga it invokes and the pretty pretty look of it.
I personally could have written a better story, and directed a better film.
But since I ain't doin' it, I'll enjoy what we got. And hope for more.

A lot of stuff flies (excuse pun) in the comics, but Superman in the movies should focus on inner turmoil; his powers make external conflict predictable. I mean, after you take on Zod, and nearly destroy the Earth, where do you go from there, Big Bad-wise?

Joss will set the standard with Wonder Woman (Character, dialogue, stuff like that), and hopefully the next Superman movie will follow it's lead...

This is no fantasy Chrisisall

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Friday, July 14, 2006 12:39 PM

J6NGO1977

I like the review dude. I haven't seen it yet but I don't mind the spoilers :) I know the history of Superman. I am looking forward to seeing it. I have a Superman fan friend and he said it is the best Superman ever, even better that Chris Reeve

What we need to see next is a Superman and Batman team-up movie. I have some Superman/Batman team up comics and they are cool. Batman gets fed up of Superman because Superman rushes into trouble with super baddies head first and Batman takes a beating.

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Friday, July 14, 2006 8:20 PM

OPPYH

It's official,(by my observations)Superman Returns is the most debated Super hero movie I have ever witnessed. People I know who have seen it: co-workers, comic shop locals, and friends split it right down the middle 50/50. Those who hate it, really, really hated it, and those who don't can see no wrong. Granted there were a few who watched it and thought it was OK, but man you get a room of comic book fanboys in a converstaion about it, and look out. Logic, and good clean discussion is out the window. I had the guts to say I liked it better than Batman Begins, and nearly lost my life. If the haters had guns, I'd be in a pine box about now pushing up daisies.
Seriously though, this is a great thing. I haven't had such heated, passionate discussions with my peers since Star Wars Episode 1.

One very interesting point that brought up in the debate...I mean conversation. Superman 1, and 2 are classic. No superman movie can compare because they were just so damn good, and I agree.
I think the main reason I liked Supe Returns so much is because Singer didn't try to re-invent Superman. He didn't break the tradition of the previous films, instead he built on it, and for a filmaker to do that is a great gesture and also shows his love for the originals.

DC/Warner Brothers has a pretty good track record so far. Can't wait for Wonder Woman.

"Gee that's funny, I've never seen garbage eat garbage before"

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Saturday, July 15, 2006 5:13 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
I had the guts to say I liked it better than Batman Begins, and nearly lost my life.

Been there, faced that!

Chrisisall

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Monday, July 17, 2006 8:35 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by j6ngo1977:
I have a Superman fan friend and he said it is the best Superman ever, even better that Chris Reeve

Don't belie da hype.
But it is good.

Kneel before Chrisisall!

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