Superman Returns

I saw Superman Returns on opening day. I will never grow too old or get used to seeing a movie on opening day. I love it. This day was even more special for me because I grew up with Christopher Reeve as Superman and I had the toys, underwear, blankets, and appropriately themed Superman parties.

The title, Superman Returns serves as both movie title and story. Superman, played by Brandon Routh, has been away from Earth for over five years searching the remnants of Krypton for any survivors. Upon his return he discovers a world and some close friends that have moved on. Clark Kent returns to the Daily Planet to find Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth, has had a child and is engaged to the editor’s nephew. Arch enemy Lex Luthor, played devilishly by Kevin Spacey, has in his unique diabolical fashion wretched away a fortune from a dying woman. What ensues over the course of two plus hours is a movie that transported me back to my childhood and but never completely satisfied my inner comic book geekyness.

The opening credits began flying at me like the originals and I was immediately transported back to my youth. I was psyched to see Superman fly above the stars and wait to be called into action. Unfortunately this does not happen for the first thirty minutes of the movie which at times seemed painstakingly slow. Just like King Kong, this movie could've been shortened by twenty minutes and still worked well, perhaps even better. Superman's return in the movie happens in an effects laden scene involving a shuttle launch that has gone terribly wrong. Indeed, the effects are so good (and they should be with a $250 million price tag) that you will believe a man can fly. The movie was filmed in sequential order to you can watch Routh grow into the part and watch his confidence soar, literally, by the third act. Routh and Bosworth have chemistry which I cannot say for Bosworth and James Marsden who played Richard White, her fiancé. Still by the end of the movie you grow fond of Richard White (I found myself rooting for himl) as he is unflinching in risking his life to save his family. Marsden's makes us believe that any human can be a hero without super powers.

The biggest disappointment I had with the movie dealt with Luthor’s not so ingenious plan. Luthor has discovered the Fortress of Solitude and its secrets. Kevin Spacey delivers in the role as should be expected from a fine actor but Lex's plot seemed far fetched and silly. Create a new land mass that people will want to live on. The only problem with this is the land mass is ugly and unhabitable, no one will be able to by it because its creation will destroy 1/3 of the world's population, and said destruction will cripple the world's economy thus rendering real estate a market nobody can invest in. This is what we call in the Marines, good initiative, bad judgement.

Kate Bosworth is entirely too young to play the role of Lois. I found it hard to believe she could manage a fiancé, a son, and a career as a journalist. How did she manage to win a Pulitzer with all that and she's only in her mid twenties? Seems implausible.

Highlights of the movie were the exceptional piece of acting from Tristan Lake Lebeau who played Jason White, Lois's son, and a scene in which he protects his mother by demonstrating some other worldly strength. A final touching scene in which the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father, where Superman finds what he was looking for, gives the movie a loving touch that Director Bryan Singer should be credited with delivering.

Superman Returns is a fine movie in the end but with some flaws and a lengthy run time.