Superman Returns

[Bozznc]

Originally Posted by Geek

You should get a cream for that.

All I want is a cookie

[joedancer]

""Holy Caesar's Ghost! They've done it! - "Superman Returns" is super-exciting, super-fun, and super-bly performed! This is the only superhero film you need to see this year!"
-- Clint Morris, MOVIEHOLE"

Guess he doesn't realize the expression, used by Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet, was "Great Caesar's Ghost!" Maybe he is too young...

[canuk woman]

Originally Posted by DotTheEyes

TRAILERS and CLIPS: http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id...024&cf=trailer

Superman's never been my favorite superhero (I've always, for one reason or another, been more intriuged by the edgier, borderline psychotic Batman and last year's Batman Begins is, by far, my favorite superhero film), but this film, from the talented director of X-Men, X2: X-Men United, and The Usual Suspects, seems great (and the reviews, which can be read here: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_returns/, suggest as much). At the very least, it should be an entertaining summer special effects extravaganza with a great performance by Kevin Spacey as the evil Lex Luthor.

There's a special screening of this at 2:00pm (on June 18th) at the Base theatre. I'll be going with a few friends and write up a small review to tell everyone how it is upon return. :-)

I can't wait to see it!!!

[DotTheEyes]

Oh man! I'm so sorry about the date mishap! I meant June 25th. I honestly have NO IDEA why I said the 18th. I'll credit it to sleepiness as I posted that right before bed. ;-)

Oh, and the whole "Brandon Routh's 'size' downstairs" thing reminds me of when Disney digitally reduced Lindsay Lohan's boobs in that Herbie movie that came out last year.

[DotTheEyes]

Originally Posted by Bozznc

I'm definitely going to see this before I go see a blonde James Bond.

I've been wondering: What is so wrong with a blonde Bond? Is hair color what makes Bond a cool or interesting character to people? Does the fact that Daniel Craig is a great actor mean nothing?

[DotTheEyes]

One word review: Wow.

Superman Returns is one of the year's best movies and, without a doubt, the one to beat this summer. First off, as expected, the action and special effects are awe-inspiring. "You will believe a man can fly" because the aerial effects are truly photorealistic (and put the flying effects from The Matrix sequels to shame), while the action (especially an incredible sequence in which Superman must save a fiery plane falling out of the sky) is 100% creative and thrilling.

However, there is much more to this film than those aspects. A lesser film would've just thrown us the expensive action sequences and called it a day (I'm staring at you, X-Men: The Last Stand). This film, however, surrounds the spectacle with an intelligent, oft-unpredictable plot, interesting, well-developed characters, and plenty of powerful drama and emotional romance. The performances, too, are great. Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey's stood out.

It's not a short film (without the long end credits, it runs just under two and a half hours), but there isn't a single glimpse-at-the-watch moment -- from beginning to end, you'll be involved and on the edge of your seat. Also, this is the very definition of a crowd-pleaser, as people of all ages and genders will be entertained (I plan to see it again over the Independence Day weekend with my family).

Superman Returns just bowled me over and joins Batman Begins, Spider-Man 2, and the first two X-Men movies (which were from Superman Returns' director, the incredibly talented Bryan Singer) on my list of favorite superhero extravaganzas. It opens at theatres everywhere June 28th and I recommend you see it.

By the way, a note on this film's 'place' in the Superman movie franchise: it is set five years after the events of the second film and veers off course from there, ignoring the third and fourth (which are generally considered huge disappointments by critics and Superman devotees). You don't need to have seen the first and second Christopher Reeve films, though. All you need to know to understand this film are the basic character identities and relationships.

Oh, and the film is dedicated to Christopher Reeve and his wife (who was involved in the film's pre-production and approved the casting of newcomer Brandon Routh before her passing).

[DotTheEyes]

Originally Posted by joedancer

""Holy Caesar's Ghost! They've done it! - "Superman Returns" is super-exciting, super-fun, and super-bly performed! This is the only superhero film you need to see this year!"
-- Clint Morris, MOVIEHOLE"

Guess he doesn't realize the expression, used by Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet, was "Great Caesar's Ghost!" Maybe he is too young...

You'll be happy to know the film itself gets the reference right. :-) Perry White, who is played wonderfully by character actor Frank Langella, says "Great Caesar's Ghost!" during the film.

[DotTheEyes]

By the way, to the person who complained (and then deleted their post, I guess) about the presentation of the above mini-review, I've improved the puncuation and split the one huge chunk of text into smaller ones. Hopefully, it's easier to read and digest now. :-) But I am just 16 and not the world's greatest writer, so don't expect Dostoevsky! ;-)

[Tonio]

Thanks for the review, Dot. I'm a huge Superman fan (GEEK ALERT). I'm glad the movie isn't one big CGI-fest with no plot. That's like ordering a hamburger and getting just the condiments. Some questions:

1. Is the new Clark Kent a dweeb or a likeable person? The Reeve-era Superman, like the comic hero for decades before that, was a dweeb partly so people wouldn't guess his other identity. I thought that device was lame, because he had spent 30 years being Clark before putting on his "work clothes." Although, Reeve was great at capturing the duality of the character. John Byrne changed Superman for the better in the '80s, doing away with the "Lois Lane Syndrome" of constant suspicion about Superman's other identity. By making Clark more likeable, Clark was free to court and eventually marry Lois.

2. Does the plot connect in any way with "Smallville"? The co-creator of the show grew up in St. Mary's County. A big reason I like "Smallville" is because it captures the best element of Kal-El's character--he struggles to remain human (in the emotional and psychological sense) because his powers can easily isolate him in that regard.

[Tonio]

Originally Posted by Bozznc

Clark Kent, on the other hand, does sound like a gay porn star..

Have you ever read Larry Niven's classic humor essay "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex"? It's posted in several places on the Web. One of Kevin Smith's movies alluded to the logistical question raised in the essay. (Smith, probably the world's biggest Supes fan, wrote an early draft of "Superman Returns" that was rejected by the studio.)