Having been a lifelong fan of certain superheroes from DC and Marvel, my history started with various Batman related cartoons and Tim Burton's 1989 film, which was responsible for catapulting the caped crusader into the mainstream on his 50th anniversary. Sadly though Burton's films and some of the recent DCEU ventures have left me cold over time, especially with the endless controversies, etc. Certain films have not though, including two that I have defended to the tooth- The Dark Knight Rises, the last installment of Christopher Nolan's Trilogy that garnered backlash mostly within the fan community (which was for lack of a better word unearned), and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns- the spiritual successor to Richard Donner's beloved first two films that despite receiving positive reviews from critics (including the future endorsement of one Quentin Tarantino) and even being ranked at 496 on Empire's then "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time" list, was savaged by the fanbase including less than stellar statements from geek idol Kevin Smith (not always to be trusted in my opinion). I loved this film from a few years after its release, and having recently rewatched it we're here to ask the question- Does it deserve the hate? A colossal no.
Somewhat like what George Miller would do with Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, Returns incorporates elements of Donner's first two films into its backstory and a somewhat anachronistic but contemporary setting. It's an equivalent to a What-If story- What if Superman was a nomad? He comes back to an Earth that has moved on without him, especially Metropolis. Martha Kent has thankfully survived long enough to witness his return, he gets his job back at The Daily Planet and returns in the cape in the nick of time to save a crashing airplane. Matters start to turn better but they can't save Superman's feelings of isolation from humanity and his former love Lois Lane. We're given a heart wrenching tale of Clark Kent struggling to find the balance between his desire for a sense of belonging while protecting the world from itself and of course his nemesis Lex Luthor.
Aside from Superman's heroics and tying in with Luthor's plan to create a new continental monopoly, the emotional character arcs take center stage including Clark Kent/Superman's relationship with Lois Lane. Lois grows to eventually not hate Superman anymore after him taking back his place in the world and trying to own up to his mistakes, and it's played with a sincerity that dumbfounded viewers who weren't used to seeing such a change in the status quo. I love the dynamic that he builds with Mrs. Lane, her fiance Richard White and Jason, who's discovered to be Clark's biological son. Richard's love for Lois and Jason plus kindness to Clark, then eventually Superman saving them from Lex Luthor's sinking yacht and them working together in the climax redeem himself in the eyes of Lois, especially after he almost loses his life to an island embedded with kryptonite. They become somewhat like a ragtag family, which is visually demonstrated by Jason's drawing of Superman flying with the three of them towards the end of the picture. The scenes with them including those at The Daily Planet with them are played with such a warmth that makes you forget that you're watching a comic book film.
All of the characters are given a purpose and are played terrifically well. Before Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and two major hero roles on The CW; Brandon Routh was an unknown TV actor who after attempts to win the role won over Bryan Singer with his impressive audition that evoked former Superman actor Christopher Reeve, in addition to his humble Midwestern roots and all that good stuff. He more than excels in the role; being able to pull off quiet, brooding, vulnerable but with the sense of genuinity and warmth that you'd expect the Man of Steel to have (that became lost with the character in the recent DCEU in favor of almost all mad and cold). Superman performs a number of heroic feats with precision and shows his love for the common people, one of my favorites is when he uses his super-breath to blow out a burning house before smiling and waving to a cameraman. Kate Bosworth, though glaringly youthful, pulls off an inspired take on Lois Lane; drawing influence from Katharine Hepburn and Julia Roberts's portrayal of Erin Brockovich. Also on Superman's group of allies include James Marsden as Richard White, Frank langella as Perry White, Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent and Sam Huntington's Jimmy Olsen are also played wonderfully. Kevin Spacey strikes a balance between the old fashioned Lex Luthor while being more striking and calculating. I also loved Parker Posey's Kitty Kowalski, Lex's disillusioned girlfriend who plays like a character out of a 50's gangster movie, but also melancholy and tender.
The film is visually stunning and the action is riveting, being used in a more quality over quantity way; contrary to the past complaints of film fans or in the words of former Warner Bros. President Alan F. Horn, who claimed that Superman Returns "should have done $500 million worldwide. We should have had perhaps a little more action to satisfy the young male crowd.". Nope to that. Also overlooked is John Ottman's soundtrack which aside from reinforcing John Williams' timeless orchestras also packs a wallop of its own. There's an enchanting melancholy score played in scenes like Clark and Lois's flight together, giving it the feel of a fairy tale. It also shines through on Superman regaining his power from the sun during the climax; one of the most inspirational moments in the genre, definitely up there with the heroes truly assembling in Avengers: Endgame and Bruce's escape from The Pit in The Dark Knight Rises.
Superman Returns still continues to inspire me as a lover of the title hero, and my appreciation for it just grows on each viewing. It's the best Superman adventure that's made to the silver screen yet.
Grade- A+
Somewhat like what George Miller would do with Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, Returns incorporates elements of Donner's first two films into its backstory and a somewhat anachronistic but contemporary setting. It's an equivalent to a What-If story- What if Superman was a nomad? He comes back to an Earth that has moved on without him, especially Metropolis. Martha Kent has thankfully survived long enough to witness his return, he gets his job back at The Daily Planet and returns in the cape in the nick of time to save a crashing airplane. Matters start to turn better but they can't save Superman's feelings of isolation from humanity and his former love Lois Lane. We're given a heart wrenching tale of Clark Kent struggling to find the balance between his desire for a sense of belonging while protecting the world from itself and of course his nemesis Lex Luthor.
Aside from Superman's heroics and tying in with Luthor's plan to create a new continental monopoly, the emotional character arcs take center stage including Clark Kent/Superman's relationship with Lois Lane. Lois grows to eventually not hate Superman anymore after him taking back his place in the world and trying to own up to his mistakes, and it's played with a sincerity that dumbfounded viewers who weren't used to seeing such a change in the status quo. I love the dynamic that he builds with Mrs. Lane, her fiance Richard White and Jason, who's discovered to be Clark's biological son. Richard's love for Lois and Jason plus kindness to Clark, then eventually Superman saving them from Lex Luthor's sinking yacht and them working together in the climax redeem himself in the eyes of Lois, especially after he almost loses his life to an island embedded with kryptonite. They become somewhat like a ragtag family, which is visually demonstrated by Jason's drawing of Superman flying with the three of them towards the end of the picture. The scenes with them including those at The Daily Planet with them are played with such a warmth that makes you forget that you're watching a comic book film.
All of the characters are given a purpose and are played terrifically well. Before Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and two major hero roles on The CW; Brandon Routh was an unknown TV actor who after attempts to win the role won over Bryan Singer with his impressive audition that evoked former Superman actor Christopher Reeve, in addition to his humble Midwestern roots and all that good stuff. He more than excels in the role; being able to pull off quiet, brooding, vulnerable but with the sense of genuinity and warmth that you'd expect the Man of Steel to have (that became lost with the character in the recent DCEU in favor of almost all mad and cold). Superman performs a number of heroic feats with precision and shows his love for the common people, one of my favorites is when he uses his super-breath to blow out a burning house before smiling and waving to a cameraman. Kate Bosworth, though glaringly youthful, pulls off an inspired take on Lois Lane; drawing influence from Katharine Hepburn and Julia Roberts's portrayal of Erin Brockovich. Also on Superman's group of allies include James Marsden as Richard White, Frank langella as Perry White, Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent and Sam Huntington's Jimmy Olsen are also played wonderfully. Kevin Spacey strikes a balance between the old fashioned Lex Luthor while being more striking and calculating. I also loved Parker Posey's Kitty Kowalski, Lex's disillusioned girlfriend who plays like a character out of a 50's gangster movie, but also melancholy and tender.
The film is visually stunning and the action is riveting, being used in a more quality over quantity way; contrary to the past complaints of film fans or in the words of former Warner Bros. President Alan F. Horn, who claimed that Superman Returns "should have done $500 million worldwide. We should have had perhaps a little more action to satisfy the young male crowd.". Nope to that. Also overlooked is John Ottman's soundtrack which aside from reinforcing John Williams' timeless orchestras also packs a wallop of its own. There's an enchanting melancholy score played in scenes like Clark and Lois's flight together, giving it the feel of a fairy tale. It also shines through on Superman regaining his power from the sun during the climax; one of the most inspirational moments in the genre, definitely up there with the heroes truly assembling in Avengers: Endgame and Bruce's escape from The Pit in The Dark Knight Rises.
Superman Returns still continues to inspire me as a lover of the title hero, and my appreciation for it just grows on each viewing. It's the best Superman adventure that's made to the silver screen yet.
Grade- A+