Superman Returns (2006)
In Martin Scorsese�s Taxi Driver (1976) the character Travis Bickle says �Loneliness has followed me my whole life�, the same can be said for the character Superman. In Superman Returns this theory is more evident then ever. Here is a man who is the ultimate outcast; I say ultimate because at least most outcasts can find other people with their same attributes at some point in their life. Superman knows he is all alone, and this is what bothers him the most. Although Superman never lies, he can�t control that his whole life is a lie, Ma Kent is the only one who knows his secret. This means that although Superman has many friends, those friendships are not based on honesty.
You have to take this theory into consideration while watching �Superman (1978)�, �Superman II (1980)� and �Superman Returns (2006)�. I say this because loneliness is the spark that starts probably one the most complex love stories in any film I�ve seen. Here is a man who somehow finds a connection with a human being but his secret blocks it completely. The love triangle between Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Superman is a pure mess, all three characters have the same objective in mind but they just can�t find a way for it to work. The closest they�ve gotten was in Superman II where Superman makes the ultimate sacrifice and gives up being a superman so he can be with Lois Lane, but even that doesn�t work because after it is all said and done we all know that world does need its savior. Lois Lane can�t live knowing Clark Kent is Superman and live a lie; it would just be too complicated for her.
My guess is that after this twist Superman decides to go to Krypton and fix this loneliness problem he has, but he only finds a graveyard, which leads him back to earth, which leads him back to Lois, his only shot for happiness.
�Superman Returns� makes sure the love story gets even a little more complex. It throws in Richard White, a fourth person into this love triangle, even worse Richard is a heck of a guy for Lois. The best scenes in �Superman Returns� involve the interaction between these four characters. These scenes are essential because they serve as a backbone for the whole film, there is a great shot where Clark Kent just stares in awe as Lois goes up an elevator. This is the shot that for me sums up the whole movie and proves once again that it is all a love story. After missing for 5 years Superman has to work now harder to fight his loneliness. But by the end of �Superman Returns� he finds a little surprise that makes him notice a light at the end of the tunnel. For once that smile that he gives the audience at the end of every film actually means something.