by: Josh Marks
From the opening credits to the final showdown with arch-nemesis Lex Luthor,
‘Superman Returns’ stays mostly faithful to the Richard Donner-helmed original
while utilizing 30 years of technological advances in filmmaking.
Although scenes of Superman catapulting to earth or gracefully soaring above
the city lights of Metropolis are impressive, director Bryan Singer is able to
capture the essence of the Man of Steel, something that could have easily been
lost in all the state-of-the-art special effects. The emotional core of the
movie is Superman’s relationship with
The film begins with Superman returning to earth after a five-year absence. He
lands on the Kent farm in Kansas and eventually makes his way back to
Metropolis and as Clark Kent he gets his old job back at the Daily Planet
newspaper. At the same time, Luthor is no longer in prison and has hatched an
evil scheme to once again control the world. His diabolical plan is simply so
far-fetched that it unfortunately detracts from Superman’s heroics and any
sense of climax at the end. It is just too ridiculous, even for a comic book
character.
All the right casting decisions were made in ‘Superman Returns.’ Brandon Routh
lives up to Christopher Reeve’s legacy as Superman/Kent, not an easy feat to
accomplish. Kate Beckingsale is fine as the hard-nosed reporter Lane,
surpassing her predecessor Margot Kidder. Kevin Spacey plays Luthor in his
uniquely creepy way and Parker Posey is perfect for the role of his ditzy
sidekick. Eva Marie Saint makes a surprise cameo as Martha Kent and Frank Langella
is a natural Perry White, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet.
One of the best decisions was to use archival footage of Marlon Brando as
Jor-El, Superman’s biological father from the planet Krypton.
There are spine-chilling moments in "Superman Returns" and the movie
feels right for the times. However, it could have been more meaningful had the
threat posed by Luthor been a little more realistic. Given the flawed plot,
there is something strangely reassuring about seeing Superman back on the big
screen.
At least for a fleeting moment, this superhero gives the sense that everything
in the world is going to be alright.