Superman Returns Reviews

Tons of Fun

The Man of Steel returns, and on excellent form. Starting with a brief explanation as to why he's been away so long, and a short recap of his origins to get the youngsters up to speed, Superman Returns is a whizz-bang comic book action flick that is very hard not to like.

Directed with flair, and shot in a wonderfully comic-book style, everyone on screen seems to be having a tremendous time. There is clever use of footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, shot at the time of the original Superman, as well as a great update of the familiar credit sequence and a rejeuvenated score by John Williams.

There are plenty of plot surprises and a great script, including one very slick use of the Bird/Plane/Superman cliche, and the notable change from, 'Truth, Justice and the American Way,' to 'Truth, Justice and... All That Stuff' (Apparently 'The American Way' doesn't hold the same connotations that it used to. Can't think why.) A few flashes of dark humour are also welcome additions.

The downside? Well, the film is awash with corporate logos, branding and product mentions, and it would have been nice if it had been just a wee bit shorter. There are also some rather unsubtle parallels drawn between Superman and Christ which had me puzzled. (Is it really necessary to throw the political hot-potato of religion into a comic-book fantasy?)

But they're minor detractors and easily ignored. On the whole, Superman Returns fully deserves to be the summer blockbuster it looks set to become. See it on a very, very big screen.

Shouldn't have brothered returning

The 'man of steel' returns after a 5 year mission to find his home planet, only to find things have changed since he's been gone. This was a big disappointment for me, Superman is my favorite superhero, but this movie did him no justice at all. It had hardly any action, but it tumbled along on the Superman/Lois love theme. Sorry but this had already been covered on the TV series and didn't need to be gone into anymore. What was needed was a NEW enemy and alot more better action. If you love Superman, but not the love side, give this a miss.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Disappointing

Oh, I expected so much from this, especially following all of the glowing reviews but, alas, it does not deliver.

It's no stinker by any stretch of the imagination, the effects are good and it is funny in places, Spacey is obviously enjoying himself as Lex Luthor and the script has some real zingers.

Unfortunately, the problems are legion.

It is at least twenty minutes too long with some scenes dragging badly and the climactic showdown is no match for the Space Shuttle segment. The problem is that you get no real sense of the supposed global catastophe that is about to ensue, there is no sense of danger. Given that Luthor's plan is a revamp of the first films scheme, you would think that Singer would have had a decent template to work from but he muddles it. Admit it, aren't you a little bored with the 'Baddie Gets Kryptonite' plot to defeat Superman, surely the writers can dream of other ways to put him in peril.

Now we come to the films biggest failing, Brandon Routh. True, he had some difficult boots to fill and it must have been daunting and I'm sure he makes a better Superman that the originally-touted Nic Cage. To be honest, the problem is not with Routh as Superman who is, in fairness, a boring character, the problem is his performance as Clark Kent. Christopher Reeve was not a great actor but he absolutely nailed Clark Kent. He knew that Kent is the heart of the film, the clumsiness, the likability, the fruitless pursuit of Lois Lane and even the jealousy of his alter-ego, Reeve created a wonderfully different character but maintained the links to Superman. Routh cannot manage this, his Kent is Superman with glasses on, humourless and tedious.

Most of the issues can be addressed for the inevitable sequel but, unless Routh learns to act, the worst one could cripple it.

When I grow up...

...I want to be Superman!

Superman Makes A Worthy Return...Although We'll Never Forget The Original.

I was a bit shocked when I heard there was going to be a new Superman film so soon after Christopher Reeve's death. For me, no one can beat the original Superman, however I discovered today at the cinema if anyone can pick up where he left off it's definitely Brandon Routh (aka the new Superman).

I heard the gasps from the audience and many whispers when we see him for the first time as Clarke Kent - the uncanny resemblance between him and Christopher Reeve as Clarke Kent is incredible.

As Superman, Brandon plays him very well. He seems younger than Christopher Reeve when he played Superman, whether or not he is though I don't know. What is another incredible resemblence is that Brandon has the same pitch and tone of voice as Christopher Reeve.

The other actors in the film are superb. Kevin Spacey as the evil Lex Luther, his girlfriend in the film, Jimmy, the chief etc., are all great. The only person who I think they have definitely mis-cast is Lois Lane. Kate Bosworth just doesn't have that spark or quick wit of the original Lois. Kate doesn't act the part, and she doesn't look the part either. She seems mis-placed, and would be better suited to a different film. An alternative for the Lois Lane character would have been Courteney Cox. She is an actress who would have fitted into that role perfectly.

Overall this film is definitely worth going to see. You've got great acting, special effects, and a great storyline. I was conscious it was a long film, but I wasn't bothered by it. What I thought would have been a nice touch at the end before the credits was to put a RIP in memory of Christopher Reeve (which they didn't do).

As for taking your kids, I would definitely recommend it for kids over the age of 7. However younger than that I wouldn't recommend it, as it does get rather scary for young uns in parts.

Brilliant

After watching all the superman films i was really excited about this one.Altough christoper reeves will never be forgotten,Brandon roth pulls it of brillianty.The speical fx are mind blowing,and the story is very good too.Altough it was 3 hours long and sitting in the pics for that amount of time gets to you,it was well worth getting a sore bum for.I also like the fact that christoper reeve was NOT forgotten in this move which was nice.But brandon roth looks,moves and even talks like CR.Look forward to buying this on dvd.

No Magic

Once the novelty of Routh doing a pretty good impression of Christopher Reeve wears off this film is pretty bland. There is little to no chemistry between Lois and Clark and the story can be occasionally confusing. Kevin Spacey however acts everyone off the screen as a great Lex Luther and the film as a whole is watchable -there's just no magic.

Is it a bird? is it a plane? No, and I could'nt care less

I remember seeing the trailer for this, looked like they'd captured everything that makes superman cool. Unfortunately the trailer did not equate to the snore fest that was superman returns. Who cares abour Supey, Lois and a Kid? Where was the build up to the final showdown? Where was the final showdown! I've got to rate this low for 2 reasons. 1-I kept looking at my watch wondering when it would end. 2-I even caught myself starting to fall asleep to this.

Whats Going on!!!!

This movie was a real let down for me! When the intro starts you got all the tingles and a great nostalgic feeling that brings back the memories of the old movies, but then unfortunately Hollywood gets involved and what you end up with is a movie of some bloke catching really heavy things and putting them down in a very precise and slow manner!!!

The only saving grace of this movie was Kevin Spacy who plays Lex Luther who had some very quirky moments but even this great actor could not save this movie from its lack of substance!

This movie is as enjoyable as watching the worlds strongest man. So if you’re into that sort of thing then watch it otherwise stay away!

Superman Returns (Worse Than The Other Superman Films)

After elimanating General Zod and the other Kryptonian arch villains, Ursa and Non, Superman leaves Earth to try to find his former home world of Krypton after astronomers have supposedly found it. When he finds nothing but remnants, he returns home to Earth - to find Lois Lane is engaged to a relative of his boss, and that Lex Luthor is at it again - after swindling an elderly, terminally ill woman. The psychopathic Luthor, whose plans to destroy California failed because of Superman's heroics, vows vengeance against the Man of Steel and contrives a new sinister plot - using the crystals of Krypton to build a continent that will wipe out most of North America. Embedded in the continent's structure is Kryptonite - the lethal substance that is Superman's only weakness. Upon learning of Luthor's sinister scheme, Superman must race against time to stop the psychopathic Luthor before millions possibly billions are killed