| Movie review: Superman returns |
| Friday 14th July 2006, 12:55 pm |
 After his five-year disappearance, the Man of Steel is back to saving the Earth and winning the girl, but will the action-filled Superman Returns be like all the other comic movies that come to life on the big screen? Are there good guys, bad guys and a love story that all end up happy dandy? Not quite. Priscilla Santos and Josh Orendorf on the RELEVANT editorial team attended an advance screening of the film this week, and here’s what we thought ... Characters Priscilla Santos: For a newbie, Brandon Routh did a great job as Superman. There were some scenes where his facial reactions could have been more expressive, but overall, he played Superman exactly as he should be: simple and intense. It was a respectful portrayal to Christopher Reeve's legendary performance. Josh Orendorf: I couldn’t agree more. The long-time Superman fans I chatted with after the screening ensured me that Routh’s portrayal was dead on from the original version. Reeves fans rest assured. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Routh’s performance was the authority with which he adapted the part. He didn’t simply rely on the special effects or action sequences to give him weight as the Man of Steel; he carried it on his own. It was as if he actually believed that he was Superman. Just don't tell him that he’s not. Man, what a disappoint that would be … JO: It’s also hard to ignore Kate Bosworth’s performance of Lois Lane. She fit the part perfectly. Much like how Routh lives somewhere between Clark Kent and Superman, so Bosworth juggles some hidden identities of her own. She’s smart, strong, feisty and independent yet simultaneously gentle, motherly and soft. She’s in love with Superman, of course, but hates him at the same time. Bosworth nails this complexity with her performance. PS: I agree. Although at times it did feel as if she looked too young to be a reporter with five years of experience, but that was easily forgotten by her striking, mature performance. Lois is portrayed as a very strong woman, but she has this love/hate relationship toward Superman. She denies being in love with him, but obviously she still is. Who can blame her? Come on, he’s Superman. As Lois said, "Who isn’t in love with him?" JO: Lex Luthor. PS: Yeah, Kevin Spacey’s evil villain performance was as nasty as they come. He’s not your typical scary-looking villain, but it’s his style that’s key to his character. He was always in a tux and always in control. Classy. Spiritual Insight PS: Superman Returns makes an obvious comparison to Superman (Brandon Routh) as a Christ-like figure. The line about Jor-El, Superman’s father, sending his only son to be a savior of the world sounds very familiar. John 3:16 ring a bell? JO: That’s a great point. It’s hard to watch this movie without making a comparison between Superman and Jesus. Without trying to over-spiritualize the film, a reoccurring theme did seem to revolve around the world’s need for a savior, a Superman of sorts. It’s clear that Superman and Clark Kent are two different entities of the same person, much like Jesus being man and God. It’s also clear that Superman exists in Metropolis to help people realize their need for a savior. PS: Yeah, that’s the case with Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth). She makes it clear that the world doesn’t need a savior, but Superman helps her realize that she does by insisting that he hears the people cry for one everyday. The movie hints at our deepest, and most often denied, desire for a savior to rescue us from a screwed up world. There was also that dark crucifixion-like scene, where master criminal Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) and his evil gang attempt to kill Superman. Metaphorically speaking, both Superman and Jesus resemble the perfect parent. Both are always there to solve the larger problems that no one else can. JO: It shows that Superman is constantly willing to endanger himself for the salvation of others. He seems always ready to give his life to those is need. Superman and Jesus draw similarities in this type of selflessness. Visuals PS: Watching Superman Returns made me feel as if I was actually there. The special effects upheld a perfect balance of reality and fantasy, making the movie action-filled, adventurous and believable. They were not overdramatic like other superhero movies. Of course Superman looked animated at times, especially his big, bright blue eyes and his Grease look-alike hair, but what do you expect from an epic comic book movie? JO: Going into the movie, the visuals were my biggest concern. I expected cheesy, over-the-top scenes of a digital Superman fearlessly soaring into outer space. And that’s exactly how it was, except it wasn’t corny. Just like Routh didn’t rely the special effects to give his character strength, the movie didn’t either. The special effects were simply icing on an already tasty cake. Superman Returns is rumored to be the most expensive movie ever made, and while the digital effects don’t perfectly reflect that, they still deserve some credible merit. PS: John Ottman’s instrumental soundtrack worked well with the scenes too. It was mellow and intense when needed. Good stuff. Best Moment: JO: The first fight scene between Superman and Lex Luthor PS: Superman getting shot ... in the eye! Worst Moment: JO: The last 20 minutes PS: Farewell airplane scene between Lois and Superman Overall, Superman Returns well exceeded our expectations. Perhaps one of the best comic book renditions released to date, it’s definitely worthy of watching. We do have a couple questions though: How is it that Superman strips into his superhero outfit in front of all Metropolis and no one notices he’s the reporter for the Daily Planet? How does he manage to get his clothes back afterward? What about that curl always perfectly in place? I guess those questions are left to the viewer’s creative mind … From: RELEVANTMAGAZINE |
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