SUPERMAN RETURNS
Nearly twenty years after the release of the original SUPERMAN, Warner Bros. entrusted one of its most significant properties to director Bryan Singer, the man who successfully launched the X-Men franchise. Judging from the critical and public reception of Singer's most recent film, X2 : X-MEN UNITED, he seemed the perfect choice to helm the project. Instead of starting the franchise all over again, Singer wrote a script that would act as a follow-up to the first two Superman films (wisely omitting the critically reviled 3rd and 4th films).
SUPERMAN RETURNS begins with the return of the "Man Of Steel" after a 5-year absence from Metropolis. Following the events of the two original films, Superman (played by newcomer Brandon Routh) left Earth in order to search for the remains of his home planet Krypton, only to discover a deeper loneliness when he sees that Krypton is indeed no more. When he returns to earth, he discovers that the world he left 5 years ago, a world where people considered him a savior, is no more. No longer does society need to look "up in the skies" for an answer to their problems, and they show no immediate signs of returning to old habits.
The world's new indifference towards Superman has been heavily influenced by none other then Superman's true love, Lois Lane (played by a wretchedly mis-cast Kate Bosworth). It turns out Lois, now engaged and with a grown child, is set to be awarded the Nobel Prize for a piece entitled "Why The World Doesn't Need Superman". In the wake of Superman's departure, Lois became a woman deeply scorned by the demigod she had loved so fiercely 5 years. However, Superman's arch-enemy Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has escaped from prison and his newest plan to take over the world will force the planet to realize just how much they need Superman.
SUPERMAN RETURNS is a definite improvement over the comedic absurdity of SUPERMAN III and the bland mess that was SUPERMAN IV : THE QUEST FOR PEACE, but it fails to capture the magic of the two original films. What made the original films so wonderful was their ability to balance a fun and light-hearted comedic edge with an exciting adventure story. Here, Bryan Singer has made Superman and Lois Lane so muted by their inner demons that the fun slowly drains from the picture. What has made Superman so All-American all these years was an endearing simplicity to his character. He was a man with two things on his mind; saving the world and loving Lois Lane. That endearingly simple definition of the man somehow managed to balance out the sheer absurdity of his strength and powers before, and now the balance is lost in Singer's film.
The film does offer a few exciting action sequences including a disastrous plane crash and thrilling shipwreck, but these moments are overwhelmed by a ploddingly heavy emotional story. There's simply not enough excitement here. Bryan Singer focuses too much on making Superman a more complex and layered character, but the public simply does not need another Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker or Bruce Banner for that matter. America has always loved Superman for his undying loyalty to helping the human race survive in a dangerous world, not for his inner struggles and personal traumas. Perhaps Singer felt pressure to add a dark quality to the film because of the recent success that strategy has achieved for other heroes, but in SUPERMAN RETURNS it does not work as well.
Nonetheless, the film is not a total misfire. Brandon Routh is a wonderful discovery for the role, and he brings a light comedic quirkiness to his performance as Clark Kent that exemplifies much of what the rest of the film is missing. Also Kevin Spacey clearly has a great deal of fun playing Lex Luthor opposite Parker Posey, in a scene-stealing supporting role as Luthor's moll Kitty Kowalski. The film is made better by these three performers, as they infuse the film with its only joyful energy. However, Kate Bosworth is completely wrong on all accounts. From the very beginning Bosworth should not have been cast in the role, as she is far too young and lacks the conviction of a hard-hitting reporter. In the end, her performance fails to rise above her pre-disposed hurdles and without a good Lois Lane, SUPERMAN RETURNS suffers.
Warner Brothers and Brian Singer should have told themselves from the beginning of production that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Simply put, this film need to maintain the comedic undertones and breezy fun of the originals, and yet instead it chooses to abandon them. Superman has been an American icon for nearly 70 years, so shouldn't it be clear that the audience has always liked him the way he is. Sadly, the bleaker approach SUPERMAN RETURNS takes ends up dragging the film down into a jumbled mess that lasts about an hour longer then need be. It is a real shame when you consider the film gathered a talented team (with the exception of Bosworth) that had the potential to make a great film. Singer's proves here that he has the ability to shoot a movie beautifully, however his storytelling is way off. Let's just hope that if Superman "returns" again for a sequel, it's more fun. Otherwise, it's just not a genuine "Superman" movie.
... C- ...
Nearly twenty years after the release of the original SUPERMAN, Warner Bros. entrusted one of its most significant properties to director Bryan Singer, the man who successfully launched the X-Men franchise. Judging from the critical and public reception of Singer's most recent film, X2 : X-MEN UNITED, he seemed the perfect choice to helm the project. Instead of starting the franchise all over again, Singer wrote a script that would act as a follow-up to the first two Superman films (wisely omitting the critically reviled 3rd and 4th films).
SUPERMAN RETURNS begins with the return of the "Man Of Steel" after a 5-year absence from Metropolis. Following the events of the two original films, Superman (played by newcomer Brandon Routh) left Earth in order to search for the remains of his home planet Krypton, only to discover a deeper loneliness when he sees that Krypton is indeed no more. When he returns to earth, he discovers that the world he left 5 years ago, a world where people considered him a savior, is no more. No longer does society need to look "up in the skies" for an answer to their problems, and they show no immediate signs of returning to old habits.
The world's new indifference towards Superman has been heavily influenced by none other then Superman's true love, Lois Lane (played by a wretchedly mis-cast Kate Bosworth). It turns out Lois, now engaged and with a grown child, is set to be awarded the Nobel Prize for a piece entitled "Why The World Doesn't Need Superman". In the wake of Superman's departure, Lois became a woman deeply scorned by the demigod she had loved so fiercely 5 years. However, Superman's arch-enemy Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has escaped from prison and his newest plan to take over the world will force the planet to realize just how much they need Superman.
SUPERMAN RETURNS is a definite improvement over the comedic absurdity of SUPERMAN III and the bland mess that was SUPERMAN IV : THE QUEST FOR PEACE, but it fails to capture the magic of the two original films. What made the original films so wonderful was their ability to balance a fun and light-hearted comedic edge with an exciting adventure story. Here, Bryan Singer has made Superman and Lois Lane so muted by their inner demons that the fun slowly drains from the picture. What has made Superman so All-American all these years was an endearing simplicity to his character. He was a man with two things on his mind; saving the world and loving Lois Lane. That endearingly simple definition of the man somehow managed to balance out the sheer absurdity of his strength and powers before, and now the balance is lost in Singer's film.
The film does offer a few exciting action sequences including a disastrous plane crash and thrilling shipwreck, but these moments are overwhelmed by a ploddingly heavy emotional story. There's simply not enough excitement here. Bryan Singer focuses too much on making Superman a more complex and layered character, but the public simply does not need another Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker or Bruce Banner for that matter. America has always loved Superman for his undying loyalty to helping the human race survive in a dangerous world, not for his inner struggles and personal traumas. Perhaps Singer felt pressure to add a dark quality to the film because of the recent success that strategy has achieved for other heroes, but in SUPERMAN RETURNS it does not work as well.
Nonetheless, the film is not a total misfire. Brandon Routh is a wonderful discovery for the role, and he brings a light comedic quirkiness to his performance as Clark Kent that exemplifies much of what the rest of the film is missing. Also Kevin Spacey clearly has a great deal of fun playing Lex Luthor opposite Parker Posey, in a scene-stealing supporting role as Luthor's moll Kitty Kowalski. The film is made better by these three performers, as they infuse the film with its only joyful energy. However, Kate Bosworth is completely wrong on all accounts. From the very beginning Bosworth should not have been cast in the role, as she is far too young and lacks the conviction of a hard-hitting reporter. In the end, her performance fails to rise above her pre-disposed hurdles and without a good Lois Lane, SUPERMAN RETURNS suffers.
Warner Brothers and Brian Singer should have told themselves from the beginning of production that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Simply put, this film need to maintain the comedic undertones and breezy fun of the originals, and yet instead it chooses to abandon them. Superman has been an American icon for nearly 70 years, so shouldn't it be clear that the audience has always liked him the way he is. Sadly, the bleaker approach SUPERMAN RETURNS takes ends up dragging the film down into a jumbled mess that lasts about an hour longer then need be. It is a real shame when you consider the film gathered a talented team (with the exception of Bosworth) that had the potential to make a great film. Singer's proves here that he has the ability to shoot a movie beautifully, however his storytelling is way off. Let's just hope that if Superman "returns" again for a sequel, it's more fun. Otherwise, it's just not a genuine "Superman" movie.
... C- ...