I have to admit I was worried when Superman Returns was first announced. The biggest concern I had was the decision to link this film to at least the first two Christopher Reeve films. I felt this was a huge gamble, especially with the death of Reeve in 2004, and one that could have resulted in audiences rejecting the film and its new star.
In retrospect, this concern was a bit silly. After all, the James Bond films went through 20 movies and five actors, yet managed to maintain common trappings, music, characters, and actors (Casino Royale, being a relaunch/reboot, doesn't count). So in that respect, having Routh taking over the role in a film that uses the same music and makes clear references to earlier films, is really no different than, say, Roger Moore taking over the role of Bond from Sean Connery.
With that concern out of the way, Superman Returns is a terrific film that manages to reinvigorate and renew Superman in the same way Batman Begins revived Batman and Casino Royale breathed new life into Bond. The film has a grand stature to it -- something Superman III and IV decidedly lacked.
I'm not sure of all the story directions taken in the new film. Saddling Lois with a fiancé and a son made for an interesting dynamic, but it was also frustrating. I will give credit to the writers for taking a brave (and canon-busting) position with regards to Lois' son. It was unexpected and does in fact open the doors for future story possibilities (not to mention endless debate over certain physical matters best encapsulated by Larry Niven in his classic essay "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex"). Unfortunately, in the film's only major misstep, the big reveal about Jason is spoiled by some awkward telegraphing earlier in the film.
The cast is terrific. Brandon Routh is an excellent Clark/Superman, although he looks a little young for the superhero part. (Then again, Reeve was only a couple years older when he got the part). I don't understand the animosity towards Kate Bosworth -- I thought she was terrific and far superior to the actresses who played Lois on Smallville and Lois & Clark, though as with Routh and Reeve, she has a long haul to be compared with Margot Kidder.
Kevin Spacey, playing his second bald-headed bad guy (after a brief appearance as a version of Dr. Evil in one of the Austin Powers films) is wonderful as Lex Luthor. He manages to not only put his own stamp on the character, but he also strongly resembles Gene Hackman in the role -- it's an interesting double-trick that works well. Parker Posey is also effective as this film's equivalent of Valerine Perrine's Miss Tessmaucher; her character could have stood a little more development, though, especially as to why she stays with Lex despite the fact she clearly hates the man (even Perrine's character, despite being angered by his actions, was never shown to actually hate Lex like Posey's character does).
One cameo worth noting is Peta Wilson (formerly of La Femme Nikita) as a somewhat addled PR flack. It's nice seeing her on the screen again - I don't think she's done anything major (aside from some TV work Down Under) since League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Speaking of cameos, look for Jack Larson and Noel Neill of the 1950s Superman TV series playing small roles; too bad someone from the 1970s-80s film series didn't similarly appear.
Frank Langella fades a bit into the background as Perry White and doesn't seem to give the character the same sense of experience and wisdom as Jackie Cooper did. And Eva Marie Saint is wasted as Martha Kent (her best work was left on the cutting room floor). But these are minor criticisms. Also, for all the hype about Marlon Brando appearing on screen again in CGI-altered archive footage from 1978, when we finally do see his face, it's so obscured by crystals and special effects that it hardly seems worth the effort. And you need to seek out the deleted scenes on the DVD to actually clearly see one of the photos of Glenn Ford from the first film that are visible in the Kent home in Smallville; it's a nice touch that I wish was more evident in the final cut, especially given Ford's recent passing.
Superman Returns could have been a train wreck. Instead, Bryan Singer & Co. have delivered a clever, fast-paced, entertaining film that manages to recapture much of the magic that made the first two Christopher Reeve films classics. Here's hoping the revived franchise keeps the quality up for longer than Reeve's films did.
In retrospect, this concern was a bit silly. After all, the James Bond films went through 20 movies and five actors, yet managed to maintain common trappings, music, characters, and actors (Casino Royale, being a relaunch/reboot, doesn't count). So in that respect, having Routh taking over the role in a film that uses the same music and makes clear references to earlier films, is really no different than, say, Roger Moore taking over the role of Bond from Sean Connery.
With that concern out of the way, Superman Returns is a terrific film that manages to reinvigorate and renew Superman in the same way Batman Begins revived Batman and Casino Royale breathed new life into Bond. The film has a grand stature to it -- something Superman III and IV decidedly lacked.
I'm not sure of all the story directions taken in the new film. Saddling Lois with a fiancé and a son made for an interesting dynamic, but it was also frustrating. I will give credit to the writers for taking a brave (and canon-busting) position with regards to Lois' son. It was unexpected and does in fact open the doors for future story possibilities (not to mention endless debate over certain physical matters best encapsulated by Larry Niven in his classic essay "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex"). Unfortunately, in the film's only major misstep, the big reveal about Jason is spoiled by some awkward telegraphing earlier in the film.
The cast is terrific. Brandon Routh is an excellent Clark/Superman, although he looks a little young for the superhero part. (Then again, Reeve was only a couple years older when he got the part). I don't understand the animosity towards Kate Bosworth -- I thought she was terrific and far superior to the actresses who played Lois on Smallville and Lois & Clark, though as with Routh and Reeve, she has a long haul to be compared with Margot Kidder.
Kevin Spacey, playing his second bald-headed bad guy (after a brief appearance as a version of Dr. Evil in one of the Austin Powers films) is wonderful as Lex Luthor. He manages to not only put his own stamp on the character, but he also strongly resembles Gene Hackman in the role -- it's an interesting double-trick that works well. Parker Posey is also effective as this film's equivalent of Valerine Perrine's Miss Tessmaucher; her character could have stood a little more development, though, especially as to why she stays with Lex despite the fact she clearly hates the man (even Perrine's character, despite being angered by his actions, was never shown to actually hate Lex like Posey's character does).
One cameo worth noting is Peta Wilson (formerly of La Femme Nikita) as a somewhat addled PR flack. It's nice seeing her on the screen again - I don't think she's done anything major (aside from some TV work Down Under) since League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Speaking of cameos, look for Jack Larson and Noel Neill of the 1950s Superman TV series playing small roles; too bad someone from the 1970s-80s film series didn't similarly appear.
Frank Langella fades a bit into the background as Perry White and doesn't seem to give the character the same sense of experience and wisdom as Jackie Cooper did. And Eva Marie Saint is wasted as Martha Kent (her best work was left on the cutting room floor). But these are minor criticisms. Also, for all the hype about Marlon Brando appearing on screen again in CGI-altered archive footage from 1978, when we finally do see his face, it's so obscured by crystals and special effects that it hardly seems worth the effort. And you need to seek out the deleted scenes on the DVD to actually clearly see one of the photos of Glenn Ford from the first film that are visible in the Kent home in Smallville; it's a nice touch that I wish was more evident in the final cut, especially given Ford's recent passing.
Superman Returns could have been a train wreck. Instead, Bryan Singer & Co. have delivered a clever, fast-paced, entertaining film that manages to recapture much of the magic that made the first two Christopher Reeve films classics. Here's hoping the revived franchise keeps the quality up for longer than Reeve's films did.