Maija
28th June 2006, 04:51 AM
The industry buzz on this movie has been phenomenal. Everyone I know who saw the pre-screening has said that it is as good, if not better, than last year's Batman Returns.
I guess that the casting of unknown Brandon Routh was right on par, and even the most diehard Cristopher Reeve fans will appreciate the vulnerability he brings to this role.
Opens tomorrow...will post review soon!
*Superman Returns Review*
After hearing multiple stunning reviews of this film, I decided to check out what all the hype was about.
To give you fair warning, this movie starts off slooooow. The opening credits are boring, unusually long, and CGI-heavy. A montage of planets and various space debris fly by as names of people you don’t really care about shoot across the screen 3-D style in a 70’s-inspired homage to bad sci-fi films.
The first few scenes are slow, choppy, and keep you asking, “When is the story going to start??” The first action sequence, where Superman returns to Metropolis to save Lois Lane from a doomed space shuttle launch, is the pay-off for the endless wait in the beginning. The action is fast, heart stopping, and the CGI is not overly commanding.
Without giving too much away, Superman has returned to Metropolis after being gone for 5 years, only to find that his love Lois Lane is now a mother and engaged to the father of her child. In the meanwhile, Lex Luther has been released from prison and has found Superman’s crystals from the Fortress of Solitude, and uses their incredible power in his quest for world domination.
A few of the “love” scenes with Superman and Lois are too long and too cheesy, and a scene where Superman goes to watch Lois at her home is a little too “stalker”-esque and leaves you feeling uneasy.
There are two parts of this film that I really enjoyed. First, the flying in this film is actually really cool. I always thought that flying in movies looks cheesy and stiff, or too CGI, but director Bryan Singer and his special effects crew have done a fabulous job of making the flying look…well….FUN! Second, unknown Brandon Routh was PERFECTLY cast as Superman and does a superb job as both the man of steel and Clark Kent. He is funny, warm, and you just can’t take your eyes off him.
The movie ends with a bit of a “twist” and the usual happy endings. Superman saves the day, but does he get the girl?
4 out of 5 stars
**SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW MORE DETAILS
My One BIG issue with the film is the surprise “twist” and ending. It seems that Lois’ son is actually Superman’s child. Although this is sweet in theory, the problem is that Lois already has formed a family with this other man and he is a kind and good person. There is something just a little bit sickening thinking that she has lead this other man to believe that the child is his, when she knew it wasn’t all along. Also, in the end, the child is not told of his heritage, Lois’s fiancé is not told about it, and Superman simply tells Lois “I’ll be around.”
Sorry, maybe I can suspend disbelief just for a second to accept that a man can fly, have x-ray vision, and stop bullets with his bare hands….but I just can’t get my head around the fact that this would just be WRONG in the real world.
IS Lois just going to let this other man continue to believe it is his child? Will she tell him years from now and break his heart?
I guess that the casting of unknown Brandon Routh was right on par, and even the most diehard Cristopher Reeve fans will appreciate the vulnerability he brings to this role.
Opens tomorrow...will post review soon!
*Superman Returns Review*
After hearing multiple stunning reviews of this film, I decided to check out what all the hype was about.
To give you fair warning, this movie starts off slooooow. The opening credits are boring, unusually long, and CGI-heavy. A montage of planets and various space debris fly by as names of people you don’t really care about shoot across the screen 3-D style in a 70’s-inspired homage to bad sci-fi films.
The first few scenes are slow, choppy, and keep you asking, “When is the story going to start??” The first action sequence, where Superman returns to Metropolis to save Lois Lane from a doomed space shuttle launch, is the pay-off for the endless wait in the beginning. The action is fast, heart stopping, and the CGI is not overly commanding.
Without giving too much away, Superman has returned to Metropolis after being gone for 5 years, only to find that his love Lois Lane is now a mother and engaged to the father of her child. In the meanwhile, Lex Luther has been released from prison and has found Superman’s crystals from the Fortress of Solitude, and uses their incredible power in his quest for world domination.
A few of the “love” scenes with Superman and Lois are too long and too cheesy, and a scene where Superman goes to watch Lois at her home is a little too “stalker”-esque and leaves you feeling uneasy.
There are two parts of this film that I really enjoyed. First, the flying in this film is actually really cool. I always thought that flying in movies looks cheesy and stiff, or too CGI, but director Bryan Singer and his special effects crew have done a fabulous job of making the flying look…well….FUN! Second, unknown Brandon Routh was PERFECTLY cast as Superman and does a superb job as both the man of steel and Clark Kent. He is funny, warm, and you just can’t take your eyes off him.
The movie ends with a bit of a “twist” and the usual happy endings. Superman saves the day, but does he get the girl?
4 out of 5 stars
**SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW MORE DETAILS
My One BIG issue with the film is the surprise “twist” and ending. It seems that Lois’ son is actually Superman’s child. Although this is sweet in theory, the problem is that Lois already has formed a family with this other man and he is a kind and good person. There is something just a little bit sickening thinking that she has lead this other man to believe that the child is his, when she knew it wasn’t all along. Also, in the end, the child is not told of his heritage, Lois’s fiancé is not told about it, and Superman simply tells Lois “I’ll be around.”
Sorry, maybe I can suspend disbelief just for a second to accept that a man can fly, have x-ray vision, and stop bullets with his bare hands….but I just can’t get my head around the fact that this would just be WRONG in the real world.
IS Lois just going to let this other man continue to believe it is his child? Will she tell him years from now and break his heart?