July 02, 2006
Superman Returns
If this move has a sequel it is OK but not great. If not, it is a waste of time. We begin the move with the 5 year absence of Superman where Lois and the world has moved on. I find the selection of 5 years interesting since it gives terrorists a chance to blow up the World Trade Center altering the Metropolis/New York skyline without a possible Superman intervention though this is never mentioned in the movie (with the exception of vague news casts he watches about terrorist violence on his return). Lois now has a son and fiancée though she is still unmarried and unwilling to make that last step. Seeing as the son is about 5 years old I think we can avoid any pretense about confusion over who the father is.
The selection of Brandon Routh for Superman was a good idea. This guy channels Christopher Reeves like a pro. The face and mannerism were uncanny. Kevin Spacey makes an excellent funny/evil Lex Luthor. Kate Bosworth though takes Lois in a completely different direction. Lois is no longer the completely silly parody as portrayed by Margot Kidder but a real person (and much more attractive).
I also want to mention something about the recent controversy over the phrase "truth, justice and the rest of that stuff" as used in the movie, compared with "truth, Justice and the American way". I think those upset have totally missed the mark. In the context of this movie and who says it the phraseology makes perfect sense. This phrase is uttered by Perry White (news editor) of the Daily Planet. This is literally a slap at today’s entrenched press cynicism. Imagine this phrase uttered by an editor of the New York Times in New York as opposed to the Daily Planet and you understand what I mean. Another slap at liberal thinking was Lex mocking justice and denigrating Superman’s lack of respect for Miranda rights and due process. Here we have a hero just running around snatching people off the streets without a warrant. You could just see terrorists and left wingers in America cheering in agreement. My question is how many others saw this and if it was intended by the movie writers/producers.
My final judgment will have to wait on a sequel. Left as it is the movie is unfinished.
>>Spoilers under the fold<<
Believing that Superman and Lois could "move on" is as plausible as saying Romeo and Juliet could "move on". I don’t care if the other guy is a “good man” or not. I expect a sequel where this guy gets killed off.
Posted by Sid at July 2, 2006 04:24 PM | Movies
