[Archive June 29, 2006]
We had a chance to see Superman Returns today with Brandon Routh as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. This movie is very much like the 1978 "classic" Superman: The Movie with Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman. It is part action film and part romance like the 1978 version. It had some drama but not much because we know that in the end Superman will save the day.
It is not a remake of the 1978 film. Rather it is more of a continutaion of the story: A "Superman V" , perhaps? Clark's foster father has died. Clark returns to earth after a five year absence. In the five year period, Lois found another man, Richard and they are living together in co-habitation arrangement and have a child Jason. Without giving away any spoilers, it seems that Jason is indeed Superman Jr.. (Can you say "sequel"? or "Superman VI"?) Kevin Spacey plays an excellent Lex Luthor. I'm not a big Spacey fan but he makes an outstanding performance in this movie. And Kate Bosworth plays a very likeable Lois Lane.
The score by John Ottman keeps John Williams' original —and most excellent —theme and adds new music to it unlike the three Superman sequels that followed the 1978 movie.
Aside from Lois' relationships, there are no morally problematic items to note. The violence persented is in line with a comic book action movie. The George Reeves Superman from television was for "Truth, justice and the American Way." Routh's Superman is for "Truth, justice and all those other things." "Those other things" are unnamed and it may be a small quibble to note that the "American way" is dropped in Superman Returns. I can't recall how Christopher Reeve's Superman treated "these other things." I recommend this movie and am sure that it will be the big summer hit.
Image: Superman Returns ©2006 Warner Bros.
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