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Review #167 of 365
Film: Superman Returns [PG-13] 157 minutes
WIP™ Scale: (1st time $12.75 + 2nd time $12.00)/2= $12.50 (rounded up to nearest quarter)
Where Viewed: Cinemark Tinseltown 14, Ogden, UT
When 2nd Seen: 28 June 2006
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: L. Edgar F. III of Chicago, IL
 | ![John Ottman - Superman Returns (Music from the Motion Picture) [Digital Version with Interactive Booklet]](http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif){kind=small} |
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Yesterday's review focused on risks the director took and a general, overall review of Superman Returns [please read it prior to reading today's review]. Tomorrow's review will focus on technology, special effects, the 3-D IMAX®-version of the film, and give an overall summary of all three reviews for one grand total W.I.P. Scale™ Score for the film. Today's review will focus on plot, characters/acting, set, and music. Of course, I saw the film again today, so now I have the benefit of having seen the film with a different lens in mind, and I really focused my attention to plot and character points.
Character Analyses:
Jor-El (Marlon Brando via archive footage): Some people have thought this was a really cool idea. Singer used stock footage shot for the 1978 version of the film of Jor-El talking to Kal-El in the fortress of solitude. I thought it was a bad idea because it limited what he could say to Kal-El now; and, frankly, there were a few times when Kal-El could have used some new words of wisdom from his father. I also thought it was a bad idea because, to be honest, as much as I respected Marlon Brando, this was a pretty minor role for him in the first place, and probably he wasn't the best choice to play Jor-El.
Martha Kent (Eva Marie Saint): Director Bryan Singer's take on Martha Kent, with all due respect, I thought was a bit too shallow. Ms. Saint did a fine job with a pathetically small role. Since the film does not focus on his upbringing, she is relegated to a tiny slice of him returning to his boyhood home after his 5-year journey to check out the remains of Krypton. She seemed a bit too frail.
[slight spoiler alert—skip the next character if you don't want to know any of the secrets about the film before seeing it]
Jason White (Tristan Lake Leabu): Jason is Lois Lane's son. The kid was a perfect choice to play Jason, but the character is just odd. He behaves in an odd fashion, barely acts his age, and says off the wall things like, "Is he [Superman] going to live, Mommy? … I hope so. I like him." Huh? The kid has just been saved by Superman and then the kid helped save Superman. "I like him."? Just odd. It's unclear what's up with his health. Was he born prematurely? At one point, Lois gives the impression he's a very sickly child, but that he's going to grow up big and strong like his daddy—whom we are told is Richard White (Perry White's nephew). Facts, however, may lead to other conclusions as to his lineage.
Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington): There are some occasions in the film when Jimmy has the only intelligent-sounding dialog in the room. Which is not a compliment to the screenplay. Unfortunately, Sam Huntington's delivery of these lines often seemed forced and as if things just don't roll off his tongue too well. One of the most awkward lines of dialog in the entire film is spoken by Jimmy when he first sees Clark back from his coincidentally-timed to Superman's five year absence, he jumps up from his desk, hugs Clark, and says, "Mr. Clark, I mean Mr. Kent." The kid did a better job in the Disney® live action feature film Jungle to Jungle with Tim Allen when he was like 11 years old and was playing a kid that could barely speak English. He was a fine casting choice, he was just given terrible directions on his line delivery and terrible lines to deliver.
Perry White (Frank Langella): The first time I saw the film, I didn't care for Mr. Langella's portrayal of Perry White. The second time, however, I realized I was trying to turn him into Lou Grant. He's not, and he never was. Once I got that out of my mind, I thought he was fine. Again, some dialogue issues lead him to saying really stupid things like this one he says to Lois the night she's supposed to get her Pulitzer Prize when she is agonizing over the fact that she won it for her article "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman" for a paper that is publishing article after article about how great Superman. He says, "Pulitzer Prizes are like Oscars®, nobody remembers what you got it for, only that you got one." Huh? How is that supposed to make her feel better?
Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey): For most people, Parker Posey is an acquired taste to start with. She rose up out of the Indie film ranks to taking smaller roles in major motion pix such as Blade 3 and now Superman Returns. Honestly though, her portrayal of Kitty Kowalski, Lex Luthor's girl, was right on the money and one of the better performances in the film. She grows her character from a seemingly non-intellectually stimulated woman with little or no conscience nearly a full 180 degree different by the end which has her standing up to Lex Luthor.
Richard White (James Marsden): James Marsden was a pretty good choice for Richard (Perry's nephew and Lois Lane's long time (5 years) companion. Unfortunately, he's not playing a tough guy, and he comes across as a bit clueless at times.
Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth): Kate does a pretty good job with a character that has been upended for this film. She snoops around and only gets where she needs to be by accident. Her supposedly-ace report skills seem to be the result of much on-line chatting and not real investigative prowess. She was a bit too pouty and unable to bring about much growth in her character.
Please see yesterday's review for critiques of Kevin Spacey and Brandon Routh.
Sets: The sets, for the most part were incredible. The one short-coming was the Kent Farm. It reminded me a little to much like it had been borrowed from a recent resurrection of the Broadway musical Oklahoma. It has no substance and no charm.
Music: John Otto's original Superman movie music is all back for a second go-round. Maybe it's nostalgic to reuse the old music or maybe it is less expensive, either way, I would have liked to see a new powerful Superman theme created for the movie instead. I loved the old music, especially the main theme, and this borrowing of the original in this case doesn't sit too well with me.
Plot: I'll try not to spoil too much more than I have already. The plot of the film borrows elements from the 1978 film including a similar plan by Lex Luthor to create his own beach front property. This time around, the process is fueled by Superman's crystals that he used to grow the Fortress of Solitude. I liked the idea of having Superman disappear without saying a word, and the impact that departure would have on people. And then subsequently the impact his return would have. There are a large number of homage moments in the film that either add to or detract from the plot on a case-by-case basis. This plot is far more complicated and involved than any previous Superman film. It is like a three-ring circus. There is always something interesting going on. For example, Superman, for all his goodness, finds himself using his powers of super hearing and x-ray vision to spy on Lois Lane to find out if she really loves him or not. Somehow, in his mind, he justifies this. Meanwhile, Lois is battling her own demons. She was very obviously in love with Superman, and it hurt her greatly when he up and left without saying a word. So, she built the defense mechanisms that any one would, to help rid her of the pain, and they mostly came in the form of learning to hate him or, at least, not care about him. When he returns, what is she supposed to do and think now? She's virtually replaced him with Richard. So, she's in a bind. The plot is very dark in spots. Lex Luthor is absolutely the most villainous he's ever been. He is willing to kill billions of people to reach his end goals. Yet, the method he chooses is so convoluted and poorly conceived, he thinks he's going to tame Superman's crystals, as to be doomed from the outset. Overall, the plot is quite good. It has some flaws, of course, every film has; but it is interesting, jam-packed, and true to the characters. I definitely left again today hoping for a sequel.
In summary, the biggest weakness in the film that I can elucidate from re-reading my analyses is in the area of dialogue. The dialogue seems to be Superman Returns's kryptonite.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Superman Returns [Blu-ray](2006)
Superman Returns [DVD](2006) DVD
Superman Returns (Widescreen Version) [DVD](2006) DVD
Superman Returns (Special Edition) [DVD](2006) DVD
Superman Returns: Apparel & Accessories • Books and Calendars
Toys & Games • Watches • Computer & Video Games
Films Starring: Kate Bosworth • Sam Huntington • James Marsden
Parker Posey • Kevin Spacey
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Superman Returns Review-lite [150-word cap]
Movie executives are hoping Superman Returns will be THE motion picture event of the summer. Director Bryan Singer took some risks with the script in his attempt to appease enthusiasts. Less of a remake of the 1978 film and more of an homage-sequel, it takes place five years after Superman (Brandon Routh) leaves earth to check out the remnants of planet Krypton. Much has happened since he's been gone. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), is now in a committed relationship and has won a Pulitzer Prize for her news story Why the World Doesn't Need Superman". The risks Singer took turned out 50-50. Superman Returns is a summer event film that will leave you salivating for a sequel. Bryan Singer brings the Superman franchise to a new level with bold vision, incredible effects, and a Superman who is vulnerable like we've never seen before, yet, stronger than we've ever dreamed.
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