Superman DID Return... or so it seems
Okay, I've seen the movie and like I said, I watched it with an open mind. So here's my take on this film. Be careful though, as you might read some spoilers. So if you haven't watch it and don't want my review to spoil it for you, don't read on.
After 5 years missing in action, Superman returns to earth. Apparently, the earth doesn't need him anymore, and so does, the love of his life, Lois Lane. Lois Lane, upset that Superman didn't even say goodbye, moved on, had a kid (Jason) and has a fiancee (Richard) who happens to be a nephew of their editor Perry White. Lex Luthor, on the other hand, was granted bail because of lack of evidence against him. The only thing that would've put him behind bars permanently was Superman's testimony. Now that he's free, and Superman nowhere in sight, he returned to Superman's Fortress of Solitude and took every piece of information that he needed from Jor-El's recorded databanks and took also all the crystals with him. If all the information that he gathered was true, a piece of crystal would be just like a seed. If you plant it and water it, it will grow. In this case, the crystal would grow to be like the Fortress of Solitude (ref. Superman I), and a dozen of those crystals would make an entire new continent. And now that Superman's back from his worthless journey through space, he finds that Krypton is now settling on earth and it's up to him to stop Luthor's evil plans. Also, Superman has to win back Lois' heart.
As you all know, I'm a huge fan of the first Superman movie. And probably by now, you can also see (and read) that Bryan Singer is also a big fan of the film. And it gives me the chills watching Superman Returns because of its big homage to Richard Donner's Superman film. First of all, the opening sequence. Bryan Singer made do of the old Superman movie opening sequence with all the cast and credits flying towards the screen with a big outer space backdrop. Though, the CG artists probably overdid it because, it was sort of dizzying as it moves so quickly passing each bits and planets (which I don't really recognize except earth and the moon) like it's in a hurry. Then there's this old toy train set which Luthor was toying around with, that actually resembled the whole California earthquake scenario in the first Superman film. The old Kent farm looks exactly the same as the one from the first one. Though, I don't really know if it's actually the same one, but it does resemble it. There's also a photograph of Glenn Ford (who played Jonathan Kent in the first Superman film) in the Kent house. Also, there are many lines there, one might not be keen on noticing, which sounded like they took from the first two films. They also used John Williams original composition (and tweaked some of it a bit). Though, you might get an ear-full of it since they practically use the Superman theme on each heroic act that he did. And the most wonderful homage was the ending of the film, where Superman flies over the earth with the sun rising in the distance then cuts to a close up of Superman flying towards the upper part of the screen with the earth below it. Sigh... nostalgia. ^_^
Though, I'm not really sure whether it IS an actual sequel to the first two Superman films. They used Marlon Brando's voice to say lines which was taken from the first one like "it's forbidden to interfere with human history" and so forth. And while Lex and his cronies are inside the fortress of Solitude, Lex's bimbo asked him, "Lex, it's like you've been here before." (ref. Superman 2). Though Lex didn't actually replied to that comment leaving the viewers to wonder if he did. And like in the first two films, Lois Lane still has a spelling problem, a smoking problem and got the Pulitzer Prize which she really wanted. They also mentioned about Lois' first article on Superman: "The Time I Spent the Night With Superman"... which I think has a double meaning for this film.
The movie is actually one big eyecandy. If we were dazzled in Superman's flight scenes in the first two films, then this one will hit the jackpot. By using CG, they actually help make Superman's flight scenes more believable and dynamic. Heat vision, Super Breath, you name it. It's wonderful to look at. Come to think of it, there are more scenes in the movie that are just there for eyecandy. Storywise, I hate to admit it, but it's kind of intriguing. The whole twist about Lois Lane having Superman's kid is interesting and making a whole new Krypton is more than ingenious. But still, somehow I feel there's still something missing. Acting wise, I don't buy Lex Luthor's antics. I find Gene Hackman's Luthor more scary. And like I said before, Brandon Routh's Superman is lame. I don't feel an ounce of heroic-ness in him when I see him doning that red and blue outfit. As Clark Kent, though, he really got the whole Chris Reeve feel. Well, but then again ofcourse, as I said, it's just me.
The movie, over all, is nice. It's not that good, but it's nice. As we say here in the Philippines, "Ok lang." I guess the movie stirred the fanboy in me. Still, looks like I have to eat my words. ^_^
Bounce!
After 5 years missing in action, Superman returns to earth. Apparently, the earth doesn't need him anymore, and so does, the love of his life, Lois Lane. Lois Lane, upset that Superman didn't even say goodbye, moved on, had a kid (Jason) and has a fiancee (Richard) who happens to be a nephew of their editor Perry White. Lex Luthor, on the other hand, was granted bail because of lack of evidence against him. The only thing that would've put him behind bars permanently was Superman's testimony. Now that he's free, and Superman nowhere in sight, he returned to Superman's Fortress of Solitude and took every piece of information that he needed from Jor-El's recorded databanks and took also all the crystals with him. If all the information that he gathered was true, a piece of crystal would be just like a seed. If you plant it and water it, it will grow. In this case, the crystal would grow to be like the Fortress of Solitude (ref. Superman I), and a dozen of those crystals would make an entire new continent. And now that Superman's back from his worthless journey through space, he finds that Krypton is now settling on earth and it's up to him to stop Luthor's evil plans. Also, Superman has to win back Lois' heart.
As you all know, I'm a huge fan of the first Superman movie. And probably by now, you can also see (and read) that Bryan Singer is also a big fan of the film. And it gives me the chills watching Superman Returns because of its big homage to Richard Donner's Superman film. First of all, the opening sequence. Bryan Singer made do of the old Superman movie opening sequence with all the cast and credits flying towards the screen with a big outer space backdrop. Though, the CG artists probably overdid it because, it was sort of dizzying as it moves so quickly passing each bits and planets (which I don't really recognize except earth and the moon) like it's in a hurry. Then there's this old toy train set which Luthor was toying around with, that actually resembled the whole California earthquake scenario in the first Superman film. The old Kent farm looks exactly the same as the one from the first one. Though, I don't really know if it's actually the same one, but it does resemble it. There's also a photograph of Glenn Ford (who played Jonathan Kent in the first Superman film) in the Kent house. Also, there are many lines there, one might not be keen on noticing, which sounded like they took from the first two films. They also used John Williams original composition (and tweaked some of it a bit). Though, you might get an ear-full of it since they practically use the Superman theme on each heroic act that he did. And the most wonderful homage was the ending of the film, where Superman flies over the earth with the sun rising in the distance then cuts to a close up of Superman flying towards the upper part of the screen with the earth below it. Sigh... nostalgia. ^_^
Though, I'm not really sure whether it IS an actual sequel to the first two Superman films. They used Marlon Brando's voice to say lines which was taken from the first one like "it's forbidden to interfere with human history" and so forth. And while Lex and his cronies are inside the fortress of Solitude, Lex's bimbo asked him, "Lex, it's like you've been here before." (ref. Superman 2). Though Lex didn't actually replied to that comment leaving the viewers to wonder if he did. And like in the first two films, Lois Lane still has a spelling problem, a smoking problem and got the Pulitzer Prize which she really wanted. They also mentioned about Lois' first article on Superman: "The Time I Spent the Night With Superman"... which I think has a double meaning for this film.
The movie is actually one big eyecandy. If we were dazzled in Superman's flight scenes in the first two films, then this one will hit the jackpot. By using CG, they actually help make Superman's flight scenes more believable and dynamic. Heat vision, Super Breath, you name it. It's wonderful to look at. Come to think of it, there are more scenes in the movie that are just there for eyecandy. Storywise, I hate to admit it, but it's kind of intriguing. The whole twist about Lois Lane having Superman's kid is interesting and making a whole new Krypton is more than ingenious. But still, somehow I feel there's still something missing. Acting wise, I don't buy Lex Luthor's antics. I find Gene Hackman's Luthor more scary. And like I said before, Brandon Routh's Superman is lame. I don't feel an ounce of heroic-ness in him when I see him doning that red and blue outfit. As Clark Kent, though, he really got the whole Chris Reeve feel. Well, but then again ofcourse, as I said, it's just me.
The movie, over all, is nice. It's not that good, but it's nice. As we say here in the Philippines, "Ok lang." I guess the movie stirred the fanboy in me. Still, looks like I have to eat my words. ^_^
Bounce!
posted by INGGO! @ 6/28/2006 04:24:00 PM
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